The One Who Reconciles (Colossians 1:20)

²⁰ 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.

Christ is responsible for the reconciliation of all things in the entire universe. As Margaret MacDonald puts it: “Creation occurs through Christ and the broken harmony of the universe has been restored through Christ: there has been a cosmic reconciliation.” Some commentators do, however, think that it is God the Father who reconciles because that is generally the case in other Pauline letters. This reconciliation occurred through the blood of the cross. His suffering and death had a universal impact. This universal reconciliation brings peace since there is no longer hostility between God and the created world. Christ’s sacrifice opens the way to a new relationship and begins the remaking of all.

Paul’s writings had a tremendous role in the development of the doctrine of the Trinity. Paul himself never overtly voiced the idea, but it is easy to see in his writings. Certainly Christ is not the Creator since he is not invisible and infinite. However, as Marcus Maxwell explains: “He is God’s rationality, creativity and saving power made present and made flesh. He is the image of God (see also 2 Cor 4:4), the form of God (Philippians 2:6), the radiance of God’s glory and the imprint of his being (Hebrews 1:3).” Today we take for granted the doctrine of the Trinity, but it’s a mystery that we cannot fathom. It’s a mind-bending idea, especially to a devout monotheistic Jew like Paul who struggles to grasp and express the idea. He knows that Christ is God, yet he is not God the Father.

Notice the parallel between this verse and verse 16. Christ is the agent of God’s creation and of his salvation. Salvation is a new creation, and it touches everything in the universe. There is nothing beyond its scope. That means of course that if the Colossians really are worshipping angels (or possibly fallen angels) as some scholars think, then, the author suggests, these beings are only creatures themselves and may need redemption too.