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| Survey, Overview, & Chronology of the New Testament |
Colossians
I. To Whom:
- a. “To the saints” (v.2).
- i. Hagios, the most holy people.
ii. The dedicated, separate people (2 Cor 6:14-18).
iii. The only place one can be considered dedicated, hence removed from the
world, is in Christ (Gal 3:27).
- b. “Faithful brethren” (v.2).
- i. The term brethren has at least two implications:
- 1. A family exists—Mrk 3:31-35; Jn 3:3-5.
2. Unity—1 Cor 1:10; Jn 17:20, 21.
- ii. These brethren addressed are described as being “faithful.”
- 1. Pistos—trustworthy, one on whom you can depend, one who is
proven.
2. Not all brethren are faithful, but those who are have been entrusted
with the gospel (1 Thess 2:4).
3. Those who are not faithful have not right to care for the affairs of the
body of Christ.
- c. “In Christ” (v.2).
- i. This is a prepositional phrase being used as an adverb showing location.
ii. Saints are in Christ, not out of Him.
iii. The faithful are in Christ, not out of Him.
- d. “In Colosse”
- i. A region 100 miles East of Ephesus, just south of Laodicea.
ii. Paul had never personally visited this congregation (1:4-8; 2:1).
iii. The church here was likely established by Epaphras after having been
taught by Paul in Ephesus (Ac 19;10; 20:31; Col 1:7). [Epaphras brought Paul
word about the condition of the Colossian church—1:8].
iv. It is quite plausible that the church at Colosse met in the house of Philemon
(4:9; Phile 2).
v. Though written to the church at Colosse, the epistle has universal meaning
and application (4:16).
- II. Date:
- a. 61-65 A.D.
b. Written from Rome when Paul was in prison.
c. Written at the same time of Ephesians, Philippians and Philemon.
III. Author:
- a. “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ.”
- i. Though he did not establish the church at Colosse, nor had he personally
visited the church there, he was one with authority, an apostle to the Gentiles
(Gal 2:9).
ii. The church at Colosse was primarily made up of Gentiles (this seems to be
the case because there was not a mention of problems stemming from
Judaizing teachers, and the area was made up of mostly Gentiles).
- b. “By the will of God.”
- i. Authority is not something that can be taken upon one’s self.
ii. It is that which is conferred, hence Paul was an authoritative apostle
because God thelema (determined it) to be so.
IV. Purpose:
- a. This epistle notes an introduction to a problem existing in the church then, and no
less so now—Gnosticism (2:8-23).
- i. Gnosticism is a term expressive of false teachers who believed themselves
to have come to a higher knowledge that others.
- 1. The root word is gnosis a Greek term meaning knowledge or
intelligence (cf. 2 Pet 1:5).
2. They thought themselves to have achieved a higher level of spiritual
understanding than others, but in reality they had began “another gospel.”
- ii. Primary beliefs:
- 1. Flesh was inherently evil, hence sinful.
- a. For this cause man could not be held accountable for his sinful
behavior, and could only be saved at God’s choosing (Calvinism).
b. Because flesh is sinful, Jesus never really came in the flesh (1
Jn 4:1-3).
- 2. Greek speculation (2:4, 8).
- a. “Persuasive words” pithanologia, meaning: specious discourse
leading others into error. [Specious—having a deceptive attraction
to allure, a false look of truth to deceive]. Greeks were known for
their ability to argue and convince people to follow their thought
with their impressive rhetoric.
b. “Cheat you”—literally, take you captive. How?
- i. “Philosophy”—philosophia, the love of wisdom and
speculation.
ii. “Empty deceit”—lies which have no true meaning or
substance. The ability to make a lie sound good.
iii. “Tradition of men”—compare to Matt 15:8, 9.
iv. “Principles of the world”— stoicheion, literally meaning:
materials of the universe from which all things have come—
humanism/atheism. The Gnostic belief was that since flesh
is evil, God could not have really created flesh, hence we
have come from the earthly elements.
- 3. Jewish Legalism (2:11, 16):
- a. Circumcision.
b. Unclean foods and drinks.
c. The Sabbath.
d. Feast days.
- 4. Oriental mysticism (2:18).
- a. “False humility”—pretense.
b. “Worship of angels”—removal of worship of God, thinking that
other spiritual beings can somehow bring one closer to God.
c. V.18b—thinking to know what he doesn’t know—presumption.
- 5. Summed up as “the commandments and doctrines of men” (v.22).
- b. In contrast Christ is supreme (2:10), the true Lord of Creation (1:16, 17), and
spiritually washes us (2:12, 13) giving us a new life (3:1-17), which requires a
specific manner of life (3:18-4:1).
- i. Each aspect of Gnosticism is answered:
- 1. Problem—2:4, 8/Answer—vs.5-7, 9.
2. Problem—2:11-16/Answer—vs.14-17.
3. Problem—2:18/Answer—vs.19-23.
- ii. Our salvation is contingent upon our compliance with God’s will (ch.1).
V. Things to Note:
- a. Ch. 3:1-17 is a bridge between the 1st section, the conceptual, and the 2nd
concrete.
- i. Ch.3 is, then, a connector.
ii. Conceptual—“mystery of God, even Christ” (2:2), “in
whom…redemption…forgiveness of sins” (1:13, 14), reconciliation” (1:22),
“who is” (1:15-27).
iii. Concrete--“wives…husbands…children…fathers…servants…masters (3:
18-4:1).
iv. Connector—“your life is hid with Christ in God” (3:1-17).
- b. Being risen with Christ means that one has been baptized (2:12; 3:1, 2).
c. Christianity is a religion of expectations (1:4-7).
- i. Faith is observable.
ii. Faith produces a non-ceasing action.
- d. The kingdom is present (1:13).
e. The church and body are the same (1:18).
f. Christianity is a never ending religion of service (1:23).
g. The authority of Christ dictates all we do (3:17).
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