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The Epistle of Paul to the Colossians Chapter 1:1-14 Background: Paul never visited Colosse a small town in Asia Minor about 100 miles from Ephesus. The gospel message had been taken to Colosse by Epaphras and others who were converted under Paul’s preaching. The church apparently met in Philemon’s house (Philemon 2). The letter was most probably written by Paul during his first imprisonment in Rome.
Introduction 1 - 2 1.1. From Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, Right at the beginning of the letter we are told who the writer is and also his qualifications for doing so. Although it was Paul who wrote it was the Holy Spirit who inspired and God who is the author. His authority to speak to the church was not that given by men or by any qualifications that he had attained by his own ability. He was an apostle called by and according to the will of God. Timothy is Paul’s company and fellow worker at this time. 1.2. to the saints, the faithful brothers and sisters in Christ, at Colossae. Grace and peace to you from God our Father! The letter is addressed to “the saints” that is those who are separated, consecrated, reserved for God and His service; this expresses their relationship with God. He also calls them “faithful brethren” showing their relationship with other Christians. His greeting is that they may have the spiritual favour and blessing (grace) of God and the peace within the heart that flows from Him.
Faith in Christ 3 - 8 1.3 - 4. We always give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard about your faith in Christ Jesus and the love that you have for all the saints. Since hearing from Epaphras about their acceptance and faith in Jesus Christ Paul and his fellow workers have not ceased to give thanks to God for saving their souls every time he prayed for them. Not only had their faith been well spoken of but their love for fellow believers also bore testimony to
the work of grace accomplished in their lives (Heb. 6: 10). John Wesley said “Our relationship with God through faith leads to a relationship with other Christians through love”. 1.5. Your faith and love have arisen from the hope laid up for you in heaven, which you have heard about in the message of truth, the gospel The hope that is laid aside and is waiting for them in heaven helps them to continue in faith and love (1 Pet. 1:4) this hope was a part of the gospel message that they had heard when they received Jesus Christ as their Saviour. 1.6. that has come to you. Just as in the entire world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, so it has also been bearing fruit and growing among you from the first day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth. This was not only to them but also to others throughout the world. They had not only heard but had accepted and therefore experienced in their lives the working of God’s grace that was bearing forth fruit that was shown by the way they were growing spiritually. 1.7 - 8. You learned the gospel from Epaphras, our dear fellow slave — a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf — who also told us of your love in the Spirit. Here we are told that it was Epaphras who had gone to Colosse to preach the gospel and that it was through him that Paul had received the good report about them. This brother had proved himself to be a true and faithful minister of Christ and a good representative for them. It was he who had also informed Paul of the love that they had in the Holy Spirit (Rom. 5: 5).
Prayer for Growth in Christ 9 - 11 1.9. For this reason we also, from the day we heard about you, have not ceased praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, Paul gives the assurance to the young church in Colosse that he has not and will never cease to pray for them (James 5: 1 6; 1 Thess. 5: 1 7) now that he has heard of their faith in Christ. So we too should pray for those who have been made known to us no matter what part of the world they may be. There are nine specific things listed that Paul is praying that they may receive. (1) That they may be filled with the knowledge of Christ’s will (2) that they may know in fullness and not in part the will of Christ in their lives. 1.10. that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; (3) That they may conduct their lives in accordance to the teachings of Christ in a way that will be worthy of Him. (4) To always have a desire to please Him in all things (5) that in the good works they have been called to do they will be fruitful (Titus 3:8). (6) That they will not stagnate or remain babes in Christ (1 Corinthians 3:1) but continue to grow in their knowledge and understanding of God.
1.11. strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; (7) That they will be strengthen by all might by God’s glorious power (8) this will enable them to bear trials patiently (9) to persevere during persecution and trials with joy (2 Cor. 8: 1 - 2).
What we have received through Christ 12 - 14 1.12. giving thanks to the Father who has qualified you to share in the saints' inheritance in the light. We are forever to give thanks to God for all that He has given to us through the Lord Jesus Christ. It is through Him that we qualify, are made worthy to share in the present and future inheritance that God has given to His Son (Rom. 8:17). This inheritance we have in the light John Wesley says this in God’s truth, holiness and love. 1.13. He delivered us from the power of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of the Son he loves, We have been delivered from the power of sin the bondage of Satan and of death and brought us out of darkness into the light and love of the everlasting Kingdom under the ownership and authority of Jesus Christ (2 Pet. 1: 11). 1.14. in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Through Christ’s death we have been redeemed, bought back and by His blood our sins have been forgiven. © Derek Williams & Mathew Bartlett 2013 Bible Studies Online UK www.biblestudiesonline.org.uk You may copy, print or distribute our studies freely in any form, just so long as you make no charges. Sign up today for our FREE monthly Bible study magazine “Living Word” Scriptures taken from the NET Bible www.bible.org