Ralph Porter

© 2003

AUTHOR AND DATE

    Evidence for Pauline authorship is strong as in the case of the other prison epistles.

         There is not as much external evidence.

         However, internal evidence and parallels with the other prison epistles provide

              strong support.

    The date is about A.D. 60.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

    Little is known about the origin of the church at Colosse.

         It was not founded by Paul.

         He had never been there personally.

         Yet he was familiar with the church there.

    It may have been a daughter church of Ephesus with which he had worked extensively.

         He knew some of the brethren from the church and may have led them to the Lord in

              Ephesus.

         They may have returned to start a church there.

    However the church began, Paul felt a special relationship to the brethren there.

    He was alarmed when he received reports that the Judaizers had made strong inroads

         into the church.

    The letter was his response to that report.

PURPOSE AND THEME

    The Judaizers were promoting the doctrine of sanctification by the law, similar to the

         problem in Galatia.

              Paul attempts to respond to that doctrine and correct those who were influenced

                   by it.

              In Galatians Paul answered that it was impossible to be saved by faith and then

                   sanctified by the law.

                        The law brings condemnation and recognition of sin, not the power to

                             overcome it.

              In Colossians, Paul approaches the issue from the other side.

                   He emphasizes the positive doctrine of the provision in Christ.

                   God has provided all we need for successful Christian living in Christ.

                   We are complete in Him.

                   The spiritual life is life in Christ, not legalism.

What does Colossians teach us about the Person of Jesus Christ?

What does Colossians teach us about the work of Jesus Christ?

What implications does Paul draw from these doctrinal truths?

What difference should this study make in our life this week?

Ralph Porter

© 2003

"I'd rather do it myself!"

    The familiar phrase, often repeated by our children, is familiar among all ages.

    Satan's lie, that we can do enough to satisfy God and earn our way to heaven is

        reaffirmed among people of all races and all ages.

            World religions expound our attempts to reach up to God and earn our way to

                eternal life. The problem is that no one can satisfy what God requires.

            Cults proclaim a weakened view of Christ, who is in some way considered

                to be less than all that God is, and require us to add our efforts to His, in 

                order to earn God's approval. The problem is that you can never be sure

                that you've done enough to satisfy Him until after you die.

           The first such cult was that of the Judaizers Paul confronted among the 

                churches of the first century.

    Even in Bible-believing churches, we commonly find those who propose a list of 

        rules people must keep in order to enjoy fellowship with God.

    Paul addresses these concepts in his letter to the Colossians.

        He insists that the totality of God is in Christ.

        When we are in Him, we are complete.

            We lack nothing.

            There is nothing for us to add!

AUTHOR AND DATE

    Evidence for Pauline authorship is strong as for the other prison epistles.

         There isn't as much external evidence.

         Internal evidence and parallels with the other prison epistles provide strong support.

    The date is about A.D. 60.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

    Little is known about the origin of the church at Colosse.

         It was not founded by Paul.

         He had never been there personally.

         Yet he was familiar with the church there.

              It may have been a daughter church of Ephesus with which he had worked

                   extensively.

              He knew some of the brethren from the church and may have led them to the Lord

                   in Ephesus.

              They may have returned to start a church there.

    However the church began, Paul felt a special relationship to the brethren there.

    He was alarmed when he received reports that the Judaizers had made strong inroads

         into the church.

              The letter was his response to that report.

PURPOSE AND THEME

    The common concept proposed for the background for this book:

         That it was written to address "incipient gnosticism."

              Some of the issues addressed do have common roots with the system that later

                   developed into Gnosticism.

                        However, Gnosticism didn't develop until a century later.

                        These false teachers have more in common with the Judaizers than with the

                             Gnostics.

                        Dwight Pentecost has observed that there is nothing in Colossians that can

                             not be explained on the basis of Paul's traditional confrontation with the

                             Judaizers.

    The Judaizers were promoting the doctrine of sanctification by the law, similar to the

         problem in Galatia.

                    LEGALISM:

                             People who want to walk

                                  --by the flesh

                                  --by man-made rules

    Paul attempts to respond to that doctrine and correct those who have been influenced

         by it.

              In Galatians, Paul responds that it's impossible to be saved by faith and then

                   sanctified by the law.

                        The law brings condemnation and recognition of sin, not the power to

                             overcome it.

              In Colossians, Paul approaches the issue from the other side.

                   He emphasizes the positive doctrine of the provision we have in Christ.

                    THE TOTALITY OF GOD IS FOUND IN CHRIST

                             All that God is is present in Him. He lacks nothing   Col 2:9

                     WE ARE COMPLETE IN HIM   Col. 2:10

    God has provided all we need for successful Christian living in Christ.

         The spiritual life is life in Christ, not legalism.

             We are to walk the same way as we received Him!   Col. 2:6-7

ORGANIZATION

    The doctrinal issue controls the organization of the book.

         Other matters surround the central issue.

              On the periphery are located Paul's greeting (1:1-2),

                   and his prayer for them (1:3-23).

              He concludes with personal notes (4:7-18).

    In the center, Paul presents the ministry God has given to him: to proclaim the complete

         provision we have in Christ (1:24-4:6).

    This argument divides into two main parts which are intimately interrelated:

         First, Paul describes the revelation of the provision in Christ (1:24-2:15).

              The point of this section is that Christ has provided all we need.

         Then Paul presents the logical consequences of that provision (2:16-4:6).

              If Christ has provided everything we need, true spiritual life is life in Him, not

                legalism.

ARGUMENT

    Paul begins with a greeting to the church.

    Then he shares with them his prayer on their behalf.

HIS THANKSGIVING   1:3-8 

    Paul thanks God for them because of the evidence of God's work in their lives.

        We have heard about your faith, your love, and especially your hope.

        The gospel is bearing fruit and growing among you.

    In his thanksgiving, he underlines the hope we have.

         We aren't going to lose our possession.

HIS PETITION   1:9-23

         His prayer for us is that we might understand God's will for us, and walk in a worthy

              manner.

    His request that we might know God's will   1:9

         Paul wants the knowledge of God's will to control our life.

        He wants us to be so overwhelmed by the knowledge of God's will, that it takes control 

            of our life.

    His purpose that we might walk worthily   1:10-23

              Paul wants the knowledge of God's will to produce fruit in us.

                    Then we will walk in a way that is worthy of Him and what He has done for us.

                    Then we will please Him.

              The results of being controlled by the knowledge of God's will are cyclical.

              They feed one another.

         Bearing fruit   1:10a

              The knowledge of God's will produces good works.

         Growing in the knowledge of Him   1:10b

              The knowledge of God's will produces an increasing comprehension of God.

         Being strengthened   1:11

              The knowledge of God's will produces strength to live as He desires.

         Giving thanks to the Father   1:12-23

                   The knowledge of God's will produces thanksgiving to God for all He has done for

                    us.

                   In confronting the issue of the legalism of the Judaizers, Paul puts his finger on

                        the center of the problem:

                             They fail to appreciate all that God has done for us.

                             Therefore, he urges us to thank God for all He has done.

                             As we thank Him, our awareness of all that is involved in God's provision

                                  will begin to increase.

              We give thanks to God for qualifying us for the inheritance   1:12

                   Specifically, Paul encourages us to thank God for making us qualified to

                        participate in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom.

              We give thanks to God for rescuing us from the darkness   1:13a

                   He has rescued us from the authority of darkness which was over us.

              We give thanks for God for bringing us into the kingdom of His Son   1:13b-20

                         He brought us into the kingdom of His Son.

                         When we begin thanking Him for these things, we will realize that He has

                              already provided everything we need.

                    Nothing is missing for us to provide!

                         Mention of all God has done for us forces Paul to focus on Christ's role in

                             God's provision.

                         As we thank God for what He has done, we are reminded of Who He is and

                              what He has done for us, within the broader context of what God has

                             done for us.

                   Our redemption by the Son   1:13b-14

                        He is the source of our redemption and forgiveness of sins, not our works.

                   The position of the Son   1:15-20

                        Jesus, the One who gave us this provision; He is God Himself.

                             His position as God is thus defined.

                             All that God is was present in Him.

                             When He died, an adequate price was paid to reconcile all things to God.

                            Nothing more was needed!

                             As they thanked God for what He had given them in Jesus, they would

                                  recognize the foolishness of trying to add more.

              We give thanks to God for reconciling us by the death of His Son   1:21-23

                   He reconciled us by the death of His Son.

                   When we begin thanking Him for these things, we will realize that He has

                        already provided everything we need.

                        Nothing is lacking for us to provide.

    Paul approaches the doctrinal argument of the book from the viewpoint of his own call

         to the ministry.

              He was called to proclaim the good news of the provision God has made in Christ.

                   First he presents the content of that revelation (1:24-2:15).

                   Then he deals with the practical implications of the truth (2:16-4:6).

THE REVELATION OF THE PROVISION IN CHRIST   1:24-2:15

         Paul is grateful that God has chosen him for a special role in His program.

         He has the privilege of announcing to pagan Gentiles that we can take part in God's

              program.

    Revelation of the mystery concerning Gentiles   1:24-27

         Christ in us is now the hope of pagans also.

    Proclamation of Christ to all   1:28-29

         Because of this new universal message, Paul proclaims this message to everyone, that

              he might present all people perfect in Christ.

    Struggle that we not be misled   2:1-5

         Because of the greatness of the message which has been entrusted to him, Paul

              struggles to keep us from being deceived by those who present persuasive

              arguments.

    Conclusion that we walk in Christ   2:6-7

         Just as we have received Christ by faith, the Christian life is lived by faith in Him.

    Warning that we not be taken captive   2:8

         The philosophy of the world is different.

         The traditions and principles the world proposes indicate that we can earn our own

              way by obeying the rules and doing good works.

         This philosophy will only deceive and enslave.

    Complete provision in Christ   2:9-15

         True spirituality recognizes that the totality of God was in Christ (2:9).

              When we are in Him we are complete.

              Christ has provided everything (2:10-15).

         In Him we have the true circumcision, not a physical one, but that which changes the

              sinful heart (2:11).

         We were buried and raised to new life in Him (2:12).

         Christ has handled every obstacle to our fellowship with God, and God has made us

              alive in Him (2:13-15).

         Nothing else is left for us to handle.

              Christ did it all.

              We are complete in Him.

THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE PROVISION IN CHRIST   2:16-4:6

         Having demonstrated the complete provision that is ours when we are in Christ, Paul

              discusses the implications of that provision.

    Don't allow yourself to be judged on the basis of ritual   2:16-19

         Since we are complete in Him, we should not allow anyone to judge us on the basis of

              the old rituals.

                   Those were mere shadows of the reality.

                Now that we have the real thing, why should we go back to a shadow?

         Those who would judge us are characterized by false humility, religious ritual and

              personal experience.

                   They are convinced by their own experience and importance.

                   However, they are out of touch with the Head.

    Don't submit to human rules   2:20-23

         Since we have died with Christ to the principles of this world, we ought not to

             submit ourselves to its rules.

         Although the rules and regulations may have some value, they have a ma