Colossians 1:1-29
The Book of Colossians was written by the Apostle Paul about A.D. 60-62, while he was imprisoned in Rome. One purpose was to correct the heresy that had sprung up in the City of Colossae.
- Colosse was one of three cities in the Lycus Valley, about 100 miles east of Ephesus (capital) in Asia Minor.
- Its name is possibly derived from Colossus, a large statue.
- Colosse is about 12 miles from Hierapolis and Laodicea, the other two cities of the valley.
- This town was fertile ground for religious speculations and heresies.
- Grievous wolves descended upon the church and leading many astray, just like new cults today.
Paul respond to this new problem growing in the church, known as Gnosticism, a heresy. They considered themselves spiritual leaders.
These heresies promised people “spiritual perfection” if they entered into the teachings and ceremonies, based on man-made traditions and philosophy, not on divine Truth.
Gnostics main doctrine held that Jesus did not have a real human body, but only a phantom { something that can be seen or heard or whose presence can be felt, but that is not a physically present body}, a ghost, only spiritual, not material. They did not believe what Jesus said about himself.
Paul deals with this heresy directly. So many individuals today are trying to rob Jesus of his deity is why it is important to understand Gnostics.
Gnosticism contained varies characteristics:
- Emphasis on some special or deeper knowledge, they only know;
- It involved the worship of angels {people} as mediators to God;
- Denied the deity of Christ, A form of legalism
- Special rites and ceremonies
- Heretics attacked the person and work of Jesus Christ.
- We are warned not be mixing Christian faith with other beliefs.
- With this background, we can now review Paul’s Letter to the Colossians.
- Paul did not begin by attacking the false teacher or their doctrines.
Greetings
Colossians 1:1 Paul, an Apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
- Paul greetings with begins with his name and Timothy as normal
- Will of God: Paul divine appointment by God.
Colossians 1:2 To the Saints {God’s Holy People} and faithful brethren { brothers and sisters} in Christ who are in Colosse: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
- Saints: implies holy, blameless, and pure with God
- Faithful brethren: means trustworthy near or remote brother or sister
Thanksgiving and Prayer
Colossians 1:3 We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,
- Paul was praying for them and shows his tender concern for them.
- This is what we do with our prayer list. And Father of Jesus.
Colossians 1:4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all the saints { God’s people};
Your faith is in a person, not a “system,” or doctrine, or philosophy.
Faith is totally relying on someone. Who is your faith in?
Colossians 1:5 because {the faith and love} of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you {already} heard before in the word of the truth {or message} of the gospel,
Which “hope”? The Second Coming!
Our hope is “laid up”—reserved, set aside, for us. “You can’t take it with you but you can send it on ahead!” Laid up for our future use, in heaven.
Jesus tells us in Matthew “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth … (20) But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, Matthew 6:19-21 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth … (20) But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. (21) For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Paul tells us in 2 Timothy there is laid up for us the crown of righteousness, Jesus, will give to us on that Day. 2 Timothy 4:8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.
- False teachers take their message to where the Gospel has already gone
- They try to lead believer’s astray, for money and power.
Colossians 1:6 which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and {the Gospel}is bringing forth fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew {or understand} the grace of God in truth;
The gospel brings forth conversion wherever it is preached.
Colossians 1:7-8 You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf, (8) and who also told us of your love in the Spirit.
He was one of the primarily responsible as founder of the church there.
Paul sets forth certain blessings for which Paul prays for Colossians
Colossians 1:9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,
Fill you with the knowledge of his will. This would be their best security against false teaching, and an assurance of a faithful life.
Colossians 1:10 so that you may live a life {or walk} worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing {or increasing} in the knowledge of God,
Walk worthy of our vocation or calling:
Paul tells us in Ephesians to live a life {walk} worthy of the calling {vocation} that we received. Ephesians 4:1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life {walk} worthy of the calling {vocation} you have received.
Walk worthy of the gospel:
Paul tells us in Philippians: conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ; Philippians 1:27a Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ
Walk worthy of God:
Paul tells us in 1 Thessalonians to live lives {walk} worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.; 1 Thessalonians 2:12 encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives {walk} worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.
Colossians 1:11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience,
The same Holy Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead operates in us:
Express thanksgiving being strengthened with endurance and patience
Paul lists those things for which he gives thanks to the Father.
Colossians 1:12 and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share {partakers} in the inheritance of his Saints {Holy People} in the kingdom of light.
- The Father “qualifies” us for eternal life with Him,
- whereas the Son will reward us at the end of the race, at our change.
Colossians 1:13 For he has rescued {or delivered} us from the dominion {power} of darkness and brought {or conveyed or transfer} us into the kingdom of the Son he loves,
God has brought us from this life of under the power of darkness {Satan} to light, being with God when we received the Holy Spirit living in us.
Jesus tells the Priests in Luke But this is your hour, when darkness reigns.”; Luke 22:53 Every day I was with you in the temple courts, and you did not lay a hand on me. But this is your hour, when darkness reigns.”
Paul response here rules out the whole system of angels that the Gnostics placed above Christ. It is Christ’s Kingdom in which he is King and He has moral and spiritual rule ship over the Kingdom that will be established.
Colossians 1:14 in whom we have redemption {other translations, through His blood}, the forgiveness of sins.
We are redeemed from sin which were blotted out
We have been purchased and forgiveness of our sins by the blood of Jesus
Paul tells us in Ephesians we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace
Colossians 1:15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
In contrast to the Gnostic (and the Muslim) who maintains that God can never be known or understood, we have One {Jesus} who has made God known to us. Paul says Jesus is over all angels and lays a foundation for the reproof of all worshippers of angels.
Image: means “exact likeness and perfect Representative.”
Paul affirms that Jesus Christ is “the express image of The Father.
Paul wrote in Hebrews: The Son is the radiance {or brightness} of God’s glory and the exact representation {or express image} of his being {or person}, Hebrews 1:3 The Son is the radiance {or brightness} of God’s glory and the exact representation {or express image} of his being {or person}, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.
Paul wrote in Hebrews: Jesus firstborn, the Father says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.” Hebrews 1:6 And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.”
*Jesus said to Philip in John: Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.; John 14:9 Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
Jesus the Creator
Colossians 1:16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.
Jesus must have existed before any creation
John wrote: Through him {Jesus} all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.: John 1:3 Through him {Jesus} all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
- Jesus is the Creator of the Universe. By him were all things created”: including Satan and the angels. Remember, Gnostics believed that various angel beings were the creators of the earth and that Christ was one among many of these angels.
- All things created was for himself,
- Jesus was there prior to all creation
- Jesus is the preserver, governor and by Him all things consist.
Colossians 1:17 He {Jesus} is before all things, and in him all things consist {or hold together}.
The Four Physics Basic Forces that hold all things together.
- Gravity: keeps our feet on the ground, the earth in its orbit, the galaxies in their places;
- Electromagnetic: radio waves, light, as well as the molecules of chemistry;
- “Strong” Nuclear force: holds the atom together;
- “Weak Nuclear force”: radioactivity, the heat of the sun, etc.
- The Gravity and electromagnetic decrease in strength inversely with the square of the distance between two objects;
- The Strong and Weak Nuclear force act only at very short ranges.
Peter wrote in 2 Peter: by God’s Word (Jesus) the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water. By the same Word (Jesus) the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly. 2 Peter 3:5-7 But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water. (6) By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. (7) By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.
Colossians 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy {or preeminence}.
Beginning: Jesus did the original creation which began from him and in him to become the firstborn from the dead to Spirit and we will follow Him.
Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians: Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 1 Corinthians 15:20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
Preeminence: is used nowhere else in NT. This is The Theme of this epistle, means; Means: To be first, in rank or influence
Colossians 1:19 For God {the Father} was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him,
Fullness dwell: means, sum total of all the divine power, that was His from the beginning and being permanently in Him.
Gnostics, seem to have used this word {fullness} as a technical term for the area between heaven and earth where different levels of angels lived with different powers. The Gnostics viewed Christ as one of many spirits existing in this area between God and all people. Paul warns the Church the true fullness dwells in Jesus alone.
Colossians 1:20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
We know that Jesus shed blood makes atonement for our sins
Colossians 1:21 And you, who once were alienated {from God} and enemies in your mind by wicked works {your evil behavior} yet now He has reconciled
Colossians 1:22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body {of His flesh} through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and blameless,{ and above reproach in His sight}, free from accusation
- False teachers were telling the believers that redemption could only be accomplished through a spiritual being, angels {angels do not have a body of flesh}.
- They rejected Christ’s incarnation. According to them, Jesus could not have had a physical body.
- Thus, Paul uses two terms, body and flesh, to clearly state that Christ became man and experienced a physical death.
Colossians 1:23 if indeed you continue in the faith, established and firm, {grounded and steadfast} and do not move {away} from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed {preached} to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant {minister}.
The hope is when we are to be changed to Spirit Being at Jesus return.
False teachers attempted to move them away from the hope of the Gospel.
Paul’s Ministry to the Church
Colossians 1:24 Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church.
When Paul was arrested in Jerusalem on false charges, the Jews listened to his defense until he used the word “Gentiles”. It was that word that infuriated them and drove them to ask for his execution. We will also suffer.
Luke wrote: in Acts: “the Lord said to me, ‘Go; to the Gentiles.’” The crowd listened to Paul until he said this. “Rid the earth of him! He’s not fit to live!” Acts 22:21-22 “Then the Lord said to me, ‘Go; I will send you far away to the Gentiles.'” (22) The crowd listened to Paul until he said this. Then they raised their voices and shouted, “Rid the earth of him! He’s not fit to live!”
Colossians 1:25-26 I have become its servant {minister} by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness, (26) the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people {Saints}.
Paul’s message was pure and uncorrupted by false teaching and these divine secrets, mystery, could never have been discovered by human reason, except by the Holy Spirit. This mystery is justifying and sanctifying the whole gentile world, as well as Jews to be part of the Kingdom of God.
Colossians 1:27 To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Jesus dwelling and reigning in us, Israel and Gentile, is the Mystery Paul is talking about.
Paul wrote in Ephesians: This mystery, the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.: Ephesians 3:6 This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.
Colossians 1:28 He {Jesus} is the one we proclaim {preach}, admonishing {warning} and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature {perfect} in {Jesus} Christ.
Paul was a teacher of the truth, 3 point: preach, warning and teaching
Colossians 1:29 To this end I also labor, striving {with all the energy} according to His working which { so powerfully} works in me mightily.