ETB Colossians 1:24-2:3

Welcome

I am not much of a sports fan. Although I played a lot of different sports growing up I have never really enjoyed watching others play. When played, sports do help us develop the mindset of working together toward a common goal. In a church or other body of believers our “spiritual team” should have a common goal for all its members like to “know Him and make Him known.” God enables people around to to meet His goals for us to grow in Christ. Today we will get to briefly study the Apostle Paul’s work in his ministry to help all he met or wrote to become “mature in Christ”.

Pray

Understand the Context

I am going to following the quarterly’s passage grouping for our lesson so that those with books can follow along more easily however, if you are reading the verses in a translation other than the CSB the passage may end in the middle of a paragraph for you. The ESV which I use a primary translation ends the pericope - or thought grouping - at verse 5. It really depends on how you interpret the Greek sentence structure and the tools that I have in my software showed how both can be correct.

In the opening paragraphs of the Letter to the Colossians, Paul sought to build rapport with a local church he had not personally helped establish. He did so by assuring the members of his regular remembrance of them in his prayers, as well as assuring them that Epaphras, one of their number, was a valued co-laborer in the gospel. He reminded them that the power of the gospel frees people from sin and opens the way for them to be reconciled to God. He challenged the Colossians to remain faithful to the hope of the gospel by reminding them of the centrality of Christ, in whom they shared together in redemption and the forgiveness of sins.

The concluding verses of Colossians 1 and opening of chapter 2 set forth spiritual transformation as the goal of the gospel. P [LifeWay Adults (2020). (p. 84). Explore the Bible: Adult Leader Guide - ESV - Fall 2021. LifeWay Press. Retrieved from https://read.lifeway.com]

Continued persecution of Paul by Jews and to some extent Romans keeps Paul in prison and prevents freedom of travel so he must rely on messengers like Epaphras and Philemon for both financial support and news. Let’s study how Paul encourages a young church he has never visited to work hard at continuing to grow in faith.

Explore the Text

Colossians 1:24 ESV

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church,

This verse was probably the one I had to look at the longest this week in order to clear up all the misconceptions I had when I first started studying. Hopefully, my efforts will help clear ups some of the same questions that may have come to your mind.

The first thing I noticed is that the Greek word Paul used here translated as “suffering” was not the same as he had used in other passages like Phil 3:10 “that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,” .

This word for “sufferings” (thlipsis [TG 2347, ZG 2568]) never refers elsewhere to what Jesus suffered on the cross, but it is used to refer to the sufferings of the end of the age (Matt 24:21, 29; Mark 13:19, 24; Rev 2:22; 7:14), which, in Jewish thought, would precede the appearance of the Messiah (the so-called “messianic woes”) - Hoehner, Harold W., Philip W. Comfort, and Peter H. Davids. Cornerstone Biblical Commentary: Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1&2 Thessalonians, Philemon. Vol. 16. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2008. Print.

Paul is already looking forward to Christ’s return and sees his current incarceration as a proof of that inevitability. He also sees it as part of his ministry for the church knowing that it is for their benefit and because of his faith in Christ that he is imprisoned.

The next part of the verse took the most study for me. I know that there is no lack or imperfection in anything about Christ, His work, or His provision. We read last week about His preeminence in all things and how He reconciles all things to Himself. We know from the rest of Paul’s writings that he too does not believe there is anything missing from Christ’s work of redemption for all mankind, so where is the “lacking” he has written about here? Our first clue comes from the context.

Paul wrote in Phil 1 6 “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” The work is done by Christ as He reconciles us to Himself (Col 1:20). But in this verse Paul says “I” am doing the filing; therefore, the lacking is his. We also know how Paul likes to use contrasting thoughts to make a point. After telling us all about the sufficiency and preeminence a few verses ago, Paul is showing us by contrast how “lacking” his work is for Christ’s church. This is a statement of contrast between all that Christ has supplied through His sacrifice and all the Paul has yet to suffer on His behalf for the ministry to the church. The lack is not in Christ’s sacrifice but in the suffering and sin of the world in the present and future which it has already covered. Another was it may be said is “Christ’s payment was so great; we have a lot of catching up to do.”

‘what is wanting in the afflictions of Christ to be borne by me, that I supply in order to repay the benefits which Christ conferred on me by filling up the measure of the afflictions laid upon me’. - Strong, James. Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon 1995 : n. pag. Print.

instead of any deficiency, I endure a fullness of afflictions for Christ. - Zodhiates, Spiros. The complete word study dictionary: New Testament 2000 : n. pag. Print.

Paul was experiencing the persecution intended for Christ. In spite of His death on the cross, Christ’s enemies had not gotten their fill of inflicting injury on Him. So they turned their hatred on those who preached the gospel - (MacArthur Study Bible Notes, NKJV)

Paul’s attitude is Jesus took the blows meant for me; I’ll take the blows meant for him. - Anders, Max. Galatians-Colossians. Vol. 8. Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1999. Print. Holman New Testament Commentary.

Paul was rejoicing over the continued opportunity to suffer for Christ looking to His glorious return and enduring what he was strengthened and called to participate in for the benefit of Christ’s body of believers and would gladly suffer more until His return if it meant more glory and honor for His Savior.

The apostle shifts from talking about the work of Christ being done in him to the work God called him to do for others.

Colossians 1:25–27 ESV

of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Again, Paul uses his style of contrast to link and emphasize his thoughts. When he writes about making God’s word “fully known”, the word he uses for “fully” is the antonym for the word he used for “lacking”. What Paul is lacking, God gives in full. He may also be contrasting the suffering he takes upon himself with the fullness of the knowledge that he desires to give or show to the Colossians and other readers.

The specific knowledge trying to be imparted revolved around what Paul called here a mystery. That term and Greek word is used several times in the New Testament about different aspects of God’s will and ways in the time of Christ. Here however writing to a group that had few if any former Jewish believers, the mystery is about how God has now made it possible for the Gentiles to become equal heirs with the formerly singularly “chosen people”. In one letter to Timothy, Paul wrote it this way:

1 Timothy 3:16 (ESV)

Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.

Notice how all in the world believed in Him, the godliness achieved is no longer exclusive to just the Jewish people. In his letter to the Ephesians, he expounded on this concept a little further.

Ephesians 3:3–6 ESV

how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

This is the same “mystery” to which Paul is referring in today’s passage - “that Gentiles are fellow heirs” and can therefore know God personally today because of the gospel and Jesus’ reconciling them to Himself.

Some authors talk about Paul starting to use this concept of a “mystery revealed” to directly confront some of the false teachings we will study later in the letter. One author called them “family secrets”. I like that idea as there were things about my wife’s family that had always been true, but I did not learn about until I was “in the family”. Paul wants both the Jews and the Gentiles to “fully know” all the previously hidden things that they as non-believers could not grasp but now with spiritual life are able to understand and grow within.

Colossians 1:26 ESV

the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints.

The unit and the factors: the aeon or age being made up of generations. Compare Eph. 3:21, where the literal translation is unto all the generations of the age of the ages. The preposition ἀπό from, differs from πρό before (1 Cor. 2:7), as marking the point from which concealment could properly begin. Before the beginning of the ages of the world the counsel of God was ordained, but not concealed, because there were no human beings from whom to conceal it. The concealment began from the beginning of the world, with the entrance of subjects to whom it could be a fact. - Vincent, Marvin Richardson. Word Studies in the New Testament. Vol. 3. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1887. Print.

Although some of the mysteries of God had been revealed to the world during the time of the Old Testament, it was not until Christ made it possible for all humans to become a part of the family of God that the “secret” was revealed to those who would believe.

Colossians 1:27 ESV

To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Interestingly, the word here in the Greek is not normally translated as “great” but “what” is more common. The “how” is implied because of great but not necessary with “what”. This makes some of the other English translations more accurate with “God chose to make known what among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory”.

This hope is not our modern uneasy type often associated with worry but a “joyful and confident expectation” [Strong, James. Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon 1995 : n. pag. Print].

The mystery and hope and glory words all seem to intertwine in the concepts.

The hope of glory (ἡ ἐλπὶς τῆς δόξης). Lit. , of the glory. The Gentiles, in receiving the manifestation of Christ, did not realize all its glory. The full glory of the inheritance was a hope, to be realized when Christ should appear “the second time unto salvation” (Heb. 9:28). Compare 1 Tim. 1:1. Glory refers to the glory of the mystery; hence the glory, but with more emphasis upon the idea of the same glory consummated at Christ’s coming—the glory which shall be revealed. See Rom. 8:18; 2 Cor. 4:17; - Vincent, Marvin Richardson. Word Studies in the New Testament. Vol. 3. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1887. Print.

Paul was a Jew but was called to help reveal this truth of Christ to the Gentiles like those in Colosse. He may not have even fully grasped all of this mystery himself, but it did not hinder his work. As he continues the letter he speaks now in part of the process and purpose of his ministry.

Colossians 1:28–29 ESV

Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.

Paul’s declaration that Him we proclaim was a condensed way of summarizing the essence of his message. He made Christ the focal point of his preaching, whether evangelizing the lost or seeking to mature the saved. Apart from the person and work of Christ, Paul had neither a saving message nor a maturing message to share. His example is worthy for every spokesperson for the gospel to adopt. [LifeWay Adults (2020). (p. 87). Explore the Bible: Adult Leader Guide - ESV - Fall 2021. LifeWay Press. Retrieved from https://read.lifeway.com]

This was another verse that spent some extra time on as I asked, “warning about what” and “what kind of struggle”? The word in the ESV translated as “warning” is often translated as “admonish” in other versions.

“The difference between ‘admonish’ and ‘teach’ seems to be that, whereas the former has mainly in view the things that are wrong and call for warning, the latter has to do chiefly with the impartation of positive truth. - Vine, W. E., Merrill F. Unger, and William White Jr. Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words 1996 : 13. Print.

We can see the truth of this commentary later in this same letter:

Colossians 3:16 ESV

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.

Philo and Clement of Alexandria speak about God or Christ warning, censuring, and encouraging us in this way. The idea is not that of punishment but of a moral appeal that leads to amendment. In this sense it takes on the meaning “to discipline.” - Kittel, Gerhard, Gerhard Friedrich, and Geoffrey William Bromiley. Theological Dictionary of the New Testament 1985 : 645. Print.

Paul may have also used this word specifically as it an antonym to the deceiving and “leading astray” that was being done to some of the believers by the false teachers in the city (Col 3:18).

Colossians 1:28–29 ESV

Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.

Confronting false teachers from a distance through letters and messengers is not easy work. Paul’s goal though was for these believers to be able to stand on their own against such teachings. The word translated as “present” has that concept of standing by or standing at attention before an authority. Paul strived to help the believers then and us today to be able to stand fully mature in Christ that we can all weather the storms of disbelief, false teachers, and tribulations that will come and threaten our faith.

This toil or work of Paul’s was not just limited to the Colossians.

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,

This was not just a little internal turmoil in Paul’s heart but a “great” struggle for all those in the region. The word “great” here is not implied like back in Col 1:27 but it is a word that draws from its context as well. It helps the readers understand there is a dual struggle going on in Paul’s life as it can point to both “great and small” at the same time. James uses the same word twice in the same sentence when speaking about the effects of the tongue.

James 3:5 (ESV)

So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire!

Great forest, small fire. Although the struggles Paul was facing were both internal and external, they were little things compared to the greatest of his Provider and Sustainer. He knew that he could not teach them all they needed to know but prayed endlessly for their growth so they could stand firm in the faith.

Paul had his eyes open to the presence and the appeal of false teaching. He was concerned that the Colossians not have theirs closed. Like Paul we need to have a wide-eyed awareness of the appeal of error. We have no excuse for having our eyes closed to the existence of error, because the Bible is full of warnings (Rom. 16:17–18; Gal. 1:6–9; Acts 20:28–31; 1 Tim. 1:3–7; 6:3–5; 2 Tim. 4:3–4; 1 John 4:1) - Anders, Max. Galatians-Colossians. Vol. 8. Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1999. Print. Holman New Testament Commentary.

Although Paul could not at that time come and teach them directly, he wrote with the belief that God would use his words to continue the work that He had begun in them until its completion (Php 1:6).

Colossians 2:2–3 ESV

that their hearts may be encouraged, being 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.

This is the crux of Paul’s letter ministry, encouraging binding together in the love of Christ, and growing others up to the full understanding of God’s work through Christ. The phrase “full assurance” is one Greek word described as a “supreme fullness” and “certainty”.

It is thus one of the terms by which Paul describes the great richness of the divine work in the church’s life and mission. In Col. 2:2 (with ploútos) it denotes the superabundance of a knowledge of God that is epitomized in Christ as the one in whom God actively reveals himself. - Kittel, Gerhard, Gerhard Friedrich, and Geoffrey William Bromiley. Theological Dictionary of the New Testament 1985 : 872. Print.

Knowledge is the apprehension of truth; wisdom is its application to life. Knowledge is prudent judgment and wisdom is prudent action. Both are found in Christ (cf. Rom. 11:33; 1 Cor. 12:8) whose wisdom is foolishness to the world (1 Cor. 1:21–25), but who is the power of God by which a believer receives “righteousness, holiness, and redemption” (1 Cor. 1:30) - Geisler, Norman L. “Colossians.” The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures. Ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck. Vol. 2. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985. 676. Print.

God reveals Himself through His Word, His Ways, and His people and this increases our knowledge about Him, and we apply what we understand to grow in His wisdom. This builds us up and encourages those ministers like Paul that their work is not in vain.

It seems that in every excerpt of text we study in Paul’s letter there is a reference back to the Old Testament. Here are a couple of the references that the phrase “treasures of wisdom and knowledge” point back toward.

Prov 2:3-4 “yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures,”

Isa 45:3 “I will give you the treasures of darkness and the hoards in secret places, that you may know that it is I, the Lord, the God of Israel, who call you by your name.”

Jewish traditions prized wisdom, and mystery cults valued knowledge. Paul affirms Christ as the true source of both. Since the believers of Colossae have Christ (1:27), they have no need for the wisdom and knowledge offered by false teachers - Barry, John D. et al. Faithlife Study Bible. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016. Print.

Paul is confronting both erroneous concepts of religious thought through the proclamation of Christ and His deity. Next week will begin to look at these false teachings that he heard about in Colosse a little more.

Apply the Text

God works through the lives of His followers to make the gospel known.

Believers deliver God’s message in His strength so others can grow spiritually.

Believers demonstrate maturity by encouraging faithfulness in others.

[LifeWay Adults (2020). (p. 80). Explore the Bible: Adult Personal Study Guide - ESV - Fall 2021. LifeWay Press. Retrieved from https://read.lifeway.com]

I have heard it said and can attest to the truth of the saying, “the best way to learn something it to teach it to someone else.” Paul knew Christ in ways that could not always be expressed but that did not stop him from using all the energy God gave him to speak about and help other know Jesus. Please prayerfully consider how God has strengthened and skilled you where you are and use those to build up other believers that you have contact with in growing them in the knowledge of Him.