The Surroundings
The Similarities
The Situation
The Structure
The Significance
The
Surroundings
Tri-Cities
• To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ
who are at Colossae (1:2b)
• For I want you to know how great a struggle I
have on your behalf and for those who are at
Laodicea, and for all those who have not
personally seen my face (2:1)
• For I testify for him [Epaphras] that he has a
deep concern for you and for those who are
in Laodicea and Hierapolis. (4:13)
Tri-Cities
• When this letter is read among you, have it
also read in the church of the Laodiceans;
and you, for your part read my letter that is
coming from Laodicea. (4:16)
© Charlie Ray
The Tri-Cities and Ephesus
Acts 18:23; 19:1
The
Similarities
Colossians Introduction
• Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of
God, and Timothy our brother,
• To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ
who are at Colossae:
• Grace to you and peace from God our Father.
Philemon Introduction
• Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our
brother:
• To Philemon our dear friend and coworker, to Apphia
our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the
church that meets in your home.
• Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the
Lord Jesus Christ.
Colossians Closing
As to all my affairs, Tychicus, our beloved brother and faithful servant and fellow bondservant in the Lord, will bring you information. For I have sent him to you for this very
purpose, that you may know about our circumstances and that he may encourage your
hearts; and with him Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of your
number. They will inform you about the whole situation here. Aristarchus, my fellow
prisoner, sends you his greetings; and also Barnabas’s cousin Mark (about whom you
received instructions; if he comes to you, welcome him); and also Jesus who is called
Justus; these are the only fellow workers for the kingdom of God who are from the
circumcision, and they have proved to be an encouragement to me. Epaphras, who is one
of your number, a bondslave of Jesus Christ, sends you his greetings, always laboring
earnestly for you in his prayers, that you may stand perfect and fully assured in all the will
of God. For I testify for him that he has a deep concern for you and for those who are in
Laodicea and Hierapolis. Luke, the beloved physician, sends you his greetings, and also
Demas. Greet the brethren who are in Laodicea and also Nympha and the church that is in
her house. When this letter is read among you, have it also read in the church of the
Laodiceans; and you, for your part read my letter that is coming from Laodicea. Say to
Archippus, “Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may
fulfill it.” I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my imprisonment.
Grace be with you. (4:7-18)
Colossians
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Timothy
Tychicus
Onesimus
Aristarchus
Mark
Justus
Epaphras
Luke
Demas
Nympha
Archippus
Philemon
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Timothy
Philemon
Appia
Archippus
Onesimus
Epaphras
Mark
Aristarchus
Demas
Luke
© Charlie Ray
Eph 6:21-2
Tychicus, our dearly
loved brother and
faithful servant in the
Lord, will tell you all the
news about me so that
you may be informed. I
am sending him to you
for this very reason, to
let you know how we are
and to encourage your
hearts. (HCSB)
Col 4:7-8
Tychicus, our dearly
loved brother, faithful
servant, and fellow slave
in the Lord, will tell you
all the news about me. I
have sent him to you for
this very purpose, so that
you may know how we
are and so that he may
encourage your hearts.
(HCSB)
Eph 2:1, 5-6a
• And you being dead
in your trespasses
and sins
• we being dead in
trespasses He made
us alive with the
Messiah. You are
saved by grace! And
He raised us up
together
Col 2:13, 12
• And you being dead
in trespasses and in
the uncircumcision
of your flesh, He
made you alive with
Him and forgave us
all our trespasses.
• He raised us up
together
Rulers and Authorities
• Eph. 1:21 far above all
rule & authority and
power & dominion
• Eph. 3:10 to the rulers
& the authorities in
the heavenly places
• Eph. 6:12 but against
the rulers, against the
authorities, against
the world forces of
this darkness
• Col 1:16 whether
thrones or
dominions or rulers
or authorities
• Col 2:10 He is the
head over all rule &
authority
• Col 2:15 When He
had disarmed the
rulers & authorities
Household Code
• Eph. 5:21-6:9
– Wives (40 words)
– Husbands (152
words)
– Children (35
words)
– Fathers (16
words)
– Slaves (59 words)
– Masters (28)
• Col. 3:18-4:1
– Wives (9 words)
– Husbands (10
words)
– Children (13
words)
– Fathers (10 words)
– Slaves (56 words)
– Masters (18
words)
The
Situation
•Herodotus (BC 480)
–“Great city of Phyrgia”
•Strabo (mid-first century AD)
–“Small town”
The Tri-Cities and Ephesus
Acts 18:23; 19:1
© Charlie Ray
© Charlie Ray
© Charlie Ray
© Charlie Ray
© Charlie Ray
Demographics
• Jewish population in tri-city area
–11,000-14,000 adult Jewish males
Religions
• Polytheism (coins from Colossae)
–Isis, Mithras, Demeter, Helios, Selene
(moon), Artemis, Men (Phrygian
deity)
•
•
•
•
Gnosticism
Mystery Religions
Judaism
Christianity
Religions
• Superstition & Syncritism
• Theology
–Dualistic
–Pyramid with Pure Spirit @ top
–Legalism vs Libertinism
–Matures in the 2nd century
Local Church
•
•
•
•
Epaphras (4:12-13)
Archippus (4:17)
Nympha (4:15)
Paul
Occasion for the Letter
• Epaphras sought out Paul
– For this reason also, since the day we heard, we
have not ceased to pray for you (1:9 NASB)
• Onesimus found Paul
– I appeal to you for my child Onesimus, whom I
have begotten in my imprisonment, who formerly
was useless to you, but now is useful both to you
and to me. I have sent him back to you in person,
that is, sending my very heart, whom I wished to
keep with me, so that on your behalf he might
minister to me in my imprisonment for the gospel
(Phlm 10-13 NASB)
Purpose of the Letter
• Prayer
– . . . ask that you may be filled with the
knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom
and understanding, so that you will walk in a
manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in
all respects, bearing fruit in every good work
and increasing in the knowledge of God (1:910)
• Presenting Every Man
– We proclaim Him, admonishing every man
and teaching every man with all wisdom, so
that we may present every man complete
in Christ. (1:28)
• Intro to Opposition
– Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus
the Lord, so walk in Him (2:6)
Opposition
• See to it that no one takes you captive
through philosophy and empty deception,
according to the tradition of men, according
to the elementary principles of the world
(2:8)
• Circumcision (2:11)
Opposition
• Therefore no one is to act as your judge in
regard to food or drink or in respect to a
festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day
(2:16)
• Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize
by delighting in self-abasement and the
worship of the angels, taking his stand on
visions he has seen, inflated without cause by
his fleshly mind, (2:18)
Opposition
• “Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!”
(which all refer to things destined to perish with
use) — in accordance with the commandments
and teachings of men? (2:21-22)
• These are matters which have, to be sure, the
appearance of wisdom in self-made religion
and self-abasement and severe treatment of
the body, but are of no value against fleshly
indulgence. (2:23)
Opposition: Summary
• Beware that no one take you
captive (2:8)
• Let no one judge you (2:16)
• Let no one rob you (2:18)
• The content of the opposition is
similar to Galatians but the tone
of the letter is definitely different.
• Positive Description
–Your love in the Spirit (1:8)
–rejoicing to see your good
discipline and the stability of
your faith in Christ. (2:5)
Summary of
Opposition Theories
• At least 40 different reconstructions
– No two are exactly alike
• Usually focuses on two elements
– Gnosticism and/or mystery religions
• Definitely a Jewish element
The
Structure
Consult handout on 1st century epistle
structure
The
Significance
Answer to the
Problem
• Jesus
–Christ Hymn (1:13-21)
–Elemental spirits (2:9-15)
Key Passages
• High Christology in 1:15-20
• Completing the sufferings of
Christ, 1:24-29
• Soteriology in 2:9-15
• Christ-centered exegesis, 2:16-17
• Living a Christian life, 3:15-18
• Devoted to prayer, 4:2-6
• Fulfill your ministry, 4:17
Application
• 1:1-3:4—6 imperatives
• 3:5-4:6—18 imperatives
Beginning (1:1-12)
- Prescript (1:1-8)
I. Salutation (1:1-2)
II. Thank God (1:3-8)
A. Reasons -- because of
1. Development of God’s character
a. Your faith (v 4)
b. Your love (v 4)
c. Your hope (v 5)
- Prooimion (1:9-12)
III. Pray (1:9-11) … that you may
A. be filled with knowledge of God’s will (v 9)
B. live a life worthy of the Lord (v 10)
1. bear fruit (v 10)
2. grow in knowledge (v 10)
3. Be strengthened with power (v 11)
Body (1:13-4:6)
A Hymn to Christ (1:13-20)
I. Intro: The Father’s Work (v 13)
A. Rescued us from darkness (v 13)
B. Brought us into the Kingdom (v 13)
II. Stanza: Christ & creation (vv 15-16)
A. His identity (v 15)
1. Image of invisible God
2. ”Firstborn” of creation
B. His work: He creates “all things” (v 16)
III. Interlude (v 18a)
IV. Stanza: Christ & new creation
A. His identity (v 18b)
1. the Beginning
2. the “Firstborn” from the dead
B. His work: He reconciles “all things” (v 20)
V. Conclusion (vv 21-23)
A. Application (v 21)
B. Contrast (vv 21-22)
1. past alienation
2. present reconciliation
Proclaiming Christ (1:24-2:5)
Epistolary Rejoice & Disclosure Formulas
I. Proclamation Requires Suffering
A. For Christ
B. For His Church - to present …
1. the Word in Christ & …
2. the people in Christ in
fullness
Living in Christ (2:6-3:17)
I. Step out in Christ by … (2:6-7)
A. being rooted & built up in Jesus (v 7)
B. being strengthened in the faith (v 7)
C. overflowing with thanksgiving (v 7)
- Catechesis (what to believe; 2:9-19)
II. Do not be taken captive (2:8)
A. Dangers to avoid
1. vain philosophies
2. human traditions
3. the elements of this world
B. Truths to Remember (2:11-15)
1. Your identity in Christ (2:11-12)
a. circumcised with Christ
b. raised with Christ
2. The work of Christ (2:13-15)
a. made you alive with Him
1. by forgiving your trespasses
2. took the law out of the way
3. made a public spectacle of
principalities
III. Avoid Judaism shadows
IV. Avoid Gnostic deceptions
- Paranesis (how to behave; 2:20-4:6)
Virtue & Vice Lists (2:20-3:17)
III. Dying & Rising w/Christ (2:20-3:17)
A. The Meaning (2:20-23; 3:1-4)
B. The Significance (3:5-17)
1. “put to death” certain vices (3:5-7)
2. “put off” certain verbalizations (3:8-11)
3. “put on” certain virtues (3:12-15)
4. let the Word of God dwell in you (3:16-17)
i. by teaching
ii. by admonishing
iii. by singing
iv. by giving thanks
Household Codes (3:18-4:1)
I. Wives & Husbands (3:18-19)
A. Vocative
B. Imperative (cf w/Eph 5:21-22)
1. wives (true of ALL household codes)
2. husbands (unlike other household codes)
II. Children & Parents (3:20-21)
A. Vocative
B. Imperative
III. Employees & Employers (3:22-4:1)
A. Vocative
B. Imperative
C. Each ends with “knowing that” (3:24; 4:1)
i. Employees
a. Promise: you will receive Lord’s reward
b. Warning: consequences for doing wrong
ii. Employers: you have a Boss in heaven
IV. More Household Codes (4:2-6)
A. Missionary Outreach (4:2-4)
i. Actions (v 2)
ii. Purposes: so that … (vv 3-4)
a. God will open a door for His Word
b. He will make God’s Word clear
B. Relational Outreach (4:5-6)
i. Actions (vv 5-6a) ii. Purpose (v 6b)
Conclusion (4:7-18)
News & Greetings (4:7-18)
I. Epilogue: News (vv 7-9)
II. Postscript (vv 10-18)
A. Greetings (vv 10-15)
B. Final Instructions: church/ministry (vv 16-17)
i. Read Paul’s letters (v 16)
ii. Exhort fellow Christ-follower (v 17)
a. Take heed to your ministry
b. Fulfill your ministry
C. Final authentication & request (v 18)
i. Note personal handwritten greeting
ii. Remember those imprisoned and suffering
for Jesus
iii. Blessing of God’s grace
“Jesus IS
Above All”
© 2013, Dennis L. Phelps