Colossians is one of those small books in the Bible that is powerful. Written by Paul between AD 60-61. It closely parallels Ephesians and Philemon. Paul never visited the church at Colosse which was founded by Epaphras. After Epaphras came to Christ, he carried the gospel to cities like Colosse. Epaphras visited Paul in prison and his report concerning the church in Colosse prompted this epistle.
Key verses: Col 2:9-10
Theme: The Colossian church had a problem that many churches have today. This is syncretism which is the tendency to regard other philosophies and religions as equally valid as Christianity. The people in Colosse wanted to believe the Christian truth, but they also wanted to hang on to their old beliefs as well by blending them with the gospel. Paul’s purpose in this letter is to settle once and for all the issue of Christ’s centrality and supremacy. He writes to restore Jesus, the Messiah, to the center of these believers’ lives. Here we see Paul’s unwavering confidence in the incomparability of Christ, as it completely shaped his views on all of life. He writes to introduce the Colossians to this same vision.
I find what Paul writes is very necessary and applicable in today’s world because many laws and regulations have become overly permissive. We are commanded to love one another and to treat others as we would like others to treat us. But at the same time, we as believers have an obligation to seek the truth and be guided by the Holy Spirit who will lead us to the truth. We shouldn’t agree with someone who is doing ungodly things or is not lining themselves up with the word of God. We should respect these individuals as creations of God, but we should refrain from associating with them and let God judge them.
Colossians
Thankfulness for Spiritual Attainments
1:6 The gospel is constantly bearing fruit and spreading by God’s power.
1:8 Your love is (well-grounded and nurtured) in the Holy Spirit.
1:9 Be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom [with insight into His purposes and in understanding [of spiritual things].
1:10 So that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord [displaying admirable character, moral courage, and personal integrity] to [fully] please Him in all things, bearing fruit in every good work and steadily growing in the knowledge of God [with deeper faith, cleaner insight and fervent love for [His] precepts.
1:11 [We pray that you may] be strengthened and invigorated with all power, according to His glorious might, to attain every kind of endurance and patience with joy.
1:12 Giving thanks to the Father
1:13 He has rescued us and drawn us to Himself from the dominion of darkness and has transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son.
1:14 In whom we have redemption resulting in the forgiveness of our sins.
The Incomparable Christ
1:15 He is the exact living image [the essential manifestation] of the unseen God [the visible representation of the invisible] the firstborn [the preeminent one, the sovereign, and the originator] of all creation.
1:16 For by him all things were created in heaven and on earth.
1:17 He himself existed and is before all things, and in Him all things hold together [He is the controlling cohesion force of the universe [Prov.8:22-31]
1:18 He is also the head [the life source and leader] of the body of the church. He is the beginning, the first-born from the dead.
1:22 Christ has reconciled you in His physical body through death in order to present you holy and blameless to the Father and beyond reproach.
1;23 And he will do this if you continue in the faith and stay well-grounded and steadfast.
1:24 I rejoice in my sufferings.
1:26 This mystery which was hidden for ages and generations has now been revealed to his saints.
1:27 God chose to make known to them how great for the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is in Christ in and among you, the hope and guarantee of glory.
2:2 My hope is that believers may be encouraged to have an understanding that will result in a true and intimate knowledge of the mystery of God, this is, Christ.
2:3 In whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge [regarding the purposes of God].
2:5 Stand shoulder to shoulder and form a solid front and to see the stability of your faith in Christ (your steadfast reliance on Him and your unwavering confidence in His Power, wisdom, and goodness.
2:6 As you have received Christ Jesus the Lord walk in union with Him reflecting His character in things you do and say living lives that lead others away from sins.
2:7 You are deeply rooted [in him]. You are continually built up in him. You are becoming more established in your faith, overflowing in it with gratitude.
2:8 Do not be held captive through philosophy or empty deception but rather follow truth—the teachings of Christ.
2:9 For in Him, all the fullness of the Deity (Godhead) dwells in bodily form (completely expressing the divine essence of God.
2:10 In him you have been made complete.
2:11 In him you were spiritually circumcised—removing the bodily flesh of your sinful nature.
2:12 You were buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the working of God displayed by His raising Christ from the dead.
2:13 While you were dead in your sins, God made you alive with Christ having forgiven us our sins.
2:14 Our debt was cancelled and nailed to the cross.
2:15 He triumphed over supernatural powers and authorities through the cross.
2:16,17 Let no one judge you for the substance of reality belongs to Christ.
2:18,19 Don’t be defrauded by those who don’t believe in Christ.
2:23 Beware of anyone who does not honor God.
3:1 Put on the new self.
3:2 Set your mind on heavenly things not on earthly things that only have temporary value.
3:3 You have died to this world and your new life is hidden with Christ.
3:4 When Christ appears, you will appear with him in glory.
3:5 Deprive of power evil longings of your earthly body because it replaces your devotion to God.
3:6 Because of these sinful things, the wrath of God is coming.
3:8 Rid yourself of these things.
3:9 Do not lie to one another because you have stripped off the old self.
3:10 And put on the new spiritual self which is continually being renewed.
3:11 Where there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, where Christ is all in all.
3:12 And God’s chosen people put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
3:13 Being gracious to one another and forgiving one another.
3:14 Wrap yourself in unselfish love.
3:15 Let the peace of Christ be the controlling factor in your hearts. To this peace
You were called as members in one body [of believers]. And be thankful to God always.
3:16 Let the spoken word of Christ be at home within you permeating every aspect of your being.
3:17 Whatever you do in thought or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Family Relations
3:18 Wives be subject to your husbands as protectors and those accountable to God.
3:19 Husbands love your wives with an affectionate, sympathetic and selfish love that always seeks the best for them.
3:20 Children obey your parents.
3:21 Fathers do not provoke your children, irritate, humiliate or be abusive.
3:22 Servants obey your masters with sincerity of heart because of your fear of the Lord.
3:23 Whatever you do put your best foot forward as if it was done for the Lord and not for man.
3:24 Because you know your inheritance will come from the Lord.
3:25 For he who does wrong doing will be punished for his wrong doing because God is not partial.
Fellow Workers
4:1 Masters deal with your slaves justly and knowing fairly knowing that your master is in heaven.
4:2 Be persistent and devoted in prayer. Have an attitude of thanksgiving.
4:3 Pray for us that we will have the opportunity to proclaim the mystery of Christ.
4:5 Conduct yourselves with wisdom in your interactions with outsiders.
CONCLUSION
In this short but powerful epistle Paul attempted to get the church at Colosse thinking the right way by placing Christ in his rightful position of praise, worship, and honor and not having the saints make their former gods and idols equal to Christ. For it is through Christ’s sacrifice that we have been reconciled to God and forgiven our sins and hence have escaped perdition.
Many of the verses in this epistle were confirmed by others verses in the Bible.
The following are some (not all) examples of this confirmation.
Verses from Colossians Related Verses
Thankfulness for Spiritual Attainments
1:6 Phil. 1:11, 2 Peter 1:5-8
1:9 Romans 1:11,12
1:11 Heb. 10:36
1:12 Ephesians 1:3
The Incomparable Christ
1:15 John 14:11
1:16 John 1:3
1:17 John 1:1
1:22 Phil. 2:15
1:26 Psalm 25:14, Deut. 10:12,13
2:2 Psalm 25:14
2:3 Isaiah 11:2
2:10 Acts 17:28
3:1 2 Cor. 5:17
3:2 Galatians 5:22, 23
3:10 Ephesians 4:24
3:12 Job 29:14
3:14 John 15:17; Hebrews 13:1
3:15 Psalm 34:14; Heb 12:14
3:16 Ephesians 5:19
Family Relations
3:18 Ephesians 5:22; 1 Peter 3:1
3:19 Ephesians 5:28
3:20 Ephesians 6:1
3:21 Ephesians 6:4
3:22 1 Peter 2:18
3.25 Deut. 10:17
Fellow Workers
4:5 Prov. 4:7
Question
Are you putting anything, whether it is an idol or your own agenda, in the place where Jesus should be? Or are you completely submissive to him? Please leave a comment below.