Bible Overview: Colossians
Notes
Transcript
Author: Paul
Author: Paul
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
Recipients: Believers in Colossae
Recipients: Believers in Colossae
2 To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father.
ALSO, the church in Laodicea
16 And when this letter has been read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea.
The Church of Colossae was one that Paul did not start and apparently had not visited.
Paul’s coworker Epaphras appears to be the founder (and possibly also pastor?) of this church and others in the area.
7 just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf
12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God.
13 For I bear him witness that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis.
23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends greetings to you,
This letter is very closely connected to Philemon, because of the mention of Epaphras, but also the mention of Onesimus, the former slave of Philemon, whom Paul won to the Lord and now refers to as a “brother, who is one of you.”
9 and with him Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you of everything that has taken place here.
10 I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I became in my imprisonment.
Date: A.D. 60-62
Date: A.D. 60-62
This is one of the 4 Prison Epistles (Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon) written during Paul’s house arrest in Rome.
Purpose: Combating heresy
Purpose: Combating heresy
Scholars do not agree on the exact nature of the heresy that Paul is combating in Colossians. It appears to be the mix of multiple different wrong views of Christ, salvation, and other things. Here are some of the elements:
An inferior view of Jesus Christ - they believed he was not fully God, or at least not God and Man.
Greek philosophies or ideas not based on the truth about Christ
Legalistic observance of Jewish traditions, such as circumcision, dietary laws, festivals, etc.
Worship of angels or other spiritual beings (2:18)
Asceticism - mistreatment of the body or extreme deprivation (making yourself suffer)
Secret or special knowledge - enlightenment (early form of Gnosticism)
How does Paul combat all of these things?
By presenting Jesus Christ as superior - better than all of these things.
Paul exalts Jesus Christ and shows us how amazing he is, and then exhorts us to leave behind any other ideas or practices that are contrary to the truth of Christ.
Themes and Key verses
Themes and Key verses
Prayer (1:3, 9; 4:2, 3)
3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you,
9 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,
2 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.
3 At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison—
The Supremacy of Christ
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers 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 church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.
The Deity and Humanity of Christ (1:19, 22; 2:9)
19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,
22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him,
9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily,
Fighting False Teaching (1:28-2:4; 2:8, 16, 18, 20)
28 Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.
29 For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.
1 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face,
2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ,
3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
4 I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments.
8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.
16 Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath.
18 Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind,
20 If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations—
Proper Conduct for Christians (3:5-4:6)
Dealing with personal holiness
5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
Treating other believers the right way
12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,
Godliness in the household
18 Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
19 Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them.
20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.
21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.
22 Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord.
Godliness in the workplace
1 Masters, treat your bondservants justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.
Godliness in dealing with unbelievers
5 Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time.
Application
Application
A true knowledge and understanding of Jesus Christ will keep us away from false teaching and enable us to live godly lives.