COLOSSIANS #1
(Much of the material comes from Barnes’ Notes, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 1997 by Biblesoft.)
COLOSSAE A city of commercial importance on the Lycus in Phrygia, about twelve miles above Laodicea. The most competent commentators think that the Christian church there was founded by Epaphras (Col 1:2 Col 1:7; 4:12) and believe 2:1 proves that Paul had not been there previous to writing the epistle. The city was destroyed by an earthquake in the ninth year of Nero and was then rebuilt. The modem town Chonas is near the ruins in modem day Turkey. Paul is writing a letter to a church which he did not help start. It is written apparently from his Roman imprisonment. The epistle is a strong argument against a Judaic Gnostic, (Gnosticism, a name indicating the assumption of superior capacity for knowledge (Grk. gnosis, "knowledge"). Gnosticism in its diverse forms received its inspiration, and in the main its guidance, from pagan philosophy. In different ways it denied the humanity of Christ, even to the extent of denying the reality of His human body), this heresy with its ceremonialism and doctrine of evolution This unsound teaching sought to reduce Christianity to a legal system and Christ to the position of a lesser god. Paul directed the impact of revealed truth against the Jewish element (circumcision, meats, drinks, fast days, new moons, and Sabbaths; Col 2: 11 16), a rigorous element (2:20 23), and a false philosophical and speculative element (2:8), with the worship of intermediary beings (2:18 19). Apparently, Epaphras and his colleagues were unable to handle this situation and went to Rome to consult Paul about it (1:7 8). The letter of reply was sent by Tychicus tik’i kus, and Onesimus (4:7 9) toward the middle of Paul’s two year imprisonment at Rome, about A.D. 60.
Paul attacks the errors at Colossae by the clear presentation of counter truths. After first giving thanks for the Colossians’ achievements and interceding for their progress (Col 1: 1 14), he expounds the supremacy of Christ over all principalities and powers (1:15 19), the fullness of His redemption (1:20 23), and his own hardship in making known the gospel message (1:24 2:3). He warns the Colossian church against philosophic errors that set aside the provision of fall deliverance from sin and freedom from legalism (2:4 15). He warns them accordingly to reject ritual instruction and the worship of inferior beings (2:16 19), emphasizing their complete position in Christ (2:20 3:4). He urges them to embrace Christ’s death and resurrection in practical Christian living (3:5 17) and in discharging the various special relations of life (3:18 4:6). He explains the mission of Tychicus and Onesimus (4:7 9) and sends salutations (4:10 17), ending with a benediction (4:18).
The letter is divided into two parts.
Part One: The Supremacy of Christ in the Church (1: 1 2:23)
Part Two: The Submission to Christ in the Church (3:1 4:18)
Today we will look at Paul’s introduction.
1. Introduction 1:1 14
COLOSSIANS 1: 1 14
A. Paul’s Greeting to the Colossians 1:1 2
1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
2 To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father.
There was a particular reason why Timothy should be associated with him in writing this Epistle. He was a native of the region where the church was situated
1. Acts 16:1 3 Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. And a disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek,
2 and he was well spoken of by the brethren who were in Lystra and Iconium.
3 Paul wanted this man to go with him; and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those parts, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. , and had been with Paul when be preached there, and was doubtless well known to the church there;
B. 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,
4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which you have for all the saints;
5 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven, of which you previously heard in the word of truth, the gospel
6 which has come to you, just as in all the world also it is constantly bearing fruit and increasing, even as it has been doing in you also since the day you heard of it and understood the grace of God in truth;
7 just as you learned it from Epaphras, our beloved fellow bondservant, who is a faithful servant of Christ on our behalf,
8 and he also informed us of your love in the Spirit.
Paul is reminding them that at one time they knew the truth. That by these words of truth they would have great things to come if they would followed the truth. That Epaphras had preached these words to them and that he was a fellow worker of Paul’s. Paul tells them of the hope laid up for them,
1. 2 TIMOTHY 4:8
8 in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.
Paul is telling them that the very words that they had preached to them was being preach everywhere and the same good results were taking place.
C. Paul’s Prayer for the Colossians 1:9 14
9 For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,
10 so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;
11 strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously
12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light.
13 For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son,
14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
COLOSSIANS 1:9
The progress, which they had already made, and the love, which they had shown, constituted an encouragement for prayer, and a reason why higher blessings still should be sought. We always feel stimulated and encouraged to pray for those who are doing well. They had shown by their faith and love that they were disposed to do his will, and the apostle now prays that they might be fully acquainted with what he would have them do. He offered a similar prayer in behalf of the Ephesians;
COLOSSLANS 1:10
This is another way in which we may walk worthy of the Lord, and so as to please him. It is by endeavoring to become better acquainted with his true character. God is pleased with those who desire to understand what he is; what he does; what he purposes; what he commands. Hence he not only commands us to study his works (compare Ps 111: 2), but he has made a world so beautiful as to invite us to contemplate his perfection’s as reflected in that world.
1. PSALMS 111:2
2 Great are the works of the LORD; They are studied by all who delight in them.
COLOSSIANS 1: 11
This was also an object of Paul’s earnest prayer. He desired that they might be strengthened for the performance of duty; to meet temptations; and to bear up under the various trials of life. [According to his glorious might] Not by any human means, but by the power of God. There is a manifestation of power in the spirit with which Christians are enabled to bear up under trials, which shows that it is not of human origin. It is the power, which God gives them in the day of trial.
COLOSSIANS 1:12
This is another mode by which we may "walk in a worthy manner of the Lord unto all pleasing" (COLOSSIANS 1: 10); by rendering appropriate thanks to God for his mercy. The particular point, which the apostle here says, demanded thanksgiving was that they had been called from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light. This had been done by the special mercy of the Father who had provided the plan of salvation, and had sent his Son to redeem them.
The word used here qualified from the Greek means properly to make sufficient. The word conveys the idea of having sufficient or enough to accomplish anything The verb is not used anywhere else in the New Testament. In its use here, there seems to be implied the idea of conferring the privilege or the ability to be thus made the partakers of the kingdom, and the idea also of rendering us fit for it. The sense is, he has conferred on us grace sufficient to make it proper that we should partake of the blessings of his kingdom. In regard to this "fitness" for that kingdom, we may observe two things.
(1) That it does not mean that we are rendered fit by our own merits, or by anything which we have done; for it is expressly said that it is God who has made us "fit" for it. No one, by his own merits, even made himself fit for heaven. His good works cannot be an equivalent for the eternal rewards of heaven;
EPHESLANS 2:8 9
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;
9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
(2) There is a fitness, which Christians possess for heaven. It consists in two things. First, in their having complied with the conditions on which God promises heaven, so that, although they have no merit in themselves, and no fitness by their own works, they have that fitness which results from having complied with the terms of favor. They have truly repented of their sins, and believed in the Redeemer. They are thus in the proper state of mind to receive the mercy of God; for, according to the terms of mercy, there is a propriety that pardon should be bestowed on the penitent, and peace on the believing.
3. MATTHEW 7:21
"Not everyone who says to Me, ’Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven."
Secondly, there is, in fact, fitness in the Christian for the participation of the inheritance of the saints in light. He has a state of feeling that is adapted to that. There is a harmony between his feelings and heaven a state of mind that can be satisfied with nothing but heaven. He has in his heart substantially the same principles, which reign in heaven. He is suited to find happiness only in the same objects in which the inhabitants of heaven do. He loves the same God and Savior; has pleasure in the same truths; prefers, as they do, holiness to sin; and, like the inhabitants of heaven, he would choose to seek his pleasure in holy living, rather than in the ways of vanity. His preferences are all on the side of holiness and virtue; and, with such preferences, he is fitted for the enjoyments of heaven. In character, views, feelings, and preferences, therefore, the Christian is made suitable to participate in the occupation and joys of the saints in light.
4. MATTHEW 13:44 46
44 "The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
45 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls,
46 and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.
COLOSSIANS 1:13
The power exerted over us in that dark kingdom to which we formerly belonged the kingdom of Satan. The characteristic of this empire is darknessthe emblem of
(1) sin;
(2) error;
(3) misery and death.
Over us, by nature, these things had uncontrollable power; but now we are delivered from them, and brought to the enjoyment of the privileges of those who are connected with the kingdom of light. They who are Christians have been transferred from one kingdom to another. They were removed. They become subjects of a New Kingdom, are under different laws, and belong to a different community. This change is made in regeneration, by which we pass from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light; from the empire of sin, ignorance, and misery, to one of holiness, knowledge, and happiness. No change, therefore, in a man’s life is so important as this; and no words can suitably express the gratitude which they should feel who are transferred from the empire of darkness to that of light.
5. EPHESIANS 2:1 22
1 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins,
2 in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.
3 Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.
4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,
5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),
6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
7 so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;
9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
11 Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called "Uncircumcision" by the so called "Circumcision," which is performed in the flesh by human hands –
12 remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
13 But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
14 For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall,
15 by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace,
16 and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity.
17 AND HE CAME AND PREACHED PEACE TO YOU WHO WERE FAR AWAY, AND PEACE TO THOSE WHO WERE NEAR;
18 for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father.
19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of Gods household,
20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the comer stone,
21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord,
22 in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.
COLOSSIANS 1: 14
The passage here proves that we obtain forgiveness of sins through the blood of Christ; but it does not prove that this is all that we obtain through that blood.
6. ROMANS 5:9
9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.
7. EPHESIANS 1:7
7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace
8. REVELATION 1:5
5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood
PLAN OF SALVATION
ROMANS 10:17
17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
HEBREWS 11:6
6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.
ACTS 2:38
38 And Peter said to them, "Repent,"
ROMANS 10:9 10
9 That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved;
10 for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.
MARK 16:16
16 "He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned."
MATTHEW 7:21
"Not everyone who says to Me, ’Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven."
