COLOSSIANS
The Opening Statement
A. Remember that to understand the book, we must relate it to its historical setting. Paul’s letters are called “occasional documents” because he was addressing local problems with the universal gospel truths.
B. The Lordship of Jesus is the central theme (1:15 – 17..."He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, {both} in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together." (NASB)). The Christology of this book is unsurpassed! Colossians forms the basic outline for Ephesians. Paul knew the heresy would spread in Asia minor. Colossians attacks the false teachings while Ephesians develops its central themes to prepare other churches for the coming heresy. The emphasis of Colossians is Christological while the emphasis in Ephesians is the unity of all things in Christ, who is Lord of all things.
C. Paul refutes legalism, both Jewish and Greek, in very powerful terms (2:6 – 23).
B. The Lordship of Jesus is the central theme (1:15 – 17..."He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, {both} in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together." (NASB)). The Christology of this book is unsurpassed! Colossians forms the basic outline for Ephesians. Paul knew the heresy would spread in Asia minor. Colossians attacks the false teachings while Ephesians develops its central themes to prepare other churches for the coming heresy. The emphasis of Colossians is Christological while the emphasis in Ephesians is the unity of all things in Christ, who is Lord of all things.
C. Paul refutes legalism, both Jewish and Greek, in very powerful terms (2:6 – 23).
The City
A. Originally the city of Colossae was part of the kingdom of Pergamum within Phrygia. In 133 B.C. it was given to the senate of Rome.
B. Colossae was a large commercial center before Paul’s day.
1. The valley in which Colossae was located was the ancient Mediterranean world’s leading producer of wool, especially black wool, and dyed wool, purple and scarlet. The volcanic soil produced excellent pasture land and the chalky water aided the dyeing process.
2. Volcanic activity caused the city to be destroyed several times in its history; the latest time being 60 A.D. (Tacitus) or 64 A.D. (Eusebius).
C. Colossae was located on the Lycus River, a tributary of the Maeander River, which ran by Ephesus, 100 miles downstream. In this one valley were located Hierapolis (6 miles away) and Laodicea (10 miles away)
Colossians 1:2..."To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ {who are} at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father." (NASB)
Colossians 2:1..."For I want you to know how great a struggle I have on your behalf and for those who are at Laodicea, and for all those who have not personally seen my face..." (NASB)
Colossians 4:13..."For I testify for him that he has a deep concern for you and for those who are in Laodicea and Hierapolis." (NASB)
Colossians 4:15 – 16..."Greet the brethren who are in Laodicea and also Nympha and the church that is in her house. When this letter is read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and you, for your part read my letter {that is coming} from Laodicea." (NASB)
D. After the Romans built their major east-west highway, Via Ignatia, which bypassed Colossae, it dwindled to almost nothing. This was similar to what happened to Petra in the Trans-Jordan area of Palestine.
E. The city was made up mostly of Gentiles (Phyrgians and Greek settlers), but there were numerous Jews also. Josephus tells us that Antiochus III (223 – 187 B.C.) transported 2,000 Jews from Babylon to Colossae. Records show that by 76 A.D., 11,000 Jewish males lived in the district of which Colossae was the capital.
B. Colossae was a large commercial center before Paul’s day.
1. The valley in which Colossae was located was the ancient Mediterranean world’s leading producer of wool, especially black wool, and dyed wool, purple and scarlet. The volcanic soil produced excellent pasture land and the chalky water aided the dyeing process.
2. Volcanic activity caused the city to be destroyed several times in its history; the latest time being 60 A.D. (Tacitus) or 64 A.D. (Eusebius).
C. Colossae was located on the Lycus River, a tributary of the Maeander River, which ran by Ephesus, 100 miles downstream. In this one valley were located Hierapolis (6 miles away) and Laodicea (10 miles away)
Colossians 1:2..."To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ {who are} at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father." (NASB)
Colossians 2:1..."For I want you to know how great a struggle I have on your behalf and for those who are at Laodicea, and for all those who have not personally seen my face..." (NASB)
Colossians 4:13..."For I testify for him that he has a deep concern for you and for those who are in Laodicea and Hierapolis." (NASB)
Colossians 4:15 – 16..."Greet the brethren who are in Laodicea and also Nympha and the church that is in her house. When this letter is read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and you, for your part read my letter {that is coming} from Laodicea." (NASB)
D. After the Romans built their major east-west highway, Via Ignatia, which bypassed Colossae, it dwindled to almost nothing. This was similar to what happened to Petra in the Trans-Jordan area of Palestine.
E. The city was made up mostly of Gentiles (Phyrgians and Greek settlers), but there were numerous Jews also. Josephus tells us that Antiochus III (223 – 187 B.C.) transported 2,000 Jews from Babylon to Colossae. Records show that by 76 A.D., 11,000 Jewish males lived in the district of which Colossae was the capital.
The Author
A. However, the main author is Paul; Timothy was sending his greeting as Paul’s co-worker and possibly scribe (amanuensus) (Colossians 1:1).
B. The ancient literature is unanimous that Paul the Apostle was the author:
1. Marcion (who came to Rome in 140's A.D.) , the anti-Old Testament heretic, included it in his Pauline corpus.
2. It was listed with Paul’s letters in the Muratorian Canon (a list of canonical books from Rome around 200 A.D. )
3. A couple of early church fathers quoted from it and identify Paul as author
a. Irenaeus (wrote 177 – 190 A.D. )
b. Clement of Alexandria (lived 160 – 216 A.D.)
B. The ancient literature is unanimous that Paul the Apostle was the author:
1. Marcion (who came to Rome in 140's A.D.) , the anti-Old Testament heretic, included it in his Pauline corpus.
2. It was listed with Paul’s letters in the Muratorian Canon (a list of canonical books from Rome around 200 A.D. )
3. A couple of early church fathers quoted from it and identify Paul as author
a. Irenaeus (wrote 177 – 190 A.D. )
b. Clement of Alexandria (lived 160 – 216 A.D.)
Gnosticism = gnosis = knowing one
1. Its Content...It was beguiling seduction (2:4)...It was based on human philosophy and tradition (2:8)...It was according to the rudiments of the world (2:8,20).
2. Its Practice (part Jewish)...It involved physical circumcision (2:11)...It involved observing dietary restrictions of meat and drink (2:16)...It involved observing the Sabbath and special days (2:16)...It involved man-made rules and regulations (2:20 – 22)...It involved physical circumcision (2:11)...It involved observing dietary restrictions of meat and drink (2:16)...It involved observing the Sabbath and special days (2:16)...It involved man-made rules and regulations (2:20 – 22).
3. Its Practice (part Greek)...It involved voluntary humility (2:18)...It involved the worship of angels (2:18)...It involved visions (2:18)...It involved rigid asceticism (2:23)...It involved loose antinomianism (3:5 – 8).
4. Its Focus...It was an attempt to subtract from Christ through human wisdom (attacked the supremacy of Christ)...It was an attempt to divide Christians through exclusivism (intellectual superiority).
5. Its Origin...It came from Jewish religion...To be saved, you had to be a Jew, or converted to Judaism...To be saved, you had to keep the Law of Moses...It came from Greek philosophy (Persian Zoroastrianism, Greek Platonism)...All physical matter is created evil...True knowledge is available to certain ones only (Gnosis = knowledge).
6. Dethroned Christ...Jesus is a created angel (Answer: 1:15,19,22; 2:9)...Jesus is only a step to heaven (Answer: 2:10; 3:11).
7. Declared all matter is bad...The world was created by evil (Answer: 1:16)...The body (flesh) is evil (Answer: 1:22; 2:9)...The body is mistreated (Answer: 2:23; 3:5 – 11).
8. Assumed all wisdom is in philosophy...Wisdom only for a few (Answer: 1:9,28; 2:3; 3:16)...Man’s hope is in philosophy (Answer: 1:5,23; 2:8).
2. Its Practice (part Jewish)...It involved physical circumcision (2:11)...It involved observing dietary restrictions of meat and drink (2:16)...It involved observing the Sabbath and special days (2:16)...It involved man-made rules and regulations (2:20 – 22)...It involved physical circumcision (2:11)...It involved observing dietary restrictions of meat and drink (2:16)...It involved observing the Sabbath and special days (2:16)...It involved man-made rules and regulations (2:20 – 22).
3. Its Practice (part Greek)...It involved voluntary humility (2:18)...It involved the worship of angels (2:18)...It involved visions (2:18)...It involved rigid asceticism (2:23)...It involved loose antinomianism (3:5 – 8).
4. Its Focus...It was an attempt to subtract from Christ through human wisdom (attacked the supremacy of Christ)...It was an attempt to divide Christians through exclusivism (intellectual superiority).
5. Its Origin...It came from Jewish religion...To be saved, you had to be a Jew, or converted to Judaism...To be saved, you had to keep the Law of Moses...It came from Greek philosophy (Persian Zoroastrianism, Greek Platonism)...All physical matter is created evil...True knowledge is available to certain ones only (Gnosis = knowledge).
6. Dethroned Christ...Jesus is a created angel (Answer: 1:15,19,22; 2:9)...Jesus is only a step to heaven (Answer: 2:10; 3:11).
7. Declared all matter is bad...The world was created by evil (Answer: 1:16)...The body (flesh) is evil (Answer: 1:22; 2:9)...The body is mistreated (Answer: 2:23; 3:5 – 11).
8. Assumed all wisdom is in philosophy...Wisdom only for a few (Answer: 1:9,28; 2:3; 3:16)...Man’s hope is in philosophy (Answer: 1:5,23; 2:8).
Most of our knowledge of this heresy comes from the gnostic writings of the second century. However, the ideas were present in the first century (Dead Sea Scrolls).
The problem at Colossae was a hybrid of Christianity, gnosticism, and legalistic Judaism.
Some stated tenets of Valentinian and Cerinthian Gnosticism of the second century:
1. Matter and spirit were co-eternal (an ontological dualism). Matter is evil, spirit is good. God, who is spirit, cannot be directly involved with molding evil matter.
2. There are emanations (eons or angelic levels) between God and matter.
3. Jesus was an emanation like YHWH but higher on the scale, closer to the true God. Some put Him as the highest but still less than God and certainly not incarnate deity...
John 1:14..."And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth." (NASB)
Since matter is evil, Jesus could not have a human body and still be divine. He just appeared human, but was really a spirit...
1st John 1:1 – 3..."What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life--and the life was manifested, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us--what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ." (NASB)
1st John 4:1 – 6..."Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the {spirit} of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world. You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. They are from the world; therefore they speak {as} from the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God; he who knows God listens to us; he who is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error." (NASB)
4. Salvation was obtained through faith in Jesus plus special knowledge, which is only known by special persons. Jewish legalism was also required to reach God.
The gnostic false teachers advocated two opposite ethical systems:
1. For some, lifestyle was totally unrelated to salvation. For them, salvation and spirituality were encapsulated into secret knowledge (passwords) through the angelic spheres (eons).
2. For others, lifestyle was crucial to salvation. In this book, the false teachers emphasized an ascetic lifestyle as an evidence of true spirituality (2:16 – 23..."Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day--things which are a {mere} shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ. Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize by delighting in self-abasement and the worship of the angels, taking his stand on {visions} he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind, and not holding fast to the head, from whom the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and ligaments, grows with a growth which is from God. If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as, "Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!" (which all {refer} {to} things destined to perish with use)--in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men? These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, {but are} of no value against fleshly indulgence." (NASB)
The problem at Colossae was a hybrid of Christianity, gnosticism, and legalistic Judaism.
Some stated tenets of Valentinian and Cerinthian Gnosticism of the second century:
1. Matter and spirit were co-eternal (an ontological dualism). Matter is evil, spirit is good. God, who is spirit, cannot be directly involved with molding evil matter.
2. There are emanations (eons or angelic levels) between God and matter.
3. Jesus was an emanation like YHWH but higher on the scale, closer to the true God. Some put Him as the highest but still less than God and certainly not incarnate deity...
John 1:14..."And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth." (NASB)
Since matter is evil, Jesus could not have a human body and still be divine. He just appeared human, but was really a spirit...
1st John 1:1 – 3..."What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life--and the life was manifested, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us--what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ." (NASB)
1st John 4:1 – 6..."Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the {spirit} of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world. You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. They are from the world; therefore they speak {as} from the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God; he who knows God listens to us; he who is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error." (NASB)
4. Salvation was obtained through faith in Jesus plus special knowledge, which is only known by special persons. Jewish legalism was also required to reach God.
The gnostic false teachers advocated two opposite ethical systems:
1. For some, lifestyle was totally unrelated to salvation. For them, salvation and spirituality were encapsulated into secret knowledge (passwords) through the angelic spheres (eons).
2. For others, lifestyle was crucial to salvation. In this book, the false teachers emphasized an ascetic lifestyle as an evidence of true spirituality (2:16 – 23..."Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day--things which are a {mere} shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ. Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize by delighting in self-abasement and the worship of the angels, taking his stand on {visions} he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind, and not holding fast to the head, from whom the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and ligaments, grows with a growth which is from God. If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as, "Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!" (which all {refer} {to} things destined to perish with use)--in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men? These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, {but are} of no value against fleshly indulgence." (NASB)
The Outline
I. Introduction 1:1-14
A. Salutation 1:1-2
B. Thanksgiving 1:3-8
C. Prayer 1:9-14
II. Explanation of the person and work of Christ 1:15-29
A. The preeminent person of Christ 1:15-20
1. In relation to God the Father 1:15a
2. In relation to all creation 1:15b-17
3. In relation to the church 1:18-20
B. The reconciling work of Christ 1:21-29
1. As experienced by the Colossians 1:21-23
2. As ministered by Paul 1:24-29
III. Warnings against the philosophies of men ch. 2
A. Exhortation to persevere in the truth 2:1-7
1. Paul's concern 2:1-5
2. Paul's exhortation 2:6-7
B. The true doctrine of Christ 2:8-15
C. The false doctrines of men 2:16-23
IV. Exhortations to practical Christian living 3:1—4:6
A. The basic principle 3:1-4
B. The proper method 3:5-17
1. Things to put off 3:5-11
2. Things to put on 3:12-17
C. The fundamental relationships 3:18—4:1
1. Wives and husbands 3:18-19
2. Children and parents 3:20-21
3. Slaves and masters 3:22—4:1
D. The essential practice 4:2-6
V. Conclusion 4:7-18
A. The bearers of this epistle 4:7-9
B. Greetings from Paul's companions 4:10-14
C. Greetings to others 4:15-17
D. Paul's personal conclusion 4:18
A. Salutation 1:1-2
B. Thanksgiving 1:3-8
C. Prayer 1:9-14
II. Explanation of the person and work of Christ 1:15-29
A. The preeminent person of Christ 1:15-20
1. In relation to God the Father 1:15a
2. In relation to all creation 1:15b-17
3. In relation to the church 1:18-20
B. The reconciling work of Christ 1:21-29
1. As experienced by the Colossians 1:21-23
2. As ministered by Paul 1:24-29
III. Warnings against the philosophies of men ch. 2
A. Exhortation to persevere in the truth 2:1-7
1. Paul's concern 2:1-5
2. Paul's exhortation 2:6-7
B. The true doctrine of Christ 2:8-15
C. The false doctrines of men 2:16-23
IV. Exhortations to practical Christian living 3:1—4:6
A. The basic principle 3:1-4
B. The proper method 3:5-17
1. Things to put off 3:5-11
2. Things to put on 3:12-17
C. The fundamental relationships 3:18—4:1
1. Wives and husbands 3:18-19
2. Children and parents 3:20-21
3. Slaves and masters 3:22—4:1
D. The essential practice 4:2-6
V. Conclusion 4:7-18
A. The bearers of this epistle 4:7-9
B. Greetings from Paul's companions 4:10-14
C. Greetings to others 4:15-17
D. Paul's personal conclusion 4:18
Map Locations to Plot
1. Colossae, 1:2..."To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ {who are} at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father." (NASB)
2. Laodicea, 2:1..."For I want you to know how great a struggle I have on your behalf and for those who are at Laodicea, and for all those who have not personally seen my face..." (NASB)
3. Hierapolis, 4:13..."For I testify for him that he has a deep concern for you and for those who are in Laodicea and Hierapolis." (NASB)
2. Laodicea, 2:1..."For I want you to know how great a struggle I have on your behalf and for those who are at Laodicea, and for all those who have not personally seen my face..." (NASB)
3. Hierapolis, 4:13..."For I testify for him that he has a deep concern for you and for those who are in Laodicea and Hierapolis." (NASB)