Colossians 1:1-14

Acts 28:16-31. Paul’s (first) Roman imprisonment.Colossians 4:3,18

Letters: Ephesians, Colossians, Philemon, Philippians

Lycus Valley: 200 km inland from Ephesus, in Province of Asia (Western Turkey)

Paul not personally known to them (Col 2:1)

Founder of the church: Epaphras (Col 1:7), who still cared for them, though in Rome with Paul (Col 4:12)

Churches of the area: Laodicea, Hierapolis (Col 4:13)

Word taken from Epaphras to Paul Some ‘correction’ required. Not an ‘angry’ letter, like Galatians. Issues: Was Christ enough?

(compare Galations, ‘Was faith enough?’

The writer(s): Paul (and Timothy) The recipients: saints (TNIV: God’s holy

people) and ‘faithful brothers’ (brothers and sisters) in Christ, in Colossae Possibly a circular letter (Col 4:16)

The ‘set’ greeting: Grace and peace

The Structure: two sentences in GreekFirst Sentence: vv 3-8.

Thanksgiving for the believersSecond sentence: vv 9-20

Prayer for believers. vv 9-14 Supremacy of Christ. Vv 15-20

THE FOCUS: PEOPLE

FAITH in Christ JesusLOVE for all the saintsRooted in HOPE ‘laid up for you in heaven’

Romans 4:18 ‘Abraham in hope believed….

Romans 4:21 ‘…being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.’

WHERE has it been working? Colossae: local, personal Around the world: universal

WHEN has it been working? From the day it was heard and understood

HOW has it been working? By GRACE alone. In TRUTH Both are by DIVINE origin and authenticity

Paul’s beloved ‘fellow-servant’ (sundoulos)

Christ’s ‘faithful minister’ (diakonos) He taught Colossians the gospel (v 7) He told Paul of their ‘love in the Spirit’ (v

8) The point (in this letter): Epaphras and

Paul taught the same Gospel.

Its DURATION (v 9)It BEGAN when Paul first heard of

their faith.It CONTINUED daily (‘we have not

stopped praying for you’). Compare v 3 ‘We ALWAYS thank God’

A. LIGHT: that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will. SOURCE of light: ‘all spiritual wisdom and

understanding’ GOAL of light: to live (lit. ‘walk’) a life worthy

of the Lord. Fully pleasing to him. Bearing fruit in every good work. Increasing in the knowledge of God.

B. POWER: that you may be strengthened with all power…. SOURCE of power: God’s own glorious might GOAL of power: that you may endure and have

patience. C. JOY: joyfully giving thanks to the Father

Who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.

Who has rescued us from the dominion of darkness

Who has brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves.

From PAUL, the writer His concern for the churches His concern for the truth of the Gospel. His unceasing prayers for the churches. His pastoral help to the churches. His encouragement to a pure faith

From EPAPHRAS the faithful evangelist His faithfulness as a ‘fellow-servant’

(co-labourer) His faithfulness as a ‘minister of Christ’

(servant/ deacon) , to teach the Gospel His continued care, even after he left

Colossae. His linking of the church with Paul,

when he sensed there might be a problem.

A people of LIGHT –- filled with the knowledge of God’s will

A people of POWER – strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, SO THAT we might have great endurance and patience.

A people of JOY – giving thanks to the Father.

QUALIFIED to share in the inheritance of his people in the kingdom of light.

RESCUED from the dominion of darkness

BROUGHT INTO the kingdom of the Son he loves.

Acts 28:16-31. Paul’s (first) Roman imprisonment. Colossians 4:2,18

Letters: Ephesians, Colossians, Philemon, Philippians

Lycus Valley: 200 km. inland from Ephesus, in Province of Asia (Western Turkey).

Paul not personally known to them (Col 2:1)

Founder: Epaphras (Col 1:7), who still cared for them, though in Rome with Paul (Col 4:12)

Churches: Colossae, Laodicea, Hierapolis (Col 4:13)

Word taken from Epaphras to Paul Some ‘correction’ required Not an ‘angry’ letter, like Galatians Issues: Was Christ enough? (compare

Galatians, ‘Was faith enough?’)

The writer(s): Paul (and Timothy) The recipients: saints (TNIV: God’s holy

people) and ‘faithful brothers’ (brothers and sisters) in Christ, in Colossae. Possibly a circular letter (see 4:16)

Grace and peace

The Structure: two sentences in Greek First Sentence: vv 3-8 Thanksgiving for

believers Second Sentence: vv 9-20

Prayer for believers (vv 9-14) Supremacy of Christ (vv 15-20)

The focus: people

FAITH in Christ Jesus LOVE for all the saints Rooted in HOPE ‘laid up for

you in heaven’

Biblical hope: always based on promise/Word of GodRom 4:18 ‘Abraham in hope believed….’

Rom 4:21 ‘being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.’

WHERE has it been working?Colossae: local, personalAround the world: universal

WHEN has it been working?From the day it was heard and

understood. HOW has it been working?

By GRACE alone In TRUTH.Both are by DIVINE origin and authority.

Paul’s beloved ‘fellow-servant’ (sundoulos)

Christ’s ‘faithful minister’ (diakonos) He taught them the gospel (v 7) He told Paul of their ‘love in the Spirit’ (v

8) The point (in this letter): Epaphras and

Paul taught the same gospel.

It’s DURATION (v 9) It BEGAN when Paul first heard of their

faith. It CONTINUED daily (we have not

stopped praying for you). Compare v 3 ‘We ALWAYS thank God….’

A. LIGHT: that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will SOURCE of light: In all spiritual wisdom and

understanding GOAL of light: to live a life worthy of the

Lord… Fully pleasing to him Bearing fruit in every good work. Increasing in the knowledge of God

B. POWER: that you may be strengthened with all power…. SOURCE of power: God’s own glorious might GOAL of power: that you may endure and have

patience. C. JOY: joyfully giving thanks to the Father

Who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.

Who has rescued us from the dominion of darkness

Who has brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves.

From PAUL, the writer His concern for the church His concern for the truth of the Gospel. His unceasing prayer for the church His pastoral help to the church. His encouragement to the pure faith.

From EPAPHRAS the evangelist His faithfulness as a ‘fellow-servant’ (co-

labourer) His faithfulness as a ‘minister of Christ’

(servant/ deacon of Christ) to teach the gospel His continued care, even after he left

Colossae. His linking of the church with Paul

QUALIFIED to share in the inheritance of his people in the kingdom of light.

RESCUED from the dominion of darkness BROUGHT INTO the kingdom of the Son

he loves.