Introducing Colossians: the Supremacy of Christ

Introduction

Today we are beginning a series on the book of Colossians. I have titled this series, The Supremacy of Christ”

But before we begin looking at the actual text, we need to know why Paul was writing this letter. So, let’s see if we can learn a little bit about what this book is all about.

The Problem

To begin with, Paul’s writing to the church of Colossae appears somewhat cryptic in nature.

Even a casual reading will reveal that Paul is addressing serious doctrinal issues. However, Paul does not actually reveal or detail the particulars of the doctrinal fallacies.

At the same time we see that Paul does expose two major problems which both center around the church’s view of Christ.

They misunderstood the doctrine of Christ.

And they misunderstood how the doctrine of Christ affects one’s daily Christian life.

In this letter, Paul repeatedly presents Christ as preeminent over all else. That seems to be important because the church at Colossae was questioning this very fact.

Furthermore, Paul presents Jesus Christ as being completely adequate to meet every need the Christian might experience. For Paul, the Christian life happens when Jesus displays His characteristics (God’s characteristics) through the believers words, actions, and entire life.

Date

The book was written sometime around A.D. 60 to 62, before Paul had ever visited the church. The date could not be much later than A.D. 62 since the city was destroyed by an earthquake in A.D. 63-64.

Purpose

As you studying this book, three purposes begin to emerge:

Paul wanted to express his personal interest in the church. Most likely the church planted by Epaphras, who may have been a product of Paul’s ministry. Thus, the church at Colosse was important to Paul, because it was an extension of his ministry.

Paul wanted to be able to counteract the false teachings that were threatening this congregation. Because of this Paul presents Christian doctrine that is centered around Christology (a theology of Christ) to improve the readers understanding of Christ.

Finally, Paul’s main purpose was to remind the reader of the absolute supremacy of Jesus Christ, and to present Christ as completely sufficient for every need of His followers.

Outline of Colossians

Throughout our study we will share the outline of the book of Colossians, so we are not going to detail it this morning.

The Audience

Finally, to understand this letter, we must learn who the Colossians church was.

The Colossians were members of a Christian community in Colossae. This was an ancient city in Asia Minor (an area in the southwestern part of present-day Turkey).

During Paul’s time, Colossae was a small city with a mixed population of Phrygians (Europeans who migrated from Macedonia), Greeks, and Jews.

If you look at a map of Paul’s travels and locate Ephesus, Colossae was roughly 110 miles east of Ephesus in the Lycus valley.

The city of Colossae was less prominent than its two neighboring cities, Laodicea and Hierapolis. This was mainly because it was off of the main trade route.

The church itself was likely founded through missionary work Epaphras, who also ministered in Laodicea and Hierapolis.

We know that Epaphras was a Colossian. We also know that he visited Paul in Rome and informed him about the condition of the church at Colossae, then was later imprisoned with Paul.

Besides Epaphras, there are other notable members from the Colossian church that are mentioned in Paul’s writings. These included Philemon, Apphia, Archippus, and Onesimus, a slave who became a Christian.

The community faced significant challenges. Paul understood that the church at Colossae was facing the threat of dangerous false teaching resembling aspects both of pagan religion as well as Judaism. Because of this understanding, Paul builds his case for the sole-sufficiency of Christ in his letter, and then admonishes these believers to hold firmly to the Lord Jesus Christ alone.

Geographically, the city sat near a fault line and was destroyed by an earthquake in A.D. 63–64 and was apparently not rebuilt for some time, which likely affected the church’s subsequent history.

Okay, now that we know a bit about this letter and the audience to whom Paul was writing, let’s begin looking at the actual text.

If you have your Bibles, turn with me to Colossians chapter 1 and we’ll begin reading with verse 1.

The Authors

Colossians 1:1 NIV

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

This letter begins by identifying who the writer is (v. 1a).

The writer is stated as being Paul (v. 1b). In his identification, he gives his “credentials” (v. 1c):

He is an apostle of Jesus Christ.

He became an apostle by God’s will.

Paul is joined by Timothy who is recognized as a brother (v. 1d).

The Audience

Colossians 1:2 NIV

To God’s holy people in Colossae, the faithful brothers and sisters in Christ: Grace and peace to you from God our Father.

Next, Paul identifies his audience—those to whom he is writing (v. 2a). They are identified as:

God’s holy people (v. 2b).

Specifically, those in Colossae (v. 2c).

Even more specifically, those faithful brothers and sisters in Christ (v. 2d).

The Greeting

Next, he extends a greeting of “grace and peace” (v. 2e). This was a play on words that was meant to encompass the beginning of one’s relationship with God and connect it to the end relationship with God.

So “grace” serves and the initial good of salvation, and “peace” represents final good eternity.

Some have expressed grace as being “the well-spring of all mercies” while peace is “the crown of all blessings.”

Both grace and peace can only come from God the Father!

Paul’s Thankfulness

Colossians 1:3 NIV

We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you,

Paul begins by saying that he (and Timothy) always thank God for the church at Colossae.

Paul reminds us that God is the one to whom he prays and he can pray for them because of his relationship with Jesus Christ!

Colossians 1:4 NIV

because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people—

Paul had heard about two defining characteristics of this church:

First was their faith in Jesus Christ.

Secondly their love for all of God’s people.

As we mentioned in our introduction, it is believed by most scholars that Paul had never been to this church. In fact, apart from a few congregants, Paul may have known many in the church.

Again, the church is believed to have begun through the ministry of Epaphras. And Epaphras had shared with Paul the details of what was going on in the church when he visited Paul in Rome.

Colossians 1:5 NIV

the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel

Paul ties their faith and love to the hope that God gave them from His storehouse in Heaven.

The church at Colossae received their faith, love, and hope when they heard the true message of the gospel.

NOTE: The trilogy of faith, hope and love is one of Paul’s favorite virtue trilogy (cf. 1 Cor. 13:13; 1 Thes. 1:3). This group of virtues in the believer’s life ties three views together.

Faith is our soul looking upward to God.

Love is our soul looking outward to those around us.

And Hope is our soul looking to the future.

It could be expressed this way:

Our faith rests on the past work of Jesus.

Our love rests on Jesus’ present work in our lives.

While hope depends on and looks forward to the future work of Jesus.

Colossians 1:6 NIV

that has come to you. In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world—just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace.

Paul is genuinely excited that the gospel had come to the people of Colossae—the true gospel.

This is the same gospel that is bearing fruit and growing throughout the entire known world.

The gospel is doing the same thing around the world that it did in the hearts of the Colossians.

And Paul ties all of this—their faith, love, hope, the expansion of the gospel--back to God’s grace!

The gospel message is all about God!

People’s response to the gospel message is all about God!

The amazing spread of the gospel message is all about God!

The Good News Message (Gospel) all depends on God’s amazing grace!

Colossians 1:7–8 NIV

You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf, and who also told us of your love in the Spirit.

Paul finally tells the Colossians that he heard about them through Epaphras (v. 7a).

We learn some things about Epaphras (v. 7b):

Paul considered him to be a dear fellow servant of God.

Paul considered him to be a faithful minister of Jesus.

Paul says he ministered to the people on Paul’s behalf.

And he is the one who told Paul about the Colossians’ love in the Spirit (v. 8).

So What?

This morning, we have looked the origins of Paul’s letter to Colossians. We’ve learned about the place these people lived, and who the Colossians were.

But what matters, applying what God’s Word says to our lives. So what is God’s Word saying to us this morning?

Like Paul, you and I ought to be excited when we hear about people coming to faith in Jesus Christ.

So let me ask you a question, how excited do you get when you hear that someone accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior.

Today, we learn that our hope in the Lord does not depend on us. Instead, our hope in the Lord comes from God’s storehouse in Heaven!

Remember, Our faith rests on the past work of Jesus. Our love rests on Jesus’ present work in our lives. While hope depends on and looks forward to the future work of Jesus. Jesus will complete His plan!

We learn that like the church at Colossae, we are to bear fruit!

We learn that from this passage that the Gospel is continuing to grow throughout the whole world.

That means that we don’t have to be worried by what we see on the news—Because God wins!

And you and I are supposed to be a part of that victory!

This week, I want to challenge each of us to make a difference in the Kingdom of God! Be one of the bold and brace, and share the gospel with someone around you.

Grab ahold of the hope that is being poured out from God’s storehouse!

Rejoice when you see God working around you—rejoicing as you talk to the Lord through prayer.

And finally don’t forget to pray!

Pray for the lost!

Pray for those who are being persecuted around the world.

Pray for those who are sick.

And pray for those who minister among you.

We do this because thankfulness leads to rejoicing, and rejoicing (as we will see next week) leads to prayer!

[Closing Prayer]