Colossians Intro

Colossians: Introduction

1. The City

Colosse, Hierapoli,s and Laodicea

almost in view of each other

125 miles southeast of Ephesus

Minerals and Merchandising

Large Population

Jews and Gentile

2. The Church

Paul had never visited

2 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

More than 2 years of ministry in Ephesus

“all Asia” heard the Gospel

Epaphras - converted in Ephesus at the preaching of Paul brought the Gospel back to Colosse and founded the Church

The Church met in the home in Philemon

3. The Crisis

Paul a prisoner in Rome

Visited by Epaphras with a report of a new teaching that was troubling the Church. A worldly philosophy

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.

The Colossian heresy was a precursor to and had elements of Gnosticism.

From the greek word gnosis which means “to know”. They were “in the know”

They professed superior knowledge of spiritual things.

It was a blend of some Christian truth, Jewish legalism, Greek philosophy, and Eastern Mysticism.

“all matter is evil” including the body and therefore God could not come in contact with matter.

So creation through emanations from God.

Oxford “an abstract but perceptible thing that issues or originates from a source.”

A greater God and a lesser God.

Demiurge “yaldabaoth” – public or skilled worker, builder. Lesser god sometimes ignorant of the superior god. Since matter is evil the superior god couldn’t create something that was evil so the creator god must be a lesser god from a superior god.

Christ was one of the emanations and not truly the Son of God.

But came to enlighten the world about to achieve Gnosis

Gnostics claimed a complexed series of emanation, including angels, between man and God.

The system gives the believer “full knowledge” “fullness”

called for

legalistic practices (Col. 2:6)

Strict discipline of the flesh (asceticism, Col. 2:18-23)

Certain days were holy

Certain foods were sinful

Gnosticism - emphasized personal spiritual knowledge (gnosis) above the proto-orthodox teachings, traditions, and authority of religious institutions.

Col. 2:21-23 Semblance of spirituality but was not of real spiritual value

no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.

4. The Correspondence

Paul identifies himself as the author, along with Timothy Col. 1:1

The letter contains first person reference Col. 1:23

The letter closes with the words “the salutation by the hand of me, Paul”

possible that Paul sent Onesimus, Epaphras, and Tychicus back to Colosse from his Rome imprisonment to with a letter to the church in Colossae and Ephesus and a letter to Philemon.

(Eph. 6:21-22).

Considered one of the prison epistles written by Paul while imprisoned in Rome around 61 or 62 AD.

Colossians emphasizes the preeminence of Christ.

The supremacy of Christ over all things

Repetitive “all”, “fulness”, “filled”

“Christ is all and in all” Col. 3:11

we are “made full in Him” Col. 2:10

Outline -

I. Introduction

A. Greeting

Col. 1:1-2

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,

and Timothy our brother,

To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father.

B. Thanksgiving

Col. 1:3-8

Faith in Christ Jesus

Love for all the saints

Hope laid up for you in heaven

heard the word of truth, the Gospel

to you and in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing

since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth

Just as you learned it from Epaphras

C. Prayer

Col. 1:9-14

In view of the Colossian controversy

Legalism, man-made philosophies, strict diets, compulsory observance of holy days, discipline of the flesh. A letter pleading for true spiritual maturity

The Apostle prayer:

from the day we heard

we have not ceased to pray for you

filled with knowledge of his will

in all spiritual wisdom and understanding

walk worthy of the Lord

bearing fruit in every good work

increasing in the knowledge of God

Strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might

for all endurance and patience with joy

giving thanks to God who has qualified you

to share in the inheritance

delivered us from the domain of darkness

transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved son

in whom we have redemption , the forgiveness of sins

II. The Preeminence of Christ - Know and understand the person and work of Jesus Christ

Col. 1:15-22

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. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

21 And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 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,

III. Paul’s Ministry and Concern (Col. 1:24-2:7)

A. Paul’s Ministry to the Church (Col. 1:24-29)

I rejoice in my sufferings

Minister according to eh stewardship from God

To make the word of God fully known

The mystery hidden for ages and generations now revealed to the saints

Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Teaching everyone with all wisdom

Present everyone mature in Christ

Struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me

B. Paul’s concern for the Colossian Believers (Col. 2:1-7)

How great a struggle

That their hearts may be encouraged

Knit together in love

To reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery

Which is Christ

In whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge

that no one delude you

with plausible argument

I am with you

Rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ

As you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him

Just as you were taught

IV. Paul’s Warning and Solution for the False Teaching (Col. 2:8-23)

A. Summary of False Teaching (Col 2:8)

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.

B. Sufficiency of Christ’s death and resurrection (Co. 2:9-15)

9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily,

10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.

11 In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ,

12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.

13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses,

14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.

15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.

C. False Teaching Described in Greater Detail (Col. 2:16-23)

Let no one pass judgement on you

Let no one disqualify you

You died to the elemental spirits of the world

Dietary laws, festivals and days

Asceticism, angel worship, detailed vision (dreams, mysticism), false humility

Not holding fast to the Head

Human precepts and teachings “do not handle,..taste…touch” harsh treatment of the body

23 These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.

V. The Solution to the Problem –

A. Turn your Eyes upon Jesus

Focus on, fix one’s mind on one’s union with Christ in his death and resurrection, on things above where Christ is

3 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Put off and Put On

Not outward conformity to external forms of religion but inward transformation that leads to righteous living from a changed heart.

Christ is sufficient for Justification and sanctification. All we need is found in him. Those that are in him will not live in the sensuality fulfilling the lusts of the flesh but will be transformed and walk in holiness seeking to please God in everything.

B. Mortification of Sin

Col. 3:5-11

5 Put to deaththerefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming. 7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. 11 Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.

C. Putting on Holiness

Col. 3:12-17

12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

D. Transforming the Home

Col. 3:18-4:1

Rules for Christian Households

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. 23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. 25 For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.

4 Masters, treat your bondservants justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.

E. The Christian’s Prayer Life

Col. 4:2-4

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— 4 that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.

F. The Christian’s Witness

Col. 4:5-6

5 Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. 6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

VI. Final words

A. comments regarding Paul’s companions

Col. 4:7-14

Tychicus and Onesimus, messengers

Aristarchus my fellow prisoner

Mark the cousin of Barnabas

Jesus who is called Justus

Epaphras

Luke and Demas

B. Final greetings to the brothers and the Benediction

Col. 4:15-18

Greet the brothers in Laodicea,

Nympha and the Church in her house

Archippus

I18 I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.