Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [Colossians: Chapter 1].
gen•tai en p•sin autos pr•teu•n\). Purpose clause with \hina\ and
the second aorist middle subjunctive of \ginomai\, "that he
himself in all things (material and spiritual) may come to
(\gen•tai\, not \•i\, be) hold the first place" (\pr•teu•n\,
present active participle of \pr•teu•\, old verb, to hold the
first place, here only in the N.T.). Christ is first with Paul in
time and in rank. See Re 1:5 for this same use of \pr•totokos\
with \t•n nekr•n\ (the dead).
1:19 {For it was the good pleasure of the Father} (\hoti
eudok•sen\). No word in the Greek for "the Father," though the
verb calls for either \ho theos\ or \ho pat•r\ as the subject.
This verb \eudoke•\ is common in the N.T. for God's will and
pleasure (Mt 3:17; 1Co 10:5). {All the fulness} (\p•n to
pl•r•ma\). The same idea as in 2:9 \p•n to pl•r•ma t•s
theot•tos\ (all the fulness of the Godhead). "A recognized
technical term in theology, denoting the totality of the Divine
powers and attributes" (Lightfoot). It is an old word from
\pl•ro•\, to fill full, used in various senses as in Mr 8:20 of
the baskets, Ga 4:10 of time, etc. The Gnostics distributed the
divine powers among various aeons. Paul gathers them all up in
Christ, a full and flat statement of the deity of Christ. {Should
dwell} (\katoik•sai\). First aorist active infinitive of
\katoike•\, to make abode or home. All the divine attributes are
at home in Christ (\en aut•i\).
1:20 {Through him} (\di' autou\). As the sufficient and chosen
agent in the work of reconciliation (\apokatallaxai\, first
aorist active infinitive of \apokatallass•\, further addition to
\eudok•sen\, was pleased). This double compound (\apo, kata\ with
\allass•\) occurs only here, verse 22; Eph 2:16, and nowhere
else so far as known. Paul's usual word for "reconcile" is
\katallass•\ (2Co 5:18-20; Ro 5:10), though \diallass•\ (Mt
5:24) is more common in Attic. The addition of \apo\ here is
clearly for the idea of complete reconciliation. See on ¯2Co
5:18-20 for discussion of \katallass•\, Paul's great word. The
use of \ta panta\ (the all things, the universe) as if the
universe were somehow out of harmony reminds us of the mystical
passage in Ro 8:19-23 which see for discussion. Sin somehow has
put the universe out of joint. Christ will set it right. {Unto
himself} (\eis auton\). Unto God, though \auton\ is not reflexive
unless written \hauton\. {Having made peace} (\eir•nopoi•sas\).
Late and rare compound (Pr 10:10 and here only in N.T.) from
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