Colossians 1:23

King James Version (KJV)

If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

Adam Clarke
Bible Commentary

If ye continue in the faith - This will be the case if you, who have already believed in Christ Jesus, continue in that faith, grounded in the knowledge and love of God, and settled - made firm and perseveringly steadfast, in that state of salvation.

And be not moved away - Not permitting yourselves to be seduced by false teachers.

The hope of the Gospel - The resurrection of the body, and the glorification of it and the soul together, in the realms of blessedness. This is properly the Gospel Hope.

To every creature which is under heaven - A Hebraism for the whole human race, and particularly referring to the two grand divisions of mankind, the Jews and Gentiles; to both of these the Gospel had been preached, and to each, salvation by Christ had been equally offered. And as none had been excluded from the offers of mercy, and Jesus Christ had tasted death for every man, and the Jews and Gentiles, in their great corporate capacity, had all been invited to believe the Gospel; therefore, the apostle concludes that the Gospel was preached to every creature under heaven, as being offered without restrictions or limitations to these two grand divisions of mankind, including the whole human race.

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Albert Barnes
Notes on the Whole Bible

If ye continue in the faith - In the belief of the gospel, and in holy living. If this were done, they would be presented unblameable be fore God; if not, they would not be. The meaning is, that it will be impossible to be saved unless we continue to lead lives becoming the gospel.

Grounded - On a firm foundation; see the notes at Ephesians 3:17, where the same word occurs.

And settled - Greek, “firm;” as a building is that is founded on a rock; compare Matthew 7:25.

And be not moved away from the hope of the gospel - By the arts of philosophy, and the allurements of sin.

Which was preached to every creature which is under heaven - It cannot be supposed that it was literally true that every creature under heaven had actually heard the gospel. But this may mean:

(1) That it was designed to be preached to every creature, or that the commission to make it known embraced everyone, and that, so far as the provisions of the gospel are concerned, it may be said that it was a system proclaimed to all mankind; see Mark 16:15. If a vast army, or the inhabitants of a distant province, were in rebellion against a government, and a proclamation of pardon were issued, it would not be improper to say that it was made to every one of them, though, as a matter of fact, it might not be true that everyone in the remote parts of the army or province had actually heard of it.

(2) the gospel in the time of Paul seems to have been so extensively preached, that it might be said that it was proclaimed to everybody. All known countries appear to have been visited; and so zealous and laborious had been the heralds of salvation, that it might be said that the message had been proclaimed to all the world; see Colossians 1:6; compare the notes at Matthew 24:14.

Whereof I Paul am made a minister - See the notes at Ephesians 3:1-7. Paul here pursues the same train of thought which he does in the Epistle to the Ephesians, where, having shown the exalted nature of the Redeemer, and the design of the gospel, he adverts to his own labors and sufferings in making it known. The object seems to be to show that he regarded it as the highest honor to be thus intrusted with the message of mercy to mankind, and considered it as a privilege to suffer in that cause.

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Matthew Henry
Concise Bible Commentary

Christ in his human nature, is the visible discovery of the invisible God, and he that hath seen Him hath seen the Father. Let us adore these mysteries in humble faith, and behold the glory of the Lord in Christ Jesus. He was born or begotten before all the creation, before any creature was made; which is the Scripture way of representing eternity, and by which the eternity of God is represented to us. All things being created by Him, were created for him; being made by his power, they were made according to his pleasure, and for his praise and glory. He not only created them all at first, but it is by the word of his power that they are upheld. Christ as Mediator is the Head of the body, the church; all grace and strength are from him; and the church is his body. All fulness dwells in him; a fulness of merit and righteousness, of strength and grace for us. God showed his justice in requiring full satisfaction. This mode of redeeming mankind by the death of Christ was most suitable. Here is presented to our view the method of being reconciled. And that, notwithstanding the hatred of sin on God's part, it pleased God to reconcile fallen man to himself. If convinced that we were enemies in our minds by wicked works, and that we are now reconciled to God by the sacrifice and death of Christ in our nature, we shall not attempt to explain away, nor yet think fully to comprehend these mysteries; but we shall see the glory of this plan of redemption, and rejoice in the hope set before us. If this be so, that God's love is so great to us, what shall we do now for God? Be frequent in prayer, and abound in holy duties; and live no more to yourselves, but to Christ. Christ died for us. But wherefore? That we should still live in sin? No; but that we should die to sin, and live henceforth not to ourselves, but to Him.

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SDA Bible Commentary (limited)
Volume 1-7

23. If ye continue. The Colossians had heard the word of life. They had accepted the faith and had been reconciled by the blood of Christ. They were “saints and faithful brethren” (v. 2). But all their efforts would prove futile if they should fail to “continue.” The apostle stresses their need of abiding and remaining in their confidence in the gospel.

In the faith. Compare v. 4. What had been begun by faith in the experience of the Colossian believers must be continued by means of faith also.

Grounded. Gr. themelioÅÂ, “to lay a foundation,” “to found.” The spiritual house should have its foundation fixed upon the solid Rock, which is Christ, not upon the sand, as was the house of the foolish man in Christ’s parable (see Luke 6:49; 1 Cor. 10:4).

Settled. Gr. hedraioi, “firm,” “steadfast.” The Christian believer must be firmly fixed on his foundation. Paul warns the Colossians against moving away from the position taken by them when they first heard the gospel.

Not moved away. This is the negative view of what he has already said. “Do not allow yourself,” Paul says in effect, “to be shifted from your position by the philosophical arts of false teachers or the seductive allurements of sin.” The tense of the verb he uses suggests the thought, “Be not continually shifting” from one position to another (cf. 1 Cor. 15:58).

Hope of the gospel. That is, the hope that the gospel provides. This hope, he has already intimated (see on v. 5), is the driving force of the plan of salvation. It is brought to light by the message of the gospel; it belongs to the gospel. When hope is ultimately achieved in the kingdom of God, the purposes of the plan of salvation will have been fulfilled.

Ye have heard. See on v. 5.

Preached to every creature. The principal stress of the passage is upon the fact that the gospel the Colossians had heard is the same as that preached in all parts where the gospel has penetrated. Paul does not mean that the gospel has gone everywhere in the absolute sense. This is clear from his statements elsewhere regarding the progress of the gospel. Writing to the Romans only a few years before, Paul, summing up the advance of the gospel, said, “From Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ” (Rom. 15:19). He was hoping at this time to visit Rome and from there carry the gospel to Spain (Rom. 15:24). His arrest and imprisonment intervened so that his plans were not carried out. Instead of coming to Rome as a free herald of the gospel, he came bound. Being a prisoner, he could not visit Spain. It is doubtful that any work of significance had been begun there. There is, further, no evidence that at this early date the gospel had penetrated into the barbarian regions to the north of the then-civilized world. The same is doubtless true of other far-flung regions. It is clear, then, that the statement that the gospel had been preached to every creature under heaven was not meant in an absolute sense. Like the statement “as it is in all the world” (Col. 1:6), the stress is upon the fact that the gospel preached in Colossae is the same as that proclaimed in all the world. Compare Matt. 24:41; 1 Thess. 1:8; Rev. 5:13; 14:6, 7; DA 633.

Whereof I Paul. The apostle abruptly injects himself into his line of argument, in the same manner as he had introduced the Colossian believers into it in v. 21.

Am made. Or, “became.” Compare Eph. 3:7. Paul here refers to the divine commission to preach the gospel. God was now using him for the accomplishment of eternal duties (see Eph. 3:8; 1 Tim. 1:11-16; cf. Gal. 1:11-17). A divine hand had drawn him into the over-all plan for man’s salvation. When the Colossians compared Paul with the false teachers, they should think of God’s eternal purposes and realize that the one who was writing to them was part of the great plan to bring about their salvation. Paul’s message, therefore, came with divine authorization. The believers’ faith should be strengthened and their steadfastness increased by this thought.

Minister. Gr. diakonos (see on Mark 9:35). Compare the use of the word in Matt. 20:26; Rom. 13:4; Eph. 6:21; 1 Tim. 4:6.

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Ellen G. White
The Acts of the Apostles, 48

What was the result of the outpouring of the Spirit on the Day of Pentecost? The glad tidings of a risen Saviour were carried to the uttermost parts of the inhabited world. As the disciples proclaimed the message of redeeming grace, hearts yielded to the power of this message. The church beheld converts flocking to her from all directions. Backsliders were reconverted. Sinners united with believers in seeking the pearl of great price. Some who had been the bitterest opponents of the gospel became its champions. The prophecy was fulfilled, “He that is feeble ... shall be as David; and the house of David ... as the angel of the Lord.” Zechariah 12:8. Every Christian saw in his brother a revelation of divine love and benevolence. One interest prevailed; one subject of emulation swallowed up all others. The ambition of the believers was to reveal the likeness of Christ's character and to labor for the enlargement of His kingdom. AA 48.1

“With great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.” Acts 4:33. Under their labors were added to the church chosen men, who, receiving the word of truth, consecrated their lives to the work of giving to others the hope that filled their hearts with peace and joy. They could not be restrained or intimidated by threatenings. The Lord spoke through them, and as they went from place to place, the poor had the gospel preached to them, and miracles of divine grace were wrought. AA 48.2

So mightily can God work when men give themselves up to the control of His Spirit. AA 49.1

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Ellen G. White
The Acts of the Apostles, 578

In the days of the apostles the Christian believers were filled with earnestness and enthusiasm. So untiringly did they labor for their Master that in a comparatively short time, notwithstanding fierce opposition, the gospel of the kingdom was sounded to all the inhabited parts of the earth. The zeal manifested at this time by the followers of Jesus has been recorded by the pen of inspiration for the encouragement of believers in every age. Of the church at Ephesus, which the Lord Jesus used as a symbol of the entire Christian church in the apostolic age, the faithful and true Witness declared: AA 578.1

“I know thy works, and thy labor, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: and hast borne, and hast patience, and for My name's sake hast labored, and hast not fainted.” Revelation 2:2, 3. AA 578.2

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Ellen G. White
The Acts of the Apostles, 593

More than eighteen centuries have passed since the apostles rested from their labors, but the history of their toils and sacrifices for Christ's sake is still among the most precious treasures of the church. This history, written under the direction of the Holy Spirit, was recorded in order that by it the followers of Christ in every age might be impelled to greater zeal and earnestness in the cause of the Saviour. AA 593.1

The commission that Christ gave to the disciples, they fulfilled. As these messengers of the cross went forth to proclaim the gospel, there was such a revelation of the glory of God as had never before been witnessed by mortal man. By the co-operation of the divine Spirit, the apostles did a work that shook the world. To every nation was the gospel carried in a single generation. AA 593.2

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Ellen G. White
Christ's Object Lessons, 120

Then the glad tidings of a risen Saviour were carried to the uttermost bounds of the inhabited world. The church beheld converts flocking to her from all directions. Believers were reconverted. Sinners united with Christians in seeking the pearl of great price. The prophecy was fulfilled, The weak shall be “as David,” and the house of David “as the angel of the Lord.” Zechariah 12:8. Every Christian saw in his brother the divine similitude of benevolence and love. One interest prevailed. One object swallowed up all others. All hearts beat in harmony. The only ambition of the believers was to reveal the likeness of Christ's character, and to labor for the enlargement of His kingdom. “The multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul.... With great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus; and great grace was upon them all.” Acts 4:32, 33. “And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” Acts 2:47. The Spirit of Christ animated the whole congregation; for they had found the pearl of great price. COL 120.1

These scenes are to be repeated, and with greater power. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost was the former rain, but the latter rain will be more abundant. The Spirit awaits our demand and reception. Christ is again to be revealed in His fulness by the Holy Spirit's power. Men will discern the value of the precious pearl, and with the apostle Paul they will say, “What things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord.” Philippians 3:7, 8. COL 121.1

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