Paul's Struggle

Introduction

Paul’s Struggle -

I often say this, but its true and worth repeating - that scripture was not produced in a University Research Laboratory. Nor was it the product of a monk’s philosophical musings. The Letters of the New Testament were not encyclpedic articles to be read at your leisure for your information.

Rather, They are the product of love and truth spoken in the midst of reality and addressing reality. They are God’s truth, inspired by the Holy Spirit, who moved men to write so that what you have in your hands has come fully from God at the hands of men. These epistles were written because there were urgent matters at hand involving real people and real situations in real time. Though they addressed people 2000 years ago, in God’s infinite wisdom - the truth written down is still imporant today.

One of the human writers of scripture was The Apostle Paul. He was a zealous and passionate man. He didn’t do anything halfway. When you read his epistles, you see a man who cared deeply and earnestly for the Lord Jesus and for the people that he was writing to. This deep love, affection, devotion, and conviction resulted in a key concept that I want to focus on today.

“Struggle and Toil”

Turn to . verse 29

- “Struggle”

Colossians 1:29 ESV

For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.

We see this a lot from Paul. He is laboring and struggling and toiling.

The word here for “Struggling” or “Striving” is

Col 1:29

ἀγωνίζομαι

A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed. ἀγωνίζομαι

ἀγωνίζομαι

a. engage in a contest

b. to fight, struggle - use of any kind of struggle, wrestling in prayer

Look at the next verse in 2:1 -

Colossians 2:1 ESV

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,

Paul is fighting, striving, struggling for something here. But he doesn’t say that it is a bad thing

we often use the term “struggle” to say we aren’t doing well. That is not how it is being used here. This is a virtue.

He even praises Epaphras for ‘struggling in prayer’ for the Colossians in 4:12 - that word “struggling” or “laboring” is the same greek word.

A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed. ἀγωνίζομαι

ἀγωνίζομαι

A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed. ἀγωνίζομαι

① of a(n athletic) contest, lit. and fig.

• engage in a contest πᾶς ὁ ἀγωνιζόμενος 1 Cor 9:25 (AEhrhardt, ZNW 48, ’57, 101–10);

• cp. 2 Cl 7:1ff.

② gener. to fight, struggle

ⓐ lit., w. weapons (Polyb. 1, 45, 9; Plut., Marcell. 303 [10, 4]; 2 Macc 8:16) ἠγωνίζοντο ἄν, ἵνα μὴ παραδοθῶ J 18:36.

ⓑ fig.

• of any struggle (περὶ τῆς ἀληθείας Orig., C. Cels. 1, 62, 63) κοπιῶ ἀγωνιζόμενος I labor, striving Col 1:29; cp. 1 Ti 4:10.

• Of wrestling in prayer (ἀ. δὲ διὰ τῶν πρὸς θεὸν εὐχῶν ὑπὲρ τῶν δικαίως στρατευομένων Orig., C. Cels. 8, 73, 24) ἀ. ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν Col 4:12 (ἀ. ὑπέρ τινος: Diod S 13, 14, 3; SIG 317, 20; 386, 19; 409, 33; Jos., Ant. 13, 193).

• ἀ. ἀγῶνα (s. ἀγών 2) 1 Ti 6:12; 2 Ti 4:7 (JBarton, Biblica 40, ’59, 878–84).

• W. inf. foll. (Thu. 8, 89, 4 ἠγωνίζετο εἷς ἕκαστος αὐτὸς πρῶτος προστάτης τοῦ δήμου γενέσθαι; Diod S 31, 19, 8 ὥστε ὁ πατὴρ ἐξίστασθαι τῆς ὅλης ἀρχῆς ἠγωνίζετο τῷ παιδί; PLond 1338.—ἀγ. simply=‘take pains, exert oneself’: Just., D. 38, 2; 65, 2 al.; Alex. Aphr., Fat. 31, II 2 p. 203, 9; Sb 6997, 9 [III B.C.]) ἀγωνίζεσθε εἰσελθεῖν strain every nerve to enter Lk 13:24;

• cp. 1 Cl 35:4; B 4:11.

a. engage in a contest

b. to fight, struggle - use of any kind of struggle, wrestling in prayer

Colossians 4:12 ESV

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.

In - Paul commands Timothy to ...

1 Timothy 6:12 NASB95

Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

and Finally, Paul says at the end of His life in -

2 Timothy 4:7 ESV

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

His Motivation - Presentation of Mature People to Christ

Look at the end of verse 28

Colossians 1:28 NASB95

We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ.

To Present Everyone complete in Christ.

Present

παραστήσωμεν -

to formally bring or introduce into the presence of someone.

to make or to render

Mature

τέλειος - attaining an end or purpsoe, complete.

Perfect - meeting the highest standard

goodness

work - - let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete

of God’s gifts - - every perfect gift

of God’s law - - the

God’s will -

Epaphras

In Christ

Colossians 1:22 NASB95

yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach—

The reason Christ died, thus the reason Paul works so hard

Paul is referring to second coming when this will happen

He works for this, knowing that it is God himself who will accomplish it.

e works for this, knowing that it is God himself who will accomplish it.

1 Thessalonians 5:23 NASB95

Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Thessalonians 3:12–13 NASB95

and may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you; so that He may establish your hearts without blame in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints.

Colossians 3:13 NASB95

bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.

1 Thessalonians 3:13 NASB95

so that He may establish your hearts without blame in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints.

Word Biblical Commentary, Volume 44: Colossians, Philemon Comment

With the prospect of their full perfection in Christ on the last day in view, Paul expends all his energies in the exercise of his ministry.

In Christ

1 Corinthians 9:23–27 NASB95

I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it. Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.

1 Cor 9:23-

the one who “competes” is ἀγωνίζομαι - same Greek word.

ἀγωνίζομαι

There has been a threat to this prestented in around Colosse - you see Pauls goal and motivation in writing this letter was to address issues that have come up there.

What was it?

Plausible Arguments

philosophies

Traditions of men

His Method - Proclamation of Christ

Proclamation -

The Content of the Proclamation

Him

Him

The Method of Proclamation

Warning

νουθετέω - means to admonish, instruct, or warn

Word Biblical Commentary, Volume 44: Colossians, Philemon Comment

had to do with setting the mind of someone in proper order, correcting him or putting him right

Acts 20:31 NASB95

“Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears.

Ephesians 6:4 NASB95

Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Titus 3:10 NASB95

Reject a factious man after a first and second warning,

1 Thessalonians 5:14 NASB95

We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone.

1 Thess

Colossians 3:16 NASB95

Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

Teaching

διδάσκοντες

Word Biblical Commentary, Volume 44: Colossians, Philemon Comment

All Christians are to teach and admonish one another in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs (3:16 where διδάσκω and νουθετέω are again used together

διδάσκοντες

Colossians 2:7 NASB95

having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.

1 Thessalonians 2:11 NASB95

just as you know how we were exhorting and encouraging and imploring each one of you as a father would his own children,

Acts 20:20 NASB95

how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly and from house to house,

with Wisdom

Word Biblical Commentary, Volume 44: Colossians, Philemon Comment

(b) The public proclamation of Christ as Lord is explained and developed in the following words about admonition (νουθετοῦντες) and instruction (διδάσκοντες), for it is through the teaching and warning of every man that the proclamation of Christ is carried out (this is the relationship of the two participles to the finite verb καταγγέλομεν, “we announce”; so Lohse, 77, following Schniewind, TNDT 1, 72). Clearly for Paul and his colleagues evangelistic and missionary outreach was not effected by some superficial presentation of the saving message about Christ to the world, but rather was prosecuted through warning and intensive teaching in pastoral situations.

The Target of the Proclamation (Everyone)

English Standard Version Chapter 1

everyone

To Present Everyone complete in Christ.

Present

Mature

In Christ

His Might - The Power of God - Verse 29

NASB95 For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.

Powerfully working

His

ESV For this purpose alsoI labortoil, striving according to His power, which mightilystruggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.

His Power (ἐνέργεια)

Working, Power, effective action - it occurs 8x in the NT - all in Paul’s writings. But this was a key concept to Paul.

And he almost always uses it alongside other expressions for strength and power

The Exegetical Dictionary of the New Testament ἐνεργέω

Ἐνέργεια working, power, effective action* occurs 8 times in the NT (see Fascher on the distinctive emphatic usage in Hellenistic literature). It is close in meaning to δύναμις, but considerably less frequently used, being found only in the Pauline

Philippians 3:21 NASB95

who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.

Ephesians 1:19 NASB95

and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might

Eph

Ephesians 3:7 NASB95

of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of God’s grace which was given to me according to the working of His power.

Colossians 2:12 NASB95

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

Why does this take God’s power?

Toil - κόπος

κόπος

Word Biblical Commentary, Volume 44: Colossians, Philemon Comment

κόπος, a word used in secular Greek of “a beating,” “weariness” (as though one had been beaten) and “exertion,” was the proper word for physical tiredness induced by work, exertion or heat

Work in general, manual labor -

2 Corinthians 6:5 NASB95

in beatings, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in hunger,

,

2 Corinthians 11:27 NASB95

I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.

, ,

Ephesians 4:28 NASB95

He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need.

This was a characteristic of Paul’s Ministry

1 Corinthians 4:12 NASB95

and we toil, working with our own hands; when we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure;

1 Corinthians 15:10 NASB95

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me.

Galatians 4:11 NASB95

I fear for you, that perhaps I have labored over you in vain.

1 cor 15:10

Philippians 2:16 NASB95

holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain.

Colossians 1:29 NASB95

For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.

1 Thessalonians 2:9 NASB95

For you recall, brethren, our labor and hardship, how working night and day so as not to be a burden to any of you, we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.

1 Thessalonians 3:5 NASB95

For this reason, when I could endure it no longer, I also sent to find out about your faith, for fear that the tempter might have tempted you, and our labor would be in vain.

2 Thessalonians 3:8 NASB95

nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with labor and hardship we kept working night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you;

2 Corinthians 11:23 NASB95

Are they servants of Christ?—I speak as if insane—I more so; in far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death.

Paul says to honor those who labor like this

1 Thessalonians 5:12 NASB95

But we request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction,

1 Corinthians 16:16 NASB95

that you also be in subjection to such men and to everyone who helps in the work and labors.

Romans 16:6 NASB95

Greet Mary, who has worked hard for you.

1 Corinthians 3:8 NASB95

Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor.

1 Corinthians 15:58 NASB95

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.

2 Corinthians 10:15 NASB95

not boasting beyond our measure, that is, in other men’s labors, but with the hope that as your faith grows, we will be, within our sphere, enlarged even more by you,

His Energy Powerfully Working

Energy

1 Corinthians 15:10 NASB95

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me.

Struggle

So what why is Paul Bringing this Up?

The Situation

How were the Colossians being tempted to doubt the sufficiency of Christ?

At the time of the writing, Paul has been imprisoned for the preaching of the Gospel

Epaphras, a good friend and co-laborer with Paul had been ministering in the Lycus Valley with the main city being Colosse. He probably went to share in Paul’s imprisonment, but even more importantly, he went to seek advice from Paul.

You see, False Teaching had arisin in Colossae that could threaten the stability of the churches in that region.

Paul’s Letter is a response to that urgent need.

The Collossian Heresy

We don’t know exactly what it was but there are some catch phrases

- “all the fullness”

The Danger

- “Delighting in humility and the worship of angels”

- things which he has seen

- “Do not handle, do not taste, do not even touch”

- “Voluntary Worship” “Humility” and “severe treatment of the body”

Along with these catch phrases, they seem to have tried to judge the believers concerning food regulations, holy days (2:16, 20, 21). This philosophy seemed to be related to the submission to the “elemental spirits of the world” in , . A phrase that shows up on

What can we conclude?

Seems to have had Jewish influence

Word Biblical Commentary, Volume 44: Colossians, Philemon The Threat to Faith and the “Colossian Heresy”

Basically, however, it seems to have been Jewish. Evidence of this is seen in the part played in the “philosophy” by legal ordinances, food regulations, the sabbath, new moon, and other prescriptions of the Jewish calendar (cf. Bruce, Paul, 413).

Word Biblical Commentary, Volume 44: Colossians, Philemon The Threat to Faith and the “Colossian Heresy”

It does not seem to have been the more straightforward Judaism against which the Galatian churches had to be warned, a Judaism probably brought in by emissaries from Judea. Bruce (Paul, 413) suggests the Colossian heresy was “more probably a Phrygian development in which a local variety of Judaism had been fused with a philosophy of non-Jewish origin—an early and simple form of gnosticism.” The synagogues in Phrygia seem to have been exposed to the influences of Hellenistic speculation and with these the tendencies to religious syncretism.

Angels given a prominent place as agents in creation and in the giving of the law.

Some Jewish teachers around this time took “let us make man” to indicate that God spoke to angels, or that the human frame was the workmaship of angls (Justin Martyr

Word Biblical Commentary, Volume 44: Colossians, Philemon The Threat to Faith and the “Colossian Heresy”

certain Jewish teachers who took the words “let us make man” (Gen 1:26) and “as one of us” (Gen 3:22) to indicate “God spoke to angels, or that the human frame was the workmanship of angels” (Justin, Dialogue 62; cf. Bruce, Paul, 413).

It is true that angels were involved in giving the law:

Word Biblical Commentary, Volume 44: Colossians, Philemon The Threat to Faith and the “Colossian Heresy”

Galatians 3:19, as well as in Acts 7:53 and Hebrews 2:2

but in this particular heresy they were to be appeased through strict legal ordinances.

Listen to what one scholar said

Word Biblical Commentary, Volume 44: Colossians, Philemon The Threat to Faith and the “Colossian Heresy”

In the Colossian false teaching these angels were to be placated by keeping strict legal observances. The breaking of the law incurred their displeasure and brought the lawbreaker into debt and bondage to them (cf. Col 2:12–15). These angels are included among the στοιχεῖα (a term already used with reference to angels at Gal 4:3, 9), and were “not only elemental beings but dominant ones as well—principalities and powers, lords of the planetary spheres, sharers in the divine plenitude (πλήρωμα) and intermediaries between heaven and earth” (Bruce, Paul, 414). Apparently they were thought to control the lines of communication between God and man. All this was presented as a form of advanced teaching for a spiritual elite. Epaphras had instructed the Colossian Christians only in the first steps and they were now being urged to press on in wisdom and knowledge to attain to true “fullness” (πλήρωμα). To do this they must follow a path of rigorous asceticism until finally they become citizens of that spiritual world, the realm of light.

While we don’t fully know the content of this heresy, we do know how Paul addressed it.

How did Paul Address it?

He expounds the glory of Christ, in Chapter 1.

I finally says why he is writing this in

Colossians 2:4 NASB95

I say this so that no one will delude you with persuasive argument.

He is aware of the false teachers methods and strongly warns the Colossians

Colossians 2:8 NASB95

See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.

the word for “Take Captive” refers to being carried off like the spoils of war. Paul took the threat very seriously.

This done through philosophy and empty deception, the traditions of men,

But the Truth concerning Christ is the antidote to these enslaving heresies

Word Biblical Commentary, Volume 44: Colossians, Philemon Paul’s Handling of the Colossian Philosophy

Far from the angels playing a part in creation, Christ is the one through whom all things were created, including the principalities and powers which figured so prominently in the Colossian heresy. All things have been made in him as the sphere (ἐν αὐτῷ, 1:16) and through him as the agent δἰ αὐτοῦ, v 16). Indeed, he is unique for he is the ultimate goal of all creation (εἰς αὐτόν, v 16). And this magnificent passage emphasizes that even the cosmic principalities and powers, from the highest to the lowest, are all alike subject to Christ.