Colossians 1:1

"Paul an Apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God."

It were well also to say, what from considering this Epistle we have found to be its occasion and subject. What then is it? They used to approach God through angels; they held many Jewish and Grecian observances. These things then he is correcting. Wherefore in the very outset he says, "Through the will of God." So here again he hath used the expression "through." "And Timothy the brother," he saith; of course then he too was an Apostle, and probably also known to them. "To the saints which are at Colossae." This was a city of Phrygia, as is plain from Laodicea's being near to it. "And faithful brethren in Christ." Whence, saith he art thou made a saint? Tell me. Whence art thou called faithful? Is it not because thou wert sanctified through death? Is it not because thou hast faith in Christ? Whence art thou made a brother? for neither in deed, nor in word, nor in achievement didst thou show thyself faithful. Tell me, whence is it that thou hast been entrusted with so great mysteries? Is it not because of Christ?

"Grace to you and peace from God our Father." Whence cometh grace to you? Whence peace? "From God," saith he, "our Father." Although he useth not in this place the name of Christ.

I will ask those who speak disparagingly of the Spirit, Whence is God the Father of servants? Who wrought these mighty achievements? Who made thee a saint? Who faithful? Who a son of God? He who made thee worthy to be trusted, the same is also the cause of thy being entrusted with all.

For we are called faithful, not only because we have faith, but also because we are entrusted of God with mysteries which not even angels knew before us. However, to Paul it was indifferent whether or not to put it thus.

Immediately and from the very beginning he imperceptibly refutes their way of thinking. For he is an apostle not of angels, but of Jesus Christ, and the will of God is that he is an apostle of that Christ, and not of angels. So if I am an apostle "by the will of God," then it is clear that I preach the truth. What then? That through the Son we have been brought to God, that we have been freed from Jewish and Greek observances. And notice, the preposition "by" (δια) is placed before the word θεός, which signified God the Father. He was also an apostle, it seems; probably he was also known to them.

This letter is divided into its greeting and its message (1:3). First, the persons sending the letter are mentioned; then, the ones to whom it is sent (1:2); and thirdly, the good things desired for the latter (1:2b). As to the first, the principal sender is mentioned; and secondly, his companion.

The principal sender of this letter is first identified by his name, Paul, that is, one who is humble, for it is such persons who receive wisdom: "Thou hast hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to babes" (Mt 11:25), and so Paul can teach this wisdom. Secondly, the sender is described by his office, namely, an apostle, that is, one who is sent, to bring salvation to the faithful: "Set apart for me Saul and Barnabas for the work to which I have called them" (Acts 13:2); "As the Father has sent me, even so I send you" (Jn 20:21). He is not the apostle of just anyone, but of Christ Jesus, whose glory he seeks, and not his own: "For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake" (2 Cor. 4:5). But at times some reach their office because God is angry because of a people's sins: "Who makes a man who is a hypocrite to reign for the sins of the people" (Job 34:30); "I have given you kings in my anger" (Hos 13:11). And so Paul says that he has his office by the will of God, that is, by his pleasure: "I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding" (Jer 3:15).

The other person to send this letter is Timothy our brother, so that there may be two or three witnesses, as in Deuteronomy (17:6). "A brother helped is like a strong city" (Pr 18:19).