Colossians 1: 20 – A unique word for reconciliation

…and through Him to reconcile all to Him (making peace through the blood of His cross), through Him, whether those on the earth or those in the heavens.

Paul does not use the common word for ‘reconcile’ (Gr. katallasso = to change an enemy into a friend), but a strengthened form of this verb (Gr. apo-katallasso). Apart from Paul, this word has never been found anywhere. Besides here and in verse 21, he only uses it in Ephesians 2:16. The strengthened form of ‘apo-katallasso’ means ’to completely reconcile’. The Atonement is not only comprehensive in scope (heaven and earth, ’the all’), but also total in character.

We discover the meaning of this special word in Ephesians 2:16. There we read that through the cross God fully reconciles Jew and ‘Gentile’ both to Himself. The background there is that there is not only enmity towards God, but also that there is enmity among themselves. The enmity is vertical, but also horizontal.

That God ‘reconciles the whole’ (apo-katallasso) means that through the blood of the cross He ends not only the enmity towards Him, but also the enmity between us. The cross proves that God’s love cannot be diminished and that He will convince every creature of this!

Delen: