001 Introduction to the Book of Colossians

I. The author of the book-The apostle Paul

A. Question concerning the authorship:

****Some commentary writers say there many who question that Paul was the author of Colossians.

a. My question is who?...

b. Don’t make vague comments

c. exsample: “Pastors don’t preach against sin anymore”

ii. There is no question about Paul being the author, it says it in verse one.

II. The book was written to the Church of Coloss

A. The city of Coloss

Location:

Colosse was located around 125 from the city of Ephesus

Two other cities, Laodicea and Hierapolis, both of them mentioned in the epistle to the Colossians, 2:1; 4:13–16, and both of them more prominent then Colosse, lay in the Lycus valley. Laodicea, eleven miles west of Colosse, was a hub city, a populous city, a thriving city, and a wealthy city. Hierapolis, six miles north of Laodicea, because of its hot mineral springs, was a health-resort city and a city of pleasure.

11 miles west of Colosse was Laodicea and 6 miles north was the city of Hierapolis.

Both of these cities are mentioned in the ;

Both cities are more prominent the Colosse

B. The Church

Paul never visited the city in Colosse 1:4, 6, 7; 2:1

Epaphras who was possibly one of Pauls converts from Ephesus started the church

1:4, 6, 7; 2:1

The church at Colosse probably was a small church. The membership of the church was made up mostly of Gentiles, but no doubt many Jews were included. 1:27

The Book of Colossians The Book of Colossians

The church at Colosse probably was a small church. One of its meeting places was the house of Philemon, Philemon 1:2. The membership of the church was made up chiefly of Gentiles, 1:27, but no doubt many Jews were included.

.. “After Paul’s death, the little church at Colosse began to fade away and it eventually ceased to exist. Today, both Colosse and the Colossians church exist no more. Had it not been that this church was attacked by the Gnostic heretics, we would not have Paul’s letter to the church at Colosse and we probably would never have heard of this little church or of the city in which it was located.”

The church at Colosse probably was a small church. One of its meeting places was the house of Philemon, . The membership of the church was made up chiefly of Gentiles, 1:27, but no doubt many Jews were included.

III. The place of it’s writings

After Paul’s death, the little church at Colosse began to fade away and it eventually ceased to exist. Today, both Colosse and the Colossians church exist no more. Had it not been that this church was attacked by the Gnostic heretics, we would not have Paul’s letter to the church at Colosse and we probably would never have heard of this little church or of the city in which it was located.

A. It was one of the prison epistles

IV. The occasion of the Book-Paul’s knowledge of the heresy that was begging to be taught in the Church.

V. THE HERESY REFUTED IN THE BOOK— Gnosticism

THE HERESY REFUTED IN THE BOOK—Judaic Gnosticism

A. .. Paul does not give clearly label the heresy that he is refuting but only incidental statements concerning it, so it is difficult to label this heresy, but from the information that we possess, we note four things regarding its teachings:

1. It taught rationalism (Greek philosophy, 2:8);

It taught rationalism (Greek philosophy, 2:8); (2) it taught ritualism (the observance of holy days and holy seasons, 2:16); (3) it taught asceticism (abstinence from certain things, 2:16, 20–22); and (4) it taught mysticism (the self-abasement of the worshiper and the worshiping of angels, 2:18). Having considered these teachings, we believe that the heresy at Colosse might correctly be labeled Judaic Gnosticism, for it seems to be a variety of Gnosticism syncretized with certain elements of Judaism.

Paul does not give us a systematic presentation of the heresy that he is refuting but only incidental statements concerning it, it is difficult to label this heresy, but from the scanty information that we possess, we note four things regarding its teachings:

2. it taught ritualism the observance of holy days and holy seasons, 2:16

3. it taught abstinence from certain things, 2:16, 20–22;

4. it taught mysticism (the self-abasement of the worshiper and the worshiping of angels, 2:18

Having considered these teachings, we believe that the heresy at Colosse might correctly be labeled Judaic Gnosticism, for it seems to be a variety of Gnosticism syncretized with certain elements of Judaism.

B. Gnosticism was a system of belief which attempted to syncretize the teachings of Eastren mysticism, Greek philosophy, and New Testament Christianity (the false teachers at Colosse added the teachings of Jewish legalism to their Gnostic system of belief).

The Book of Colossians The Book of Colossians

Gnosticism were sown in the Christian church in the first century, A.D. but this heresy was not fully formulated and did not greatly threaten the Christian church until the second century, A.D. At the midpoint of the second century, almost all of the Christian churches had been affected and weakened by this heresy.

Gnosticism were sown in the Christian church in the first century, a.d. but this heresy was not fully formulated and did not greatly threaten the Christian church until the second century, a.d. At the midpoint of the second century, almost all of the Christian churches had been affected and weakened by this heresy.

i. Gnosticism was sown in the Christian church in the first century, a.d. but this heresy was not fully formulated and did not greatly threaten the Christian church until the second century, a.d.

ii. At the midpoint of the second century, almost all of the Christian churches had been affected and weakened by this heresy.

C. Basic teaching of Gnosticism

was a system of belief which attempted to syncretize the teachings of Oriental theosophy, Greek philosophy, and New Testament Christianity (the false teachers at Colosse added the teachings of Judaic legality to their Gnostic system of belief).

The Book of Colossians The Book of Colossians

spirit is good and that matter is evil

i. spirit is good and that matter is evil

D. In relationship to Christianity this teaching raised three important questions.

i. How could God, made of spirit, create the universe, made of matter, and not contaminate Himself in doing so?

The Book of Colossians The Book of Colossians

How could God, made of spirit, create the universe, made of matter, and not contaminate Himself in doing so? (the Gnostic answer was that the universe was created, not by God, but by a being (“Jehovah”) far down the line in a long series of emanations (“aeons”) from God, each of which emanations was a little less divine, holy and pure than the preceding one),

a. the Gnostic answer was that the universe was created, not by God, but by a being (“Jehovah”) who was a little less divine, holy and pure than God Himself.

ii. how could the spirit being, Christ, take upon Himself a material body and not contaminate Himself in doing so?

a. Gnosticism answered that the spirit being, Christ, came upon the human being Jesus at his baptism and departed from him at his death without ever really becoming one with him.

Gnosticism answered that the spirit being, Christ, came upon the human being Jesus at his baptism and departed from him at his death without ever really becoming one with him. The Docetist school of Gnosticism answered that the spirit being, Christ, never took upon Himself a human material body but only appeared to do so), and

b. Another teaching of Gnosticism answered that the spirit being, Christ, never took upon Himself a human material body but only appeared to do so.

iii. how can the spirit being, man, free himself from his evil material body?

a. the Gnostic answer was that he can free himself through the possession of knowledge, through the practice of severe self-discipline and through the worship of angels. At death, man is forever free from his evil body, for the body does not resurrect.

VI. Seven things may be said of the heresy present in the Colossian church:

severe self-discipline and through the worship of angels. At death, man is forever free from his evil body, for the body does not resurrect.

Seven things may be said of the heresy present in the Colossian church:

A. It arose from within the church.

B. It combined certain elements of Judaism with Gnosticism.

C. It did not attempt to replace Christianity but it attempted to perfect Christianity.

D. It denied the person and the work of Christ. It denied His person by placing Him in a hierarchy of emanations (far away from man and far away from God) and it denied His work by teaching that salvation is attainable through human effort.

E. It was taught chiefly by one man in the church (in warning against the teaching of heresy, Paul uses the singular number), 2:4, 8, 16, 18.

F. It had not as yet seriously affected the members of the church, 2:5.

G. It served God in that it occasioned Paul to write a refutal in his letter to the Colossians which gives us an answer to modern-day revivals of this ancient heresy.

VII. THE PURPOSES FOR WRITING THE BOOK

A. TO CONFIRM THE COLOSSIANS—Paul writes to encourage the Colossians to remain steadfast in doctrine and in conduct, 2:6, 7; 3:5–17.

B. TO WARN THE COLOSSIANS—Paul warns his readers of the consequences of accepting the heresy being taught in their midst, 2:8–23.

C. TO TEACH THE COLOSSIANS—As a defense against this and all heresy, Paul teaches the Colossians the person and the work of Christ, 1:15–23; 2:8–15.

D. TO INSTRUCT THE COLOSSIANS—Paul instructs his readers concerning the life that they should live to be worthy of the gospel that they have heard and received, 3:1–4:6.

VII. THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE BOOK OF EPHESIANS AND THIS BOOK

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE BOOK OF EPHESIANS AND THIS BOOK

A. They were written by the same man at the same time from the same place and they are complementary.

B. Ephesians deals with the body of which Christ is the head and Colossians deals with the Head of which the church is the body.