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Colossians AN INDUCTIVE BIBLE STUDY WORKBOOK


Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English

Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Used by permission. All rights reserved.

All Scripture is breathed out by

God and profitable for teach-

ing, for reproof, for correction,

and for training in righteousness,

- 2 Timothy 3:16


Welcome! Is there anything sweeter than coming to a fuller, richer understanding of God’s

character through his Word? I can’t think of anything that has better shaped

my understanding of myself, the world in which I live, and the life I’m meant to

lead than studying God’s character through His Word. His Word is meant to in-

spire, encourage, and educate us, but mostly it is meant to shape our hearts so

that they look more like Jesus’s heart.

What you hold in your hands is a tool. My hope is that this tool will help you

learn to walk inductively through the Scriptures toward a better understanding

of this God who created us, saves us, and loves us. You can complete as much

or as little of this workbook as you like. You can follow all of my directions or

none of them. It is completely up to you. If you walk away from this study with a

hunger for more of God’s Word, a better understanding of how to study it, and

a deeper appreciation for the book of Colossians and the part it plays in the

bigger picture of the Bible, then this workbook will have fulfilled it’s purpose.

It may take you days, weeks, or months to complete this workbook. That’s ok!

There is no race and no prize will be given out for who can study Colossians the

fastest. Pray that God will make Bible study a priority in your heart and then be

obedient in using the time He gives you to work through the study.

You, dear friend, were prayed for during the creation of this workbook. I have

prayed that the Holy Spirit would teach you, that your love of God’s Word

would grow, and that you would come to a right and true understanding of the

Scriptures.

May God make his face shine upon you and teach you his statutes (Psalm 119:

135)


Prayer Good Bible study always begins with prayer. Take time to ask God to guide you

through this study and prepare your heart and mind to receive His truth. Below

is a sample prayer you might pray before beginning.

Dear Heavenly Father,

I pray that your name will be glorified and honored through this time of

study. I pray that my efforts throughout this study would bear much fruit and

that my heart would be changed as a result.

I ask Lord that you would soften my heart to the truth found in your Word,

that your Holy Spirit would teach me and guide me, and that I would come

away with a better understanding of who you are and who I am because of

who you are.

Make me to know your ways, O Lord,

teach me your paths.

Lead me in your truth and teach me,

for you are the God of my salvation,

for you I wait all the day long.

(Psalm 25:4-5)

In the precious and holy name of Jesus, I pray,

Amen


Researching the Context SETTING THE STAGE

In order to truly understand the message that the original author intended to convey to

his original hearers, it is important to understand the context in which Colossians was written. Who

wrote this? To whom was it written? Why was it written? When and where was this written? Before

you dive into the book, it’s important that these questions be answered to the best of your ability.

Take some time to work through the questions below, writing your answers in the spaces

given. This exercise will require you to do some research. You can use a Study Bible, commen-

tary, search engines, or helpful websites such as www.biblegateway.com or

www.blueletterbible.com. Take your time to work through this section. The more thorough your

research of the context, the better your understanding of the book of Colossians.

ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS

Who wrote the book of Colossians? What do you know about him?

Who was the original audience for the book of Colossians?

When was Colossians written? What do you know about ancient Colossae?

What were some of the events surrounding the time that the book of Colossians was written?

What was the church in Colossae experiencing during this time?


What is the genre of the book of Colossians? Write down some helpful information about read-

ing books in this genre.

Why was the book of Colossians written? What issues does Paul address in his letter to the

church in Colossae?


Living with the Text READ, READ, READ

Your assignment for the next part of this study is to take the next couple

of days to read the entire book of Colossians several times.

Change up the way you read the book to create some interest and

change your perspective. Here are some suggestions for reading/listening to

the book of Colossians:

• Read it silently to yourself in your favorite quiet spot

• Read it out loud to your kids, your pets, your roommate, or spouse

• Listen to an audio version of the book in your car or while you exercise

• Read the book with someone, switching readers every paragraph or

chapter

• Read one chapter at a time in between doing chores, during breaks

at work, or before or after meals

• Handwrite several passages from the book of Colossians in a journal or

on note cards

Pick a couple of the suggestions listed above and have fun reading and

rereading the entire book over the next few days. You can jot down a few

notes as you read, but most of the notetaking will come later. For now just dedi-

cate yourself to reading the text to get a feel for the book, a general under-

standing of its purpose, and a better appreciation for the rich variety and lan-

guage of God’s Word.


Outlining PUTTING THE PIECES TOGETHER

To help you understand the flow of the book of Colossians, you are going to create a

working outline. I call this outline “working” because you may want to add insights or change

ideas as you continue your study through the book. In order to help you, I’ve broken the outline

up into sections (adapted from the outline given in the Reformation Study Bible). You will need

to come up with a title and three important details for each section. I challenge you not to use

the passage titles given in your Bible, but to come up with your own titles to help you think

through and remember the main ideas in the book of Colossians.

Section 1(1:1-14) Title:_______________________________________________________________________________

Three Details:

1.)__________________________________________________________________________________________

2.)__________________________________________________________________________________________

3.)__________________________________________________________________________________________

Section 2 (1:15-23) Title:_____________________________________________________________________________

Three Details:

1.)__________________________________________________________________________________________

2.)__________________________________________________________________________________________

3.)__________________________________________________________________________________________

Section 3 (1:24-2:7) Title:_____________________________________________________________________________

Three Details:

1.)__________________________________________________________________________________________

2.)__________________________________________________________________________________________

3.)__________________________________________________________________________________________


Section 4 (2:8-23) Title:_______________________________________________________________________________

Three Details:

1.)__________________________________________________________________________________________

2.)__________________________________________________________________________________________

3.)__________________________________________________________________________________________

Section 5 (3:1-4:6) Title:_____________________________________________________________________________

Three Details:

1.)__________________________________________________________________________________________

2.)__________________________________________________________________________________________

3.)__________________________________________________________________________________________

Section 6 (4:7-18) Title:_____________________________________________________________________________

Three Details:

1.)__________________________________________________________________________________________

2.)__________________________________________________________________________________________

3.)__________________________________________________________________________________________


If you’ve completed the previous pages, then you’re ready to dive in to an inductive study on

the book of Colossians! Here’s how the following pages work.

The book of Colossians has 4 chapters. For each chapter, you will complete the three steps of

an Inductive Bible Study:

Step 1: Observation (What does it say?)

This step involves notetaking: noting key words and phrases, writing questions and com-

ments, following themes, looking up cross references, and consulting multiple translations.

Step 2: Interpretation (What does it mean?)

This step involves answering some questions about the meaning of the text and the big

picture of the Bible, paraphrasing, and consulting commentaries.

Step 3: Application (How should this change me?)

In this last step you will answer some questions about how the text should change what

you believe, desire, and do. You will think through some practical changes you can make as a

result of believing what the text says.

You will go through the entire Inductive Process (all three steps) for each chapter of Colossians.

On the following pages I’ve provided space for notetaking and answering questions.

I recommend the following materials for completing the study:

• pens, pencils, or highlighters in multiple colors

• a double-spaced printed copy of the text (more on this below)*

• a binder to contain and organize all your materials

• multiple Bibles in different translations (or access to different translations

through a service such as biblegateway.com)

• a dictionary or dictionary website

• reliable commentaries (more on this on the next page)

*NOTE—The pages that follow are designed to work alongside a double-spaced printed copy

of the text. You can create this by going to biblegateway.com and copying and pasting each

chapter into a word document (make sure you double-space it). You can take notes right on

the double-spaced copy.

STARTING THE PROCESS

Inductive Bible Study


OBSERVATION: NOTE-TAKING

The following descriptions explain the types of notes you will be taking throughout the

observation process.

KEY WORDS AND PHRASES

As you read each chapter, mark any key words and phrases you come across. Below are some

suggestions of words and phrases you might look out for. You can use a different colored pen

or a different symbol (box, circle, underline...etc) for each type of word if you would like.

There’s space in the chart below for you to dedicate a pen color and/or symbol for each type

of word. You can use the space provided on the following pages to keep track of your words.

Below each of these spaces is a place to write down words you don’t know and definitions for

those words.

KEY WORDS/PHRASES PEN COLOR/ SYMBOL

People

Places

Dates and Times

Repeated Words

Lists

Contrasts

Comparisons

Figurative Language

Commands

Attributes of God

Promises

Cause and Effect

Other:_________________

Other:_________________

QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS

As you read through your double-spaced copy of the text, write down any questions or com-

ments that arise. If something comes to mind as you read, jot it down right on your copy or in

the space provided

THEMES

Track any themes that you notice throughout the text in this section. You can note specific vers-

es that support each theme. I’ve given you some themes to look out for.


RELIABLE COMMENTARIES AND STUDY BIBLES FOR COLOSSIANS

The Reformation Study Bible (available for free on biblegateway.com)

The ESV Study Bible from Crossway

https://www.crossway.org/bibles/esv-study-bible-case/

Colossians and Philemon by N.T. Wright (Tyndale New Testament Commentaries)

TGC Courses on the book of Colossians (and Philemon):

Introduction to Colossians: https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/course/colossians-introduction/

Knowing the Bible: Colossians and Philemon:

https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/course/knowing-bible-colossians-philemon/

CROSS REFERENCES

Look for cross references in the margins of your study Bible. If a particular verse peaks your in-

terest look up the cross references and see if they can add to your understanding. Keep your

notes from cross references in this section.

MULTIPLE TRANSLATIONS

Although you might have a particular Bible translation that you are partial to, it can be helpful

to consult multiple translations to clarify any questions you might have. You can access multi-

ple translations on a website such as biblegateway.com or blueletterbible.com. Jot down any

notes from other translations in this section.

INTERPRETATION: CONSULTING COMMENTARIES

During the interpretation step for each chapter, I will have you go consult reliable Bible com-

mentaries to help answer the question: What does it mean? Below is a list of reliable commen-

taries to consult (there are many more reliable commentaries and Study Bibles available, these

are just the ones I am most familiar with). You will read the commentaries for only that particular

chapter.



NEW WORDS AND DEFINITIONS:

New word:__________________ Definition:_______________________________________




CHAPTER 1 OBSERVATION—WHAT DOES IT SAY?

CH

AP

TER

1


THEMES

CREATION AND NEW CREATION

REDEMPTION AND RECONCILIATION

GROWING IN MATURITY IN CHRIST

THEME:__________________________________________

THEME:__________________________________________

ADDITIONAL INSIGHTS FROM CROSS-REFERENCES

ADDITIONAL INSIGHTS FROM OTHER TRANSLATIONS

CH

AP

TER

1

CHAPTER 1 OBSERVATION: CONTINUED


CHAPTER 1 INTERPRETATION: WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

How would Paul’s words in chapter 1 of Colossians have been received by the church in Colos-

sae? What would his words have meant to them?

Looking at the bigger picture of the Bible, what does chapter 1 teach us about creation and

God’s purpose in creating us?

Looking at the bigger picture of the Bible, what does chapter 1 tell us about the sinful nature of

our hearts?

Looking at the bigger picture of the Bible, what can we learn from chapter 1 about redemp-

tion and how Christ has saved us from our sin? What does this chapter tell us about Christ?

Looking at the bigger picture of the Bible, what does Colossians chapter 1 tell us about our pre-

sent and future restoration (how God is making us new and will one day restore us complete-

ly)? How does Colossians help you see that restoration at work right now?

CH

AP

TER

1


Take a few minutes to think through the first chapter of Colossians, what it says and what it

means. If you could paraphrase the first chapter of Colossians for someone who did not know

what it said or meant, what would you say? Write a few paragraphs below that give a sum-

mary of Colossians chapter 1. This paraphrase can also serve as a reminder to you of what this

book says and means further down the road.

CHAPTER 1 INTERPRETATION: PARAPHRASING CH

AP

TER

1


CH

AP

TER

1

CHAPTER 1 INTERPRETATION: NOTES FROM COMMENTARIES


CHAPTER 1 APPLICATION: HOW SHOULD IT CHANGE ME?

What has studying the first chapter of Colossians revealed to you about the holy nature of

God?

In light of who God is, what does this chapter reveal about who you are?

How should what you learned in Colossians chapter 1 change what you believe and what your

heart desires?

List some specific, practical things that you can do (ex. repent of a sin, believe a promise, obey

a command) or changes you can make as you strive to better respond to God and others. Ask

God to change your heart and give you the ability and desire to make these changes.

CH

AP

TER

1









CH

AP

TER

2


THEMES




THEME:__________________________________________

THEME:__________________________________________



CH

AP

TER

2









our hearts?


tion and how Christ has saved us from our sins? What does this chapter tell us about Christ?




CH

AP

TER

2


Take a few minutes to think through the second chapter of Colossians, what it says and what it

means. If you could paraphrase the second chapter of Colossians for someone who did not

know what it said or meant, what would you say? Write a few paragraphs below that give a

summary of Colossians chapter 2. This paraphrase can also serve as a reminder to you of what

this book says and means further down the road.

CHAPTER 2 INTERPRETATION: PARAPHRASING

CH

AP

TER

2



CH

AP

TER

2



What has studying the second chapter of Colossians revealed to you about the holy nature of

God?



heart desires?




CH

AP

TER

2









CH

AP

TER

3


THEMES




THEME:__________________________________________

THEME:__________________________________________



CH

AP

TER

3









our hearts?






CH

AP

TER

3


Take a few minutes to think through the third chapter of Colossians, what it says and what it

means. If you could paraphrase the third chapter of Colossians for someone who did not know

what it said or meant, what would you say? Write a few paragraphs below that give a sum-

mary of Colossians chapter 3. This paraphrase can also serve as a reminder to you of what this

book says and means further down the road.


CH

AP

TER

3



CH

AP

TER

3



What has studying the third chapter of Colossians revealed to you about the holy nature of

God?



heart desires?




CH

AP

TER

3









CH

AP

TER

4


THEMES




THEME:__________________________________________

THEME:__________________________________________



CH

AP

TER

4









our hearts?






CH

AP

TER

4


Take a few minutes to think through the fourth chapter of Colossians, what it says and what it

means. If you could paraphrase the fourth chapter of Colossians for someone who did not

know what it said or meant, what would you say? Write a few paragraphs below that give a

summary of Colossians chapter 4. This paraphrase can also serve as a reminder to you of what

this book says and means further down the road.


CH

AP

TER

4



CH

AP

TER

4



What has studying the fourth chapter of Colossians revealed to you about the holy nature of

God?



heart desires?




CH

AP

TER

4


Closing Remarks Congratulations! You just finished studying the book of Colossians! Here

are a couple options to consider as you go forward:

• Put this study that you just completed in a binder marked

“Colossians”. You now have a full binder of notes to refer to whenev-

er you need a reminder of what you learned. Perhaps your pastor will

preach a sermon on Colossians or you will join a Bible Study group

that is going through the book. Take your binder with you and add to

your notes as you learn and grow more in your understanding.

• Meet with a group of people who have also completed this study and

go over what you have learned together.

• Head over to www.encouragemyhope.com and download another

free study to go through.

• Or use the tools and tips you learned in this study to go through a

book on your own.

Whatever you decide to do, never stop pursuing a true and right under-

standing of the Word of God. His Word is a life-giving, heart-changing, invalua-

ble resource to help us know and love our Creator better. Spending time every

day searching the depths of His Word is one of the most worthwhile pursuits you

will ever undertake.

KEEP STUDYING!

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