W.R.A.P. Nght 1:1-14

1 Corinthians 1:10 ESV

I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.

The goal is to come to come to an agreement, a unity about what the author is saying.

The Big Questions: What did the author intend for us to believe and to do?

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Observations

Who

Author 1: Paul

apostle of Christ

by God’s will

Author 2: Timothy

Recipients: Christians in Colossae

God

Father of Jesus

Jesus is the Lord

Epaphras:

The one who taught the Colossians the gospel. (Col. 1:7)

A “beloved fellow servant” with Paul

A “faithful minister of Christ” (Col. 1:8)

Brought back the news about the state of the Colossians to Paul. (Col. 1:8)

What

Paul gives thanks to God because of hearing about the Colossians love and faith. (Col. 1:4)

The colossians have this faith and love becasue of “the hope laid up for [them] in heaven.” (Col. 1:5)

Paul explains this hope is something they heard about before.

The Word of Truth

The Gospel

They are synonymous

Uses this as a transition to share about what is going on because of the gospel:

Came to them. (Col. 1:6)

It is “bearing fruit and increasing” around the world. (Col. 1:6)

Paul and Timothy pray often for the Colossians:

Filled with knowledge of God’s will in Spiritual wisdom and understanding

so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord

to fully please God

to bear fruit “in every good work”

Increase in the knowledge of God

Strengthened with all power

All endurance and patience with joy

to give thanks to the Father

who qulified them to share in the inheritance of the siands of light. (Col. 1:12)

Dilivered us from the domain of darkness (Col. 1:13)

Transferred us to the kingdom of the beloved Son (Col. 1:13)

In whom we have... (Col. 1:13)

redemption

forgiveness of sins

Where

When

Why

Interpretation

Who were the Colossians?

Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary Colossians, Letter to The

The region included a mixture of people native to the area, Greeks, Romans, and transplanted Jews. The church probably reflected the same diversity.

In what ways is it “bearing fruit and increasing?” (Col. 1:6)

Colossians and Philemon 1. The Evidence of the Gospel’s Power among the Colossians (Thanksgiving and Prayer) (1:3–14)

The language bearing fruit and growing is reminiscent of the Genesis creation story, where God commands human beings to “be fruitful and increase in number” (Gen. 1:28; see also 1:22). After the Flood the mandate is reiterated (Gen. 8:17; 9:1, 7), and the same language is later used in God’s promises to Abraham and the patriarchs that he would “increase” their number and “multiply” their seed (e.g., Gen. 17:20; 28:3; 35:11).

What is “in truth?” (Col. 1:6)

Colossians and Philemon 1. The Evidence of the Gospel’s Power among the Colossians (Thanksgiving and Prayer) (1:3–14)

Paul again emphasizes the “truth” of this gospel of grace (cf. v. 5), and again it is not entirely clear how we should attach the word to the larger clause

Colossians and Philemon 1. The Evidence of the Gospel’s Power among the Colossians (Thanksgiving and Prayer) (1:3–14)

The TNIV interprets the relevant phrase (Gk. en alētheia) in an adverbial sense (truly; cf. also NRSV), and this seems to be the most likely option here.

Colossians and Philemon 1. The Evidence of the Gospel’s Power among the Colossians (Thanksgiving and Prayer) (1:3–14)

Paul wants to remind them that they have truly—really, authentically, reliably—come to understand the gospel of grace

What is the “inheritance of the saints of light?” (Col. 1:12)

Colossians and Philemon 1. The Evidence of the Gospel’s Power among the Colossians (Thanksgiving and Prayer) (1:3–14)

“light” is here shorthand for the “realm” or “kingdom” of light

In the greek it is ambiguous as to whether “of light” is referring to the inheritance, the saints, or both.