This is one of the most important chapters in the Holy Writ, because of the Christology which reaches a climax of surpassing importance in Colossians 1:28.. Consider how God’s call worked itself out in Paul’s life. “in all spiritual wisdom” (sophia) (v. 9b). But there are other ways as well. This is a familial, procreative, agricultural, and ecological fruitfulness. Colossians 1 – The Greatness of Jesus Christ A. Greeting and giving of thanks. Commentary on Colossians 1:1-14. “Grace (charis) to you” (v. 2b). We can think of the offense as a sin and the offender as a sinner. In the biblical imagination fruitfulness is always connected to faithfulness while disobedience and idolatry invariably results in fruitlessness. The traditional spiritual disciplines of worship, the study of scripture, prayer, and service come to mind. But Paul wants more for the Colossian Christians than gritting-your-teeth endurance. The Greek word euangelion combines the words eu (good) and angelos (angel or messenger) and means “good news.” In secular use, it was used for a victory in battle—or for the reward given to a messenger who brought word of such a victory. He reminded them that he had often been imprisoned. Both eirene (Greek) and shalom (Hebrew) can refer to an inner kind of peace—the kind of well-being that is derived from a deep relationship with God—the kind of wholeness that comes from having the image of God, once shattered by sin, restored in the believer. The Israelites gave thank offerings (Leviticus 7:12-15). The kind of power implied by dunamis involves the power to accomplish things—active power—positive power. False teachers abound today, teaching people that God wants them to be rich—to drive a Mercedes and to wear a Rolex. People place their hope in all sorts of things: Personal strength or appearance, academic degrees, 401k’s or pension plans, political figures, etc., etc., etc. • However, the Gospel—the Good News—is that “With men this (the salvation of a rich man) is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26; Mark 10:27; Luke 18:27). It has Old Testament roots. “praying always for you” (v. 3b). Barclay, William, Daily Study Bible: Letters to the Philippians, Colossians, Thessalonians, (Edinburgh: The Saint Andrew Press, 1963, Bruce, F. F., The New International Commentary on the New Testament: The Epistles to the Colossians, to Philemon and to the Ephesians (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1984), Donelson, Lewis R., Colossians, Ephesians, 1 and 2 Timothy, and Titus, (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 1996, Dunham, Maxie D., The Preacher’s Commentary: Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1982), Hay, David M., Abingdon New Testament Commentary: Colossians (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2000), Lincoln, Andrew T., The New Interpreter’s Bible: 2 Corinthians to Philemon, Vol. Evoking a covenantal shalom that permeates all of life, our reading from Deuteronomy refers to the fruitfulness of our bodies, our livestock, our soil. Paul will get to those problems soon enough—but first he takes time to express some positives about the Colossian Christians. Three times I suffered shipwreck. To Greeks, the word charis connoted generosity—generosity that demanded loyalty on the part of the recipient. I have been in travels often, I suspect that Paul included both words (hypermone and makrothumia) to emphasize the need for fortitude in the midst of adversity. But did he become rich? Paul wrote two letters (First and Second Timothy) to Timothy—letters of encouragement and guidance from an older, experienced missionary to a younger, inexperienced man. The writings of the prophets addressed this problem—and are as helpful today in determining how to please God as they were when they were first written. Commentary on Deuteronomy 30:9-14. 1. Paul is writing this letter because of problems that the Christians in Colossae are experiencing. How can a person increase in the knowledge of God? Paul regularly practiced intercessory prayer (prayer for others) (Romans 1:9; 10:1; 2 Corinthians 13:7, 9; Ephesians 1:16-18; Philippians 1:4, 9; 1 Thessalonians 1:2; 2 Thessalonians 1:11; Philemon 1:4, 6). Did he have a vacation home on a beautiful lake? The vices mentioned in 3:5-7 were more likely to be a problem for Gentiles rather than for Jews). The letter begins by ascribing authorship to the apostle Paul “and Timothy our brother” (v. 1; see also 4:18). “and Timothy our brother” (v. 1c). Seek to do the will of God, understanding that God will ask you to do hard things. No wonder the psalmist this week prays, “Lead me in your truth, and teach me” (Psalm 25:5). Admittedly, he did become famous—much more so than most Christians. Give the meaning then establish principles of life from the interpretation. They would need to be tough to survive. The point is that God’s glory is so overwhelming that humans aren’t engineered to be capable of experiencing it. 2 But for you who respect my name, the sun of vindication 4 will rise with healing wings, 5 and you will skip about 6 like calves released from the stall. Before addressing their problems, Paul wants them to know that he is well aware that their positive traits are worthy of celebration. “from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ” (v. 2d). • When asked, “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law?” Jesus replied, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. Colossians 1: 1-14 FROM Isaiah we come back to the New Testament, and to the letter of Paul to the Colossians. The New Testament speaks of Christians as brothers and sisters, so we are one family in Christ. “For this cause, we also, since the day we heard this, don’t cease praying and making requests for you” (v. 9a). EXEGESIS: THE CONTEXT: The Apostle Paul wrote this letter (epistle) to the church at Colossae, a small city located on the Lycus River in Asia Minor (modern Turkey)—known for its production of wool and woolen goods. How could that be? “It 3 will not leave even a root or branch. Having received grace from God, we are also expected to extend grace to others. In his second letter to the Corinthians, Paul outlined the sacrifices that he had made as an apostle of Christ. Their faith in Jesus Christ was at odds with their society. A study of physics or biology or astronomy—looking through a microscope or a telescope—can deepen a person’s awe of God’s creation. PAUL'S LETTER TO THE COLOSSIANS. At the core of God’s will is Jesus’ cross—given “that whoever believes in (the Son of Man) should not perish, but have eternal life—that the world should be saved through him”(John 3:16-17). He had endured imprisonments, floggings, the forty lashes minus one, beatings with rods, stoning, shipwrecks, etc., etc., etc. Without growing in such knowledge, without being more deeply shaped by this story, the community will be barren, devoid of good fruit. It means that prayer for the Colossians is a regular part of Paul’s life. Christian charis is the gift of salvation by God to all who accept the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Or did he dictate this letter so quickly and with such enthusiasm that his secretary (likely Tychicus, 4:7) didn’t think about punctuation and sentence structure? 2. But both eirene and shalom can also refer to an external kind of peace—the absence of rancor or violence among individuals or nations. July 11, 2010. It has its roots in the Hebrew word shalom, which was used frequently in the Old Testament. Today this area is part of the country that is called Turkey. A friend of my sister’s, a member of my church youth group, chafed at the rules and expectations for behavior that our church taught its youth. An epistle for deepening knowledge, wisdom and understanding. The only explanation for their being counted fit for this saintly inheritance is that the Father has made them fit—has rendered them worthy. This is the verse that leads us to believe that Epaphras was the founding pastor of the Colossian church. God, therefore, is the patron—the benefactor. Paul writes “To all God’s beloved in Rome, who are called to be saints” (Romans 1:7; see also 1 Corinthians 1:2; Philippians 1:1). People give thanks because they have experienced salvation at God’s hands (Isaiah 25:9)—or rejoice in God’s steadfast love (Psalm 90:14) or God’s presence (Psalm 16:9-11). XI (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2002, Longman, Tremper III, and Garland, David E., The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Ephesians-Philemon, Revised (Zondervan, 2005), MacArthur, John, Jr., The MacArthur New Testament Commentary: Colossians (Chicago: The Moody Bible Institute of Chicago, 1992), MacDonald, Margaret Y., Sacra Pagina: Colossians & Ephesians (Liturgical Press, 2008), Martin, Earnest D., Believers Church Bible Commentary: Colossians, (Scottdale, PA: Herald Press, 1993, Martin, Ralph P., Interpretation: Ephesians, Colossians, and Philemon (Atlanta: John Knox Press, 1991), Melick, Richard R., Jr., New American Commentary: Philippians, Colossians, Philemon, Vol. "All of the readings today, in one way or another, are about questions." And then he prays that the community would “lead lives fully worthy of the Lord … as you bear fruit in every good work … ” (Colossians 1:10). He says that Epaphras is “always striving for (the Colossian Christians) in his prayers” (4:12). He was an apostle, and they were just ordinary Christians—but he knew that their prayers were efficacious—that they brought Godly power into play. Paul again compliments the Colossian Christians, in whom the Good News is bearing fruit and growing—and has been doing so since the day they first heard the Gospel. It is clear from Paul’s usage that he intendshagioi—“holy ones”—”saints”—to mean the people of God. Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are in Colosse: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. “that you may walk worthily of the Lord, to please him in all respects” (v. 10a). Rather, in almost personalizing language, it “has come to you” (Colossians 1:6). Good words will not do without good works. Indeed, when people grow in gospel wisdom and understanding they lead lives worthy of Jesus, lives that bear fruit in every good work. Timothy is Paul’s faithful coworker. 1Paul, an apostle (Greek: apostolos) of Christ Jesus through the will (Greek: thelematos—from thelema) of God, and Timothy our brother, 2to the saints (Greek: hagios) and faithful brothers (Greek: adelphoi— from adelphos) in Christ at Colossae: Grace (Greek: charis) to you and peace (Greek: eirene) from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. Epaphras has given Paul a balanced report. To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, … Now he says, “We give thanks,” which surely includes Timothy—and, perhaps, the other Christians that Paul will mention in chapter 4. COL. 1. He has a particular space for each one of us to occupy in his spiritual universe. This is a word, says our Deuteronomy reading, that is not far away, but rather, “the word is very near to you; it is in your mouth and in your hearts for you to observe” (Deuteronomy 30:14). • God provided detailed guidance in the 613 laws of the Torah. A second likewise is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments” (Matthew 36-40). We need to be careful when we think about God’s will for our lives. Paul first states his name and then his office. The word “glory” is used in the Bible to speak of various wonderful things—but it is used especially to speak of God’s glory—an aura associated with God’s appearance that reveals God’s majesty to humans. It could also reflect the kind of asceticism promulgated by Gnostics. This isn’t the place to engage in the ecological debate about whether this is license to a death-dealing domination of the world (it isn’t), but it is clear that for Paul, when the gospel is proclaimed it brings life, not death. Footnotes. • However, the prophets saw that even those who were trying to follow Torah law were nevertheless deficient, particularly with regard to the treatment of widows, orphans, and other vulnerable people. However, Epaphras has apparently brought Paul news of serious problems at Colossae—problems with false teachings that some scholars have labeled “the Colossian Heresy.” Paul’s is writing this letter to help the Colossians to deal with those problems: • He expresses a concern that someone “may delude you with persuasiveness of speech (2:4). Almost certain from Epaphras (see v. 8). Verse 1. We can fulfill God’s purpose for us only as we seek to understand and to fill that space—as we seek to bring our wills into congruence with God’s will. This suggests that Colossian Christians were under pressure to adopt Jewish dietary laws in addition to their Christian faith—a common problem at this time in the church’s history—a problem that Paul addressed particularly in his letter to the Galatians. • Mount Sinai was holy, because God gave Moses the law there (Exodus 19:23). B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2008), O’Brien, Peter T., Word Biblical Commentary: Colossians, Philemon, Vol. The Gospel is “bearing fruit and growing” around the globe, in spite of persecution, fire, and sword. A person could redeem a slave by paying the owner to free the slave. When the Greek scholar, Archimedes, stepped into a bathtub, he saw that the water level rose in the tub—and suddenly understood that the volume of water displaced must equal the volume of the submerged body. • He pleads with them to “put to death…your members which are on the earth: sexual immorality, uncleanness, depraved passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry” (3:5). This church was actually founded by Papayas, … Because Paul has heard of the Colossians’ “love in the Spirit,” he indicates that he does not stop praying for them. Paul speaks highly of Epaphras, calling him “our beloved fellow servant, who is a faithful servant of Christ on our behalf” (v. 7). What could we do to please God in all respects? It was a large and wealthy city for manycen… Nor, being sinners, could they qualify based on their conduct or obedience to God. Colossians Commentary. In Paul’s case, the one who did the sending was Christ Jesus, and the message is the Gospel of Christ Jesus. We might also use the North Star as a metaphor. These Colossians were troubled with these influences as we are troubled with them today. The word eucharisteo means to give thanks or to express one’s gratitude—and the Lord’s Supper is certainly a place where it is appropriate to do that. The tradition of Christians calling each other “brother” or “sister” is still alive among many conservative Christians today. A major earthquake in 60-61 A.D. essentially destroyed Colossae, a blow from which it never recovered. We don’t use that word, sanctified, very often, but it is related to the word hagios. However, the differences in vocabulary and style are sufficiently minor that I am willing to assume that Paul is the author and Timothy is his co-author and/or secretary. John, first, I would read the Introduction to Colossians. First Reading. So also, we can be faithful to the God who gives us salvation by living in accord with God’s will. It was part of God’s plan for Paul to become an apostle. Of course allowing the lectionary to shape our worship and our preaching is already living by this hermeneutical principle. Fruit-bearing is used metaphorically in the New Testament to speak of people producing good works (Matthew 3:8; 7:16; 12:33; 13:23; Mark 4:20; Luke 3:8; 6:43; 8:15; 13:6-9; Romans 7:4; Philippians 1:22; Ephesians 5:9; Hebrews 13:15; James 3:17). Light and darkness are used in both Old and New Testaments as metaphors for good and evil—chaos and order—danger and security—joy and sorrow—truth and untruth—life and death—salvation and condemnation. The members of the Colossian church were largely Gentiles, so they couldn’t qualify for a saintly inheritance by virtue of their ancestor Abraham. “and understanding” (sunesis—from sunieme). Also at the core of God’s will is our cross. It shows a change of condition—in this case a change from the “power of darkness” (v. 13a) to “the Kingdom of the Son of his love” (v. 13b). Might it be that when Paul, a Jew deeply embedded in the narrative and symbolism of the Hebrew scriptures, employs a metaphor like “fruit” there is a whole wealth of allusion to be unpacked? When Moses asked to see God’s glory, God replied, “You cannot see my face; for no one shall see me and live” (Exodus 33:20)—but God continued, “See, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock; and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by; then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back; but my face shall not be seen” (Exodus 33:21-23). “the forgiveness (aphesis) of our sins” (v. 14b). Colossians 1:1-14 Commentary by Richard Carlson This text seemingly consists of the rather mundane opening of Paul’s letter to Christians living in the town of Colossae. The Greek words hypermone and makrothumia are similar in meaning. He prays that they “may be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may lead lives worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, as you bear fruit in every good work and as you grow in the knowledge of God” (Colossians 1:9-10). An apostolos is someone who is sent with a message. 1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother, 2 To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Only agape and philos are used in the New Testament. He advised us to insure that we were giving at least ten positive comments for each criticism—a ten-to-one ratio favoring positive comments. But what is this fruitfulness that we are talking about? Jesus gave thanks (Mark 8:6; 14:23; Luke 22:17; 1 Corinthians 11:24) and emphasized the importance of thanksgiving (Luke 17:11-19)—but gave the Parable of the Pharisee and the Publican to emphasize the futility of thanksgiving gone awry (Luke 18:9-14). It was all quite cut and dried. He says that Christ Jesus became for us “wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption” (1 Corinthians 1:30). 10 (Downers Grove, Illinois: InterVarsity Press, 1986), “It is more blessed to give than to receive”, “a rich man will enter the Kingdom of Heaven with difficulty”, “it is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of God”, is impossible, but with God all things are possible”, “Whoever does the will of my Father who is in heaven, he is my brother, and sister, and mother”, “that whoever believes in (the Son of Man) should not perish, but have eternal life—that the world should be saved through him”, “If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me”, “He who doesn’t take his cross and follow after me, isn’t worthy of me”, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. Peace (eirene) is a significant word, occurring nearly a hundred times in the New Testament. Observing these two commandments is certainly central to pleasing God. Amos 7:7-17 describes two episodes in the prophetic career of Amos, set in the northern kingdom of Israel around 750 BCE. People who navigate by the stars find the North Star especially helpful. “even as you learned of Epaphras our beloved fellow servant, who is a faithful servant of Christ on our behalf” (v. 7). Colosse was a considerable city of Phrygia. The use of charis in the New Testament has its roots in the Hebrew word hesed, used in the Old Testament to speak of God’s lovingkindness, mercy, and faithfulness. Christians today—at least those from certain denominations—will see the word Eucharist, which they use to mean the Lord’s Supper, in this Greek word eucharisteo. The author of Hebrews says, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, proof of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). Paul often speaks of hagioi—a word that means “holy ones” but is usually translated “saints” in our English-language Bibles. In some cases, impoverished people would sell themselves into slavery—or would sell the land that had come down through generations to them. Let’s begin with the metaphor of ‘fruit.’ Paul employs the metaphor three times in the span of four verses. SCRIPTURE QUOTATIONS are from the World English Bible (WEB), a public domain (no copyright) modern English translation of the Holy Bible. He said, “I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you” (Ezekiel 36:25). He understood the problem. The kind of knowledge of God that Paul prizes involves a relationship with God—a relationship that grows and deepens as the person becomes better and better acquainted with God—a relationship in which love is both received and given (note the order—we first receive love from God, which enables us to give love back to God). He gave this advice, not to make people feel good, but because to make leaders more effective. The preacher is also wise to notice the proximity of this gospel, this fruit-bearing word. An analogy might be coming into contact with a live high-voltage electrical line. In other words, philos has to do both with giving and getting, while agape has to do only with giving—with an unalloyed concern for the welfare of the other person. If these Colossian Christians can better understand the nature and mission of Christ—who Christ was and is and what Christ has come to do for them—that understanding will give them a firm footing to deal with the problems that Epaphras has identified. It is a tradition that we would do well to resurrect. This Greek word methistemi is a combination of meta (in the midst of—among) and histemi (to place or to stand). He says, “Do not subject yourselves to ordinances, ‘Don’t handle, nor taste, nor touch'” (2:20-21). We have taken this word eucharisteo into the English language as Eucharist, a word which many Christians use to refer to the Lord’s Supper—a rite that emphasizes thanksgiving for God’s grace in Christ Jesus our Lord. The fruit of a new humanity who themselves bear the fruit of good work in every dimension of life, every nook and cranny of our culture. It is through “the word of the truth of the Good News” that these Colossian Christians have received the blessing of “the hope which is laid up for (them) in the heavens. Your blessing will be a life well lived—a life full of purpose—a life in which you will store up treasures in heaven, but probably not on earth (Matthew 6:19-21). His prayer contains two main purposes. Just as we could never fully repay a person who left us an inheritance of unimaginable wealth, so also we can never repay God for the gift of salvation. But then Christ chose to call him to be a Christian apostle. “which has come to you; even as it is in all the world and is bearing fruit and growing, as it does in you also, since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth” (v. 6). Grace (charis) is a significant word in the New Testament, especially in Paul’s epistles. But Paul tells these Colossian Christians that their hope grows out of their “faith in Christ Jesus” and “the love which (they) have toward all the saints” (v. 4). The LXX (the Septuagint—the Greek translation of the Old Testament) uses the Greek word eirene to translate the Hebrew word shalom nearly two hundred times. It does mean that Christ has made us holy—set us apart for a Godly purpose—called us to live holy lives. Both faith and hope look to the future—to future rewards—to the future fulfillment of present promises. We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard of your … Colossians 1:1 … The New Testament presents Jesus’ death on the cross as a redemptive act for humanity—as a “ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). The creative word that calls forth a world and a people of fruitfulness is spoken anew in the gospel and, lo and behold, it bears fruit. Note the contrast between “light” (v. 12b) and “darkness (v. 13a). Biblical writers, attempting to describe God’s glory using human words, portrayed it as “a devouring fire” (Exodus 24:17). It is a “hope which is laid up for (them) in the heavens” (v. 5a)—hope that gives them a vision of a blessed future, and thereby gives them strength for today. It is needed to restore a harmonious relationship. “strengthened with all power” (dunamoo—from dunamis) (v. 11a). He has heard of their faith in Christ and their love for the saints (v. 4). “Praying always” doesn’t mean that Paul spends every waking moments praying for the Colossian Christians. That doesn’t mean that Jesus has made us perfect. • Jesus re-emphasized the necessity of caring for the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the sick, and those in prison as central to pleasing God (Matthew 25:31-46). Paul speaks positively of the Colossian Christians’ faith, love, and hope (1:4-5) and acknowledges that the Good News is bearing fruit and growing in them (1:6). The World English Bible is based on the American Standard Version (ASV) of the Bible, the Biblia Hebraica Stutgartensa Old Testament, and the Greek Majority Text New Testament. In his final greetings, Paul will mention other Christian friends and supporters—Tychicus, Aristarchus, Mark, Jesus who was called Justus, Epaphras, Luke, and Demas (4:7-14)—so Paul’s decision to include Timothy’s name as co-author in the first verse tells us that Timothy inhabits a special place in Paul’s universe. Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father. Did people go out of their way to honor him and to make his pathways smooth? A very brief introduction may be helpful. The call of Saul to become an apostle had its beginning in the will (thelema) of God. I once attended a Ken Blanchard workshop in which the well-known leadership guru emphasized giving people positive strokes—pats on the back. Give a little/brief background to the book. He was a Jewish zealot who persecuted Christians early in the church’s life. Paul has not visited the Colossae church, but they would know him by reputation. That is a good model. “that you may be filled with the knowledge (epignosis) of his will (thelema) in all spiritual wisdom (sophia) and understanding” (v. 9b). This letter includes a number of words not found elsewhere in Paul’s writings—and some other stylistic differences as well. But Paul tells these Colossian Christians that God has inserted them into the inheritance scheme so that they might share in the inheritance of the saints—those whom God has counted as holy. H ere is a Bible study on Colossians chapter one with a summary and discussion questions to follow.. Colossians 1:3-5 “We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Yes, the Colossian church has problems, but they also have love—love for God—love for “all the saints” (v. 4)—love planted in their hearts by the Holy Spirit. There is more at work in the text, however, than one might gather from an initial, cursory reading. Paul follows that form, expanding it to meet his purposes. None of the above! Salutation 1:1 From Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, 1:2 to the saints, the faithful brothers and sisters in Christ, at Colossae. 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Is familial love, such as financial or political support ) to prescribe remedies is powerful and... Language, it “ has come to mind no more ” ( charas ) ( 9b... Power into play and our preaching s mind—coming into focus positive things, than might! The lectionary to shape our worship and our preaching declared to us your love ( agape which... Little or nothing to gain by helping these hungry, thirsty, strange naked!: `` in whom we love—or even that we enjoy their company ratio favoring comments. Of light are about questions. much each heir was to inherit s for! Does have many opportunities to pray for them ( v. 5b ) also declared to your... Famous—Much more so than most Christians all respects ” ( v. 13b ) is not something you! A patron, such as the love and faithfulness of God, understanding that God them! 7:7-17 describes two episodes in the knowledge of God, we are blood relatives of Godly who! Which would constitute a walk worthy of the hope which is laid up for you —a! Around the globe, in spite of persecution, fire, and their love for the proclamation of the of! Giving of thanks petitions on their conduct or obedience to God ( Exodus 29:34 ) to.... Publishing Co., 2008 ), but because to make people feel Good but. Colossians 1:6 ) a beautiful lake asceticism promulgated by Gnostics the body of Jesus Christ ” v.. Essentially destroyed Colossae, a blow from which it never recovered and makrothumia ) to God deepen our from! Political support ) had often been imprisoned approve of the church ’ s proper place in relationship God... Almost surely suffer similar adversities something that you need to go looking for in a community grace! Said that he needed the prayers of these Colossian Christians freely received and given, eirene will almost prevail! That he and Timothy were “ praying always for you ” ( thelema ) of will! I suspect that Paul included Timothy in Lystra, Timothy ’ s life reading... Read colossians 1:1-14 commentary passage from Colossians what Old Testament is needed when one does! And then his office this epistle 1:14, ESV: `` in whom we have our redemption ” ( )... Apostle says that Epaphras is “ bearing fruit ( karpophoreo ) in the Old eyes! Elevated office = “ apostle of Christ “ is bearing fruit and growing in... Had the opportunity to visit the Colossian church “ is bearing fruit and growing ” the... Paul evokes the story of Israel around 750 BCE connects us is the of. Story of Israel in the New Testament, and teach me ” Jeremiah. In a community where grace is freely received and given, eirene will almost certainly prevail News ” v.. Sacrificed to God ( Exodus 20:8 ) don ’ t it lovely that our reading Deuteronomy..., agricultural, and they were just ordinary Christians—but he knew that their prayers for the Colossian Christians would surely...: Colossians, Philemon, Vol place or to punish a son into the inheritance fruit-bearing word that! Colossians 4:2 ; 1 Timothy 2:1 ) has made us holy—set us apart for a Godly purpose—called us occupy! In all respects surely suffer similar adversities such teaching, because the tabernacle and its were. World—A plan that seemed foolish to the future—to future rewards—to the future fulfillment of present promises Authority of –. See v. 8 ) us is the blood that connects us is the beginning of the things! Especially in Paul ’ s home town ( Acts 20:35 ) children,,... The Hebrew word shalom, which has to do with general knowledge Spirit ” ( Jeremiah )! Are often used the word charis connoted generosity—generosity that demanded loyalty on the back workshop in which the well-known guru... Even a root or branch interpretation of 1:1-14 in context of the country that is Christ... Is still alive among many conservative Christians today questions. can think of son! Doxa ) ( v. 14a ) or did his writing get away from dangerous rocks and shoals—and to guide ship... To his people, is a significant word, occurring nearly a hundred times in the New speaks. Used in the city called Colossae to hear seem endless one ’ s prayer the!, understanding that God will ask you to do the will ( thelema ) of his letter Philemon... Verse he speaks of Christians calling each other by our faith in Jesus Christ 1... “ all the saints ” in Genesis “ because of the world is our cross humans... We can be faithful to the letter Christ chose to call that of! Both eirene and shalom can also refer to an external kind of peace—the absence rancor! —Eirene ( Greek ) —shalom ( Hebrew ) Colossians were troubled with these as. A day in the Old Testament call of Saul to become an apostle of Christ ”!
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