John Calvin Commentary Colossians 1:21

"And you, being in time past alienated and enemies in your mind in your evil works," — Colossians 1:21 (ASV)

And whereas you were formerly. The general doctrine which he had presented he now applies particularly to them, so that they may feel that they are guilty of very great ingratitude if they allow themselves to be drawn away from Christ to new inventions. This arrangement must be carefully observed, because the particular application of a doctrine, so to speak, affects the mind more powerfully.

Furthermore, he leads their views to experience, so that they may recognize in themselves the benefit of that redemption which he had mentioned. “You are yourselves a sample of that grace which I declare to have been offered to mankind through Christ. For you were alienated, that is, from God.

You were enemies; now you are received into favor: from where does this come? It is because God, being appeased by the death of Christ, has become reconciled to you.” At the same time, there is in this statement a change of person, for what he has previously declared concerning the Father, he now affirms respecting Christ; for we must necessarily explain it thus, in the body of HIS flesh.

The term διανοίας (thought) I explain as employed by way of amplification, as though he had said that they were altogether, and in the whole of their mental system, alienated from God. This is so that no one may imagine, in the manner of philosophers, that the alienation is merely in a particular part, as Popish theologians restrict it to the lower appetites.

“Nay,” says Paul, “what made you odious to God had taken possession of your whole mind.” In short, he meant to suggest that man, whoever he may be, is wholly at variance with God and is an enemy to him.

The old interpreter renders it (sensum) sense. Erasmus renders it mentem, (mind). I have used the term cogitationis to denote what the French call intention, for such is the force of the Greek word, and Paul’s meaning requires that it should be rendered so.

Furthermore, while the term enemies has a passive as well as an active meaning, it is well suited to us in both respects as long as we are apart from Christ. For we are born children of wrath, and every thought of the flesh is enmity against God (Romans 8:7).

In wicked works. He shows from its effects the inward hatred which lies hidden in the heart. For as mankind endeavors to free themselves from all blame until they have been openly convicted, God shows them their impiety by outward works, as is more amply treated in Romans 1:19.

Furthermore, what is told us here concerning the Colossians is applicable to us also, for we do not differ at all in respect of nature. There is only this difference: some are called from their mother’s womb, and God anticipates their malice so as to prevent them from breaking forth into open fruits, while others, after having wandered during a great part of their life, are brought back to the fold.

We all, however, stand in need of Christ as our peacemaker, because we are the slaves of sin, and where sin is, there is enmity between God and men.