Colossians 1:28 says that Paul and his co-workers proclaimed Christ, warned and taught everyone with all the wisdom they had, so that each person could be brought to maturity in Christ. The verse is about the goal of Christian ministry: not just hearing the gospel, but growing into a complete, settled life in Jesus. Paul wrote it in his letter to the church at Colossae, a congregation he had not personally founded, addressing believers who needed to hold firmly to the gospel.
Whom we proclaim, admonishing every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus…
Colossians 1:28 (WEB)
What Colossians 1:28 Means
The verse begins with “whom we proclaim.” The word “whom” points back to Christ, mentioned in the verses just before. Paul is saying that the center of his preaching is not a philosophy or a set of rules, but a person. Proclamation means announcing good news publicly, so the message is meant to be declared plainly to anyone who will listen.
Next comes “admonishing every man and teaching every man in all wisdom.” Admonishing means gently warning, correcting or encouraging someone toward right living. Teaching means helping people understand what they believe and why. Paul includes “every man” twice, which signals that no one is excluded from this work. The phrase “in all wisdom” tells us the teaching was to be thorough and carefully shaped, not careless or partial.
The final purpose clause, “that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus,” is the key. “Perfect” here means mature or complete, not flawless in the sense of never failing. The verse does not promise that every believer will reach a flawless state in this life. It describes the aim of pastoral work: that people will grow whole and steady in their relationship with Christ, and that God himself will bring that growth to completion.
The Context of Colossians 1:28
Colossians was written by Paul, traditionally with Timothy named as co-sender, to believers in the city of Colossae in what is now western Turkey. The church faced pressure from teachers who promoted special knowledge, ritual regulations and a faith that seemed to add something to Christ. Paul responds by exalting Christ as supreme over all things, and the whole letter pushes believers to find their fullness in him alone.
The verses just before this one, Colossians 1:25 to 1:27, describe Paul’s calling as a servant of God’s word and the revealing of a mystery now made known to the saints, namely Christ among the Gentiles, the hope of glory. Verse 28 flows directly from that. Because the mystery has been revealed, Paul’s job is to make it known to everyone and help each person grow in it. Read in this setting, the verse is less about a private personal goal and more about the shared, public mission of the church.
Key Phrases in Colossians 1:28
Philippians 1:6
Being confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.
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This verse expresses the confidence that God, who began a good work in believers, will carry it on to completion. It fits closely with Colossians 1:28, since Paul’s labor toward maturity is paired with God’s own faithfulness to finish what he has started.
Ephesians 4:12-13
12 For the perfecting of the saints, to the work of serving, to the building up of the body of Christ; 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a full grown man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ…
(WEB)
These verses describe the building up of the body of Christ until believers reach mature unity and the full measure of Christ. They echo the goal of presenting everyone complete in Christ, and they show that this maturity is pursued together within the church community.
A Short Prayer From Colossians 1:28
Lord, you have made Christ known to us, and I thank you for the people who first proclaimed him to me. Help me to share what I know of you with honesty and love, and give me wisdom when I need to encourage or correct someone I care about. Teach me to listen well, to speak truthfully, and to rest in the reality that my growth is ultimately your work. Keep me rooted in Christ Jesus, and bring every part of my life toward the maturity you intend. Amen.
