Devine Scripture

Colossians 1:22

What does Colossians 1:22 mean?

A plain-English look at Colossians 1:22 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Colossians 1:22 means

“Yet now” God has reconciled them “in the body of his flesh through death,” highlighting the tangible, historical death of Christ. Reconciliation is not a metaphor; it was achieved by the Son’s real suffering and death. The goal is to “present you holy and without blemish and unreproveable before him.” Salvation aims at both status and transformation—believers are set apart, cleansed from accusation, and fitted to stand in God’s presence. This presentation looks toward the final evaluation, grounded in Christ’s finished work. The accent on His fleshly death counters any teaching that downplays the cross or treats matter as inherently evil; God reconciled us through Christ’s embodied sacrifice.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

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

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

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

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

In the body of his flesh through death, so that you might be holy and without sin and free from all evil before him:

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

in the body of his flesh through the death, to present you holy, and unblemished, and unblameable before himself,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Yet now he hath reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unspotted and blameless before him:

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

in the body of his flesh through death; to present you holy and unblamable and irreproachable before it,

Context

Verse 22 answers the alienation of verse 21 with the decisive action of reconciliation in Christ’s death. It points forward to the believer’s ultimate presentation before God, setting up the conditional exhortation of verse 23 to continue in the faith. The sequence—alienation, reconciliation, perseverance—mirrors the chapter’s movement from Christ’s supremacy to personal assurance and responsibility.

v.21And you, being in time past alienated and enemies in your mind in your evil works,

v.22This passage

v.23if so be that ye continue in the faith, grounded and stedfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel which ye heard, which was preached in all creation under heaven; whereof I Paul was made a minister.

Cross references

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

  • Romans 7:4

    Wherefore, my brethren, ye also were made dead to the law through the body of Christ; that ye should be joined to another, even to him who was raised from the dead, that we might bring forth fruit unto God.

  • Ephesians 5:27

    that he might present the church to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

  • Hebrews 10:10

    By which will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

  • Luke 1:75

    In holiness and righteousness before him all our days.

  • Hebrews 10:20

    by the way which he dedicated for us, a new and living way, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;

  • 2 Corinthians 11:2

    For I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy: for I espoused you to one husband, that I might present you as a pure virgin to Christ.

Related questions readers ask

Keep reading

Want to dig deeper? Explore Colossians 1

Hand-picked devotionals, topical studies, and pastoral answers that draw on Colossians 1.

Keep exploring

Follow this verse across Scripture

Topics, devotionals, original-language word studies, and figures connected to Colossians 1:22.

Browse every hub

BibleTopicsBible answersDevotionalsFamous passagesWord studiesPeoplePlacesVerses for…Reading plansCommentary