Colossians Study Part 1

Introduction

The Place:

Colosse was in Asia Minor, and was reached from the sea from Miletus up the rivers Meander and Lycus. There were three cities near one another: Laodicea, Hierapolis, and Colosse. St. Paul does not seem to have visited Colosse, but Epaphras, one of his converts at Ephesus during the three years there (), was the means of founding the Colossian Church, and was its Evangelist (, ; , ). This Epistle was written during St. Paul’s imprisonment in Rome (), about A. D. 62 or 63.

Thomas, W. H. Griffith. Christ Pre-Eminent: Studies in the Epistle to the Colossians. Chicago: The Bible Institute Colportage Ass’n, 1923. Print.

The Purpose:

Colossians was written because there was real danger of false teaching, a mixture of Judaism and Orientalism (2:16–18).

Christ Pre-Eminent: Studies in the Epistle to the Colossians II. The Purpose

Dr. Sanday has thus stated this feature:—

“In the Ephesians the Church is the primary object, and the thought passes upward to Christ as the Head of the Church. In the Colossians Christ is the primary object, and the thought passes downwards to the Church as the Body of Christ.”

The Plan:

1. Introduction. 1:1–14. This includes the salutation, the thanksgiving, and the opening prayer.

2. Part 1. 1:15–23. The pre-eminence of Christ over creation, providence, and redemption.

3. Part 2. 1:24–4:6. The practical effects of the pre-eminence of Christ.

(a) On Paul himself (1:24–2:7).

(b) On a false philosophy of the Christian life (2:8–23).

(c) On the true doctrine of the Christian life (3:1–4:6).

In this section there are five fruits of the Christian life, all proceeding from the union in Christ stated in 3:1–4.

1. The first fruit is the death of the “old man” (3:5–9).

2. The second is the putting on of the “new man” (3:10, 11).

3. The third is the clothing of the new man with the garments of holiness (3:12–14).

4. The fourth is the transformation of relationships (3:18–4:1).

5. The fifth is a life of prayer and activity (4:2–6).

4. Conclusion (4:7–18)

(More outlines to come.)

The Principal:

Christ Pre-Eminent: Studies in the Epistle to the Colossians IV. The Principle

There seems no doubt that the dominating thought of the Epistle is “Christ is all.”

Three text sum up this truth:

The failure of the Colossians was precisely this point

The main question with false teaching has to be: “What do you do with Jesus?”

Is he something or is He all?

Can the teaching be fulfilled with out Jesus at the center?

Is He the head as God placed Him?

Chapter One

Personal Associations

A. The source

Paul describes himself as an apostle.

He is not defending his apostleship as in Galatians and I Corinthians.

The Colossians know him but they have never met him. (No record of him visiting Colossae.)

And Timothy

B. The fellowship

Timothy is called a “brother.”

Meaning it is a christian relationship not to be mistaken for just human relations.

C. The Destination

The city (see above.)

The recipients

Called saints, not perfect but “set apart.”

1 Corinthians 6:11 1NASB95

11 Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.

Baptism sets us apart from the world and dedicates us to God purpose and plan for life.

1co 6:11

2 Corinthians 6:14–18 1NASB95

14 Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? 16 Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, “I will dwell in them and walk among them; And I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 17 “Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate,” says the Lord. “And do not touch what is unclean; And I will welcome you. 18 “And I will be a father to you, And you shall be sons and daughters to Me,” Says the Lord Almighty.

2co 6