COLOSSIANS
Introduction
City
Colossae – in Asia Minor, present day Turkey, in the bounds of the Phrygian kingdom. It was very “religious” and of “spiritual philosophy” mostly from Phrygian and Greek influence. It was a highly traveled city but as neighboring cities Hierapolis and Laodicea grew in importance, Colossae declined. (International Standard Bible Encyclopedia)
Letter
This letter was written by Paul (and Timothy) around 62 AD while Paul was imprisoned in Rome, to the church (saints) in Colossae. It is very likely that Paul had never yet met these people (2:1) but it was Epaphras who made these disciples (1:7). The letter was delivered by Tychicus, a faithful servant and minister, and Onesimus, whom Paul converted while in prison.
Topics Addressed
Encouragement to saints he had never met but had heard of their faith (Ch 1).
Admonition of false teachers leading them astray (2:4,8,18).
Admonition about seeking to return to Law (2:18).
Encouragement to live the new life in Christ (3:1-17).
Christian living in the home and in work (3:18-4:6).
Informing them about the Kingdom (4:10-18).
COLOSSIANS 1:1-12
FAITH, HOPE, AND LOVE
These are three vital signs of the church.
Paul and Timothy heard of their faith in Christ Jesus
We must have faith in Jesus so much that it is heard of by other or even like the church in Rome whose faith was proclaimed throughout the whole world (Romans 1:8). Faith is only going to resonate from us if our actions declare it. In fact, faith without works is dead (James 2:18-26). Faith is not just cognitive thought or idea but requires action.
The Colossians had love for all of the saints
No church will survive, will endure, will grow without love. Jesus’ command was that we love one another (John 13:34-35) and by this all will know we are His disciples. One of the main reasons why evangelism is at a stand still many places is because the world doesn’t know we are disciples of Jesus because we hate one another. There is too many times more love expressed from by sinners than by saints. John admonished us about killing one another not with a sword or gun or any weapon but hatred (1 John 3:15). Let us never forget that love covers a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8). Christians should show the most love because we are the ones who no the greatest love (John 15:13).
Because of the hope laid up for them in heaven
We have faith, assurance of things hoped for and convictions of things unseen (Hebrews 11:1), and we have love for one another, because we have a hope laid up in heaven. We have an inheritance. We have eternity with God Almighty and the Lamb Jesus. We are encouraged by this fact (1 Thessalonians 4:13ff). We must never lose sight of heaven but always fix our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2).
These three things carry on until end of time (1 Corinthians 13:13)
THE GOSPEL
The gospel is the word of truth (v5)
The gospel came to them (v6, cf. Jude 3, Acts 20:27)
The gospel does and will bear fruit in converts and good works (v6,10)
The gospel is increasing – spreading and growing (v6)
The gospel must be heard (v5), understood (v6), and learned (v7). Making disciples (students, pupils, learners, followers) requires teaching and will only happen if we teach them! See Romans 10:14, Acts 8:30-35, Acts 18:26
PRAYER
“Lord, Teach us to pray” – look at what Paul prayed for unceasingly (v3,9) and pray for similar things. “that you may...”
1) Be filled with (to fill full) the knowledge of God’s will (v9)
2) In spiritual wisdom and understanding (v9)
3) Walk in a manner worthy of the Lord (v10, cf. Ephesians 4:1)
4) Please Him in all respects (v10)
5) Bear fruit in good works (10)
6) Increase in knowledge of God (10)
7) Strengthened with power – (11) “empowered” only other time Hebrews 11:34 “made strong” and Ephesians 6:10 “be strong”
8) Attain steadfastness (HUPOMONE remaining under difficulties without succumbing), patience (MAKROTHUM long endurance that does not retaliate), joyously (11)
9) Paul gave thanks to the Father (12)
COLOSSIANS 1:13-29
THE CHRIST
Has a Kingdom (v13)
In Him we have redemption – the forgiveness of sins (v14)
Is the image of the invisible God – incarnate (v15, cf. Hebrews 1:3)
Is the firstborn of all creation (v15) and from the dead (v18)
Creation (John 1:1-3)
By Him
Through Him
For Him
After Him
Hold together in Him
Head of the Church (v18)
First place (preeminence) in everything (v18)
All the fullness of deity (19)
Made reconciliation and peace through His blood (20)
THE CHURCH
Formerly...(v21)
Alienated – a stranger in a foreign land
hostile in mind – mind set on flesh and not spirit (Romans 8:7)
Engaged in evil deeds – living sinfully
Yet now...(v22)
Reconciled – not longer aliens but fellow citizens (Ephesians 2:19)
holy and blameless – set apart for God’s use not common use
beyond reproach - unaccused
If you continue in faith, firmly established and steadfast, not moved from hope (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:58). The Church or Christians are new creatures and must never go back to the old creature but must persevere and continue and press on toward heaven.
“Christ in you, the hope of glory” (v27)
The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is the seal for the Christian. He is a down payment for the inheritance we are to receive. His work in the Christian’s life is the make him more like Jesus; to help him be conformed into the image of the Son. “Glory” has to do with who someone is and what he is like. When Jesus manifested His glory in John 2:11 with the water into wine miracle, He showed the audience who He is and what He is like. He revealed His deity. Have Christ in us now is our hope of attaining that glory. That happens by the work of the Holy Spirit and in our study of scripture (2 Corinthians 3:18).
THE COMMISSION
Suffer – fill up what is lacking in Christ’s sufferings. For righteousness, for Jesus. (Acts 9:4)
Stewardship –Management of what God has given you. In Paul’s case it was revealing the mystery of God to the Gentiles, specifically His grace (Ephesians 3:2). Notice it was given to Paul for them.
Proclaim Him – admonishing or warning and teaching every man.
Equip – (TELEIOS) present every man complete or perfect or mature in Christ.
Labor – with Jesus working in us.
COLOSSIANS 2:1-3
Great Struggle and Conflict
The Greek word is AGONE where we get our English word agony – contention, a fight for them, “how great a contest I am having” (Robertson’s word pictures). Paul didn’t see them or know them beyond hearing of their faith (1:3) and most likely hearing about there walk with Jesus from Epaphras. Yet he had a conflict on behalf of them. He loved them deeply because of the bond they had in Christ. This is why he could say he is absent in body but present in spirit. The relationship that Christians have with each other is fellowship in the blood of Jesus. We are in fact baptized into one body and baptized into a relationship with one another (1 Corinthians 12:13). Paul has great concern for the spiritual welfare of all the brethren (2 Thessalonians 11:28-29).
He has not personally seen them. He also had not personally seen the Christians in Rome prior to when he had written to them (Romans 1:11). When he left the Ephesian church to “see them no more” it brought them great sorrow (Acts 20:38). He longed to see the faces of those in Thessalonica (1 Thessalonians 2:17; 3:10) – Given Blakeley. It truly is something to see those of like precious faith face to face.
He desires that their hearts may be encouraged. The heart here is not meaning the physical organ pumping blood throughout the body, but rather the very depths of a person where desires, thoughts, and purposes are entertained. The very root of our decisions, words, and actions all proceed out of our heart. Paul desires that their hearts may be encouraged, uplifted, and brought near to God.
He also desires that their hearts be knit together in love - AGAPE. Love is in fact the perfect bond of unity (Colossians 3:14). Jonathan and David made a covenant and their souls were knit together and Jonathan loved David as himself (1 Samuel 18:1). Disciples of Jesus are to be recognized not by any certain dress or hair style or outward symbols but by the love they have one for another (John 13:35). Greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends (John 15:13). The church is held and bound together by love and primarily by the love of the Father in the sacrifice of Jesus. “If I be lifted up, I will draw all men to myself” (John 12:32). We are all knit together and enjoy closeness with each other and Jesus because we are continually being drawn to Him through His love for us – the cross. Remember that we love Him because He first loved us (1 John 4:19). And this love has been shed abroad in the Christian’s heart (Romans 5:5).
That they attain all the wealth of full assurance of understanding. Paul desires that they may grow up to entire confidence of understanding the gospel. The word “attaining” is not in the original text. This process is ongoing and is in the work of the Holy Spirit dwelling in a Christian. It is the “being transformed from glory to glory” (2 Corinthians 3:18) and the “being conformed into the image of Jesus” (Romans 8:29).
True knowledge of God’s mystery – Christ Himself. EPIGNOSIS – Full knowledge, precise and correct knowledge (Thayer), in reply to the Gnostic teachings floating around in Asia Minor. Gnosticism arose from pre Christian paganism and basically teaches that matter is “evil” and spirit is “good” (Chuck McCoy). And that know one in flesh can be good. Salvation comes from a “secret knowledge” inoculated by God through revelation. Paul says that full assurance of understanding and true knowledge of God’s mystery is Christ Himself – He is the mystery; He is the truth. Neither did Gnostics like that all the fullness of deity (good) dwelled in bodily (matter) form in Him.
All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are in Him. There is no mystical wisdom and knowledge that the Christian is ignorant of. The secret things belong to God but He has revealed to us all that pertains to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3).
COLOSSIANS 2:4-10
FALSE DOCTRINES RANGING FROM EMPTINESS TO FALSE FULLNESS
“so that no one will delude you with persuasive arguments.”
Delude – paralogizitai – only time used in N.T. – to deceive by false reasoning (Robertson). The Gnostics were leading many astray even in the church and Paul here and John also wrote letters to defend the faith from attacks of “secret knowledge” and empty deceptions and persuasive arguments.
They had “good discipline and stability of faith in Christ.” They had been taught in Him and were continuing in Him. Paul urged them to continue being “built up in Him.” (Ever present tense)
“See to it that no one takes you captive”
False teaching leads people astray as booty or spoils of war. Satan wants to use false doctrines to delude and capture Christians as spoils of his victory in the battle over one soul.
The devil’s weapons of choice in this particular text are:
“philosophy” – which Gnostics and other false teachers love – speculations. Paul warned Timothy of them (1 Timothy 6:2)
“empty deception” – things which appear to have depth or worth but are fruitless in eternity i.e. wealth (Matthew 13:22)
“tradition of men” – traditions can be good (2 Thessalonians 2:15, 3:6) or bad (Mark 7:1-13)
“according to the elementary principles of the world” – such as many silly rules that people try to bind on others base on their philosophies or traditions or theories. See vs 21.
“rather than according Christ” – the measuring stick of our thoughts or ideas is not the elementary things of the world but rather Christ Himself. Our thoughts and ideas are only valid if they are in accordance with Jesus. As soon as we lose Him as the measuring stick, we open up the door for delusion and captivity by way of false doctrines
“In Him all the fullness (pleroma) of Deity dwells in bodily form”
The fullness of the God-head was in Christ before the Incarnation (John 1:1, John 1:18; Philippians 2:6), during the Incarnation (John 1:14, John 1:18; 1 John 1:1-3). It was the Son of God who came in the likeness of men (Philippians 2:7) – Robertson. Jesus was not all God with no human body, nor was he all man with no deity. There was no separation – Jesus was God and man in bodily form. He is the Son of God and the Son of Man.
All the fullness, not just some aspects of deity but all of the fullness dwells in bodily form. Jay Wilson goes on to say that the Christian takes on this fullness of deity from verse 10. We have been made full or complete being in Christ but the fullness of the Godhead does not dwell in us – WE ARE NOT GOD AND NEVER WILL BE.
COLOSSIANS 2:11-15
CAN WE KNOCK OUR SARX OFF?
Indebted to John Doughty’s for his work “Repudiation of Jay Wilson, 20th Century Origen” The Compass Vol. 16 No. 1
1. Circumcised without hands by the circumcision of Christ.
2. Not removal of flesh but removal (APEKDUSIS) of body of flesh (SARX)
APEKDUSIS – putting off, stripping the flesh of its sin. The body of flesh is stripped, not removed. Similarly, Romans 6:6 says that the body (SOMA) of sin is done away (KATERGETHE) with. SOMA does not equal SARX but in the same way that the flesh is stripped of sin, so the body of sin is rendered ineffective. It is not destroyed, it does not cease to exist but it is reduced to inactivity (Vine’s).
SARX – flesh. The seat of sin (Vine’s). “Everything that attaches man to the world instead of God” (Dick Chambers). In our flesh we serve the law of sin (Romans 7:25). The part of man that makes us subject to temptation, the part of us that entertains things opposing God. We will not lose the flesh until we die but we must do our best to suppress it at all costs (Romans 8:13). We cannot “Knock our sarx off” and neither did Jesus (Hebrews 5:7) as we will always be in our sarx until we die and receive a glorified body (Romans 8:23). And we will always endure a battle within between sarx and spirit (Romans 7) between our flesh and our inner man.
SOMA – body. “The body is an essential part of man; the redeemed are not perfected until the resurrection.” (Hebrews 11:40). “Body of sin” in Romans 6:6 is the same as the “body of death” in Romans 7:24 and “body of humiliation” in Philippians 3:21 (Chuck Doughty).
3. Buried with Him in baptism is in correlation with the circumcision and is a putting off not of the flesh in a bath but of putting off the sin of the flesh (1 Peter 3:21). “It is not the flesh which is put away, but the dirt (sin) of the flesh (John Doughty – Repudiation of Jay Wilson). In our text the flesh is stripped (APEKDUSIS) of sin.
4. Raised up with Him – raised (EGEIRO) not resurrected (ANASTASIS). We are raised out of the water but we are not yet resurrected with Jesus. That will happen at His second coming (1 Corinthians 15), therefore we are not in a glorified, sinless state of being. We are still in our dying bodies until He comes again.
5. Through faith in the working of God – who also raised Jesus from the dead. God says this is what happens upon our immersion into Christ and therefore we believe it. We trust that this happened and that God will be faithful to what He promises.
6. We were dead – spiritual condition of unsaved man.
7. In our transgressions – (PARAPTOMA) – faults, errors, side steps, to step over the boundary set by God.
8. And the uncircumcision of our flesh (SARX) – the flesh had not yet been stripped of sin therefore we were still in our transgressions and still dead as the body of sin was still effective.
9. He made you alive together with Him – we are made alive in baptism when our body of death (Romans 7:24) is stripped of its power.
10. Having forgiven us all our transgressions – we were rebellious and made errors and stepped over our boundaries set by God and were therefore as good as dead but He made us alive and forgave us ALL of our transgressions. He removed them as far as the east is from the west.
11. We built up a certificate of debt; trespassing and transgressing the law of God but God has blotted them out and removed them, having nailed it (the Law – our certificate of debt) to the cross. We no longer owe any debt.
“We owed a debt we couldn’t pay and He paid a debt He didn’t owe”
COLOSSIANS 2:16-23
I. Let no one judge you...according to the Law (16-17)
Food and Drink......Romans 14:17...1 Corinthians 8:8...Hebrews 9:10
Holy Days...............Passover...Pentecost...etc
New Moons............Monthly ordinances (Numbers 28:11)
Sabbath Days..........Exodus 31:12-18...Deuteronomy 5:12-15
They are just a shadow but Christ is the substance (SOMA). Christ is the body and the Law and ordinances are just the shadow that was cast by light shining on the main object.
These all became obsolete with the Law when the new covenant was enacted on better promises (Hebrews 8:6,13)
II. Let no one keep defrauding you from your prize (18-19)
Self abasement (false humility)..............Monks do this
Worship of angels..................................We worship Jesus because He is better (Hebrews 1,2)
Taking a stand on visions.......................Making decisions based on experience or visions rather than the word of God is never a good idea
Not holding fast to the Head (Jesus)......Let us hold fast to Jesus. For in Him we (the body) are supplied and held together and grow.
These are not mentioned as a shadow of things to come but are worthless and are contrary to the simplicity of devotion to Christ (2 Corinthians 11:3).
III. The show or appearance of self-made religion (20-23)
If you have died with Christ (2:12) to the elementary principals of the world (2:8) why are you submitting yourselves again to decrees or dogmas – which were nailed to the cross (2:14).
Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch! - The Pharisees, Essenes, Gnostics made piety hinge on outward observances and rules instead of inward conviction and principle.
Commandments and teachings of men - Self made religion. They are traditions that men were binding on others based on their personal convictions or understanding of scripture but of things not founded in scripture. They all perish – I would think with the men who perish. (Isaiah 40:8).
Notice that these things appear spiritual, religious, wise but are of no value against fleshly indulgence. Rules and regulations never made any worshipper perfect in conscience. The law never made anyone perfect. But grace through Jesus Christ (Hebrews 9:8-10, 13-14)
COLOSSIANS 3:1-16
HOW TO HAVE A TRUE, HEALTHY SELF-ESTEEM
FIND YOUR IDENTITY IN CHRIST (1-4)
Raised up with Christ – Colossians 2:10-12; Romans 6:1-12
Mind set on things above – Philippians 4:8 “Whatsoever things are...”
Hidden with Christ – Galatians 2:17-21; Philippians 3:18-21; 2 Corinthians 5:16-17
Glory to be revealed – at the resurrection of the body
PUT OFF THE OLD SELF (5-9)
Mortify the members of your body on earth – kill them, put them to death (Romans 8:12-14)
Immorality – PORNEIA – where we get our word pornography - whoredom
Impurity – moral uncleanness
Passion – mishap, falling into sin
Evil desire – craving for what is forbidden, deliberate sin (transgression)
Greed – covet
Which amounted to idolatry and brings about the wrath of God
Once walked according to old self and its deeds
But now put them aside
Anger – temper
Wrath – fierceness and indignation
Malice – desire to injure, wickedness
Slander – BLASPHEMIA – speak to injure another’s name
Abusive speech – obscene, vile conversation
Lay aside the old self and its evil practices
Lay aside – APEKDUOMAI – strip off as in Colossians 2:11,15
PUT ON THE NEW (10-16)
Who is being renewed to a true knowledge, according to the creator
Renewed – renovated see 2 Corinthians 4:16; Romans 12:1-2 and Titus 3:5
Thayer say it is “to be changed into a new kind of life as opposed to the former corrupt state” “a continual refreshment of the new man in Christ,” according to Robertson
No distinction but Christ is all and in all
Chosen by God, holy and beloved
Put on... (see Matthew 5:3-11)
Heart of compassion – mercy and lovingkindness, concern for other in your “guts”
Kindness – integrity
Humility – lowliness of mind
Gentleness – mildness, meekness
Patience – forbearance, longsuffering
Love – brotherly love (AGAPE)
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts
Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you
Teaching and admonishing one another with
Psalms (from Psalms, the word PSALMOS means to strike or pluck as with an instrument)
Hymns (songs of praise)
Spiritual songs (which express spiritual emotion)
Singing (lyrical emotion in a devout soul) with thankfulness or grace in your hearts
COLOSSIANS 3:17-4:1
THE CHRISTIAN’S RELATIONSHIPS – A REFLECTION OF HIS LORDSHIP
WHATEVER YOU DO (17,23-25)
In word – speak not to slander, back bite, gossip or with profanity or coarse joking but rather in the name of the Lord Jesus - Giving thanks to the Lord – singing praises – edifying (v.16)
In deed – not trespassing, not evil behavior but rather deeds in the name of the Lord Jesus
In work – not heartily, from the soul, not with laziness but with excellence
For the Lord – speech, deeds, and work all for the Lord not for man. God puts us places to work for Him (Ephesians 2:10)
Reward/Consequences from the Lord – our reward from man is passing and temporal even so are the consequences, but our reward and consequences from God are eternal
Without partiality -
Notice how often the word “Lord” is used in these verses. We will do these things if we accept Him as Lord and give Him preeminence.
MARRIAGE (18-19)
a. Wives be subject to your husbands as is fitting in the Lord (Ephesians 5:22). Submission is not weakness but rather strength in the God’s eyes because it is obedience to God.
b. Husbands love your wives (as Christ loved the church in Ephesians). Love is... (1 Corinthians 13). Love is what you do – For God so loved that He gave Jesus as a sacrifice (John 3:16)
c. Both in obedience to God – if we are not living this way it is not because we have a problem with our marriages, that is the symptom. The problem is that we have a problem with the lordship of Jesus
PARENTING (20-21)
Children be obedient – if children will not obey mom and dad, they will not obey God
For it is well pleasing to the Lord – we are not just pleasing our parents when we are obedient, but we are pleasing the Lord
Fathers do not exasperate your children – they ought to feel secure not provoked.
So that they do not lose heart
If our family is dysfunctional we ought to ask the question “Is Jesus a part of our family?” The problem with the American family is not financial constraints, public schools, or even television. The problem with the American family is that it is not in Christ and Jesus isn’t Lord. It is hard to give children security hope and love when you don’t have those things.
WORK PLACE (22)
Slaves/Workers obey your masters/bosses – a Christian’s witness in the work place can be very powerful or very destructive
With sincerity of heart – when we work for the Lord we work harder, more diligently. Missions – for purpose of preaching Jesus
Fearing the Lord – we work this way because we fear the Lord.
Masters/Bosses – treat slaves/workers with justice and fairness (that is how God treats us – also grace)
COLOSSIANS 4:2-18
PRAYER
Devoted to – committed, continue earnestly
Keeping alert in it – praying aloud helps, fervently
Attitude of thanksgiving – praising God for what he does, most frequently neglected
For us – pray for brothers and sisters even if they are not sick
Open door for word – opportunity, not a door we create or force open but welcoming
Speak mystery of Christ, Make it clear – the gospel explained fully and clearly
CONDUCT
Wisdom toward outsiders
Redeeming the time – making the most of every opportunity
SPEECH
Gracious – underserved favor in our speech
Salty – with kind and pleasant words of truth
Knowing how to respond to each person – sincerity, meeting the person where they are and preaching Jesus (Acts 8)
FELLOWSHIP
Tychicus – sent to update saints, encourage, personal matters (7-9). He was taking the letter to the Colossians as he also took letter to the Ephesians (Ephesians 6:21). See also Acts 20:4, 2 Timothy 4:12, Titus 3:12.
Onesimus – slave of Philemon who was a member of the Colossian church (Philemon 1:10-22). Also sent with the letter to the Colossians. Name means useful even though he was once useless (Philemon 1:11).
Aristarchus – Paul’s traveling companion (Acts 19:29). From Thessalonica (Acts 20:4, 27:2).
Mark – Son of Mary (Acts 12:12). Left Paul (Acts 13:13) and went with Barnabas (Acts 15:37-39). Converted by Peter (1 Peter 5:13). Useful again to Paul (2 Timothy 4:11, Philemon 1:24). Wrote Gospel of Mark.
Justus – Jewish Christian
Epaphras – possibly founder of Colossian Church. Faithful minister and bond servant (Colossians 1:7, Philemon 1:23).
Luke – Gospel writer, Paul’s traveling physician (Acts 20:5-21:18). There during prison letters.
Demas – loved the world and left Paul (2 Timothy 4:10)
Archippus – fellow soldier in Christ (Philemon 1:2)