Colossians

I -- 1:1-14 – Introduction

• 1:1-2
  • Salutation
  • This is a standard form of greeting
  • Paul is identified as an apostle of Christ Jesus
  • God is the one who commissioned and empowered him
  • The letter is addressed to the faithful at Colossae
  • It includes the typical address of "grace and peace"
• 1:3-8
  • A prayer of Thanksgiving for the Colossians
  • Colossians are showing two great qualities
  • They have faith in Christ and love for their fellow men
  • They also have hope for a glorious reward
  • Their reward will be the future blessedness of God's people
  • The source for having this hope is the gospel
  • There is power in this gospel
  • It also conveys "God's grace in all its truth"
  • The author is also grateful for the work of Epaphras
• 1:9-14
  • Prayer of petition
  • It is a prayer, first, for an ever-growing knowledge of God's will
  • Instead of persuading God to change, we are the ones to change
  • This will enable them to live worthily of the Lord
  • They will be pleasing to him
  • They will be strengthened with God's power
  • As a result, they will bear fruit in every good work
  • Fruits will include patience, fortitude, and joy
  • Author is also grateful for the benefits the Christian has received in Christ
  • Colossians have a share in the inheritance of God's people
  • God has already transferred them to his kingdom
  • Darkness gives way to light and condemnation to forgiveness
  • Slavery gives way to freedom and the power of Satan to power of God

II -- 1:15-23 – The Supremacy of Christ

This is the author's answer to the "heresy" claiming Jesus was merely one among many of the "spiritual elements" in the universe

• 1:15-18
  • He argues for the unqualified supremacy of Christ
  • In relation to God, Christ is his image or exact likeness
  • The nature of God is perfectly revealed in the Christ
  • As firstborn of God's creation, Christ is Lord over creation
  • Through him, creation came into being
  • He is "before all time" and actually holds things together
  • He not only sustains creation but is also its unifying principle
  • He is also the head of the body (the church)
  • He guides and governs it
  • He was also the firstborn of the dead
• 1:19-23
  • Christ is the complete revelation
  • The purpose of his coming was reconciliation between God and man
  • The method of reconciliation was the blood of the cross
  • In Christ, God reconciled all things to himself
  • This reconciliation includes everything on earth and in heaven
  • Another purpose of reconciliation was aimed towards holiness
  • People should want to stand before God, worthy of his love
  • They also should stand firm in the faith and have hope in the gospel
  • Regardless of what happens, people must never lose this hope

III -- 1:24-2:7 – Paul's Ministry

• 1:24-29
  • His ministry was one of suffering and preaching
  • The Colossians were the beneficiaries of the sufferings Paul had endured
  • He suffered because he had brought the gospel to them
  • He also identified his suffering with Christ's afflictions
  • For these reasons, his sufferings were a source of joy to him
  • His was also a ministry of preaching
  • God had commissioned him to evangelize the world
  • This was both a high privilege and a sacred trust
  • He was a servant of the church, but a steward of God
  • The nature of his work was to make the gospel available to all people
  • He described God's word as a "mystery" that had been hidden till now
  • The glorious riches of the mystery: "Christ in you the hope of glory"
  • The ground for salvation is the indwelling Christ
  • This is available to everyone
  • Everyone is perfect in Christ
  • This is why Paul labored without concern for the cost to himself
• 2:1-5
  • Pastoral concern for Colossians
  • Paul repeats how he labored for them
  • His concern is that they may be encouraged in heart
  • He hopes they will have the strength, convictions to refute false teachings
  • He has this hope because they are united in love
  • They will understand the fulness of the Christ, embodying all wisdom
  • He refers to the false teachings as "fine-sounding arguments"
  • He prays that they will not be deceived
  • To that end, though not present, Paul felt a spiritual oneness with them
  • He rejoiced in their orderliness and steadfastness in faith
  • Though they were under attack by these false philosophies, their faith was intact
• 2:6-7
  • A call to be steadfast
  • Just because they are firm does not mean they should be still
  • Those who receive Christ as Lord must now walk with him
  • They need to build their lives in Christ and to be established with him
  • Faith is the means of their growth
  • They have been taught the truth and they should stick with it
  • For this, Paul is very grateful

IV -- 2:8-23 – The Colossian Heresy

• 2:8-10
  • The false "philosophy"
  • The intent of the philosophy is to enslave
  • It is hollow and deceptive (it has nothing of wisdom in it)
  • Hollow means there is no truth in it
  • These teachings have derived from humans and not God
  • They rest on the basic "principles" of this world
  • (Principles could refer to the angels, spiritual elements)
  • Colossians have all they need in Christ
  • The fulness of the deity is found in him, nothing needs improvement
  • This fulness continues through to the community
  • Those who are "in Christ" have complete fulness
  • There is nothing lacking in their relationship to God
• 2:11-15
  • Distinction between spiritual and physical circumcision
  • They have no need for circumcision done by man
  • They have already been circumcised by Christ
  • They have put off their sinful nature 
  • They have been buried and have arisen with him in baptism through faith
  • Through baptism they have been forgiven, regenerated, and justified
  • Baptism is both the vehicle and the expression of God's faith
  • Before they were dead in their sins; now they are spiritually alive
  • Not having sins means freedom from legalistic rituals
  • The death of Christ canceled humans' indebtedness to God
  • Through his death he also triumphed over evil powers
  • Because of Christ's death, evil no longer has control over believers
• 2:16-23
  • The end of legalism
    • 2:16-17 
      • Colossians were not to be bound by food laws or religious festivals
      • (These might have been human regulations beyond Jewish practice)
      • Paul declares they are free from all these
      • Anything less would indicate they were still under the evil powers
      • People believed such regulations were a shadow of what was to come
      • The rules, themselves, somehow led to some eternal truth
      • But now, this reality has already been achieved through Christ
    • 2:18-19 
      • Nor do believers need to worship angels
      • (Possible reference to mystery religions)
      • These individuals claim to be superior to others because of visions
      • Their thoughts are of human origin
      • They are puffed up, filled with vanity
      • They have lost sight of the "Head" (Christ in relation to the church)
      • It is Christ who supports and nourishes the body (church)
      • When the body (church) is under Christ, God provides its growth
      • To separate from Christ is to separate from the church
    • 2:20-23 
      • The issue of asceticism
      • If they are no longer subject to principalities of world, why submit to them
      • Such rules are enslaving; they can only make people fearful of sinning
      • Dietary rules cannot lead to salvation
      • Moreover, such rules and regulations change; after a time, food decays
      • It's as though people stake a claim on that which cannot endure
      • Such actions appear to be based on wisdom, but this is deceptive
      • Mostly these are examples of false humility
      • Everything is based on how it looks; there is no underlying truth
      • Such actions do not help us understand God better
      • Nor can they help in preventing sinful behavior
      • In fact, asceticism is a complete failure
      • Christianity is not about rules, but about living in relationship
      • Believers who live in the Spirit, walk by the Spirit

V -- 3:1-4:6 – Ethical Living

The author puts forth his views on how to live what they already are

• 3:1-4
  • Foundation of Christian life
  • First, they are to set their hearts on the things above
  • "Above" means spiritual reality, not earthly things
  • They are also to keep their minds fixed on heavenly things
  • That should be their focus and not the things they have left behind
  • This new life is "hidden" in that it cannot be easily explained
  • Still their lives are bound to Christ
• 3:5-9
  • The old life that is left behind
  • They are to "put to death" a series of vices and prohibitions
  • Five of the vices relate to sexual sins
  • God's wrath is upon these sins
  • These characterized their previous lives
  • Their lives were enslaved to these passions and evil powers
  • But now they should have a new attitude toward sin
  • They must "rid yourselves of all such things as these"
  • List of sins involved two categories: internalized and verbalized
  • Last on the list is lying
  • Lying causes severe damage to all relationships
  • They have put off this sin through baptism
• 3:10-15
  • The new selfhood
  • The new self is the new being
  • The new self is "renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator"
  • God is the one that empowers the renewal of the new self
  • Racial, religious, cultural, and social distinctions are removed
  • "No Greek nor Jew…no slave nor free…, but Christ is all, and is in all"
  • Those who are God's chosen people will embody various virtues
  • (Compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience)
  • These are all "godly" qualities, important in human relationships
  • The focus of these virtues is the well-being of others
  • When conflicts do happen, people should "bear and forgive" one another
  • They are to forgive as they have been forgiven
  • All this should be done through love
  • Love binds them together in perfect unity
  • The point of all this is to let Christ rule in your hearts
  • As members of one body, they have been called to peace
  • This inner peace comes from Christ and is to be shared with others
  • Lastly, they should all give thanks to God the Father
• 3:16-17
  • Proper worship
  • The word of Christ is to dwell within people richly
  • They will then teach and admonish one another with all wisdom
  • They will also worship through psalms, hymns, and songs
  • (Scholars aren't sure about the distinctions between these three)
  • All such singing will express gratitude to God
  • The abiding principle is to do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus
  • The best testimony is an obedient life
  • Lastly, they should always give thanks to the Father through Christ
  • This is done not out of duty, but with freedom of thanksgiving
• 3:18-4:1
  • Household codes
  • These reflect ancient social norms for families to keep society stable
  • (Typically these are found late first century and beyond. They address the problem caused by the fact that the parousia did not occur quickly. This is an attempt to adapt the gospel in light of the social wisdom of the day.)
    • 3:18-19 
      • Wife-husband relationships
      • Wives are to submit to their husbands as is fitting in the Lord
      • "As is fitting" suggests that was the social norm of the day
      • In turn, husbands are to love their wives and not be harsh with them
      • The marriage relationship is to be governed by love
      • Its only aim is to promote the well-being of the other
    • 3:20-21
      • Child-parent relationships
      • Children are to obey their parents in everything
      • This is acceptable and pleasing to the Lord
      • In turn, parents are not to provoke or tyrannize their children
      • They are to earn their child's obedience, not demand it
      • If the children are to be respectful, the parent is to be loving
    • 3:22-4:1 
      • Master-slave relationships
      • (Slaves probably had the hardest time as Christians. 
      • Their equality in the church did not translate to equality in society. The ancient world had an advanced system of slavery in place. Many believe that the abolishment of slavery would have led to the breakdown of society. Still, the delay of the parousia led to slaves becoming restless. They wondered when their equality might become a reality.)
      • Slaves are to obey their masters in everything
      • Slavery is placed within the scope of Christ's lordship
      • First, slaves were no longer to seek their master's approval
      • Slaves were to work from their hearts
      • Reverence for God should impel their human activities
      • Second, they had a new point of reference
      • Their compensation came from God, not from wages (or lack thereof)
      • Ultimately, God will judge those who have done wrong
      • God will judge masters who are not fair or just
      • (Might also refer to the slave who fails in his duties)
      • In turn, masters are to demonstrate fairness in dealings with slaves
      • (No NT writer ever agitates for the abolition of slavery)
      • Earthly masters still have a Master in heaven
      • To the extent that they keep this in mind, there will be no problems with slaves
• 4:2-6
  • More instruction regarding corporate worship
  • Members of the congregation should devote themselves to prayer
  • The manner of prayer is important: watchful and thankful
  • Thanksgiving and prayer are appropriate responses for the Christian
  • Paul invites them to also pray for him and for the receptivity of the message
  • He asks that "God should open a door" – provide the opportunities
  • The message, of course, is the mystery of Christ
  • Paul writes that he is in chains (this is not a prayer for his release)
  • He used his imprisonments as opportunities to preach the gospel
  • His prayer is that he should preach more clearly
  • He prays that they will be wise in the way they act towards unbelievers
  • Their actions will authenticate their faith
  • Along with actions, come witnessing to their faith
  • They should be able to speak confidently and correctly
  • Speech should be "full of grace" and "seasoned with salt"
  • (God inspired, wholesome, palatable)

VI – 4:7-18 -- Final Greetings and Conclusion

• 4:7-9
  • Several commendations
  • Tychicus: a dear brother, a faithful minister, and fellow servant
  • Paul and Tychicus met in Ephesus (Acts 20:4)
  • He sent him to Colossae as his personal messenger
  • He was to encourage (parakaleo -- comfort) them
  • Onesimus: faithful and dear brother
  • He is the slave who ran away from Philemon
• 4:10-14
  • Greetings from others
  • Only three Jews remain in Paul's company
  • He was comforted by these three, but no doubt sad that there were only three
  • Aristarchus was a fellow-prisoner
  • Mark (the cousin of Barnabas) with whom Paul had a falling out (See Acts 15:39)
  • Nothing further is known about Justus
  • Epaphras: one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus
  • He might have been the founder of this church, which would account for why he was "always wrestling in prayer" for them
  • Luke and Demas are also mentioned
  • Luke is referred to as a physician and might be Paul's companion
  • Demas "deserted" Paul later on (See 2 Tim 4:10)
• 4:15-17
  • Special greetings and instructions to them
  • Paul extends his greetings to them as well
  • He makes special reference to Nympha and the church at her house
  • He also asks that they share this letter with the congregation at Laodicea and that they read the one he sent to them (which we don't have)
  • Obviously Paul's letters were meant to be shared
  • Archippus was given special mention and told to finish the work he received in the Lord
  • No one knows exactly what this "work" might have been
• 4:18
  • Benediction of grace
  • Paul claims to have written the greeting with his own hand
  • Typically that meant the rest had been dictated to a secretary
  • As always Paul blessed them with "grace be with you"
  • Paul knew that words weren't enough; ultimately their success or failure would be a measure of the grace they received from God
  • It is God, alone, who could keep them strong and faithful

As always, the author ends his letter with talk of grace. He had found this grace for himself and diligently conveyed it to others. It is an indication of how the author has shown his pastoral concern for this congregation throughout his letter. Through prayer, thanksgiving, rejoicing and intercession he has expressed his love and care for them. Mostly he wants them to grow in their life in Christ, and to be impervious to false teachings about Christ, about worship, and about Christian living. The author exhorts them that the gospel message, the Christ, is sufficient to meet all their needs.