Colossians 1:21 - Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

Bible Comments

And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled

The Colossians are included in this general reconciliation (Colossians 2:13).

Sometime - `once.'

That were ... alienated - a double participle х ontas (G5607) apeellotrioomenous (G526)]: 'being in a state of continued alienation;' objectively banished from God, through the barrier which God's justice interposed against your sin; subjectively estranged through the alienation of your own wills from God. The former is prominent (cf. Romans 5:10), the second follows, "enemies in your mind." 'Actual alienation makes habitual "enemies"' (Romans 5:10) (Bengel).

In your mind, х tee (G3588) dianoia (G1271)] - 'in your understanding' (Ephesians 2:1-3; Ephesians 2:12; Ephesians 4:18).

By wicked works, х en (G1722) tois (G3588) ergois (G2041) tois (G3588) poneerois (G4190)] - 'in your works that were wicked:' the clement in which your enmity subsisted.

Yet now. Notwithstanding the former alienation, now that Christ has come, God (the subject, as in Colossians 1:13) hath completely reconciled again (note, Colossians 1:20).

Colossians 1:21

21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mindc by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled