Colossians 1:20
And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
Study Note
Study Note
The declaration that God was pleased to reconcile 'all things' to himself through Christ — 'whether things on earth or things in heaven' — by 'the blood of his cross' constitutes one of the broadest soteriological statements in the Pauline corpus. The cosmic scope of reconciliation ('ta panta') parallels Romans 8:19-22's groaning creation and anticipates Ephesians 1:10's 'summing up of all things in Christ.' The phrase 'making peace through the blood of his cross' combines sacrificial imagery with the Pax Romana political ideal, subverting Caesar's peace achieved through violence with a peace achieved through the victim's death. Theologians from Irenaeus's 'recapitulation' to contemporary ecological theology have drawn on this verse's cosmic christological vision.
Other Translations
and 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.
and through him to reconcile the all things to himself--having made peace through the blood of his cross--through him, whether the things upon the earth, whether the things in the heavens.
Through him uniting all things with himself, having made peace through the blood of his cross; through him, I say, uniting all things which are on earth or in heaven.
Cross References
And no sin offering, whereof any of the blood is brought into the tabernacle of the congregation to reconcile withal …
Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven.
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his …
Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon …
And it shall be the prince’s part to give burnt offerings, and meat offerings, and drink offerings, in the feasts, …
And so thou shalt do the seventh day of the month for every one that erreth, and for him that …
Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an …
And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the …
But thou, Beth–lehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come …