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Selected Verse: Colossians 1:21 - King James

Verse	Translation	Text
Col 1:21	King James	And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
The Colossians are included in this general reconciliation (compare Eph 2:1, Eph 2:12). sometime--"once." alienated--from God and salvation: 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 the prominent thought (compare Rom 5:10), as the second follows, "enemies in your mind." "Actual alienation makes habitual 'enemies'" [BENGEL]. in your mind--Greek, "in your understanding" or "thought" (Eph 2:3; Eph 4:18). by wicked works--rather as Greek, "in your wicked works" (wicked works were the element in which your enmity subsisted). yet now--Notwithstanding the former alienation, now that Christ has come, God hath completely reconciled, or restored to His friendship again (so the Greek, compare Note, see on Col 1:20).

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

The Colossians are included in this general reconciliation (compare Eph 2:1, Eph 2:12).

sometime--"once."

alienated--from God and salvation: 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 the prominent thought (compare Rom 5:10), as the second follows, "enemies in your mind." "Actual alienation makes habitual 'enemies'" [BENGEL].

in your mind--Greek, "in your understanding" or "thought" (Eph 2:3; Eph 4:18).

by wicked works--rather as Greek, "in your wicked works" (wicked works were the element in which your enmity subsisted).

yet now--Notwithstanding the former alienation, now that Christ has come, God hath completely reconciled, or restored to His friendship again (so the Greek, compare Note, see on Col 1:20).

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
And you, that were sometime alienated - In this work of reconciling heaven and earth, you at Colossae, who were once enemies of God, have been reached. The benefit of that great plan has been extended to you, and it has accomplished in you what it is designed to effect everywhere - to reconcile enemies to God. The word "sometime" here - ποτε pote - means "formerly." In common with all other men they were, by nature, in a state of enmity against God; compare the notes at Eph 2:1-3. In your mind - It was not merely by wicked works, or by an evil life; it was alienation seated in the mind, and leading to wicked works. It was deliberate and purposed enmity. It was not the result of passion and excitement; it had a deeper seat, and took hold of the intellectual powers The understanding was perverse and alienated from God, and all the powers of the soul were enlisted against him. It is this fact which renders reconciliation with God so difficult. Sin has corrupted and perverted alike the moral and the intellectual powers, and thus the whole man is arrayed against his Creator; compare the notes at Eph 4:18. By wicked works - The alienation of the mind showed itself by wicked works, and those works were the public evidence of the alienation; compare Eph 2:1-2. Yet now hath he reconciled - Harmony has been secured between you and God, and you are brought to friendship and love. Such a change has been produced in you as to bring your minds into friendship with that of God. All the change in producing this is on the part of man, for God cannot change, and there is no reason why he should, if he could. In the work of reconciliation man lays aside his hostility to his Maker, and thus becomes his friend; see the notes at Co2 5:18.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]

And you, that were sometime alienated - In this work of reconciling heaven and earth, you at Colossae, who were once enemies of God, have been reached. The benefit of that great plan has been extended to you, and it has accomplished in you what it is designed to effect everywhere - to reconcile enemies to God. The word "sometime" here - ποτε pote - means "formerly." In common with all other men they were, by nature, in a state of enmity against God; compare the notes at Eph 2:1-3.

In your mind - It was not merely by wicked works, or by an evil life; it was alienation seated in the mind, and leading to wicked works. It was deliberate and purposed enmity. It was not the result of passion and excitement; it had a deeper seat, and took hold of the intellectual powers The understanding was perverse and alienated from God, and all the powers of the soul were enlisted against him. It is this fact which renders reconciliation with God so difficult. Sin has corrupted and perverted alike the moral and the intellectual powers, and thus the whole man is arrayed against his Creator; compare the notes at Eph 4:18.

By wicked works - The alienation of the mind showed itself by wicked works, and those works were the public evidence of the alienation; compare Eph 2:1-2.

Yet now hath he reconciled - Harmony has been secured between you and God, and you are brought to friendship and love. Such a change has been produced in you as to bring your minds into friendship with that of God. All the change in producing this is on the part of man, for God cannot change, and there is no reason why he should, if he could. In the work of reconciliation man lays aside his hostility to his Maker, and thus becomes his friend; see the notes at Co2 5:18.

The Scofield Bible Commentary, by Cyrus Ingerson Scofield, [1917]
reconciled Reconciliation. The Greek word signifies "to change thoroughly from," and occurs in (Rom 5:10); (Rom 11:15); (Co1 7:11); (Co2 5:18); (Co2 5:19); (Co2 5:20). Reconciliation looks toward the effect of the death of christ upon man, as propitiation, (See Scofield) - (Rom 3:25), is the Godward aspect, and is that effect of the death of Christ upon the believing sinner which, through divine power, works in him a "thorough change" toward God from enmity and aversion to love and trust. It is never said that God is reconciled. God is propitiated, the sinner reconciled. Compare (Co2 5:18-21).

The Scofield Bible Commentary, by Cyrus Ingerson Scofield, [1917]

reconciled

Reconciliation. The Greek word signifies "to change thoroughly from," and occurs in (Rom 5:10); (Rom 11:15); (Co1 7:11); (Co2 5:18); (Co2 5:19); (Co2 5:20). Reconciliation looks toward the effect of the death of christ upon man, as propitiation,

(See Scofield) - (Rom 3:25),

is the Godward aspect, and is that effect of the death of Christ upon the believing sinner which, through divine power, works in him a "thorough change" toward God from enmity and aversion to love and trust. It is never said that God is reconciled. God is propitiated, the sinner reconciled.

Compare (Co2 5:18-21).

Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886]
Enemies To God, in the active sense. Mind (διανοίᾳ) See on imagination, Luk 1:51. The spiritual seat of enmity. By wicked works (ἐν τοῖς ἔγροις τοῖς πονηροῖς) Rev., better, in your evil works. In the performance of - the sphere in which, outwardly, their alienation had exhibited itself.

Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886]

Enemies

To God, in the active sense.

Mind (διανοίᾳ)

See on imagination, Luk 1:51. The spiritual seat of enmity.

By wicked works (ἐν τοῖς ἔγροις τοῖς πονηροῖς)

Rev., better, in your evil works. In the performance of - the sphere in which, outwardly, their alienation had exhibited itself.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
And you that were alienated, and enemies - Actual alienation of affection makes habitual enmity. In your mind - Both your understanding and your affections. By wicked works - Which continually feed and increase inward alienation from, and enmity to, God. He hath now reconciled - From the moment ye believed.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]

And you that were alienated, and enemies - Actual alienation of affection makes habitual enmity. In your mind - Both your understanding and your affections. By wicked works - Which continually feed and increase inward alienation from, and enmity to, God. He hath now reconciled - From the moment ye believed.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
And you, that were sometime alienated - All men are alienated from God, and all are enemies in their minds to him, and show it by their wicked works; but this is spoken particularly of the Gentiles. The word απαλλοτριοω, which we render to alienate, to give to another, to estrange, expresses the state of the Gentiles: while the Jews were, at least by profession, dedicated to God, the Gentiles were alienated, that is, given up to others; they worshipped not the true God, but had gods many and lords many, to whom they dedicated themselves, their religious service, and their property. The verb αλλοτριοω, to alienate, being compounded here with the preposition απο, from, signifies to abalienate, to estrange utterly, to be wholly the property of another. Thus the Gentiles had alienated themselves from God, and were alienated or rejected by him, because of their wickedness and idolatry. Enemies in your mind - They had the carnal mind, which is enmity against God; and this was expressed in their outward conduct by wicked works. See the note on Rom 5:10. The mind is taken here for all the soul, heart, affections, passions, etc.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826

And you, that were sometime alienated - All men are alienated from God, and all are enemies in their minds to him, and show it by their wicked works; but this is spoken particularly of the Gentiles. The word απαλλοτριοω, which we render to alienate, to give to another, to estrange, expresses the state of the Gentiles: while the Jews were, at least by profession, dedicated to God, the Gentiles were alienated, that is, given up to others; they worshipped not the true God, but had gods many and lords many, to whom they dedicated themselves, their religious service, and their property. The verb αλλοτριοω, to alienate, being compounded here with the preposition απο, from, signifies to abalienate, to estrange utterly, to be wholly the property of another. Thus the Gentiles had alienated themselves from God, and were alienated or rejected by him, because of their wickedness and idolatry.

Enemies in your mind - They had the carnal mind, which is enmity against God; and this was expressed in their outward conduct by wicked works. See the note on Rom 5:10. The mind is taken here for all the soul, heart, affections, passions, etc.

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