1. Colossians Class Schedule
2/3/19 Col Intro & Chp 1:1-2 R. Henderson

2. Map of
Colossae

3. Colossians Introduction*
The city of Colossae lay in the beautiful Lycus Valley about 100 miles east of Ephesus. The inhabitants were mainly Greek colonists and native Phrygians when Paul wrote this epistle, though there were many Jews living in the area as well.
Without doubt Colossae was the least important church to which any epistle of St. Paul is addressed.
The church at Colossae was unknown by face to the apostle Paul. Paul had never been to this city, but he had heard of believers who resided there (Colossians 1:3-4, 2:l).
Ephesians and Colossians are two of the so-called Prison Epistles, written by Paul during his first Roman imprisonment, the date, about A.D. 64.
* Wuest, McCalley, Constable
2/3/19 Col Intro & Chp 1:1-2 R. Henderson

4. Colossians Introduction (cont.)
In Colossians we find the Person of the Lord Jesus
more clearly presented than in any other of Paul's letters.
The primary purpose of the letter was clearly to combat --- false teaching. The two main problems were the doctrine of Christ and how this doctrine affects Christian living.
Paul's great purpose was to set forth the absolute supremacy and sole sufficiency of Jesus Christ.
See Col 2:2d - 3, Col 2:9

5. 1. Paul’s Greetings to the Colossians 1:1-2
Colossians Outline*
1. Paul’s Greetings to the Colossians 1:1-2
2. Paul’s Thanksgiving for the Colossians 1:3-8
3  We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,
3. Paul’s Prayer for the Colossians 1:9-14
9a we have not ceased to pray for you
9b and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will
9c in all spiritual wisdom and understanding
* adapted from McCalley

6. 4. The Person of Jesus Christ 1:15-18
Colossians Outline*
4. The Person of Jesus Christ 1:15-18
15  He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
The Work of Christ 1:19-2:3
20  and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross;
6. The Threat to Our Relationship to Christ 2:4-8
8  See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.
* adapted from McCalley

7. 7. The Glory of Our Relationship to Christ 2:9-15
Colossians Outline*
7. The Glory of Our Relationship to Christ 2:9-15
9  For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, 10a  and in Him you have been made complete,
8. Our Relationship to Christ 2:16-3:4
3:1  Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
9. Our Inward Life 3:5-17
15  Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.

8. 11. Paul’s Parting Words 4:2-6
Colossians Outline*
10. Our Family Life 3:18-4:1
19  Husbands, love your wives and do not be embittered against them.
11. Paul’s Parting Words 4:2-6
2  Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving;
12. Paul’s Personal Friends 4:7-18
10  Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, sends you his greetings; and also Barnabas's cousin Mark (about whom you received instructions; if he comes to you, welcome him);

9. 1  Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God
note: follows the pattern of “author,” “title,” “authority”
also in Eph 1:1, 1 Cor 1:1, 2 Cor 1:1
Paul - Paul, meaning “small” whereas Saul (his Hebrew name) means “asked for” or “pray.”
apostle – lit: "one sent forth" (apo, "from," stellō, "to send")
of the Lord Jesus - Heb. 3:1, John 17:3
of the twelve disciples - Luke 6:13, Luke 9:10
of Paul - 1 Cor 9:1, also as mentioned above
of others – Barnabas, Silas and Timothy

10. 1  Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
The noun apostle is strengthened by two phrases:
of Jesus Christ - showing who Paul represented
by the will of God - Paul’s authority for being an apostle
by the will of God
by – dia – by or because of
The following are by the “will of God”:
apostleship - like Eph 1:1, coming to you – Rom 1:10
your sanctification - 1 Thess 4:3, those who suffer -1 Peter 4:19

11. 1  Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
was Timothy a co-author?
note: the following verse:
Col 4:18 I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my imprisonment. Grace be with you.

12. 2  To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father
next part of a typical letter is “to” the recipient
to the saints and faithful brethren
What two aspects of “the recipient” are stated?
1st aspect is a positional statement
saints - hagios - in the plural, as used of believers, it designates all such (believers) and is not applied merely to persons of exceptional holiness

13. Four things may be said about the word saints.*
2  To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father
Four things may be said about the word saints.*
First, being a saint is the result of being in Christ. Take out the words in Christ, and the word saints must also be removed.
Second, the word saint means “to be set apart.”
Third, saint is the most common designation of a Christian in the New Testament.
Fourth, the word saints refers to their spiritual position, not their spiritual condition or their conduct
I Cor 1:2 --- to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling, ---
* McCalley

14. 2nd aspect is a conditional statement
2  To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father
2nd aspect is a conditional statement
faithful brethren – describes a conditional aspect of the believers who are “in Christ” – in the passive: faithful, to be trusted or reliable
This unusual addition (faithful brethren) is full of meaning. Some members of the Colossian church were shaken in their allegiance Wuest

15. to the saints and faithful brethren in Christ
2  To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father
to the saints and faithful brethren in Christ
What does this prepositional phrase mean?
in – en - a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position
(in place, time or state)
Grammatically, the designation Christ is in the locative case; and it would therefore be correct to say “in union with Christ.” McCalley

16. 2  To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father
Christ
believer
lit: in “a living union” with Christ
The prepositional phrase “in Christ”
is the most fundamental expression
in the New Testament for what
it means to be a Christian.
This phrase was a favorite of Paul's.
These “in Christ” statements about believers are called the positional truths.

17. Positional Truth Summary
Positional truth describes our living union with Christ.
Positional truth describes our new history in Christ.
Positional truth never changes nor is ever lost.
Positional truth is discovered only in the Word of God.
Positional truth is independent to our feelings & emotions.
Definition of positional truth*: The body of truth that tells
of the facts and the significance of our union with Christ.
* McCalley

18. 2  To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father
Grace to you and peace from God our Father
note: it is always grace first, then peace!
Once we come to understand God’s grace we can be at peace about our relationship with Him.
The greeting “grace and peace” occurs in all 13 of Paul’s epistles.