I. Christological Terms (Concerning the Person and Work of Christ):;xNLx;;xNLx;Image (of the invisible God) (Greek: eikon) (Colossians 1:15): Jesus Christ is the perfect representation and exact likeness of the unseen God. He makes the invisible God visible and fully reveals His nature and character. This term signifies a shared essence and accurate portrayal.;xNLx;Firstborn (of all creation / from the dead) (Greek: prototokos) (Colossians 1:15, 18):;xNLx;Firstborn of all creation: This does not mean Christ was the first created being. In a Jewish context, "firstborn" often signified preeminence, supremacy, special honor, and rights of inheritance and sovereignty, rather than solely order of birth. Paul uses it here to assert Christ's priority and lordship over all creation, as the one through whom and for whom all things were created (1:16).;xNLx;Firstborn from the dead: Christ is the first to be resurrected to an incorruptible, glorified life, paving the way for the resurrection of believers and holding preeminence in the new creation.;xNLx;Supremacy / Preeminence (Greek: proteuo) (Colossians 1:18): The state of being first in rank, dignity, honor, and authority. Paul asserts that Christ holds this supreme position in all things, both in creation and in the church.;xNLx;Fullness (of God / deity) (Greek: pleroma) (Colossians 1:19; 2:9):;xNLx;In him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell (1:19): All the divine attributes, power, and nature of God reside completely and permanently in Christ.;xNLx;In him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily (2:9): This strongly affirms Christ's full and essential divinity, embodied in His incarnate person. It counters any teaching that might have suggested Christ was a lesser emanation or that fullness could be found elsewhere.;xNLx;Head (of the body, the church) (Colossians 1:18; 2:10, 19): Christ is the supreme authority, source of life, and director of the church, which is His body. Believers are united to Him as members of His body.;xNLx;Reconcile / Reconciliation (Greek: apokatallasso, katallasso) (Colossians 1:20, 22): The restoration of a broken relationship, specifically God's act of restoring sinful humanity and all creation (though the scope of "all things" in 1:20 is debated) to peace and fellowship with Himself through the atoning death of Jesus Christ on the cross.;xNLx;Redemption (Greek: apolytrosis) (Colossians 1:14): Deliverance or liberation from sin and its bondage through the payment of a ransom, specifically "the forgiveness of sins" achieved through Christ's sacrifice.;xNLx;Mystery (of God / of Christ / of the gospel) (Greek: mysterion) (Colossians 1:26-27; 2:2; 4:3): A divine truth, previously hidden or not fully understood in past ages, which has now been revealed by God. In Colossians, this mystery is "Christ in you, the hope of glory" (1:27), and the inclusion of the Gentiles in God's plan of salvation.;xNLx;II. Terms Related to the Colossian Heresy and False Teaching:;xNLx;;xNLx;Philosophy / Empty deceit / Human tradition / Elemental spirits of the world (Colossians 2:4, 8, 18, 20-23): These terms describe the nature of the false teaching threatening the Colossians.;xNLx;Philosophy (Colossians 2:8): Not necessarily all philosophy, but a specific deceptive philosophy or speculative system of thought that was not "according to Christ.";xNLx;Empty deceit: False and misleading teachings that lack true substance.;xNLx;Human tradition: Man-made rules, regulations, and teachings passed down, which were being elevated above Christ.;xNLx;Elemental spirits of the world / Elementary principles of the world (Greek: stoicheia tou kosmou) (Colossians 2:8, 20): A term with debated meaning, possibly referring to:;xNLx;Basic principles or rudimentary religious observances (Jewish or pagan).;xNLx;Angelic or spiritual powers thought to control the cosmos or human destiny, which some were apparently worshipping or seeking to appease.;xNLx;The basic physical components of the universe. Paul argues that believers have died with Christ to these and are not subject to them.;xNLx;Worship of angels (Colossians 2:18): A specific aspect of the Colossian heresy involving the veneration or worship of angelic beings, possibly as intermediaries or as having power over human affairs. Paul condemns this as detracting from the supremacy of Christ.;xNLx;Asceticism / Self-abasement / Severe treatment of the body (Colossians 2:18, 20-23): Practices involving rigorous self-denial, harsh physical discipline, and abstinence from certain foods or other things, likely promoted by the false teachers as a means of achieving higher spirituality or appeasing spiritual powers. Paul dismisses these as having "no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.";xNLx;Visions (Colossians 2:18 "insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions"): The false teachers may have based their authority on supposed mystical visions or spiritual experiences.;xNLx;Regulations / Ordinances (Colossians 2:14, 20-22): Rules such as "Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch," likely referring to man-made ascetic or legalistic requirements concerning food, drink, or other practices that the false teachers were imposing.;xNLx;Shadow (of what is to come) (Colossians 2:16-17): Paul describes certain Old Testament practices like food and drink regulations, festivals, new moons, or Sabbaths as a "shadow" of the good things that were to come in Christ. The "substance" or reality belongs to Christ. Insisting on these shadows as essential for salvation or spirituality was part of the false teaching.;xNLx;Disqualified (from the prize) (Colossians 2:18): The false teachers, by promoting their erroneous views, were essentially trying to lead the Colossians away from Christ and thus cause them to lose their spiritual reward or standing.;xNLx;Legalism (Implied in references to Old Testament Law as a means of righteousness or spiritual status by the false teachers, cf. Galatians): While not as central a theme as in Galatians, elements of Jewish legal observance (festivals, new moons, Sabbaths – 2:16) appear to have been part of the Colossian heresy, perhaps mixed with mystical or ascetic elements. Paul's argument is that these are shadows, and Christ is the reality.;xNLx;III. Salvation, New Life, and Christian Conduct:;xNLx;;xNLx;Saints (Greek: hagioi) (Colossians 1:2, 4, 12, 26; 3:12): Meaning "holy ones." Believers in Christ, set apart by God, made holy in Christ, and called to live holy lives.;xNLx;Faithful brothers (Colossians 1:2): A description of the believers in Colossae, emphasizing their shared brotherhood in Christ and their steadfastness in faith.;xNLx;Forgiveness of sins (Colossians 1:14; 2:13; 3:13): A key aspect of redemption in Christ, where God pardons and cancels the debt of sin.;xNLx;Alienated / Hostile in mind (Colossians 1:21): Describes the state of humanity before reconciliation with God through Christ – separated from Him and enemies in their inner disposition due to their evil deeds.;xNLx;Circumcision (made without hands / of Christ) (Colossians 2:11): Paul contrasts physical circumcision with a spiritual circumcision performed by Christ, which involves the "putting off of the body of the flesh," signifying a believer's separation from the old sinful nature and union with Christ in His death and resurrection.;xNLx;Buried with him in baptism... raised with him through faith (Colossians 2:12): Baptism is portrayed as a symbolic participation in Christ's death, burial, and resurrection, signifying the believer's death to sin and new life in Christ.;xNLx;Made alive together with him (Colossians 2:13; 3:1): Spiritual resurrection; believers who were spiritually dead in their sins have been given new spiritual life through their union with Christ.;xNLx;New self / Old self (Colossians 3:9-10): Similar to Ephesians, Paul contrasts the "old self" (the unregenerate, sinful nature) which has been "put off," with the "new self" (the regenerate nature in Christ) which is "being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.";xNLx;Set your minds on things that are above (Colossians 3:1-2): An exhortation for believers, who have been raised with Christ, to focus their thoughts, desires, and priorities on heavenly and spiritual realities where Christ is, rather than on earthly things.;xNLx;Mortify / Put to death (the members that are earthly) (Colossians 3:5): To actively and decisively deal with and subdue sinful desires and practices that belong to the old, earthly nature.;xNLx;Attributes of the new life (Colossians 3:12-17): Virtues such as compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, forgiveness, love, peace, thankfulness, and teaching/admonishing one another with wisdom.;xNLx;Word of Christ (Colossians 3:16): The teaching and message of Jesus Christ, which should dwell richly among believers, shaping their worship and interactions.;xNLx;Peace of Christ (Colossians 3:15): The inner tranquility and harmony that comes from Christ, which should rule in the hearts of believers and in the church.;xNLx;Redeem the time (Colossians 4:5 ESV footnote has "making the best use of the time," a similar concept to Ephesians 5:16): To make wise and good use of opportunities, especially in interactions with outsiders.;xNLx;IV. Other Notable Terms:;xNLx;;xNLx;Kingdom (of his beloved Son / of God) (Colossians 1:13; 4:11): The realm of God's rule and salvation into which believers have been transferred from the "domain of darkness.";xNLx;Hope (of the gospel / of glory) (Colossians 1:5, 23, 27): The confident expectation of future salvation, eternal life, and sharing in God's glory, grounded in the truth of the gospel and the indwelling Christ.;xNLx;Wisdom / Understanding / Knowledge (e.g., Colossians 1:9, 28; 2:2-3; 3:10, 16; 4:5): Spiritual insight, discernment, and comprehension of God's will and the truth in Christ, which Paul prays for the Colossians to have and which he seeks to impart. This true wisdom is contrasted with the deceptive "philosophy" of the false teachers.;xNLx;Bondservant / Slave (Greek: doulos) (Colossians 1:1 [Paul]; 1:7 [Epaphras]; 3:22; 4:1, 12 [Epaphras]): Paul and Epaphras describe themselves as bondservants of Christ, indicating total dedication. Paul also gives instructions for earthly slaves and masters.;xNLx;Mystery (See Section I);xNLx;Fullness (See Section I);xNLx;Colossae (Colossians 1:2): The city in the region of Phrygia (in Asia Minor, modern-day Turkey) to whose Christian church this letter was addressed.;xNLx;This list provides definitions for many of the significant terms encountered in Paul's Letter to the Colossians (ESV). Understanding these within their original context is crucial for appreciating Paul's profound defense of the all-sufficiency of Christ against deceptive teachings and his call for believers to live out their new identity in Him.