Colossians
I am going to outline Colossians and then make some remarks about Colossians 1: 1-6.
Outline of the Book
Colossians 1:1-6
Vs.1,2- Paul calls himself an apostle by the will of God. The word will is thelema meaning what one wishes or has determined shall be done. The word apostle here is Apostolos which means a delegate, messenger, one sent forth with orders, it is used 81 times as the word apostle. In Acts 9:15 the Lord tells Ananias that Paul is “my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel.” He was appointed not by man, but by Christ himself and that is where his authority comes from. He wanted them to remember that since he is going to address some of the false teaching, possibly the beginning of Gnosticism, which was growin in the Colossae church.
Paul mentioned Timothy. Paul said that Timothy served him like a child serving his father Php 2:19-22. He was Paul’s true child in the faith 1 Cor 4:17
He was writing to the saints or the set apart ones or faithful brethren in Colossae. They were “in Christ”.
Colossae was a small market town in Asia minor about a hundred miles east of Ephesus located on the south bank of the Wolf River. Within a few years of this letter it would be destroyed by an earthquake.
In all of Paul’s thirteen letters he indicates grace before peace. Grace always comes first. Grace is the word Charis it means that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, loveliness, grace of speech, good will, lovingkindness, favour. The grace of God is what the believer relies upon to come to Christ since we cannot come on our own merits. Paul did not since he was responsible for throwing Christians in jail and approved of Stephen being stoned Romans 5:1-2.
Vs.3-6 Paul expresses his thanks and prayers for them due to
Their faith in Christ Jesus. Their faith came from hearing the word of God Romans 10:17
* The love they have for the saints
* The hope that is stored up for them in heaven.
* Their hope was in the returning of the Lord Jesus
The word faith is pistis which means the conviction of truth of anything, belief. Hebrews 11:1 describes it as the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
Vs.6 the gospel was bearing fruit all over the world just as it was with the Colossians. The gospel is what was bearing fruit. The phrase is “constantly bearing fruit” karpophoreo- to bear fruit, to bear, bring forth, deeds. It was increasing vs.6 auxano- to cause to grow, augment, to increase, become greater, to grow, increase.
Is our faith, hope and love ever increasing and bearing fruit?
The Colossae
believers were known for their faith, love and hope. They had a faith in Christ, a love for each
other and their hope was bound up in the return of Christ. As a result, their faith was growing and
bearing fruit. Their faith was not based
on programs or their own ability but hearing the word of God. What are believers now known for? Can it be said that we are known for our
faith, love and hope? Or are we known
for what we are against or our political views and being much like the
world? Are we known for our love for
each other? Are we known for our faith
in God even in difficult times? Is our
hope bound up in ourselves and our ability or in His return. Is our hope only on things of this earth?
Outline of the Book
1. Introduction 1:1,2
2. The nature of the Lordship of Christ
1:3-2:7
3. Christ’s lordship and the false
teaching of Colossae 2:8-3:4
4. Christ’s lordship in the Christian
life 3:5-4:6
5. Conclusion 4:7-18
Colossians 1:1-6
Vs.1,2- Paul calls himself an apostle by the will of God. The word will is thelema meaning what one wishes or has determined shall be done. The word apostle here is Apostolos which means a delegate, messenger, one sent forth with orders, it is used 81 times as the word apostle. In Acts 9:15 the Lord tells Ananias that Paul is “my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel.” He was appointed not by man, but by Christ himself and that is where his authority comes from. He wanted them to remember that since he is going to address some of the false teaching, possibly the beginning of Gnosticism, which was growin in the Colossae church.
Paul mentioned Timothy. Paul said that Timothy served him like a child serving his father Php 2:19-22. He was Paul’s true child in the faith 1 Cor 4:17
He was writing to the saints or the set apart ones or faithful brethren in Colossae. They were “in Christ”.
Colossae was a small market town in Asia minor about a hundred miles east of Ephesus located on the south bank of the Wolf River. Within a few years of this letter it would be destroyed by an earthquake.
In all of Paul’s thirteen letters he indicates grace before peace. Grace always comes first. Grace is the word Charis it means that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, loveliness, grace of speech, good will, lovingkindness, favour. The grace of God is what the believer relies upon to come to Christ since we cannot come on our own merits. Paul did not since he was responsible for throwing Christians in jail and approved of Stephen being stoned Romans 5:1-2.
Vs.3-6 Paul expresses his thanks and prayers for them due to
Their faith in Christ Jesus. Their faith came from hearing the word of God Romans 10:17
* The love they have for the saints
* The hope that is stored up for them in heaven.
* Their hope was in the returning of the Lord Jesus
The word faith is pistis which means the conviction of truth of anything, belief. Hebrews 11:1 describes it as the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
Vs.6 the gospel was bearing fruit all over the world just as it was with the Colossians. The gospel is what was bearing fruit. The phrase is “constantly bearing fruit” karpophoreo- to bear fruit, to bear, bring forth, deeds. It was increasing vs.6 auxano- to cause to grow, augment, to increase, become greater, to grow, increase.
Is our faith, hope and love ever increasing and bearing fruit?
