Colossians 1:19
For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Colossians 1:19
For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
The phrase "all the fullness of God" isn't just about Jesus possessing divine attributes; it highlights that the Father deliberately chose this, making Jesus the ultimate dwelling place for God's complete being and power, ensuring we have everything we need for salvation through Him. This wasn't an accidental arrangement but a divine decision, establishing Jesus as the source from which all blessings flow to us.
Paul is explaining why Christ deserves to be supreme over all things, including the church. He has just established Christ as the image of God, the firstborn of all creation, and the creator of everything. Now, he emphasizes that it was God’s own good pleasure to establish Christ in this way, ensuring that all the divine fullness resides in Him. This indwelling of God's fullness in Christ is the foundation for His role in reconciling all things to God.
Why does the Bible emphasize that God chose for His fullness to dwell in Jesus?
The verse states, 'For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell.' The original language and scholarly comments highlight that the subject here is God the Father, and His pleasure or good pleasure (eupdokein) was to establish this reality. This wasn't a default state, but a deliberate divine decision. God the Father chose that His complete essence, power, and attributes would find their permanent home in His Son.
This emphasizes:
When we say 'fullness,' what exactly are we talking about? Is it just a little bit of God, or everything?
The term 'fullness' (pleroma) here signifies the totality of God's being, attributes, and powers. It's not a partial filling, but a complete and perfect indwelling.
Think of it this way:
Understand the original words
plērōma · Greek Noun
The entirety of divine nature and attributes; the completeness of God's essence. It declares that Christ is fully, essentially, and completely God.
This passage describes the Word becoming flesh and 'dwelling among us,' full of grace and truth, directly echoing the idea of God's fullness residing in Christ.
Colossians 2:9It explicitly states that 'in Christ the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily,' reinforcing the concept from Colossians 1:19 by specifying it as the 'fullness of the Godhead.'
Ephesians 1:23This verse calls the church 'his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all,' showing how Christ's fullness is extended to and expressed through His people.
Philippians 2:6-7It speaks of Christ, though in the form of God, emptying himself and taking the form of a servant, illustrating the intentionality and purpose behind the divine fullness dwelling in Him for our salvation.
Hebrews 1:3This passage describes Christ as the 'radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature,' highlighting how Christ perfectly expresses and embodies the very essence and fullness of God.
barnesColossians 1:19: "For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;"
For it pleased the Father - The words "the Father" are not in the original, but they are not improperly supplied. Some word must be understood, and as the apostle in Colossians 1:12 referred to "the Father" as having a claim to the thanks of his people for what he had done, and as the great favor for which they ought to be thankful is that which he immediately specifies - the exaltation of Christ, it is not impro…
meyerColossians 1:19: "For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;"
Colossians 1:19 .[43] ὍΤΙ ] Confirmatory of the ἽΝΑ ΓΈΝΗΤΑΙ Κ.Τ.Λ. , just said: “about which divinely intended ΓΊΓΝΕΣΘΑΙ ἘΝ ΠᾶΣΙΝ ΑὐΤῸΝ ΠΡΩΤΕΎΟΝΤΑ there can be no doubt, for it has pleased , that in Him , etc.” How could He, who was thus destined to be possessor of the divine fulness and reconciler of the world, have been destined otherwise than to become ἐν πᾶσιν πρωτεύων ! This confirmation, therefore, does not…
The phrase "all the fullness of God" isn't just about Jesus possessing divine attributes; it highlights that the Father deliberately chose this, making Jesus the ultimate dwelling place for God's complete being and power, ensuring we have everything we need for salvation through Him. This wasn't an accidental arrangement but a divine decision, establishing Jesus as the source from which all blessings flow to us.
Paul is explaining why Christ deserves to be supreme over all things, including the church. He has just established Christ as the image of God, the firstborn of all creation, and the creator of everything. Now, he emphasizes that it was God’s own good pleasure to establish Christ in this way, ensuring that all the divine fullness resides in Him. This indwelling of God's fullness in Christ is the foundation for His role in reconciling all things to God.
Paul is explaining why Christ deserves to be supreme over all things, including the church. He has just established Christ as the image of God, the firstborn of all creation, and the creator of everything. Now, he emphasizes that it was God’s own good pleasure to establish Christ in this way, ensuring that all the divine fullness resides in Him. This indwelling of God's fullness in Christ is the foundation for His role in reconciling all things to God.
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Jesus is God's presence, but what kind of presence? Is it temporary, or something more secure?
The verse uses the verb 'dwell' (katoikēsai), which implies a permanent, settled residence – like a temple or a home. It's not a fleeting visit or a temporary assignment.
This speaks volumes about:
"For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell," — The phrase "all the fullness of God" isn't just about Jesus possessing divine attributes; it highlights that the Father deliberately chose this, making Jesus the ultimate dwelling place for God's c…