COLOSSIANS 1:1-14 (READ VARIOUS TRANSLATIONS) JUNE 14 TH, 2017

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1 BEHIND THE BOOK Connecting to the Bible (Observation) COLOSSIANS 1:1-14 (READ VARIOUS TRANSLATIONS) JUNE 14 TH, 2017 Be Complete by Warren Wiersbe (my 3-point preaching outline comes from this book) The Complete Christian by Matthias Media Colossians by John MacArthur (MacArthur series of commentaries) Colossians by Peter O Brien (Word Biblical Commentary) Colossians by Douglas Moo (Pillar New Testament Commentary Series) Colossians by FF. Bruce (New International Commentary on the New Testament) Colossians by David E. Garland (The NIV Application Commentary) The Message of Colossians by John Stott (The Bible Speaks Today Commentary Series) Introduction: The word gospel comes from the Greek word euangelion, from which we get the word evangelize. Euangelion = good news. The gospel is summarized in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, Christians should: 1 Proclaim the good news Matt 4:23 2 Defend its truthfulness Phil 1:16; 1 Peter 3:15 3 Work for its advancement Phil 1:27 4 Fellowship with those who believe it Acts 2:42; Phil 1:3-5 5 Willingly suffer for it 2 Timothy 1:8 6 Ensure our lives don t hinder it 1 Cor 9:12 7 Never be ashamed of it Ro 1:16 8 Understand its power 1 Thess 1:5 1 Thessalonians 1:5 - our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. 1

2 Philippians 2: Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. The Gospel is not something we do but a word God does in us. First: The Salutation 1-2 a) Paul wrote this epistle b) Paul wrote as an apostle of Christ Jesus (GR for Messiah Jesus) Christ = christos = anointed. It s a title much like King George. Christos is the Hebrew word for mashiach = messiah. Remember, the supremacy of Christ is the theme of this book. We are complete/filled up in Christ (2:10) alone. Christology is the theological heart of Colossians, and, like the spokes of a wheel, all the other themes of the letter radiate from it. (Douglas J. Moo). The most famous Christological hymn in all the Bible is found in 1:15-20 where Paul asserts Jesus supremacy in both the present and new creation. c) He was made an apostle and wrote by God s will d) Timothy was with him Timothy is named as Paul s companion in five other epistles: 2 Cor, Phil, 1 Thess, 2 Thess, Philem. e) He wrote to the saints (kai) even faithful brothers in Christ (being in Christ is what makes you a saint and faithful brother The phrase in Christ is one of Paul s favorites. He uses it 33 times in all his letters but only once in Christ. These particular Christians are in Colossae, but, more importantly to Paul, they are in Christ, which is a total reorientation of one s existence (Moo). f) The letter is not circular like Galatians (to an area) but specifically to the church at Colossae to battle their specific situation. Still, Paul encourages the Colossians to let the Laodiceans read this letter and for them to read the letter he sent to the Laodiceans. Grace = charis = God s unmerited favor Peace = Eirini = wholeness, fullness 2

3 Second: The Gospel & Faith 3-8 3a We always thank God includes Timothy 3b When we pray for you also includes Timothy 4 we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus includes Timothy As he will, Epaphras, Paul is intentionally elevating Timothy s stature in the Colossian community. Paul understood the gospel had to be passed generationally and wanted to insure the churches recognized men who were trained and capable to lead them. 1 - Faith v 4 - Faith = pistis = to be persuaded something is true and to trust in it It is more than intellectual assent, involving obedience. The root of pistis = peitho = obey. Kenneth Clark - "When I was living in a villa in France-there was a curious episode. I had a religious experience. It took place in the church of Saint Lorenzo, but it did not seem to be connected with the beauty of the architecture. I can only say that for a few minutes, my whole being was radiated with a heavenly joy-more intense than anything I had ever experienced before...and wonderful as it was, it caused an awkward problem in terms of action. My life was far from blameless. I would have to reform. My family would think I was going mad. And perhaps, I thought, it was a delusion, for (on moral terms) I was completely unworthy of such a flood of grace. So gradually the effect wore off, and I made no effort to retain it...i was too deeply embedded in the world to change course. I had felt the finger of God, I am quite sure..." Acts 8: As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized? [37] Philip said, If you believe with all your heart, you may. The eunuch answered, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Obedience is the assurance of salvation. When a man obeys God he gives the only possible evidence that in his heart he believes God. W.E. Vine in An Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, 3:124. Good works do not make a man good, but a good man does good works. Martin Luther in Eerdmans Handbook to the History of Christianity, Tim Dowley, ed., 362. a) Faith s gift Faith is a gift from God 3

4 Ephesians 2:8-9 - For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. b) Faith s assurance Biblical faith is not a leap in the dark. It is based on fact and grounded in evidence. Hebrews 11:1 - faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. The apostles and early church grounded their faith in Jesus Christ, conceived by the Holy Spirit; Born of the Virgin Mary; Suffered under Pontius Pilate; Was crucified, dead and buried; He descended into Hell; The third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven (Apostles Creed / 390 AD). This is the historical faith the apostles preached in the book of Acts V 5 - According to Paul, in this context, faith and love spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven c) Faith s object v 4 Acts 16:31 - Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved. in = epi = resting on a foundation Acts 20:21 - I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus. in = eis = to find a dwelling place in or to go into, to abide in, or to find a home. Colossians 1:4 in Christ / in = en coming to a place of security and anchor ILL Spurgeon Two men fell from a boat and were being swept toward rapids. One man grabbed the rope that was thrown from shore. The other man grabbed a log that was floating downriver. Both men grabbed something, but only one man was saved. Third: The Evidence of the Gospel and Faith 4b Faith doesn t exist in a vacuum. It fulfills the first and second commandments 2 - Love 1:4b Matthew 22: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. 4

5 Love, like glory, is not nebulous but specific. It is an action: First Corinthians 13:4-8 - Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails. Hope is: 3 - Hope 1:5 laid up = apokeimai = in store or reserved. 1 Peter 1:3-4 - Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, Hebrews 6: God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. 19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. 1 John 3:2b-3 - we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 3 All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure. Moses is a good example of hope Hebrews 11: By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh s daughter. 25 He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. 27 By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. Hope motivated Moses faith and faithfulness v 5 which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel. Best Greek translation = the message that is the truth, the message that is, of the gospel. This gives independent significance to the word truth emphasizing the authenticity and reliability of the gospel. Faith, love and hope originate in the gospel. 4 Mission 1:6a The gospel is not just for us but for the whole world 5

6 5 Fruit 1:6b The gospel is a living, growing reality. Hebrews 4:12a - For the word of God is alive and active. 1 Peter 2:2 - Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, Galatians 5:22-23a - But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. 6 Grace 1:6c The Gospel is rooted in grace Ephesians 2:8a for it is by grace you have been saved 7 Known 1:7-8 2 Corinthians 3:2 - You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone. A word about Epaphras. For Paul to break into the letter at this point with a word about Epaphras is unusual in Pauline literature. Epaphras is mentioned in Colossians (here and 4:12-13) and Philemon (v 23). He was a native of Colossae who became a Christian in Ephesus under Paul s preaching. Since Paul has never been to Colossae, he may be trying to validate his teaching by accrediting his representative as a reliable conduit for his message. Paul also knows he may never get to Colossae and it is important to provide Epaphras with apostolic support. Paul rarely uses the word slave to refer to a co-worker (see also 4:12 when referring to Epaphras again). The reason is that the word connotes complete surrender, total dedication to Jesus. Epaphras evidently does so to the extent Paul also calls him dear/beloved (v 7). Paul calls only Epaphras and Tychicus (4:7) his fellow-servants. Best version = You learned the gospel from Epaphras, our dear fellow slave a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf V 8 If v 7 is primarily about Epaphras as a messenger from Paul, v 8 is primarily about him as a messenger to Paul. Third: Paul s Prayer 9-14 Note the parallels between Paul s hearing about the Colossians and his praying for the Colossians. 6

7 since the day you heard v 6 since the day we heard v 9 thank v 3 giving thanks v 12 always v 3 not stopped v 9 when we pray for you v 3 praying for you v 9 understood v 6 knowledge v 9-10 bearing fruit and growing v 6 bearing fruit growing v 10 Pau s prayers for the Colossians are dependent on Epaphras truthful assessment of the Colossian situation. What we learn/know about others serves as words and thoughts for our prayers. For this reason refers to Epaphras report. Because Paul heard of their faith, he prays for them Prayer is first: Godward and then people-ward; two essential elements in prayer. 9 - filled = completely filled or totally controlled = plerothete = divine passive. God is filling them with this knowledge. knowledge = epignosis / epi = super or abundant gnosis = knowledge Paul has already complimented the Colossians on their epegnote of the gospel (understood in v 6). He now prays that they will possess epignosin about God s will 9b - Knowledge is foundational to the gospel. 1 Corinthians 1:22-23a - Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified Faith must have an object. Love must have an object. Paul provides 11 chapters of doctrine in Romans before turning to practical matters in Galatians 1-4 are doctrinal and 5-6 are practical Ephesians 1-3 is doctrinal and 4-6 is practical 1 Corinthians 15 has 58 verses. Fifty-seven are doctrinal and one is practical. If theology isn t practical, it isn t Christian theology One is not more essential than the other. They are the two sides to the same coin of salvation. But if one, knowledge, doesn t lead to the other, application, the knowledge isn t biblical truth. Isaiah 29:13 - These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. 9 They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules. These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are fare from me = application without knowledge 7

8 They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules = knowledge without application We cannot love what we do not know. If we do not love, we do not know. Romans 10:2 - For I can testify about them [Jews] that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. 9b - wisdom = sophia (philosophy) 9b - understanding = sunesis = application of principles Knowledge, wisdom and understanding lead to 10a live a life = daily conduct 10b bearing fruit 10c growing in the knowledge of God 11a being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might 11b so that you might have great endurance and patience 12a and giving joyful thanks to the Father 12b who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light qualified = Present tense, we have it now = to make sufficient, to empower, to authorize, to make fit OH & 2 Cor 3:6 2 Corinthians 3:6 - He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant 13 He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves rescued = to draw to oneself domain = exousias Luke 22:53 -Every day I was with you in the temple courts, and you did not lay a hand on me. But this is your hour when darkness reigns. Exousias tou skotous = domain of darkness or darkness reigns 8

9 brought us = methistemi = transferred = to remove or change Acts 13:22 - After removing Saul, he made David their king. the Son he loves = tou huiou tes agapes autou = the son of His love 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. redemption = apolutrosis = to deliver by payment of a ransom. Our English word could be emancipation, as in Israel s deliverance from Egyptian bondage. Jesus, the subject of the whole Bible, is the ultimate Exodus!!! Romans 3: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. What does Paul s prayer mean? Paul prays for the Colossians to live a life pleasing to God 1:10. How? Pay attention to the verbs: bearing, growing and giving His prayer is reminiscent of the Genesis creation story. God commanded Adam and Eve to be fruitful and multiply/increase in number (Gen 1:28). God promised to make Abraham fruitful and increase his number (Gen 12:1-3; 17:20). In the same way, the people of God and the church as a body should be fruitful and increase in number. a) Bearing fruit in every good work b) Increasing in the knowledge of God c) Giving joyful thanks Conclusion: In this section, Paul has introduced himself, informed the Colossians how he heard about their faith and revealed his passion and prayers for them. He has also begun to elevate Christ, climbing toward the book s highest peak and central statement, that Christ alone can complete Christians (2:10). In so doing, Paul hopes to remind the Colossians about Jesus preeminence, thereby eliminating their misplaced trust in Greek philosophy and Jewish legalism. 9

10 Small Group Questions: 1 What does gospel mean? How is the gospel good news? 2 Why does Paul highlight Timothy and Epaphras? Who, of the next generation of Christians, are you discipling? If not, how could you begin such a relationship? 3 Think about the Kenneth Clark quote. What kept Clark from Christ? Obedience. How does obedience evidence our salvation? We have new desires and find joy in obeying God. 4 Why is faith not blind? It is based on the historical resurrection of Jesus Christ plus a hoard of other historical facts relayed in the Old and New Testaments. It is also based on the faithfulness of God in our own lives. 5 Why is the object of our faith important? Because faith is without value if the object it trusts isn t trustworthy. Only faith in Jesus can save us because only Jesus can save us. 6 How does hope motivate godly living? We are hoping for the return of Jesus and live like he could return at any moment. 7 How does hopelessness discredit Jesus? On the cross, Jesus placed his hope in the Father. He was not hopeless. In the same we, our hopefulness gives God praise for being faithful and able to accomplish his purposes in our lives. 8 What does this statement mean? If theology isn t practical, it isn t Christian theology. God gave us truth because of its benefit to us now and forever. Applying truth proves we believe it. Unapplied truth is like unused medicine. 9 Why is knowledge so important to Christianity? A) We cannot love what we do not know. B) Faith must have a place to hang its hat. In other words, we must know about Jesus to be able to trust him. And we must know what God wants us to do in order to accomplish his will and live in accordance with the gospel. 10 How is Jesus the ultimate Exodus? Israel s exodus from Egypt provided temporary wellness. Everyone who initially left Egypt died in the wilderness (except Joshua and Caleb) and even those who made it to the Promised Land fought battles, experienced hardship and eventually died. Jesus provides eternal life and heaven. Behind the Book is only one aspect of Heritage s teaching ministry which seeks to employ our church s mission statement: Connecting to God, Growing with Others and Impacting the world: (CGI - a Christ-generated image ). 10

11 On Wednesday evenings, we connect to Sunday morning s Bible passage and discover what it says through in-depth Bible study. Sunday morning in corporate worship (9:30am) we grow from the passage by learning what it means for our daily living. In Community Groups (10:45am) we practically apply the text, being impacted by it and learning to impact the world with it. CGI provides a balanced approach to life and Bible study; an upward look (Connect), an inward look (Grow) and an outward look (Impact) ensuring that our mission fulfils our vision to be a God-centered, Great Commission congregation. It s a well-known and beneficial way to approach the Bible Connect/Observation, Grow/Interpretation, Impact/Application. This approach to Scripture also reminds us about who our God is and how he is unique among all the religions of the world as we Connect to the Father, Grow in Christ and are impacted and impact the world by the Spirit. 11