Colossians 1:1-14
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, 2 To the holy and faithful brothers in Christ at Colosse: Grace and peace to you from God our Father. 3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints-- 5 the faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven and that you have already heard about in the word of truth, the gospel 6 that has come to you. All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God's grace in all its truth. 7 You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf, 8 and who also told us of your love in the Spirit. 9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. 10 And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. 13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:1-14 (NIV)
V 1-2:
As an apostle, Paul thought himself engaged to do his “utmost the His highest” – the term carrying with it the notion of authorization and commission. He was made so by the will of God and he did not take this position lightly. I am reminded of Jeremiah’s call as well:
4 The word of the Lord came to me, saying, 5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah 1:4-5 (NIV)
Those God calls, He also equips. “God doesn’t call the equipped, He equips the called.” Anonymous; which, btw, we are all called to something.
Here, he calls Timothy “brother” – elsewhere “son” (spiritual) – as well as the holy and faithful in Colosse. Those who are Christians are brothers and sisters to one another – children of God – a child of the king. Christians should bear a “family” resemblance as we bear the name of Christ. We are all in the process of being conformed to the image of Jesus. Do we bear a family resemblance?
5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus. Philippians 2:5 (NIV)
29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. Romans 8:29 (NIV)
The Colossians were holy (set apart from common use) to God and faithful (true, just, trustworthy) to one another.
“Faithfulness runs through every character and relation of the Christian life, and is the crown and glory of them all.” Matthew Henry
Paul writes “grace” (root word joy; free unmerited favor of God and the blessed fruit of it) and “peace” (untroubled, undisturbed well-being) to them.
V 3-8:
Paul thanks God for them though he knew them not personally. In our thanksgiving, we must have an eye to God as God, and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, in and through whom all good comes to us.
17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17 (NIV)
He gives thanks to God for the graces of God in them: Faith in Christ – Hope of heaven - Love for the saints. The Faith and Love that spring from the Hope stored up (destined for) in heaven. Faith, Hope and Love are the three principal graces of the Christian life.
Faith (their obedience identified as faith)
22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. James 1:22 (NIV)
14 What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. James 2:14-17 (NIV)
13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. 2 Corinthians 9:13 (NIV)
Hope (what is spent on believers in this world is much; but what is stored up for believers in heaven is much more. The more we fix our hopes on the recompense of reward in the other world, the freer shall we be of our earthly treasure on all occasions of doing good).
“Our duty as Christians is always to keep heaven in our eye and earth under our feet.” Matthew Henry
13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13 (NIV)
1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Colossians 3:1-4 (NIV)
Love (Agape Love – currency of heaven – essence of Christ – Christ-like love – a decentralizing of self type of love – the greatest of the three graces – what God wants demonstrated and will be eventually perfected - in all His children).
13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13 (NIV)
7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 1 John 4:7-8 (NIV)
We must love all saints despite smaller points of differences and many real weaknesses.
“Christian Love, either towards God or towards man, is an affair of the will.” C. S. Lewis
“Self-centeredness is the very essence of all sin and misery, and results in self-destruction. It is the core of hostility, and hostility is the core of hell, the hallmark and essence of hell. Self-centeredness is the antithesis of holiness or agape love, the hallmark and essence of heaven.” Paul E. Billheimer
The Gospel is the Good News - the word of Truth (true truth) and what we may safely venture our immortal souls on. All who hear the word of the Gospel ought to bring forth the fruit of the Gospel. Wherever the Gospel goes, it will bring forth fruit to the praise, honor and glory of God. We are mistaken if we seek to monopolize the comforts and benefits of the Gospel for ourselves alone. The good news is meant to be shared.
Epaphras and Paul were fellow laborers in the work of the Lord. Paul calls him “dear” as it is an endearing consideration that they are engaged in the same service. Paul commends Epaphras as a faithful minister of Christ on their behalf. This was by Christ’s authority and divine appointment. He brought good news to Paul on the Colossians love in the Spirit.
V 9-11:
Paul heard the good report of their progress and prays for them to go further still. There will always be “further still” in our walks with the Lord. This prayer, btw, is a wonderful prayer to pray for ourselves and our families – personalizing it. There are many prayers Paul prays for the different churches and all are wonderful to memorize and use – for example: Ephesians 1:15-21; 3:14-21; Philippians 1:9-11. Paul states of his consistent and constant prayer for them. Are we consistent in our prayers?
17 pray continually; 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NIV)
“The one concern of the devil is to keep Christians from praying. He fears nothing from prayerless studies, prayerless work, and prayerless religion. He laughs at our toil, mocks at our wisdom, but trembles when we pray.” Samuel Chadwick
“God shapes the world by prayer.” E. M. Bounds
“The Word of God represents all the possibilities of God as at the disposal of true prayer.” A. T. Pierson
“The prayer of the feeblest saint on earth who lives in the Spirit and keeps right with God is a terror to Satan. The very powers of darkness are paralysed by prayer; no spiritualistic séance can succeed in the presence of a humble praying saint. No wonder Satan tries to keep our minds fussy in active work till we cannot think in prayer.” Oswald Chambers
It is amazing to me in that Paul had not established the church at Colosse, neither did he know them personally or receive news of them often yet he remained constant and fervent in his prayers for them. Convicting! It reminds me of the passage in 2 Corinthians where he spoke of how the concern for all the churches weighed heavily on him:
27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. 28 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn? 2 Corinthians 11:27-29 (NIV)
Paul asks God (all-knowing omniscient) to fill them with the knowledge of His will through all spiritual wisdom (divine knowledge) and understanding (to reason out and comprehend). The wording of “to fill” is as perfume fills a room – it is to permeate all areas. A mere empty notion of the greatest truths is insignificant. Our knowledge of the will of God must be always practical – we must know it in order to do it. Wisdom is knowing how to apply our knowledge to our particular circumstances.
We are to walk in a manner worthy of the Gospel – living lives worthy of the high calling we have received. Good knowledge without a good life will not profit us or others. There is to be an agreement between our walk and our talk – our faith and our conduct is pleasing to God as well as to men. Good words will not do without good works. We are to abound in good works. Also, the more faithful we are in fleshing out what He has poured in the more He pours and the more He pours the more we shall grow in the knowledge of God. We should vehemently desire to know all we can know of Him this side of heaven. Paul chastised the church at Corinth for this very thing:
1 Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly--mere infants in Christ. 2 I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. 3 You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men? 1 Corinthians 3:1-3 (NIV)
“The Word of God well understood and religiously obeyed is the shortest route to spiritual perfection. And we must not select a few favorite passages to the exclusion of others.
Nothing less than a whole Bible can make a whole Christian.” A.W. Tozer
“Truth must enter into the soul, penetrate and saturate it, or else it is of no value. Doctrines held as a matter of creed are like bread in the hand, which ministers no nourishment to the frame, but doctrine accepted by the heart, is as food digested, which, by assimilation, sustains and builds up the body.” Charles H. Spurgeon
Where there is spiritual life there is still need of spiritual strength. To be strengthened is to be furnished by the grace of God (omnipotent – all achieving power) for every good work, and fortified by that grace against every evil one:
12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:12-13 (NIV)
“God’s work done in God’s way will never lack God’s supply.” Hudson Taylor
In the praying for spiritual strength we are not restricted in the promises and therefore should not be restricted in our own hopes and desires. Paul prays that they would be strengthened with all power (prevailing, achieving power) to enable them to discharge their duty and preserve their innocence.
13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV)
His grace is more than sufficient for us to meet our every need. This is according to His glorious might. The grace of God in the hearts of the believers is the power of God; and there is a glory in the power.
“The one who gives the power gets the glory.” John Piper
Paul prays not only that they may be supported under their troubles, but strengthened for them – strengthened according to His glorious might. So that they may have great endurance (a bearing of evils and suffering with a tranquil mind). Endurance, patience, perseverance, constancy under suffering in faith and duty – used in an absolute sense:
4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. 5 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, 6 so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 15:4-6 (NIV)
2 We sent Timothy, who is our brother and God's fellow worker in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, 3 so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. You know quite well that we were destined for them. 1 Thessalonians 3:2-3 (NIV)
When we are strengthened to have endurance through His power, we are not only enabled to bear our troubles patiently, but to receive them as gifts from God, and are thankful for them as they are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all:
16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (NIV)
33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 (NIV)
29 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him, 30 since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have. Philippians 1:29-30 (NIV)
“Do not be afraid to suffer. Do not be afraid to be overthrown. It is by being cast down and not destroyed; it is by being shaken to pieces, and the pieces torn to shreds, that men become men of might, and that one a host.” Henry Ward Beecher
God bestows upon us the patience not only to bear trouble awhile, but to bear it as long as God pleases to continue it. To rejoice in tribulation is to rejoice that we are counted worthy to suffer for his Name, to have joy as well as patience in the midst of troubles points to God – we could never do this in our own strength but are strengthened by the grace of God. We rejoice in what it produces in us – Agape love – self-less love, character and hope which does not disappoint.
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-4 (NIV)
And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. Romans 5:2-5 (NIV)
Summary of the doctrine of the Gospel concerning the great work of our redemption through Christ. Paul writes as a matter of thanksgiving. Those in whom the work of grace is performed must give thanks to the Father. God’s greatest gift is our eternal salvation:
15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! 2 Corinthians 9:15 (NIV)
Interestingly, Paul states that God has rescued us from the dominion of darkness (sin) – the wording here for “rescued” means to drag along the ground; snatch from danger. Jude tells us:
22 Be merciful to those who doubt; 23 snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear--hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh. Jude 1:22-23 (NIV)
The wording for “dominion” means permission, authority to do something – Satan can do nothing apart from God’s permission (think Job). Darkness is spiritual darkness – infernal spirits – opposite of Christ Who is Light. It is ignorance and error.
He has saved us from the dominion of darkness and has brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves. He has made us members of the Church of Christ which is a state of light and purity. Believers are clothed in the righteousness of Christ. The conversion of a sinner is the transference of a soul into the kingdom of Christ out of the kingdom of the devil. It is the kingdom of the Son He loves. Glory is the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light (1518 - doxa). It is an inheritance, and belongs to the saints as children of the King. It is an inheritance of the saints (believers) – those who are not saints on earth will never be saints in heaven. It is an inheritance in the kingdom of light by communion with God Who is light. Paul tells us:
18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. Romans 8:18 (NIV)
All who are destined for heaven hereafter are being prepared for heaven now. Those who are sanctified and renewed go out of the world with their heaven around them. Those who have the inheritance of sons have the education of sons. This qualification for heaven is the pledge of the Holy Spirit in our hearts, which is part of payment and assures full payment.
21 Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, 22 set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 (NIV)
9 You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. Romans 8:9 (NIV)
These are Beth’s personal notes, due to this fact sources are not often stated.
