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Studiesin

Colossians

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The Structure of the Book1v1-2 Introduction1v3-14 Paul’s Prayer1v15-23 The Supremacy of Christ1v24-2v5 Paul’s Labour for the Church2v6-7 The Danger of Seductive Teaching2v8-15 Know Your Enemy – Part 12v16-19 Know Your Enemy – Part 22v20-23 New Teacher’s Bondage3v1-17 Sanctification3v18-4v1 Christian Households4v2-6 Further Instructions4v7-18 Personal Greetings

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Paul’s Labour for the Church

Chapter 1v24-2v5

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IntroductionVerses 24-29 is Paul’s defence of true apostolic ministry. It was important for the Colossians to have something against which to measure the leadership and instruction of the ‘new teachers’.

The verses can be analysed as follows:

1. A Twofold Ministrya. A servant of the gospel: to make the word of God fully known.b. A servant of the church: to make the people of God fully mature.

2. A Twofold Proclamationa. Christ in youb. The hope of glory

3. A Twofold Qualificationa. Fellowship in Christ's sufferings [hardships]b. Fellowship in Christ's resurrection [toil]

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Paul’s Labour for the Church1. The Twofold MinistryIn v25 Paul says, “I have become its [the church’s] servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness”. It is by teaching the Word of God that the church of God is to be served. It is by the truth of the gospel that the church is to be formed, sustained and equipped.

How did this aim differ from that of the new teachers? The key word is 'mystery' in v26. The false teachers used it in a similar way to those involved in the Greek mystery religions - ‘a hidden truth’ only made available to those who pass through some rite of initiation.

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But for Paul the 'mystery' of the gospel is truth that was hidden in ages past but is ‘no longer hidden’. Jesus is the fulfilment of the mystery spoken of in the book of Daniel [Dan 2.18, 19, 27-30, 47].

This mystery is known now by all of God's people. The glory of the mystery is not in its exclusiveness [this is how the false teachers used mystery to create little elite groups] but its inclusiveness. Gospel truth is intended for the nations and is brought to them not by secret rites but by public proclamation.

Paul’s Labour for the Church

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The power of gospel ministry lies in the work of instruction, correction and training hence: 'to make the Word of God fully known‘ v27. How do we understand this phrase?

The whole Christian message is needed to proclaim a whole Christ. We cannot know Christ better without knowing the scriptures better. Preachers dare not claim to be too busy to engage in expository ministry. Bible teaching is the crying need of the church today. Lack of appetite for it tells us something about the condition of its members.

Paul’s Labour for the Church

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Paul’s aim is 'to present everyone perfect/mature‘ v28. [spiritual maturity]. Paul instructed not just a select few but 'every man'. Maturity is a process. It develops as people build biblical truths into their lives which makes them Christ-like.

Paul’s instruction is twofold:a. Negatively, he warns and corrects. This is not attractive work but necessary.b. Positively, he teaches the whole counsel of God.Notice for this job to be done properly more than a one-man ministry is in view cf 3.16 all members were expected to exercise this twofold ministry.

Paul’s Labour for the Church

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Paul makes comment on his own ministry:1. He had not chosen the task v25 cf Jer.23.212. He had not imagined the message v25 cf 2.8,183. He had not concealed anything from anyone v25. All that God had revealed to the apostle is now in the public domain.Governments and businesses tend to operate on two levels. Information that is freely available to the public and information that is kept secret, accessed by a limited few -for security reasons!

In contrast, Paul says the whole gospel has been made public there are no secret bits for a select few.

Paul’s Labour for the Church

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2. The Twofold ProclamationPaul concisely restates the substance of the apostolic message. a. ‘Christ in you’ v27 - The fullness of God's power and glory reside

in the exalted Christ, who in turn is united to and resides within the lives of his people. He is directly and personally present in those who are part of his body.

The walk of faith seems to have been disparaged in Colossae and something more immediate was demanded! They possibly attempted to separate God's work for us from God's work in us, so that justification and sanctification were presented as separate gifts. But the two are indissolubly united. Cf Rom. 8.30

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2. The Twofold Proclamation

There are a number of places in this epistle where we might expect Paul to speak of the ‘Holy Spirit’ but instead substitutes the name of ‘Christ’. Why?

It is possible that the visitors suggested that there was a second step in Christian experience, a secret coming of the Holy Spirit who would usher in greater riches than those brought by Christ. But the principal work of the Spirit is nothing less or more than to bring us to Christand Christ, in all his fullness, to us.

Paul’s Labour for the Church

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2. The Twofold Proclamation

b. ‘the hope of glory’ v27: This is a word of comfort. The indwelling Christ is God's personal guarantee of an eternal inheritance. The gospel is also good news about the future. Our present walk with God is a walk of faith.

Someone has said, “ Glory' is God's ‘second blessing’ and it belongs to the age to come”.

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3. Two Qualificationsa. Fellowship in Christ’s sufferings: How do we understand 'to complete what was lacking in the sufferings of Christ’ v24? It may have been a slogan used by the visitors. If so, Paul now turns it to his advantage. He is not saying that there was anything inferior or incomplete about Christ's death! In Paul’s conversion story we discover the privilege of suffering for Christ’s sake. Cf. Acts 9v16i. When he suffers others benefit. [2Cor.4v10-12]ii. Suffering would bring Paul into deeper

fellowship with Jesus. This is this is the fellowship of the cross of which Jesus spoke. Mk.8 .34

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3. Two QualificationsIn both Judaism and early Christianity there was the conviction that a certain amount of suffering must be endured by God’s people before the final events of history are set in motion. Cf Rev 6v9-11 the souls of the martyrs ask how long before the end of the age and are told, “wait a little longer until the number of their fellow servants and brothers who were to be killed...was completed”

Paul also saw his sufferings as contributing to the sum total that would hasten the final coming of the Lord in final salvation.

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b. Fellowship in Christ's resurrection: How did this express itself? cf v29 Paul was a tireless worker and he ascribes his extraordinary energy to Christ’s resurrection power. Paul does not speak of God's power as a supernatural sensation. Instead, he was aware of it through the sweat of hard labour.

The word ‘striving’ translates the Greek ‘agonizomai’ from which the English word ‘agony’ comes. Paul speaks of agony not ecstasy. See too what Paul has to say of Epaphras in 4.13

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In Chap.2 Paul shares some of his apostolic concerns and hopes. These verses help us to see why Paul was so greatly loved. He had never met the members of the Colossian church yet here he tells them how much he cares about them and of the joy that their stability brings him.

Paul’s Special ConcernPaul expresses his concern for their Christian growth in 2v1-3 which will be accomplished as:a. Their hearts are strengthened and encouraged.b. They are ‘united’ in love. Literally, "knit together". Paul is sure that the ‘new teaching’ would result in a breach of church fellowship.c. They more fully understand the mystery of Christ. This would involve them in digging more deeply into the treasure house of God's wisdom.

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What was Paul’s initial response to the danger to which the Colossian church was exposed? He ‘struggled’ v1 in prayer for them [Paul uses a word that describes the effort an athlete put into preparation for the games] cf. Gal 4.19.

Winston Churchill once responded to the criticism that Christianity was something old fashioned, which many people were growing out of, by saying, that he thought it was: ‘something they had yet to grow into’.

He rightly recognised that the authentic Christianpilgrimage was one that was marked by effort.

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Paul writes to 'encourage' the Colossian church to stick together. Unity is based on Christians being of one mind as well as of one heart. Paul therefore wants all the Christians at Colossae to agree that ALL the secret treasures of divine wisdom and insight are to be found ‘in Christ’.

If they could agree on this then the influence of the outside false teachers would be neutralised.

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The unity in love that Paul is eager to promote must be built on a foundation of proper knowledge - ‘full riches and complete understanding’. The word ‘complete’ is literally ‘full assurance’. Christ is the source of knowledge. Paul is perhaps thinking of the personification of wisdom in the book of Proverbs and he transfers its functions to Christ.

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“and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.” Prov.2v3-6

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Paul’s Special WarningIn v4 we have the first explicit mention of a ‘false teacher’ - all that has gone before has prepared the way for this!

Some think Paul has his eye on one particular leader, but more probably he describes the particular characteristics of such a man.

It is not only what some people say but the manner in which they say it that exposes them. These false teachers possess a ‘beguiling persuasiveness’. Not that persuasiveness is initself a bad quality but there is a kind of persuasiveness that rings alarm bells for Paul.

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Although their teaching was false their manner of communication was attractive. Their hearers were persuaded by their eloquence rather than by their argument. Hence 'delusion' a powerful word that also includes self-deception. There may be a hint that the hearers wanted to believe this new teaching because it had a certain human appeal.

Society today has at its disposal highly developed tools of persuasion. Christians have a continuing responsibility for examining the content of what is taught and should not allow themselves to be distracted by the attractiveness of its packaging.

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A well known Christian communicator writes: ‘be sceptical of exaggerated rhetoric, the irrelevant anecdote, or theatrical appeal, for nothing is so dangerous as feeble reasoning allied to fast talking’.

In our presentation of the gospel we should be frank and truthful and guard against being fishers of men who dangle deceitful bait before men in our eagerness to win them to Christ’s cause. Elsewhere Paul writes: “we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God”. 2 Cor.4.2.

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Paul’s Special JoyDespite the adverse influences facing the church Paul still saw occasion for great joy v5. He saw the believers standing firm in unbroken ranks despite the enticements of the false teachers. The Greek word ‘taxis’ translated as ‘orderly’ was used to describe troops drawn up in battle formation. The word ‘firm’ Greek ‘stereoma’ was used to describe the strength of troop units in resisting the enemy.

The Colossians faith was still fixed on Christ and that was a great delight to him. Paul tells them he is ‘with them in spirit’. This phrase provides a quite remarkable insight into what real Christian fellowship is all about!

Paul’s Labour for the Church