The Letter to the Colossians

Adult Bible Study

Holy Comforter - St. Cyprian Parish

Winter 2008

I.	Introductory Notes

A.	The City of Colossae - was a small city in a region of Asia Minor called Phrygia in a valley of the Lycus River (a tributary of the Meander River). It was not far from two other cities: Laodicea (11 miles Northeast) and Hieropolis (13 miles north). The area of Phrygia was very prone to earthquakes. The area was especially known for its wool industry and for its fabric dyeing. Today all that remains of this once important city is ruins in Turkey. Most of the inhabitants of the city were Gentiles though a sizeable Jewish community (50,000) was also present.

B.	St. Paul may have visited this city at least twice. The first time on his second missionary journey (Acts 15:6) and the second time on his third missionary journey and he may have stayed there a while to strengthen the morale of the disciples (acts 15:6). However, there is no reference to his actually visiting Colossae and Paul seems to imply that he did not know the Colossians personally (Colossians 2:1).

C.	The origins of the church of the Colossians may lie in polls long stay at Ephesus during his second apostolic journey, when as a result of his preaching, "all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks" (acts 19:10). Among these, were probably those who spread the gospel to the Colossians. Among them may have been Philemon (Philemon 1 and 19). Hence, St. Paul did not likely found that this community directly but it was at least the indirect result of his preaching.

D.	Place and date of composition. As he said in the letter, St. Paul wrote this letter from prison (Colossians 4:3, 10, 18). Early Christian tradition considers him to have written it during his first a Roman imprisonment in the period 61 – 63.from this letter itself we can see that all enjoyed a degree of freedom in the prison in question: he was able to receive visitors and to engage in spreading the gospel with the help of his coworkers. Although he was guarded by a soldier, he was living in rented accommodation and was able to receive as many visitors as came which meant that he could reach quite openly and unhindered (acts 28:30 – 31).

E.	The reason for the letter. What Paul was imprisoned in Rome, around the your 61 or 62, he was visited by Epaphras who brought him good news which fill them with much joy. But he also told Paul about dangers threatening his beloved Christians in that region of Asia minor. Epahras who was at the faithful disciple Paul and a hard-working pastor of the communities of the Colossians and Laodiceans told the apostle the teachings at odds with the gospel or making inroads especially among the Colossians. It seems that Judaizers were promoting their teachings. There also seem to of been some problems with early Gnosticism. These false teachers were therefore spreading a combination of overemphasize Jewish observances such as the necessity of circumcision, and the observation of Jewish feasts and were adding other obligations derived from the teachings of Gnosticism. For example, because they saw matter is something evil, they laid down severe fast, abstinence from certain types of food, and the avoidance of certain modes of behavior which they regarded as too worldly. Due to the fact that they attributed the creation and governing of the universe to heavenly spirits, they superstitiously rendered these homage. Heretical teachings attacked the total adequacy and unique supremacy of Jesus Christ. These problems provided St. Paul with the opportunity to deal with key truths of the faith and morality. Paul's teaching hinges especially on the proclamation of Jesus Christ who is over all creation, is the head of the church, and who is over all temporal realities. A wall of Paul's letters, this letter has perhaps the lofty his view of Jesus Christ. Paul stresses the part that Christ played in creation, and that he is fully God and fully man.

I.	Chapter 1

A.	GREETINGS GIVEN - 1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, 2To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father. 3We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love which you have for all the saints, 5because of the hope laid up for you in heaven.

1.	Authority over them - v. 1

2.	Acknowledgments regarding them - v. 2a

a.	Saints

b.	Faithful brethren

c.	In Christ

d.	At Colossae

3.	Appeal for them - v. 2b

4.	Appreciation - (because) vv.3-5

a.	Faith

b.	Love

c.	Hope

B.	FROM INFORMATION TO TRANSFORMATION - Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel 6which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and growing—so among yourselves, from the day you heard and understood the grace of God in truth, 7as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf 8and has made known to us your love in the Spirit.

1.	Your Heard the word of truth

a.	Learned it from Epaphras our brother...our fellow servant...faithful minister of Christ on our behalf

2.	You Have the wonders of transformation

a.	It is bearing fruit and growing among yourselves

b.	You have heard and understood the grace of God in truth

c.	Your love in the Spirit

C.	PASTOR'S PRAYER - 9And so, from the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10to lead a life worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. 11May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy

1.	Knowledge of his will

2.	Spiritual Wisdom

3.	Understanding

4.	Moral (Actual) Grace - to lead a life worthy

5.	Sanctifying Grace - fully pleasing to him

6.	Fruitfulness of good works

7.	Further knowledge

8.	Fortitude

9.	Endurance

10.	Patience

11.	Joy

D.	CANTICUM COLOSSAE (Colossians Hymn) - 12giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13He has delivered us from the dominion of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. 15He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation; 16for in him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the first-born from the dead, that in everything he might be pre-eminent. 19For in him all the fulness of God was pleased to dwell, 20and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

1.	We are

a.	Qualified - v. 12

b.	Heir - v. 12

c.	Delivered - v. 13

d.	Transferred - v. 13

e.	Redeemed - v. 14

f.	Forgiven - v. 14

2.	Jesus is

a.	Image of the invisible God - v. 15

b.	He in whom the fulness of God dwells - v. 19

c.	First-born of all creation v. 15 (because of the following)

(1)	Before all things - v. 17

(2)	He through whom and in whom all things were created - v. 16

(3)	He for whom all things were created - v. 17

(4)	He in whom all things hold together - v. 17

d.	The head of the Body, the Church - v. 18 (Manifest in the following

(1)	The beginning - v. 18

(2)	First born from the dead - v. 18

(3)	Pre-eminent in all things - v. 18

(4)	The reconciler of all things - v. 20

(5)	The peace maker - v. 20

3.	On the next page is another analysis of the hymn as a double versed hymn on creation and re-creation.

Creation

He is the image of the invisible God,

the first born of all creation;

for in him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions, or principalities or authorities –

all things were created through him and for him and in him all things hold together

Recreation

For in him all the fulness of God was pleased to dwell,

He is the head of the body, the Church; he is the beginning, the first-born from the dead, that in everything he might be pre-
eminent.

and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace through the blood of his cross.

E.	TESTIMONY ON OUR TRANSFORMATION -21And you, who once were estranged and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and irreproachable before him, 23provided that you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which has been preached to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.

1.	Our History - v. 21

2.	Our Healing - v. 22

3.	Our (need to) Hold - v. 23

F.	THE SURPRISING TEACHING - 24Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I complete what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, 25of which I became a minister according to the divine office which was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known,

1.	Something lacking??

2.	Something to learn

G.	THE STRIVING OF A SHEPHERD - 26the mystery hidden for ages and generations? but now made manifest to his saints. 27To 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. 28Him we proclaim, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man mature in Christ. 29For this I toil, striving with all the energy which he mightily inspires within me.

1.	The Mystery of Faith - The mission to the Gentiles

II.	Chapter two

A.	THE CONCERN OF A PASTOR - For I want you to know how greatly I strive for you, and for those at La-odicea, and for all who have not seen my face, 2that their hearts may be encouraged as they are knit together in love, to have all the riches of assured understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, of Christ, 3in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4I say this in order that no one may delude you with beguiling speech. 5For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.

1.	Striving - v. 1

2.	Strengthening - v. 2a

3.	Sustaining - v. 2-3

4.	Straightening - v. 4

5.	Stabilizing - v. 5

B.	INSTRUCTIONS - 6As therefore you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so live in him, 7rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. 8See to it that no one makes a prey of you by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the universe, and not according to Christ. 9For in him the whole fulness of deity dwells bodily,

1.	Living in him - v. 6

2.	Lavished with gifts- v. 7

3.	Led by truth- v. 8-9

C.	NEW LIFE IN CHRIST 10and you have come to fulness of life in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. 11In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of flesh in the circumcision of Christ; 12and you were buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead. 13And you, who were dead in trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14having canceled the bond which stood against us with its legal demands; this he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15He disarmed the principalities and powers and made a public example of them, triumphing over them in him

1.	Raised to New Life v.10, 12

2.	Reformed - v 11

3.	Reconciled - v. 13

4.	Redeemed v. 14

5.	Reassured - v. 15

D.	CHRIST IS SOVEREIGN OVER ALL - 16Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a sabbath. 17These are only a shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ. 18Let no one disqualify you, insisting on self-abasement and worship of angels, taking his stand on visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, 19and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.20If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the universe, why do you live as if you still belonged to the world? Why do you submit to regulations, 21"Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch" 22(referring to things which all perish as they are used), according to human precepts and doctrines? 23These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting rigor of devotion and self-abasement and severity to the body, but they are of no value in checking the indulgence of the flesh.

1.	Freedom with food and festivals v. 16-17

2.	Far surpassing the Angels vv. 18-19

3.	Fooled again?? V. 20-23

4.	Other teachings on food.

a.	1 Cor 10: 23 All things are lawful," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful," but not all things build up. 24Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor. 25Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience. 26For "the earth is the Lord's, and everything in it." 27If one of the unbelievers invites you to dinner and you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience. 28(But if some one says to you, "This has been offered in sacrifice," then out of consideration for the man who informed you, and for conscience' sake—29I mean his conscience, not yours—do not eat it.) For why should my liberty be determined by another man's scruples? 30If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks?31So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God

b.	Romans 14:1As for the man who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not for disputes over opinions. 2One believes he may eat anything, while the weak man eats only vegetables. 3Let not him who eats despise him who abstains, and let not him who abstains pass judgment on him who eats; for God has welcomed him. 4Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another?...5One man esteems one day as better than another, while another man esteems all days alike. Let every one be fully convinced in his own mind. 6He who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. He also who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God; while he who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God. 7None of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. 8If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's....13Then let us no more pass judgment on one another, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. 14I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself; but it is unclean for any one who thinks it unclean. 15If your brother is being injured by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. Do not let what you eat cause the ruin of one for whom Christ died. 16So do not let your good be spoken of as evil. 17For the kingdom of God is not food and drink but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit;...20Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for any one to make others fall by what he eats; 21it is right not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that makes your brother stumble.£ 22The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God; happy is he who has no reason to judge himself for what he approves. 23But he who has doubts is condemned, if he eats, because he does not act from faith; for whatever does not proceed from faith is sin

III.	Chapter Three

A.	PRINCIPLE - If then you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2 Think of what is above, not of what is on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ your life appears, then you too will appear with him in glory.

1.	Rise - to new life - v.1

2.	Reckon - with renewed minds - v. 2

3.	Realize a radical reality - v. 3

4.	Receive a reward - v. 4

B.	PUT TO DEATH - 5 Put to death, then, the parts of you that are earthly: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and the greed that is idolatry.6 Because of these the wrath of God is coming (upon the disobedient). 7 By these you too once conducted yourselves, when you lived in that way. 8 But now you must put them all away: anger, fury, malice, slander, and obscene language out of your mouths. 9 Stop lying to one another, since you have taken off the old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed, for knowledge, in the image of its creator. 11 Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all and in all.

1.	Realize - v.5

2.	Result - v. 6

3.	Reformation - vv. 7-8a

4.	Representations - v. 8b-9a

5.	Reason 9b-10

6.	Refuse racism - v. 11

C.	PORTRAIT - 12 Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if one has a grievance against another; as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do. 14 And over all these put on love, that is, the bond of perfection. 15 And let the peace of Christ control your hearts, the peace into which you were also called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, as in all wisdom you teach and admonish one another, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

1.	Gentleness - v. 12

2.	Forgiveness - v. 13

3.	Fullness - v. 14

4.	Peace - v. 15a

5.	Gratitude - v. 15b

6.	Rooted in the word - v. 16

7.	Rooted in Christ - v. 17

D.	PRESCRIPTIONS for HOUSEHOLDS - 18 Wives, be subordinate to your husbands, as is proper in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives, and avoid any bitterness toward them. 20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing to the Lord. 21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, so they may not become discouraged. 22 Slaves, obey your human masters in everything, not only when being watched, as currying favor, but in simplicity of heart, fearing the Lord.

1.	Wives

2.	Husbands

3.	Children

4.	Slaves

E.	PRIORITY - 23 Whatever you do, do from the heart, as for the Lord and not for others, 24 knowing that you will receive from the Lord the due payment of the inheritance; be slaves of the Lord Christ. 25 For the wrongdoer will receive recompense for the wrong he committed, and there is no partiality.

1.	No Human Respect

2.	Fear the Lord

3.	God will avenge

IV.	Chapter Four -

A.	Appendage - Masters, treat your slaves justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven

B.	Pray for the Preacher 2Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving; 3and pray for us also, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison, 4that I may make it clear, as I ought to speak.

C.	Prudence as Prophets 5Conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the time. 6Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer every one.

D.	Personal Presence - 7Tychicus will tell you all about my affairs; he is a beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. 8I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are and that he may encourage your hearts, 9and with him Onesimus, the faithful and beloved brother, who is one of yourselves. They will tell you of everything that has taken place here.

1.	Onesimus - cf Philemon 1:10

E.	Participating Protagonists - 10Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, and Mark the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you have received instructions—if he comes to you, receive him), 11and Jesus who is called Justus. These are the only men of the circumcision among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me. 12Epaphras, who is one of yourselves, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always remembering you earnestly in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God. 13For I bear him witness that he has worked hard for you and for those in La-odicea and in Hi-erapolis. 14Luke the beloved physician and Demas greet you.

1.	Demas - cf 2 Tim 4:10

F.	Parting Prescriptions 15Give my greetings to the brethren at La-odicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house. 16And when this letter has been read among you, have it read also in the church of the La-odiceans; and see that you read also the letter from La-odicea. 17And say to Archippus, "See that you fulfil the ministry which you have received in the Lord."

G.	Paul's Penmanship - 18I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my fetters. Grace be with you.

1.	Cf Gal 6:1