43. The Book of Colossians with Rev. Dr. Elisabeth Johnson

Rev. Dr. Elisabeth Johnson unpacks the book of Colossians and why Christ is Lord of all.

What does it mean to say Jesus Christ is Lord of all? In this episode of The Bible in a Year, Dr. Kathryn Schifferdecker talks with Rev. Dr. Elisabeth Johnson about the book of Colossians. This short letter was written to a church in Colossae, a wealthy city in Asia Minor. There, mystery religions promised salvation through secret rites and hidden knowledge. The book of Colossians responds with a mystery open to everyone: Christ, in whom all things hold together.

Free Download: Colossians Leader Guide from Enter the Bible

Elisabeth explains why scholars debate whether Paul wrote the letter and how it shaped the book of Ephesians. She also walks through key passages, including the Christ hymn in Colossians 1:15-20. In addition, she addresses the household codes and their historical context. Finally, she shows why the book of Colossians still matters today. Its vision of Christ at the center of creation calls the church to care for the whole world God loves.

Scripture References Discussed

Colossians 1:15-20 (the Christ hymn)
Colossians 1:19 (all the fullness of God dwells in Christ)
Colossians 1:20-22 (reconciliation through the cross)
Colossians 2:9-10 (the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily)
Colossians 2:13-15 (the record nailed to the cross, rulers and authorities disarmed)
Colossians 3:18-4:1 (the household codes)
Ephesians 5 (parallel household codes)
1 Corinthians 7 (Paul’s more egalitarian view of marriage)
John 1 (the prologue and the preexistence of Christ)
Genesis (humanity’s call to care for creation, mentioned generally with no specific verse cited)

Bible Bingo

Heaven and Earth, Rulers and Authorities, Mystery, Reconciled, Fullness

Seven Word Summary

Jesus Christ is Lord of all.

Featuring

Elisabeth Johnson

Elisabeth Johnson is an ordained pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, currently doing interim ministry in the Twin Cities area. She holds degrees from Luther College (B.A.), Luther Seminary (M.Div.), and Princeton Theological Seminary (Ph.D. in Biblical Studies – New Testament).

She served as Professor of New Testament and Greek at the Lutheran Institute of Theology in Meiganga, Cameroon, through ELCA Global Mission (2012-2022). She has served as an adjunct professor at Luther Seminary (2003-04 and 2007-08) and visiting professor at Al Mowafaqa Ecumenical Theological Institute in Rabat, Morocco (2019, 2023). She is the author of two studies for the Augsburg Adult Bible Studies series — “Covenant Communities” (Fall 2009) and “A Living Faith” (Fall 2012).

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Hosted By

Kathryn Schifferdecker

Kathryn M Schifferdecker is Professor and Elva B. Lovell Chair of Old Testament at Luther Seminary. Ordained in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America in 2001, Schifferdecker was associate pastor for five years at Trinity Lutheran Church, Arkdale, Wisconsin, before coming to Luther in 2006. Schifferdecker is a frequent contributor to Working Preacher, Word & World, and the author of "Out of the Whirlwind: Creation Theology in the Book of Job" (Harvard University Press, 2008). She is currently writing a commentary on the book of Esther.

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About The Bible in a Year Podcast

This podcast guides you on a journey through the books of the Bible, providing insights on how Scripture can shape your life today. Each episode focuses on one or two books of the Bible in fun, engaging, and authentic conversations between Luther Seminary faculty and guest Bible scholars who are experts on the book(s) in question. Join us as we make our way through the Bible in a year — new episodes drop every Wednesday in 2026!