Introduction (Colossians 1:1-2)

Sunday School Lesson

Key Verse: Colossians 1:18

Occasion & Purpose: Warning against Jewish law and Greek philosophy (theosophy)

• The Colossian Heresy
  • Attacked the total adequacy and unique supremacy of Christ – no greater claims ever made for Christ
  • Paul stresses Christ’s part in creation (1:16-17)
  • Paul stresses Christ’s humanity (1:22; 2:9)
  • Astrological element (rudiments, 2:8, 20)
    • Elemental spirits of world – stars and planets
    • Everyone consulted the stars
    • Needed something more than Christ to rid men of this power
  • Made much of demonic powers
    • Principalities and powers (1:16; 2:10, 15)
    • Everything and place had a spirit
    • Needed something more than Christ to defeat these powers
  • Philosophical element (2:8)
  • Tendency to insist on ritual practices and days (2:16)
  • An ascetic element (2:16, 21)
  • An antinomian streak – anti-law (3:5-8)
  • Worship of angels (2:18)
  • Spiritual and intellectual snobbery (1:28)
• Gnostic Heresy – Colossian errors related to early forms of this (spirit=good, matter=flawed and evil; also, matter is eternal)
  • Effects doctrine of creation
    • This world then created by an emanation so distant from God that he was hostile to God
  • Effects doctrine of Christ’s person
    • Jesus could not have had a flesh and blood body
  • Effects ethics
    • Our bodies are evil
      • Practice rigid asceticism, starve and deny the body, or…
      • Disregard the body. Do whatever it desires, only the spirit matters
  • Effects the simplicity of the gospel
    • Series’ of emanations
    • Higher reaches of religion only open to the “initiated”
    • They were keepers of the mysteries
  • Jewish element – many were sympathetic to Gnostic ideas

Theme: Christ is pre-eminent

• Over all things – 1:15-20
• In salvation – 1:21-29 (21-22)
• In our knowledge – 2:1-9 (3, 9)
• Over the law – 2:10-23 (14-15)
• In our desires – 3:1-11 (4, 11)
• In our practices – 3:12-4:6 (13, 17, 23)

From:

• Paul
  • Apostle (office=authority and occupation=one sent)
    • Of Jesus Christ (fully qualified to address matters)
    • By will of God – what is God’s will for you?
      • Divine authority
      • Independence of human teaching
      • Disclaimer of personal power
• and Timothy
  • Not a co-author (look at subsequent we’s – through vs. 9, afterwards singular)
  • Brother (Acts 9:17 – rich meaning for Paul)

To:

• Saints (relationship to God)
  • “set-apart ones” – all believers were called saints, not just a group within the church
  • One who belongs to God
  • Should reflect God’s character
  • Soldier must act the part, so a saint should act the part
• Faithful brethren (relationship to others)
  • Brethren
  • At Colossae, in Christ (always two spheres/dimensions for the Christian) – John 16:33
    • Considered the least important city Paul wrote to – one of most important letters
    • Possibly Philemon’s house (4:9)
  • “faithful” – not all believers are faithful
    • No hint of moral sin even with immorality all around
    • Confidence that they will listen to his teaching

Salutation:

• Grace (Greek greeting) – first, since without there is no peace
  • God giving us what we do not deserve
    • Breath, we lived in rebellion against Him
    • Hope, a hope—our home in heaven
    • Holy Spirit
  • Mercy – God not giving us what we do deserve
    • Combines with God’s love to give us unmerited blessing
• Peace (Hebrew greeting)
  • Full integration of the believers personality in fellowship with God
  • Spiritual prosperity (well-being)
  • It passes all understanding – Philippians 4:7
  • w/God through the Lord Jesus Christ – no longer at enmity with God
  • Which rules in our hearts and lives – Colossians 3:15