Devine Scripture

Colossians 1:21

What does Colossians 1:21 mean?

A plain-English look at Colossians 1:21 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Colossians 1:21 means

Paul reminds the Colossians of their past: they were “alienated and enemies in your mind in your evil works.” Sin estranged them from God, not only in behavior but in mindset—hostility toward God’s rule shaped their thinking and actions. This sober diagnosis magnifies grace. The gospel does not polish the already good; it reconciles enemies. Facing the truth about former alienation keeps believers humble and grateful. It also exposes the futility of human philosophies to heal the deepest rift. Only God’s action in Christ can bridge the divide created by our evil deeds and rebellious thoughts.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And you, being in time past alienated and enemies in your mind in your evil works,

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And you, being in time past alienated and enemies in your mind in your evil works,

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And you, who in the past were cut off and at war with God in your minds through evil works, he has now made one

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And you--once being alienated, and enemies in the mind, in the evil works, yet now did he reconcile,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And you, whereas you were some time alienated and enemies in mind in evil works:

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And you, who once were alienated and enemies in mind by wicked works, yet now has it reconciled

Context

After the cosmic reconciliation of verse 20, verse 21 personalizes the story: the Colossians’ own alienation. This prepares for verse 22’s good news of reconciliation through Christ’s bodily death, aiming to present them holy and blameless. Verse 23 will then exhort them to continue steadfast in the gospel. The flow from universal to individual underscores that Christ’s grand work reaches into specific lives and churches.

v.20and through him to reconcile all things unto himself, having made peace through the blood of his cross; through him, I say, whether things upon the earth, or things in the heavens.

v.21This passage

v.22yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and without blemish and unreproveable before him:

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Romans 1:30

    backbiters, hateful to God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

  • Ephesians 4:18

    being darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardening of their heart;

  • James 4:4

    Ye adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore would be a friend of the world maketh himself an enemy of God.

  • Titus 1:15

    To the pure all things are pure: but to them that are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but both their mind and their conscience are defiled.

  • Romans 5:9

    Much more then, being now justified by his blood, shall we be saved from the wrath of God through him.

  • Romans 8:7

    because the mind of the flesh is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can it be:

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