1. Colossians 1:1-14

2.  Acts 28:16-31. Paul’s (first) Roman imprisonment.  Colossians 4:3,18  Letters: Ephesians, Colossians, Philemon, Philippians

3.  Lycus Valley: 200 km inland from Ephesus, in Province of Asia (Western Turkey)  Paul not personally known to them (Col 2:1)  Founder of the church: Epaphras (Col 1:7), who still cared for them, though in Rome with Paul (Col 4:12)  Churches of the area: Laodicea, Hierapolis (Col 4:13)

4.  Word taken from Epaphras to Paul  Some ‘correction’ required.  Not an ‘angry’ letter, like Galatians.  Issues: Was Christ enough? (compare Galations, ‘Was faith enough?’

5.  The writer(s): Paul (and Timothy)  The recipients: saints (TNIV: God’s holy people) and ‘faithful brothers’ (brothers and sisters) in Christ, in Colossae  Possibly a circular letter (Col 4:16)  The ‘set’ greeting: Grace and peace

6.  The Structure: two sentences in Greek  First Sentence: vv 3-8. Thanksgiving for the believers  Second sentence: vv 9-20  Prayer for believers. vv 9-14  Supremacy of Christ. Vv 15-20

7.  THE FOCUS: PEOPLE

8.  FAITH in Christ Jesus  LOVE for all the saints  Rooted in HOPE ‘laid up for you in heaven’

9.  Romans 4:18 ‘Abraham in hope believed….  Romans 4:21 ‘…being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.’

10.  WHERE has it been working?  Colossae: local, personal  Around the world: universal  WHEN has it been working?  From the day it was heard and understood  HOW has it been working?  By GRACE alone.  In TRUTH  Both are by DIVINE origin and authenticity

11.  Paul’s beloved ‘fellow-servant’ (sundoulos)  Christ’s ‘faithful minister’ (diakonos)  He taught Colossians the gospel (v 7)  He told Paul of their ‘love in the Spirit’ (v 8)  The point (in this letter): Epaphras and Paul taught the same Gospel.

12.  Its DURATION (v 9)  It BEGAN when Paul first heard of their faith.  It CONTINUED daily (‘we have not stopped praying for you’). Compare v 3 ‘We ALWAYS thank God’

13.  A. LIGHT: that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will.  SOURCE of light: ‘all spiritual wisdom and understanding’  GOAL of light: to live (lit. ‘walk’) a life worthy of the Lord.  Fully pleasing to him.  Bearing fruit in every good work.  Increasing in the knowledge of God.

14.  B. POWER: that you may be strengthened with all power….  SOURCE of power: God’s own glorious might  GOAL of power: that you may endure and have patience.  C. JOY: joyfully giving thanks to the Father  Who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.  Who has rescued us from the dominion of darkness  Who has brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves.

15.  From PAUL, the writer  His concern for the churches  His concern for the truth of the Gospel.  His unceasing prayers for the churches.  His pastoral help to the churches.  His encouragement to a pure faith

16.  From EPAPHRAS the faithful evangelist  His faithfulness as a ‘fellow-servant’ (co- labourer)  His faithfulness as a ‘minister of Christ’ (servant/ deacon), to teach the Gospel  His continued care, even after he left Colossae.  His linking of the church with Paul, when he sensed there might be a problem.

17.  A people of LIGHT –- filled with the knowledge of God’s will  A people of POWER – strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, SO THAT we might have great endurance and patience.  A people of JOY – giving thanks to the Father.

18.  QUALIFIED to share in the inheritance of his people in the kingdom of light.  RESCUED from the dominion of darkness  BROUGHT INTO the kingdom of the Son he loves.

38.  Acts 28:16-31. Paul’s (first) Roman imprisonment.  Colossians 4:2,18  Letters: Ephesians, Colossians, Philemon, Philippians

39.  Lycus Valley: 200 km. inland from Ephesus, in Province of Asia (Western Turkey).  Paul not personally known to them (Col 2:1)  Founder: Epaphras (Col 1:7), who still cared for them, though in Rome with Paul (Col 4:12)  Churches: Colossae, Laodicea, Hierapolis (Col 4:13)

40.  Word taken from Epaphras to Paul  Some ‘correction’ required  Not an ‘angry’ letter, like Galatians  Issues: Was Christ enough? (compare Galatians, ‘Was faith enough?’)

41.  The writer(s): Paul (and Timothy)  The recipients: saints (TNIV: God’s holy people) and ‘faithful brothers’ (brothers and sisters) in Christ, in Colossae.  Possibly a circular letter (see 4:16)  Grace and peace

42.  The Structure: two sentences in Greek  First Sentence: vv 3-8 Thanksgiving for believers  Second Sentence: vv 9-20  Prayer for believers (vv 9-14)  Supremacy of Christ (vv 15-20)

43.  The focus: people

44.  FAITH in Christ Jesus  LOVE for all the saints  Rooted in HOPE ‘laid up for you in heaven’

45.  Biblical hope: always based on promise/Word of God  Rom 4:18 ‘Abraham in hope believed….’  Rom 4:21 ‘being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.’

46.  WHERE has it been working?  Colossae: local, personal  Around the world: universal  WHEN has it been working?  From the day it was heard and understood.  HOW has it been working?  By GRACE alone  In TRUTH.  Both are by DIVINE origin and authority.

47.  Paul’s beloved ‘fellow-servant’ (sundoulos)  Christ’s ‘faithful minister’ (diakonos)  He taught them the gospel (v 7)  He told Paul of their ‘love in the Spirit’ (v 8)  The point (in this letter): Epaphras and Paul taught the same gospel.

48.  It’s DURATION (v 9)  It BEGAN when Paul first heard of their faith.  It CONTINUED daily (we have not stopped praying for you). Compare v 3 ‘We ALWAYS thank God ….’

49.  A. LIGHT: that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will  SOURCE of light: In all spiritual wisdom and understanding  GOAL of light: to live a life worthy of the Lord…  Fully pleasing to him  Bearing fruit in every good work.  Increasing in the knowledge of God

50.  B. POWER: that you may be strengthened with all power….  SOURCE of power: God’s own glorious might  GOAL of power: that you may endure and have patience.  C. JOY: joyfully giving thanks to the Father  Who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.  Who has rescued us from the dominion of darkness  Who has brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves.

51.  From PAUL, the writer  His concern for the church  His concern for the truth of the Gospel.  His unceasing prayer for the church  His pastoral help to the church.  His encouragement to the pure faith.

52.  From EPAPHRAS the evangelist  His faithfulness as a ‘fellow-servant’ (co-labourer)  His faithfulness as a ‘minister of Christ’ (servant/ deacon of Christ) to teach the gospel  His continued care, even after he left Colossae.  His linking of the church with Paul

53.  A people of LIGHT – filled with the knowledge of God’s will  A people of POWER – strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, SO THAT we might have great endurance and patience  A people of JOY – giving thanks to the Father

54.  QUALIFIED to share in the inheritance of his people in the kingdom of light.  RESCUED from the dominion of darkness  BROUGHT INTO the kingdom of the Son he loves.