The last two times that reconciliation is mentioned in Paul’s letters is in Colossians 1. Both times, it also refers to apokatallasso, which means: complete reconciliation.
In this chapter, Paul describes the glory of Christ, as the Son of God’s love (1:13), who is the image of the invisible God and the Firstborn of all creation (1:15). He is the One through whom all creation came into being (1:16), and in Him all things hold together (1:17).
The Firstborn in Everything
But He is also the Firstborn of the new creation, so that in everything He might have the preeminence (1:18). In Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead (Col. 1:19; 2:9). The Son makes God visible; otherwise, God would remain invisible. Besides making God visible, the Son also reveals God’s qualities and attributes: His love, goodness, mercy, righteousness, etc.
Colossians 1
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
16 For in Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or authorities. All things were created through Him and for Him.
17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.
18 And He is the head of the body, the ecclesia. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He might have the preeminence.
19 For all perfection is pleased to dwell in Him…
Besides the unsurpassable glory that the Father has given to the Son, these verses are notable for the fact that the entire creation is repeatedly mentioned. In verses 15 through 18, “all thing” or “the whole creation” is mentioned no fewer than six times.
20 and through Him to reconcile all things to Him,
making peace through the blood of His cross, through Him,
whether things on earth or things in heaven.
Just as in Ephesians 2:16, this speaks of apokatallasso, a complete reconciliation. When we arrive in this verse, “(the) all” (Greek ta panta) is mentioned for the seventh time, again referring to the whole. It has the same meaning as the times in the previous verses: it concerns the entire creation. And to emphasize this further, it is followed by: “whether things on earth or things in heaven.”
all-encompassing
Here too, we see that God reconciles by making peace. Enmity is transformed and unity is established. And this verse also describes that it is not God who is reconciled, but creation itself that is reconciled to Him.
Reconciliation extends beyond the human world, for “what is in the heavens” will also be reconciled. All hostile spiritual powers (Eph. 6:12), who are also God’s creatures, will be reconciled to God. The hostility will be removed and changed, for God makes peace through the blood of His cross. The glory of the Son is universal and all-encompassing!