Unfolding The Book of Unfolding The Book of ColossiansColossians

CIFCCIFC3131stst May 2009 May 2009

Bro JosphertBro Josphert

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The Book of ColossiansThe Book of Colossians

• Its in the New Testament

• Written by Paul in Prison at Rome about A.D. 60-62 while imprisoned in Rome (Acts 28:30).

• It has four chapters

• It’s the most Christ-centred book in the Bible.

• Written to the saints at Colossae

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The style of PaulThe style of Paul

• When Paul could not visit a Church he wrote a letter to deal with the problem.

• But, towards the end of his ministry Paul could not visit churches because he was in prison or under house arrest.

• Sometimes God arrests us, so that we can listen to Him…and seek His perfect will.

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The Kinds of letters written by The Kinds of letters written by PaulPaul

He wrote 3 kinds of letters

1. Letters to Churches.

2. Letters to individuals.

3. General letters: for general circulation.

Our lives are centred around these Our lives are centred around these three areas. Church, Me, work.three areas. Church, Me, work.

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At one time!At one time!• At this time Paul wrote:• The three kinds of letters [Philemon (Personal),

Ephesians (General) and Colossians (Church)] • from Rome, • to the same area ( Asia), • and sent them by one person (Tychicus) who was

accompanying the runaway slave Onesimus back to his master, Philemon, a member of the Colossian church (Col. 4:7-9).

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How to read the EpistlesHow to read the Epistles

• We need to read carefully so that we can discern:

• 1. What he corresponds to?• 2. Why he corresponds?• 3. Who does he correspond to?

• We must understand the principles which are being taught so as to apply them now.

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The sequence!The sequence!

Look at the situation,

environment, people…etc

back at the time when the letter

was written.

Bring it to today and apply the principles of God being

taught. For God does not change

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The formal order of a Greek letterThe formal order of a Greek letter

1. The sender

2. The address of the receiver

3. Greetings

4. The main body of the letter.

5. Summary of the main letter.

6. Final greetings

7. The signature of the sender.

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ColossaeColossae

Colosse (also known as Chonae or Kona), was an ancient city of Phrygia, on the Lycus, which is a tributary of the Maeander River.

It was situated about 12 miles above Laodicea, near the great road from Ephesus to the Euphrates.

Colosse was a major trade center on the trade route from Sardis to Konya, and was famous for the dark red wool cloth that carried its name, colossinum.

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It was on the circular route!It was on the circular route!

• There was a circular route which connected the cities of :

• Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.

• Somebody could take letters to all cities using one road.

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The special mixture in citiesThe special mixture in cities

• In major routes and cities you have the possibility of getting mixed populations.

• There are also many religions –pluralist

• This presents many Relational problems unlike in Ephesus which had only one goddess-diana.

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Location in AsiaLocation in Asia

• During the New Testament age in the Roman Province of Asia there were three important cities in a Lycus valley: Laodicea, Colosse and Hierapolis.

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The ruins of ColossaeThe ruins of Colossae

• Colosse, Laodicea and Hierapolis, were destroyed by earthquakes in 17 A.D. during the reign of Tiberius, and then again in 60 A.D. during the reign of Nero. By 400 A.D. the city of Colosse no longer existed. The site of Colosse has never been excavated, but there are remains of some buildings to date.

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The founding of the Church in The founding of the Church in ColossaeColossae

• It does not appear that Paul had visited this city when he wrote his Epistle to the Colossians there (Col. 1:2), since he tells Philemon of his hope to visit it upon being freed from prison (see Philemon 1:22). It seems that Epaphras was the founder of the Colossian church (Col. 1:7; 4:12), after being converted in Ephesus after meeting Paul. He then took the gospel home!

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The trigger of the letterThe trigger of the letter

• Epaphras, came to Paul in Rome with good news and bad news.

• The good news was the gospel had born fruit among the Colossians (Colossians 1:6), who were continuing in the faith (Colossians 1:4) in Christ and in love for their fellow believers.

• The Bad news was the Colossians were being troubled by a new teaching

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Religions in ColossaeReligions in Colossae

1. Animism: the believe in elemental power in nature- spirit in mountains, trees, astrology…today we have mother nature.

2. Mystical religions: require initiations.

3. Judaism: but had changed to be philosophical when practiced outside holy land.

4. Christianity: by Epaphras.

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What was the problem in What was the problem in Colossae?Colossae?

• Many arguments about it…but none is specific.

• Basically, there were wrong teaching which came in and had affected their belief and behaviour.

• Wrong belief always produces Wrong belief always produces bad behaviourbad behaviour.

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It was a mixture!It was a mixture!

• The error in Colossae was syncretism. Like compromising and agreeing to bring so much from outside into the Church.

• The mixing was making Christ to lose His preeminence in the Church. making it to be just a religion without Christ

• The simplicity of the Gospel was being neglected.

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The balance of ChristianityThe balance of Christianity

• That God is far away and yet to near us. Psalms 113: 6...who humbleth Himself to behold the things which are in heaven and in the earth.

i.e., The transcendence and eminence of God.

• If God is not near you, you try to fill that vacuum with other things!

• We need the balance!We need the balance!

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The position of ChristThe position of Christ

1. All things were created by Him and for Him. (Colossians 2:16)

2. In Him dwelleth all fullness of the Godhead bodily (Colossians 2:9)

3. He disarmed principalities and powers at the cross. (Colossians 2:15)

4. He is the Head of the Church. (Col 2:19)

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The true center of Christian lifeThe true center of Christian life.

1. Relationship with Christ (a). Put off the old man with his deeds an

d put on the new man. col 3: 8,10) (b). Continue in the Word, Pray, Watch.2. Relationships in: (a). The Church, forgive, forbear, love.

(b). In the Family; submission, obedience(c). At place of work-submission, justice

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Can you lose it?Can you lose it?

• As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him, Rooted and built up in Him and stablished in the faith as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. Col 2:6,7

• Beware because: If you lose Christ you lose everything!

• Abide in me…, John 15:5