Colossians - Part 1

Context

Who wrote Colossians?

Early documents from the church confirm that Paul was the author of this letter, most likely during his Roman imprisonment. He did not found the church there - that was likely Epaphras - but he writes to encourage the believers there based a report he receives from Epaphras.

To whom was it written?

To the church in Colossae. It had been a major city prior to 100BC, know for manufacturing a dark red wool called colossinum (where the city got its name). By the time Paul wrote the letter, the city had experienced two earthquakes was no longer a prominent city, yet was still know for its angel cult. This cult venerated the archangel Michael, who is said to have caused a curative spring to gush from a fissure in the earth.

What is the purpose of Colossians?

False teaching and syncretism. While a Gentile city, there was a substantial population of Jews that had settled there. The issue facing the church was the temptation to try and syncretize their faith with the various beliefs of both the Jews and the Gnostics/angel cults. He lists several attributes of these false teachers in chapter 2 but doesn’t name any specific single teaching.

Syncretism, as defined by the American Heritage Dictionary, is “the reconciliation or fusion of differing systems of belief.” Religious syncretism often takes place when foreign beliefs are introduced to an indigenous belief system and the teachings are blended. The new, heterogeneous religion then takes a shape of its own.

1:1-1:23 - The best defense is a good offense

The letter opens with two prayers. First a prayer of thanksgiving for the faith and love these believers are walking in. Despite the pressure of false teaching, they are a faithful Christian community, evidenced by their love in the Spirit. This is always the test of genuine faith. The church can stand a lot of differences of opinion when love is present. Without love, the slightest disagreement results in fractured relationships.

We should remind ourselves of what biblical love is. It does not necessarily imply the existence of “warm feelings”. They may likely be present, but genuine love is expressed in action toward one another. In kindness, patience, bearing burdens, support. These are the genuine marks of faith that Paul is giving thanks for.

The second prayer focuses on what Paul is praying for the Colossians. It centers around two requests: greater knowledge of God and greater endurance. The knowledge Paul wants for the Colossians is more than head-knowledge. From the Greek gnosis, “to know”, it implies a personal, experiential knowledge. Compare to how Scripture uses that phrase to describe sexual intimacy between husband and wife. What is transformative to our lives - and protection against false teaching - a true knowledge of God, not merely facts or information. He closes the prayer reminded them that they have been rescued from darkness and transferred to the kingdom of the beloved Son. Here we should think of the Exodus as Paul likely has this in mind.

Paul then launches into perhaps to defense against the false teachers, and he does it by way of a poem. We don’t know if Paul wrote this poem or borrowed it, but here we see a very high Christology very early in the church. In the poem, notice what is said about Jesus. Note: firstborn does not imply Jesus was created. It describes his royal rank as head of creation as well as new creation.

Notice in the last paragraph a “once…but now” tension. Through Christ, we who were once far off have been reconciled to God through the body of Jesus - and yet we must hold on to this hope without dilution.

Rather than take one particular false teaching to task, it seems that Paul addresses multiple issues by bringing the Colossian’s focus back to Christ. For Paul, the best defense is a good offense - a reminder about the supremacy of Christ. The best way to spot a counterfeit is to be intimately acquainted with the original.

Based on what we’ve looked at so far...

What does this say about God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit)?

God’s desire at all times and places to see his church grow and flourish, producing the fruit of the gospel.

What does this say about me?

SPECK

Is there a SIN to be avoided?

Is there a PROMISE to be claimed?

Is there an EXAMPLE to follow?

Is there a COMMAND to obey?

Is there something to KNOW about God?

Next week: 1:24-2:5