Colossians 4:2-18

² Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.

Paul comes to the conclusion of his letter to the Colossian church ending with a call to prayer. He tells the people to devote themselves to praying to God both as they live their lives watching over one another and their needs, as well as giving God the praise by thanking him for all he has done.

³ And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. ⁴ Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. 

Paul asks them to pray for his ministry so that God would provide a way for them to proclaim the gospel clearly. An open door indicative of God allowing them to move forward. Paul states he is in chains because he was in prison under persecution.

⁵ Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. ⁶ Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

Make the most of every opportunity just as Paul had done by proclaiming the gospel when he had the chance, just as the example of him in prison signified, that although he was in prison he was able to proclaim Christ to the guards and thus bringing the guard and his entire family to the knowledge of Christ. He states to be wise in how you act towards those who are not Christians ‘outsiders’ so that they will not be discouraged or put off by the gospel. In this way they will show the grace of God through their speech and be able to handle each individual according to their circumstances.

 ⁷ Tychicus will tell you all the news about me. He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. ⁸ I am sending him to you for the express purpose that you may know about our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts. ⁹ He is coming with Onesimus, our faithful and dear brother, who is one of you. They will tell you everything that is happening here.

Paul’s followers were often with him during his missionary journeys. They would often deliver news to and from the churches and Paul. Obviously in this case Paul sends Tychicus and Onesimus to the church in Collosae to update them on Paul’s situation in prison with the hopes of encouraging their otherwise broken hearts.

 ¹⁰ My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you his greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. (You have received instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him.) ¹¹ Jesus, who is called Justus, also sends greetings. These are the only Jews among my co-workers for the kingdom of God, and they have proved a comfort to me. ¹² Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured. ¹³ I vouch for him that he is working hard for you and for those at Laodicea and Hierapolis. ¹⁴ Our dear friend Luke, the doctor, and Demas send greetings. ¹⁵ Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house.

We can see from Paul’s list of brothers that although he was in chains God never let him alone to journey by himself. He was always provided with company and men of God. It’s also interesting to note that Paul had a selfless attitude having the church in his mind and prayers, encouraging his companions to pray for the churches and work hard for them.

 ¹⁶ After this letter has been read to you, see that it is also read in the church of the Laodiceans and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea. ¹⁷ Tell Archippus: “See to it that you complete the ministry you have received in the Lord.” ¹⁸ I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.

We can see from this next verse that the churches were in fact able to communicate with one another if they were able to read each others letters from Paul. They must have been in close proximity considering when Paul went on his missionary journeys he would stop at several different regions at a time and travel from one to another. Paul tells the church to lastly remember his chains for the gospel, which could be a call to prayer for him or as a statement of encouragement to the church.

Filed under: Colossians, Apostle Paul, Bible study, final greetings, God, instructions, Jesus, New Testament, pauls companions, Scripture, timothy

Colossians 3:18-25

note: Also contains Colossians 4:1

 ¹⁸Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

Continuing from the previous passage and a call to the Colossians to live Holy lives, here Paul addresses several rules for Christian families to follow as guidelines. He starts off by addressing the married couples. Wives should submit to their husbands as to the Lord. We can see many examples in the bible of wives who have had a submissive attitude towards their husbands for example Sarah and Abraham. She often called him her master, and although Sarah had her equal part in the relationship she would always humble herself and submit to Abraham as the ‘head’ of the family. This may have been a difficult instruction for the women to follow as they are entrusting themselves to the judgements and actions of another person. However Paul still makes it clear that wives should submit themselves to their husbands as is fitting to the Lord.

1 peter 3:1-6 “¹ Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, ² when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. ³ Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. ⁴ Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. ⁵ For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to adorn themselves. They submitted themselves to their own husbands, ⁶ like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her lord. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.” 

Ephesians 5:22-24 “ ²² Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. ²³ For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. ²⁴ Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.”

 ¹⁹Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.

Likewise, Paul addresses one of the issues with husbands which is not to be harsh with their wives. Whatever the couples in Colossae were facing obviously had to do with husbands not loving their wives as they ought. Husbands have to love their wives as Christ loves the church and this covers a multitude of areas in a relationship. It may have been just as difficult for the men to bear the responsibilities of a husband as much as it may have been difficult for a wife to fearlessly submit herself to her husband and trust in his care. However Paul states that husbands should love their wives.

1 Peter 3:7 “⁷ Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.”

Ephesians 5:25-33 “ ²⁵ Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her ²⁶ to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, ²⁷ and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. ²⁸In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. ²⁹ After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— ³⁰ for we are members of his body. ³¹ “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” ³² This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. ³³ However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.”

 ²⁰Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.

Paul gives an instruction to the children in households, which is to obey their parents. In Ephesians Paul writes a similar verse with a promise to the children that they will enjoy long life on earth. Not only this but it pleases God that children are obedient not just to God but also to those that are responsible for watching over and taking care of them.

Ephesians 6:1-3 “¹ Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ² “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— ³ “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”

 ²¹ Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.

Paul addresses another issue in that children were being discouraged by their fathers, possibly by things that are said or their actions. Here Paul states that Fathers should not embitter or as in Ephesians exasperate their children so that they can continue to grow in the Lord without setbacks.

Ephesians 6:4 “⁴ Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.”

 ²² Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. ²³ Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, ²⁴ since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. ²⁵ Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for their wrongs, and there is no favoritism.

For the slaves (household helpers not in the cruel sense of slavery) who are Christians, they too should obey their masters (those they work for). And they should seek to do what is right all the time and not only when their masters are present. In this way they will be serving God and glorifying him by their actions and faith.

Ephesians 6:5-8 “⁵ Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. ⁶ Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. ⁷ Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, ⁸ because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free.”

4:1 ¹ Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.

Paul shows equality in regards to submission eluding that God is our ultimate authority and everyone submits to him. Whether you are a slave, a master, a child, a wife, or a husband, we all submit to God’s authority. In knowing this those who are the masters of slaves should also do what is right by their slaves because they too would want to be treated fairly by their heavenly Father.

Ephesians 6:9 “⁹ And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him.”

Finally, in terms of submission in Ephesians 5:21 Paul states that we all must submit ourselves to each other “²¹ Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.”

Filed under: Colossians, Apostle Paul, Bible study, Christianity, Colossians, God, instructions, Jesus, New Testament, rules for christian households, Scripture

Colossians 3:1-17

¹ Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

Christ sits on the “right hand” of God, which is indicative of the authority and power of Christ. When a person was chosen to sit on an rulers right hand it meant that they were considered to be of equal standing with the king and possessing the same dignity, authority, and power.

Psalm 110:1 “Of David. A psalm. The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”"

Ephesians 1:19-22 “¹⁹ and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength ²⁰ he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, ²¹ far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. ²² And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, ²³ which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.”

 ² Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. ³ For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. ⁴ When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Paul tells the Colossians to set their hearts above rather than below. This is because what is above is eternal but things in the world will eventually perish.

Matthew 16:23 “Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”

In verse 3 Paul states that the believers died and their life is hidden with Christ. He is talking about the fact that when they came to accept Christ as their God and saviour they put to death their old self and their sinful nature. Paul then states that their life is now hidden with Christ in God, which means  that because Christ died on the cross for their sins God now looks at them through Christ. He sees them as purified from sin.

Romans 6:11 “In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.”

 ⁵ Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. ⁶ Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. ⁷ You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. ⁸ But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. ⁹ Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices ¹⁰ and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.

Paul gives them a list of all the things they should get rid of in terms of their old way of life and anything that will disqualify them from winning the race. As children of God they are now being renewed to the likeness of Christ. As in Adam all died to sin, but since they have accepted Christ all are made alive. And in this process all those items that were listed by Paul should also be removed from their lives if they want to walk in line with Jesus.

¹¹ Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. ¹² Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. ¹³ Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. ¹⁴And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.¹⁵ Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. ¹⁷ And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

 

Paul then lists several things that encourages unity in the church by not only mentioning those items that will help them grow in Christ but also those that will allow them to help others and be there for one another in faith. At the end of his statement he says to do all things in the name of Jesus whether its the words they speak or their actions. This drives home his point that they should be looking heavenly and not earthly. That their words and deeds should be for the purposes of heaven.

Filed under: Colossians, Apostle Paul, Bible study, Christianity, Colossians, encouragement, God, Jesus, New Testament, rules for holy living, Scripture

Colossians 2:16-23

¹⁶ Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. ¹⁷ These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.

Paul comes to the conclusion of his point that Christ has fulfilled the obligations of the law. This particular verse has brought upon much debate as to whether or not Paul was telling the Colossians not to let anyone judge them because they WEREN’T following the commands of the law in regards to festivities or whether not to let anyone judge them because they WERE following the commands of the law. We must read this scripture in context with the rest of the passage and the entire letter to determine what Paul was actually saying. If we read the previous passage Paul is very much against certain teachers of the law who were coming in and trying to convince people that they should follow the ways of the law in order to be true believers and followers. For example he makes mention of his stance against fleshly circumcision, hollow and deceptive philosophy, and human traditions. In this passage he continues to mention those that he is opposed, for example in verse 18 false humility, angel worshop, and idle notions.

It is therefore that in this context Paul is likewise opposed to those who are judging new believers by trying to convince them to practice religious festivals, observing special days, what they eat and drink. As this would force believers into much of what Paul was arguing against. Paul makes it clear that these were a shadow of things to come. In other words, although they had their purpose in the Old Testament ways, they were only symbolic of what Jesus actually accomplished, hence why he states that Jesus is the ‘reality’ of such things.

Paul states not to let anyone judge you by any of those practices. This can go either way, whether you do or don’t practice and observe those festivals. The important thing to note is why they do it. It is not necessary for them to continue to observe those days and festivities because Jesus had already accomplished them. Though it is neither a wrong thing to practice these things if it meant getting to know Jesus more. However some practice it because they continue to follow the law rather than faith in Christ. This is the underlying problem that Paul faced hence why he had a problem with people being circumcised in the flesh, even though he knew whether you were circumcised in the flesh or not it meant nothing,  he was still opposed to people being circumcised due to their reasoning.

Hebrews 13:9 “Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings. It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace, not by ceremonial foods, which are of no value to those who eat them.”

Romans 14:3 “The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him.”

Mark 7:19 “For it doesn’t go into his heart but into his stomach, and then out of his body.” (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods “clean.”)”

Galatians 4:8-11 “⁸ Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. ⁹ But now that you know God—or rather are known by God—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? ¹⁰ You are observing special days and months and seasons and years! ¹¹ I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you. “

¹⁸ Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you. Such a person also goes into great detail about what they have seen; they are puffed up with idle notions by their unspiritual mind. ¹⁹ They have lost connection with the head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.

Paul continues to speak out against certain people amongst them and their false teachings. In this case it is false humility and idol worship that Paul is concerned will ensnare believers into following their ways.  Their minds aren’t spiritual but worldly, being “puffed up” with their own vanity, though they pretend to be humble before people. These people have no connection with Jesus (head) of whom the church (body) grows.

Paul does not want any of the believers to be disqualified – for the prize, their heavenly rewards, as mentioned in other scriptures.

1 Corinthians 9:24 “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.”

Philippians 3:14 “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

1 Corinthians 11:3 “Now I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.”

Ephesians 4:16 “From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.”

²⁰ Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules: ²¹ “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? ²² These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings. ²³ Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.

Paul continues in his opposition to the false teachings and traditions that are influencing people. He states that since as a believer in Christ they also died to the sinful nature of the world, why are the continuing in ritualistic forms and commands which Christ had done away with. These rules are to do with the world and therefore are destined to perish, they have no spiritual effect on the people.

Romans 6:11 “In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.”

Paul also states that they appear to have wisdom, probably showing in their speech, how they act, and in particular how they address things as religious. This is the reason why many are buying into the lie. And so Paul warns them of their self-imposed worship, false humility, and harsh treatment of their bodies but in reality they are not spiritual at all and know nothing of God.

Filed under: Colossians, Apostle Paul, Bible study, Colossians, false teaching, freedom from human rules, God, Jesus, law vs faith, New Testament, Scripture

Colossians 2:6-15

⁶ So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, ⁷ rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.⁸ See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.

Continuing from the previous passage on Paul’s hard work for the church and contending for the faith, here he reiterates his point regarding salvation by grace and faith alone in Christ rebuking those who are relying on human traditions which is by works. There were many Jews at this time in  many of the churches that were trying to convince people that they ought to uphold the law of Moses and the traditions of the church. We can see as we read in the following passage examples of what Paul considers to be human traditions. Paul also mentions hollow and deceptive philosophy and elemental spiritual forces of this world. Though I can only assume he is refering to the customs that the Jews held as it seems to be a topic Paul discusses with several of the other churches, it may also be in reference to Greek philosophy and other pagan teachings that surrounded them.

Either way he calls upon the Christians at Colosse to continue in the way that they first received Christ, which was by faith. He mentions this word ‘rooted’ just as a tree has its roots set deep in the ground so the believer should have their faith rooted deep in their belief of Jesus Christ. They should also be thankful to Jesus for his provision of faith and growth of faith, with a heart that is overflowing in gratitude.

Ephesians 2:20 “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.”

⁹ For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, ¹⁰ and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority.

Paul’s reasoning is that in Jesus God dwells in ‘fullness’. i.e. that Jesus is God divine. Jesus/God is represented to them in bodily form  so that through the sacrifice of His body they are able to be complete being reunited again to his fullness. Jesus who Paul declares to be the overriding power and authority over all that exist and over all that claim power and authority on earth and in heaven, seen and unseen.

2 Corinthians 5:19 “that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.”

Matthew 28:18 “Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”

¹¹ In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ, ¹² having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.

Paul states in verse 11 that the Colossian believers were also circumcised but not of the flesh by human hands that God had commanded Abraham, instead they were circumcised by Christ himself in their hearts.

Romans 2:29 “No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man’s praise is not from men, but from God.”

Romans 6:4 “We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.”

Paul states that they were “buried with him in their baptism”, which refers to Christ being buried putting to death sin and symbolizing this moment the believer is submersed in water during water baptism. “In which you were also raised” also compares Jesus being raised from the dead to the symbolism of re-emerging out of the water during water baptism.

¹³ When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, ¹⁴having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. ¹⁵ And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

Paul also states here that before coming to know Christ they were dead in their sins (i.e. separated from God due to the sinful nature of the flesh) and not having been circumcised in the flesh (i.e. nor were they the chosen Israel in whom God had dwelt amongst because they were Gentiles). Despite this God had chosen them together with Israel for the forgiveness of sin and to be made alive in Christ. Christ had fulfilled the requirements of the law (their ‘legal indebtedness’) which was condemning them to death due to their inability to keep the law. And by Christ suffering the consequences and wrath of God on the cross for them, they are now made holy before God and whatever evil that had once ruled over them had now become subject to Christ as he was the only one who was able to overcome evil.

Filed under: Colossians, Apostle Paul, Bible study, Colossians, God, Jesus, New Testament, Scripture, titus

Colossians 2:1-5

¹ I want you to know how hard I am contending for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally. ² My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, ³ in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. ⁴ I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments.⁵ For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how disciplined you are and how firm your faith in Christ is.

Paul continues in these verses on his labor for the church and specifically the gentiles. Here he states that he contends for those in the faith whether they know him or not, and he would like the church to know of how hard he has worked in order to understand his goal and why he has contended so hard for Christianity. His work included and not limited to: preaching the gospel to the gentiles, his obedience to Christ although he endured persecution, continuing to deliver letters to the churches, sending other disciples to the churches, his prayers for them, giving his life up to serve God and the gospel, etc.

Although Paul finds himself in chains, he aims to encourage the gentile church to be continually comforted by the love of God despite present circumstances, and to grasp knowledge on who Christ is so that they can continue to stand firm in their faith regardless of the fact that they are gentiles and there are people who are trying to convert them into the jewish traditions of the former way of things, of which Paul states that there are those who have believable arguments. But Paul does not want any of them to be deceived by false teachings, so to know Christ, will allow them to see the truth by His understanding, knowledge, and wisdom.

1 Timothy 6:12 “Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”

Matthew 11:6 “Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me.”

Filed under: Colossians, Apostle Paul, bible, Bible study, Christianity, Colossians, God, Jesus, New Testament, Pauls labor for the church, religion, Scripture, timothy

Colossians 1:24-29

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.

Paul continues his letter from the previous passage where he proclaims the supremacy of Christ. Here Paul concludes by stating that in his sufferings (imprisonment, persecution) he rejoices due to the good fruit of the gospel in which he preached amongst the Gentiles. In the book of Philippians one of the main messages from Paul was to encourage the church to rejoice despite his imprisonment, because the work of God was proving itself to be successful and true amongst them.

Paul also makes this next statement “I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions”. We know that Jesus’ death on the cross and all that he suffered was more than enough to completely wipe clean the sins of all those who come to him. We know this because it is written in 1 Peter 3:18 “¹⁸ For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.” Because of this Paul can’t be speaking of anything lacking in what Christ suffered for us. Instead Paul is talking about the sufferings he now shares with what Christ had suffered for the church. I.e. if Paul is imprisoned, persecuted, tortured, falsely accused, etc. he does so for the church so that the gospel of truth may be reached by many.

2 Corinthians 1:5 “For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.”

Romans 8:17 “Now if we are children, then we are heirs–heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.”

2 Timothy 1:8 “ So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God,”

²⁵ I have become its servant 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. 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.

Paul who was commissioned by God on the Damascus road to preach the gospel of Christ to the Gentiles, here makes his testimony. The mystery which is that salvation is available to all people through Jesus Christ. And not only is it available to the Jews but now also to the Gentiles whom in the old testament times were always considered illegitimate, children not of the ‘promise’, not the nation of Israel. The mystery which was given to Paul that God has opened up salvation to all nations and peoples, so that we would become a new man. Children of the Spirit, Christ in us, the hope of glory.

²⁸ He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. ²⁹ To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.

Not only does Paul want them to be saved but he also wants them to grow and mature in their faith, teaching them the truths regarding Christ.

Hebrews 6:1 “Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God,”

Matthew 5:48 “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

Filed under: Colossians, Apostle Paul, Bible study, God, Jesus, New Testament, Pauls labor for the church, Scripture

Colossians 1:15-23

¹⁵ The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.

In this passage Paul starts to describe the supremacy of Christ. In verse 15 Paul states that the Son (Jesus) is the image of the invisible God. In other words, Jesus is God in the form of human likeness. Where before we could only relate to God in his spirit and invisible quality, now God reveals himself as a human, who in every respect is God in representation.

Hebrews 1:3 “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, 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”

See also 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’?”

The Son (Jesus) is also the firstborn over all creation. This doesn’t mean that he was the first created being by God, but that over all creation he existed, he was first, he is the alpha, he is the I AM. And it is in this context of his rank and supremacy that the apostle alludes that he is the firstborn as we can see from the next verses.

Similarly in Psalm 89:27 God talks about king David as being his firstborn “And I will appoint him to be my firstborn, the most exalted of the kings of the earth.” Likewise, in similar context he is talking about his rank not the fact that he is firstborn/first created as we know that David was the last of the sons in his family to be born.

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.

Compare with Genesis 1:1-2 “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.”

From comparing Genesis 1:1-2 and Colossians 1:16 we know that God (invisible God) created heaven and earth, and we also know that Jesus (visible God) created heaven and earth for ALL things were created by him. We can conclude that both invisible God and visible God are one and the same God.

And this is the supremacy of Christ. He created everything in all the realms – heaven and earth. He created all of what we can see in the flesh, and all that are invisible to us. We are all created for his purpose.

See also 1 Corinthians 8:6 “yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.”

John 1:1-3 “¹ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was with God in the beginning. ³ Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.”

¹⁷ He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Before anything ever existed Jesus did. And it is because Jesus created everything for his purpose that he holds everything together in his power. Without Jesus nothing would hold together in its current state. This alludes to the fact that things fall apart without Jesus.

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.

Just as the husband is the head and the wife is the body of a family, so is the bridegroom the head and the bride is the body. Jesus being the head, and the Church being the body. This is also alluding to rank and supremacy which is in context with this passage, where being the head of the body, means Jesus is above the body.

Once again Paul uses the term ‘firstborn’ to state that Jesus was firstborn from among the dead. Also alluding to rank and supremacy even amongst those who die. This does not mean he was the first to be raised from death as we know that Lazarus was raised to life from death by Jesus as recorded in Luke 11:44, and there are other instances of people being raised from the dead. But rather this means that he was the firstborn from among the dead to a new eternal life, whereas those who were raised from the dead previously also died again. Because of this Jesus has supremacy in the new eternal life making him King over every dominion.

¹⁹For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him,

God (invisible) was pleased to live in Jesus body (visible). His ‘fullness’ being everything that God is – his deity, his glory, authority, and all his qualities etc. The only difference is the visibility of Christ in comparison to his invisible quality. Paul repeats this later in 2:9 “For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form,”.

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.

Paul states here that in order for things on earth to make peace with God after being tainted by sin, they have to believe in Jesus Christ and that he gave his body and blood up on the cross as a sacrifice for the sins of the world. i.e. he receives our sin, we receive his life.

He also states that things in heaven are to be reconciled also. There are several interpretations of what the meaning of this statement is. This is my study and understanding: sin cannot exist in heaven so it cannot be that there are sinful beings in heaven that need to be reconciled to Christ. Jesus however, came down from heaven to earth, which separated him from heaven for a while and he dwelled amongst the sinful. By accepting our sin he became sin, which also separates himself from heaven. By dying on the cross he cleansed all sin, and he was able to become the firstborn of the dead to a new eternal life thus reconciling himself with heaven for eternity.

²¹ Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior.

This is the state of the unbeliever before coming to Christ. Due to sin, they are alienated from God, and although they may or may not be aware of it, in their minds with how they think and act, they become enemies to God and his holy ways.

²² But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation—

The power of the sacrifice of Christ is that he has now washed away the sin of the believer. No longer does God consider the believer an enemy because he sees the offering of Christ who was holy, without blemish, and free from any accusation. And now God sees the believer in the same likeness.

²³ if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.

Here is the clause as to the previous verse. God would only be reconciled to us through Christ, considering us as holy only if we continue in our faith in Jesus, and not a weak faith at that, but well established and firm/strong, like that of Peter who displayed an act of faith by stating Jesus was the Messaiah, Son of the Living God in Matthew 16:18. We also should hold onto the hope of heaven, an eternal life. And this is the gospel, that we believe in Jesus Christ whom God sent. Through him we have life.

Filed under: Colossians, Apostle Paul, Bible study, Colossians, God, Jesus, Jesus as God, New Testament, Scripture, supremacy of christ

Colossians 1:1-14

¹ Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, ² To God’s holy people in Colossae, the faithful brothers and sisters in Christ: Grace and peace to you from God our Father.

The two authors of this letter Paul and Timothy greet the church of Colosse, acknowledging God as is common in all of Paul’s letters. According to Paul, God’s ‘Holy’ people are the believers of Christ, the family of God, all the brothers and sisters in the church.

³ We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, ⁴ because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people— ⁵ the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel ⁶ that has come to you.

Here Paul tells the church that they continually pray for them since they heard about their conversion to the faith. Paul himself did not evangelize or preach to these people, nor did Timothy. Paul acknowledges their faith, hope, and love for God and one another, which in another letter to the Corinthian church happens to be the three great aspects of Christianity that anyone can grasp. And this hope was for the eternal life in heaven that awaited them.

1 Corinthians 13 “And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.”

In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world—just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace. ⁷ 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.

Paul states the current situation the Lord’s gospel now reaching people throughout the world, not just by the apostle Paul but now through those who have listened to his preachings, they too are now being sent to preach the word. Just as the church of Colosse has experienced, by hearing the gospel from Epaphras, whom heard it from Paul. Not only have they heard the gospel and believed, but now they are also growing in faith and producing the good fruits of their faith both in Spirit and also in their deeds.

Matthew 24:14 “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”

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,

Due to the growth of the church that Paul has heard about, they have continually prayed for them so that God would outpour knowledge of what he would like each of them to do according to his will, wisdom in being able to apply in their lives what they now know and, understanding in approaching different situations or people. These are three of the main gifts of the Spirit.

1 Corinthians 12:7-11 “⁷ Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. ⁸ To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, ⁹ to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, ¹⁰ to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. ¹¹All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.”

¹⁰ so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,

The end objective of obtaining all these gifts of the Spirit was to please God in all their ways. Growing and being mature Christians who are able to produce good fruits in the way they spoke, how they thought, how they carried out their lives, how they approached people, etc.

2 Corinthians 5:9 “So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.”

¹¹ being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience,

Paul prays that they have the strength that comes from God in order to endure whatever may come their way, whether a trial, persecution, or opposition. And also to have the patience to endure and not complain, not turn their backs from God because of trials, or not to give up on people that they are proclaiming the gospel to.

Ephesians 4:2 “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.”

¹²and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. ¹³ For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, ¹⁴ in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Paul prays to God in thanks for saving the Colossian members of the church, that they can live in heaven which Paul mentioned at the beginning of this chapter that they hoped for, here Paul confirms it. In this heaven will be the light of Christ the one who forgives sin and shares his kingdom for all those who believed in him. There will be no more darkness, no evil, no sin.

Acts 26:18 “to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’”

Filed under: Colossians, Apostle Paul, Bible study, Colossians, God, Jesus, New Testament, Scripture, thanksgiving

Intro to Colossians

Colossians is a letter written by the apostle Paul and his fellow companion Timothy to the church in the city of Colosse. This church came to know Christ through a disciple named Epaphras who was also a friend of Paul’s and most likely helped spread the gospel in Colosse after hearing it from Paul. Since their conversion the church began to experience heretical teaching from false teachers, a common problem Paul found with many of the other churches he had started. In this letter Paul and Timothy deal with these issues and teach the church a several rules on holy living, their freedom in Christ, as well as Christ’s supremacy.

Filed under: Colossians, Apostle Paul, Bible study, Colossians, God, Jesus, New Testament, Scripture