Colossians 1:21 (LSB)

Passage

And although you were formerly alienated and enemies in mind and in evil deeds,

Nearby Context

Colossians 1:19 For in Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,

Colossians 1:20 And through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross—through Him—whether things on earth or things in heaven.

Colossians 1:21 And although you were formerly alienated and enemies in mind and in evil deeds,

Colossians 1:22 but now He reconciled you in the body of His flesh through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach—

Colossians 1:23 if indeed you continue in the faith firmly grounded and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "although", "formerly", "alienated", "enemies", "mind", "evil", and "deeds". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "although" and "formerly", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 20's "And through Him to reconcile all things..." into verse 22's "but now He reconciled you in the...", so "although" and "formerly" belong inside that flow. In Colossians context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "although" and "formerly" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.