Colossians 1:22
New International Version
But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation—

New Living Translation
Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.

English Standard Version
he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him,

Berean Standard Bible
But now He has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy, unblemished, and blameless in His presence—

Berean Literal Bible
but now He has reconciled in His body of flesh through death, to present you holy and unblemished and blameless before Him,

King James Bible
In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:

New King James Version
in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight—

New American Standard Bible
yet He has now reconciled you in His body of flesh through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach—

NASB 1995
yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach—

NASB 1977
yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach—

Legacy Standard Bible
but now He reconciled you in the body of His flesh through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach—

Amplified Bible
yet Christ has now reconciled you [to God] in His physical body through death, in order to present you before the Father holy and blameless and beyond reproach—

Christian Standard Bible
But now he has reconciled you by his physical body through his death, to present you holy, faultless, and blameless before him —

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But now He has reconciled you by His physical body through His death, to present you holy, faultless, and blameless before Him—

American Standard Version
yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and without blemish and unreproveable before him:

Contemporary English Version
But his Son became a human and died. So God made peace with you, and now he lets you stand in his presence as people who are holy and faultless and innocent.

English Revised Version
in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and without blemish and unreproveable before him:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
But now Christ has brought you back to God by dying in his physical body. He did this so that you could come into God's presence without sin, fault, or blame.

Good News Translation
But now, by means of the physical death of his Son, God has made you his friends, in order to bring you, holy, pure, and faultless, into his presence.

International Standard Version
he has now reconciled by the death of his physical body, so that he may present you holy, blameless, and without fault before him.

Majority Standard Bible
But now He has reconciled you by Christ?s physical body through death to present you holy, unblemished, and blameless in His presence?

NET Bible
but now he has reconciled you by his physical body through death to present you holy, without blemish, and blameless before him--

New Heart English Bible
yet now he has reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and without blemish and blameless before him,

Webster's Bible Translation
In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblamable and unreprovable in his sight:

Weymouth New Testament
He has now, in His human body, reconciled to God by His death, to bring you, holy and faultless and irreproachable, into His presence;

World English Bible
yet now he has reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and without defect and blameless before him,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and unblemished, and unblameable before Himself,

Berean Literal Bible
but now He has reconciled in His body of flesh through death, to present you holy and unblemished and blameless before Him,

Young's Literal Translation
in the body of his flesh through the death, to present you holy, and unblemished, and unblameable before himself,

Smith's Literal Translation
In the body of his flesh by death, to present you holy, and blameless, and irreproachable before him:
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Yet now he hath reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unspotted, and blameless before him:

Catholic Public Domain Version
yet now he has reconciled you, by his body of flesh, through death, so as to offer you, holy and immaculate and blameless, before him.

New American Bible
he has now reconciled in his fleshly body through his death, to present you holy, without blemish, and irreproachable before him,

New Revised Standard Version
he has now reconciled in his fleshly body through death, so as to present you holy and blameless and irreproachable before him—
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Through the sacrifice of his body and his death, so that he may raise you before him, holy, and without reproach and blameless:

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
By the body of his flesh and in his death, to establish you before him as Holy Ones without blemish and without an indictment,
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
by means of death in his fleshly body, that he may present you holy, and without spot, and blameless in his sight;

Godbey New Testament
in the body of his cross through death, to present you holy and blameless and unreprovable before him,

Haweis New Testament
by the body of his flesh, through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and irreprehensible in his presence:

Mace New Testament
through his own death, to present you holy, and unblameable, and unreproveable in his own sight:

Weymouth New Testament
He has now, in His human body, reconciled to God by His death, to bring you, holy and faultless and irreproachable, into His presence;

Worrell New Testament
yet now did He reconcile in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and without blemish, and irreproachable, before Him;

Worsley New Testament
yet now hath He reconciled in the body of his flesh, through death, to present you holy, and unblameable, and unreproveable in his sight:

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Supremacy of Christ
21Once you were alienated from God and were hostile in your minds because of your evil deeds. 22But now He has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy, unblemished, and blameless in His presence 23if indeed you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope of the gospel you heard, which has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.…

Cross References
Ephesians 1:4
For He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in His presence. In love

Romans 5:10
For if, when we were enemies of God, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life!

2 Corinthians 5:18-19
All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: / that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men’s trespasses against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation.

Ephesians 2:13-16
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. / For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has torn down the dividing wall of hostility / by abolishing in His flesh the law of commandments and decrees. He did this to create in Himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace ...

Hebrews 10:10
And by that will, we have been sanctified through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

1 Peter 1:19-20
but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or spot. / He was known before the foundation of the world, but was revealed in the last times for your sake.

Romans 8:3
For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful man, as an offering for sin. He thus condemned sin in the flesh,

1 John 1:7
But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

Philippians 2:15
so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine as lights in the world

1 Thessalonians 5:23
Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely, and may your entire spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 9:14
how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, purify our consciences from works of death, so that we may serve the living God!

1 Corinthians 1:8
He will sustain you to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 3:14
Therefore, beloved, as you anticipate these things, make every effort to be found at peace—spotless and blameless in His sight.

Isaiah 1:18
“Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are as red as crimson, they will become like wool.

Isaiah 53:5
But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.


Treasury of Scripture

In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and blameless and unreproveable in his sight:

the body.

Romans 7:4
Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.

Ephesians 2:15,16
Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; …

Hebrews 10:10,20
By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all

to.

Luke 1:75
In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.

2 Corinthians 11:2
For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

Ephesians 1:4
According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

in his.

Job 15:15
Behold, he putteth no trust in his saints; yea, the heavens are not clean in his sight.

Job 25:5
Behold even to the moon, and it shineth not; yea, the stars are not pure in his sight.

Psalm 51:7
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Jump to Previous
Accusation Blameless Blemish Body Christ's Death Evil Faultless Flesh Fleshly Free Holy Human Irreproachable Order Physical Presence Present Reconciled Sight Sin Unblamable Unblameable Unreproveable
Jump to Next
Accusation Blameless Blemish Body Christ's Death Evil Faultless Flesh Fleshly Free Holy Human Irreproachable Order Physical Presence Present Reconciled Sight Sin Unblamable Unblameable Unreproveable
Colossians 1
1. After salutation Paul thanks God for the Colossians' faith;
7. confirms the doctrine of Epaphras;
9. prays further for their increase in grace;
14. describes the supremacy of Christ;
21. encourages them to receive Jesus Christ, and commends his own ministry.














But now
This phrase marks a significant transition from the past to the present reality of the believer's life. In the Greek, "nyni de" emphasizes the immediacy and current state of transformation. Historically, this reflects the shift from the old covenant to the new covenant established through Christ. It signifies the present moment of salvation and reconciliation, highlighting the urgency and importance of living in the reality of Christ's work.

He has reconciled you
The Greek word for "reconciled" is "apokatallasso," which means to restore a relationship to harmony. This term is used to describe the profound act of God bringing humanity back into a right relationship with Himself through Jesus Christ. In the historical context, reconciliation was a powerful concept, often used in diplomatic or familial settings to describe the restoration of peace. Spiritually, it underscores the divine initiative in mending the broken relationship caused by sin.

by Christ’s physical body
The phrase emphasizes the tangible, incarnate nature of Jesus. The Greek "sōmati" refers to the physical body, underscoring the reality of the incarnation. This is crucial in countering early heresies that denied Christ's physical existence. Historically, the physicality of Christ was essential for the atonement, as it fulfilled the sacrificial system of the Old Testament, where a physical, spotless lamb was required.

through death
This phrase highlights the means by which reconciliation was achieved. The Greek "thanatou" refers to death, specifically the sacrificial death of Christ on the cross. This was a pivotal event in history, fulfilling prophecies and establishing the new covenant. Theologically, it signifies the ultimate sacrifice, where Jesus bore the penalty of sin, offering redemption and forgiveness to all who believe.

to present you
The Greek "parastēsai" means to present or to stand beside. This implies an intentional act of bringing someone into a particular state or condition. In the context of this verse, it refers to the believer being presented before God. Historically, this echoes the priestly duties of presenting offerings before God, now fulfilled in Christ presenting believers as holy.

holy, unblemished, and blameless
These three adjectives describe the transformed state of the believer. "Holy" (Greek "hagios") means set apart for God, reflecting purity and dedication. "Unblemished" (Greek "amōmos") refers to being without defect, akin to the sacrificial animals in the Old Testament. "Blameless" (Greek "anegklētos") means free from accusation, highlighting the complete justification believers have in Christ. Together, these terms paint a picture of the believer's new identity in Christ, emphasizing the complete and perfect work of salvation.

in His presence
The Greek "katenōpion autou" means before Him or in His sight. This phrase underscores the intimate and personal relationship believers have with God through Christ. Historically, being in the presence of God was a privilege reserved for the high priest once a year. Now, through Christ, all believers have access to God's presence, signifying a restored relationship and the assurance of acceptance before Him.

(22) In the body of his flesh.--There seems to be some emphasis on the word "flesh:" just as in the parallel of Ephesians 2:16, the expression is "in one body," with a characteristic emphasis on the word "one," suiting the genius of the passage. The meaning is, of course, His natural body, as distinguished from His mystic Body, spoken of above (Colossians 1:18). But this is no sufficient reason for the use of this phrase, for there could be no confusion between them in this passage. Hence, without ascribing to the word "flesh" a distinctly polemical intention, we may not unnaturally suppose that there was present to St. Paul's mind the thought of the Gnosticism, which depreciated the body as evil, and which must have always inclined to the idea that "Jesus Christ had not come in the flesh" (1John 4:2-3); and that the presence of this thought induced some special emphasis in his language.

Holy and unblameable and unreproveable.--See Note on Ephesians 1:4. The word "to present" is used both in a sacrificial sense (as in Romans 12:1) and in the sense of introduction and presentation (as of a bride, see Ephesians 5:27). The words, "holy and unblameable," i.e., "without blemish," suit the former sense. But "unreproveable" is incongruous with it, and the parallel passage (Ephesians 2:18) speaks of "access" or introduction to the Father. . . .

Verse 22. - In the body of his flesh (ver. 20; Colossians 2:11; Romans 8:3; Romans 7:4; 1 Timothy 3:10; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 Peter 3:18; 1 Peter 4:1; Hebrews 2:14, 15; Hebrews 10:20; 1 John 4:2; 2 John 1:7; Luke 24:39). With a significant emphasis, the material body of Christ is made the instrument of that reconciliation in the carrying out of which "his whole fulness" is engaged (vers. 19, 20); see note on "thought," ver. 21, and on "body," Colossians 2:23. The necessity of the double expression was shown by the fact that the Gnostic Marcion erased "of his flesh" from the text of this Epistle, and interpreted "the body" as "the Church;" Bengel and others suppose "of his flesh "to be added to prevent this mistake (see Tertullian, 'Against Marcion,' 5:19). This phrase was the crux of Docetism, whose principles were indeed implicitly contained in the Alexandrine-Jewish philosophy with its contempt for matter and the physical life, which was now first beginning to leaven the Church. Body is antithetical to soul: flesh to spirit. The former is individual and concrete, the actual physical organism; the latter denotes the material of which it consists, the bodily nature in its essence and characteristics (comp. note on ver. 11; and see Cremer's 'Lexicon' on these words). "In the body" is not "by the body," nor "during his earthly life" (as though opposed to "out of the body," 2 Corinthians 5:8; 2 Corinthians 12:3), but "as incarnate." The Epistle to the Hebrews expands the thought of our Epistle in its own way in Hebrews 2:14-18; Hebrews 10:5-10. That reconciliation is through the (or, his) death (Romans 3:25; Romans 4:25; Romans 5:10; 1 Corinthians 15:3; 2 Corinthians 5:14, 15; Galatians 3:13; Hebrews 2:9; Hebrews 9:15, 16; John 11:51, 52; John 10:11; Revelation 1:18; Revelation 2:8) is the fundamental axiom of the gospel (ver. 5), already implied in vers. 14 and 20. And the atoning death presupposes the Incarnation (Hebrews 2:14). The two foregoing phrases belong grammatically to ver. 21. To present you holy and without blemish and unreprovable before him (ver. 28; Ephesians 1:4; Ephesians 5:25-27; 1 Thessalonians 2:19; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; Romans 2:16; 1 Corinthians 4:5; 2 Corinthians 4:14; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Acts 17:31); before "Christ" (ver. 19), who is "Judge" (John 5:22, 23) as well as "King" and "Redeemer" (vers. 13, 14): this also belongs to his fulness. He will "himself present the Church to himself" (Ephesians 5:27, Revised Text; also 2 Corinthians 4:14). In this presentation his redeeming work culminates (comp. Philippians 1:6, 10; Philippians 2:16; and, in view of the connection of vers. 22 and 23, 1 Corinthians 1:6-9). So, in general, Meyer and Alford. Ellicott and Lightfoot refer to God's present approbations, quoting Ephesians 1:4, a parallel much less close than ver. 27, and supposing "God" the subject of the verb (see note on ver. 19). "Holy erga Deum; without blemish respectu vestri; unreprovable respectu proximi" (Bengel). (On "holy," see note, ver. 2; also Colossians 3:12.) "Apropos is not "without blame," but "without blemish," "immaculate" (Lightfoot, R.V.; Ephesians 1:4; Ephesians 5:27; Philippians 2:15: comp. Hebrews 9:14; 1 Peter 1:19). In the LXX it is the equivalent of the Hebrew tamim ("integer"), "faultless" in bodily condition or in moral character. "Unreprovable," as a judicial term ("without charge that can be preferred"), points to the judgment day, and hence is wanting in Ephesians 1:4 (comp. 1 Corinthians 1:8; Romans 8:33, 34; 1 Timothy 3:10; Titus 1:6, 7).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
But
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

now
νυνὶ (nyni)
Adverb
Strong's 3570: A prolonged form of nun for emphasis; just now.

He has reconciled [you]
ἀποκατήλλαξεν (apokatēllaxen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 604: To reconcile, change from one state of feeling to another. From apo and katallasso; to reconcile fully.

by
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

[Christ’s]
αὐτοῦ (autou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

physical
σαρκὸς (sarkos)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 4561: Flesh, body, human nature, materiality; kindred.

body
σώματι (sōmati)
Noun - Dative Neuter Singular
Strong's 4983: Body, flesh; the body of the Church. From sozo; the body, used in a very wide application, literally or figuratively.

through
διὰ (dia)
Preposition
Strong's 1223: A primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through.

death
θανάτου (thanatou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2288: Death, physical or spiritual. From thnesko; death.

to present
παραστῆσαι (parastēsai)
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active
Strong's 3936: Or prolonged paristano from para and histemi; to stand beside, i.e. to exhibit, proffer, recommend, substantiate; or to be at hand, aid.

you
ὑμᾶς (hymas)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

holy,
ἁγίους (hagious)
Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 40: Set apart by (or for) God, holy, sacred. From hagos; sacred.

unblemished,
ἀμώμους (amōmous)
Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 299: Blameless, without blemish, unblemished, faultless. Unblemished.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

blameless
ἀνεγκλήτους (anenklētous)
Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 410: Irreproachable, blameless. Unaccused, i.e. irreproachable.

in His presence—
κατενώπιον (katenōpion)
Preposition
Strong's 2714: Before the face of, over against. From kata and enopion; directly in front of.


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NT Letters: Colossians 1:22 Yet now he has reconciled (Coloss. Col Co)
Colossians 1:21
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