Colossians 1:20 kjv

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.

Colossians 1:20 nkjv

and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.

Colossians 1:20 niv

and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

Colossians 1:20 esv

and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

Colossians 1:20 nlt

and through him God reconciled
everything to himself.
He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth
by means of Christ's blood on the cross.

Colossians 1 verses

Colossians 1 20 Meaning

Colossians 1:20 proclaims that through Jesus Christ, God purposed to reconcile "all things" to Himself, both on earth and in heaven, by making peace through the sacrificial shedding of Christ's blood on the cross. This reconciliation brings estranged creation back into a right relationship and harmonious order with its Creator, affirming Christ's universal preeminence and the efficacy of His atoning work. It signifies the undoing of the cosmic disorder introduced by sin, restoring all things under Christ's supreme authority.

Colossians 1 20 Context

Colossians chapter 1 sets forth the supremacy of Christ against prevalent false teachings in Colossae that diminished His unique role. These errors likely included aspects of gnosticism, syncretistic angel worship, philosophical speculations, and an overemphasis on ascetic practices and human traditions. The preceding verses (1:15-19) describe Christ as the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation, the one by whom and for whom all things were created, and the Head of the church. This verse (1:20) logically extends His work from creation and preservation to reconciliation, emphasizing the comprehensive nature of His redemptive activity, which brings peace to a broken cosmos through His sacrificial death. It is a direct refutation of any system that posited other intermediaries or alternative means for peace and harmony.

Colossians 1 20 Word analysis

• and through him (καὶ δι’ αὐτοῦ - kai di autou): Re-emphasizes Christ as the exclusive agent of reconciliation. Just as all things were created through Him (Col 1:16), so too are all things reconciled through Him. This reinforces His singular mediatorial role.
• to reconcile (ἀποκαταλλάξαι - apokatallaxai): A compound Greek verb signifying "to reconcile completely" or "to restore fully." It's stronger than a simple reconciliation (like katallassō) and implies a perfect restoration to a prior harmonious state. This suggests reversal of alienation caused by sin on a grand scale.
• all things (τὰ πάντα - ta panta): A comprehensive term. In the immediate context of Colossians 1:16, where Christ creates "all things," it refers to the entire created universe, visible and invisible. This signifies a cosmic reconciliation, restoring not only humanity but all creation—which groans under the weight of sin (Rom 8:22)—to its proper relationship under God's supreme authority exercised through Christ. It's not limited to sentient beings or human relationships.
• unto himself (εἰς αὑτόν - eis hauton): Refers to God the Father, to whom all reconciliation is directed. This highlights God's ultimate purpose and initiative in redemption, bringing everything back into perfect alignment with His sovereign will.
• whether things on earth or things in heaven (εἴτε τὰ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς εἴτε τὰ ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς - eite ta epi tēs gēs eite ta en tois ouranois): Explicitly reiterates the universal scope of "all things." "Things in heaven" can refer to angelic beings brought into proper submission, or spiritual principalities and powers, or simply the heavenly dimension of existence. It underlines that nothing escapes Christ's reconciling power, including unseen cosmic forces. It directly counters any belief in spiritual forces or celestial beings that are beyond or opposed to Christ's dominion.
• having made peace (εἰρηνοποιήσας - eirenopoiēsas): A rare and powerful verb (only here in the New Testament), meaning "to create or establish peace." This emphasizes Christ as the active peace-maker, not merely a facilitator. He removed the hostility and estrangement.
• through the blood of his cross (διὰ τοῦ αἵματος τοῦ σταυροῦ αὐτοῦ - dia tou haimatos tou staurou autou): The indispensable means by which reconciliation and peace are achieved. "Blood" signifies Christ's sacrificial death and the violent, propitiatory atonement. The "cross" identifies the specific act of suffering and death where this sacrifice occurred. This underscores the theological reality that profound peace with God required Christ's substitutionary death.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "and through him to reconcile all things": Points to Christ as the sole divine mediator of this cosmic-scale reconciliation. This refutes any Gnostic or philosophical teaching suggesting multiple mediators or other paths to harmony.
• "unto himself, whether things on earth or things in heaven": Specifies the recipient and scope of this universal reconciliation. It ensures that no part of creation, earthly or spiritual, is excluded from Christ's all-encompassing redemptive work, bringing order back to a disrupted cosmos under God's sovereignty.
• "having made peace through the blood of his cross": Clearly identifies the unique, sacrificial method for achieving this peace. It grounds the universal reconciliation in the concrete, historical event of Christ's crucifixion and His substitutionary atonement, emphasizing that true peace requires overcoming sin's penalty and power through a divine sacrifice.

Colossians 1 20 Bonus section

The "peace" achieved in Colossians 1:20 is not merely a subjective feeling but an objective cessation of hostility and a re-establishment of cosmic order. The very structure of the hymn (Col 1:15-20) parallels Christ's headship in creation with His headship in reconciliation, implying that just as He brought order out of nothing, so too He brings order out of chaos. While the reconciliation of "all things" does not automatically imply the salvation of every individual, it signifies that all cosmic and spiritual forces, all realms of existence, are ultimately subject to Christ's rule and brought into alignment with God's will, no longer posing a threat or existing in rebellion. Even powers previously considered hostile are rendered powerless or brought under His supreme authority, making the "heavenly things" fall into line with God's restored order.

Colossians 1 20 Commentary

Colossians 1:20 is a profound theological declaration summarizing the universal reach of Christ's redemptive work. Following the grand statements about His role in creation and sustaining all things, this verse extends His preeminence to reconciliation. It's not just humanity that is reconciled to God, but a larger, cosmic "all things." This points to a holistic restoration where the discord introduced by sin is progressively undone, and the entire created order, previously subject to futility (Rom 8:20), is brought back into harmonious alignment with God's ultimate purposes. The crucial means for this vast work is "the blood of His cross," emphasizing the singular, sacrificial atonement achieved by Christ's death. This means peace is not a philosophical attainment or a mystical revelation, but a peace made by blood, a cost borne by the divine Son. It stands against any idea that humanity, or even the cosmos, could find peace through human effort, ritual, or wisdom outside of Christ's specific atoning work on Calvary. The passage assures believers that Christ's victory is ultimate and comprehensive, encompassing all dimensions of existence, ensuring that He is truly supreme over all.