2:19 i Rom. 16:21
2:19 7 condition
2:20 j 1 Cor. 16:10; 2 Tim. 3:10
2:22 k 1 Cor. 4:17
2:25 l Phil. 4:18
2:25 m Philem. 2
2:25 n John 13:16; 2 Cor. 8:23
2:25 o 2 Cor. 11:9
2:26 p Phil. 1:8
2:30 q 1 Cor. 16:17; Phil. 4:10
2:30 8 risking
Philippians 3
3:1 a 1 Thess. 5:16
3:2 b Ps. 22:16, 20; Gal. 5:15; Rev. 22:15
3:2 c Ps. 119:115
3:2 d Rom. 2:28
3:3 e Deut. 30:6; Rom. 2:28, 29; 9:6; (Gal. 6:15)
3:3 f John 4:24; Rom. 7:6
3:3 1 NU, M in the Spirit of God
3:4 g 2 Cor. 5:16; 11:18
3:4 h 2 Cor. 11:22, 23
3:5 i Rom. 11:1
3:5 j 2 Cor. 11:22
3:5 k Acts 23:6
3:6 l Acts 8:3; 22:4, 5; 26:9–11
3:7 m Matt. 13:44
3:8 n Is. 53:11; Jer. 9:23; John 17:3; 1 Cor. 2:2; (Eph. 4:13)
3:9 o Rom. 10:3
3:9 p Rom. 1:17
3:10 q Eph. 1:19, 20
3:10 r (Rom. 6:3–5); 2 Cor. 1:5; 1 Pet. 4:13
3:11 s Acts 26:6–8; (1 Cor. 15:23; Rev. 20:5)
3:11 2 Lit. arrive at
3:12 t 1 Cor. 9:24; (1 Tim. 6:12, 19)
3:12 u Heb. 12:23
3:12 3 obtained it
3:13 v Luke 9:62
3:13 w Heb. 6:1
3:13 4 laid hold of it
3:14 x 2 Tim. 4:7
3:14 y Heb. 3:1
3:15 z Matt. 5:48; 1 Cor. 2:6
3:15 a Gal. 5:10
3:15 b Hos. 6:3; James 1:5
3:16 c Gal. 6:16
3:16 d Rom. 12:16; 15:5
3:16 5 arrived
3:16 6 NU omits rule and the rest of v. 16.
3:17 e (1 Cor. 4:16; 11:1); Phil. 4:9
3:17 f Titus 2:7, 8; 1 Pet. 5:3
3:18 g Gal. 1:7
3:19 h 2 Cor. 11:15
3:19 i 1 Tim. 6:5
3:19 j Hos. 4:7
3:19 k Rom. 8:5; Col. 3:2
3:20 l Eph. 2:6, 19; Phil. 1:27; (Col. 3:1; Heb. 12:22)
3:20 m Acts 1:11
3:20 n 1 Cor. 1:7
3:21 o (1 Cor. 15:43–53)
3:21 p 1 John 3:2
3:21 q Eph. 1:19
3:21 r (1 Cor. 15:28)
Philippians 4
4:1 a Phil. 1:8
4:1 b 2 Cor. 1:14
4:1 c 1 Cor. 16:13; Phil. 1:27
4:2 d Phil. 2:2; 3:16
4:3 e Rom. 16:3
4:3 f Ex. 32:32; Luke 10:20
4:3 1 NU, M Yes
4:4 g Rom. 12:12
4:5 h 1 Cor. 16:22; Heb. 10:25, 37; (James 5:7–9); Rev. 22:7, 20
4:5 2 graciousness or forbearance
4:6 i Ps. 55:22; Matt. 6:25; 1 Pet. 5:7
4:6 j (1 Thess. 5:17, 18)
4:7 k (Is. 26:3; John 14:27); Phil. 4:9; Col. 3:15
4:8 l Eph. 4:25
4:8 m 2 Cor. 8:21
4:8 n Deut. 16:20
4:8 o 1 Thess. 5:22; James 3:17
4:8 p 1 Cor. 13:4–7
4:9 q Rom. 15:33; Heb. 13:20
4:10 r 2 Cor. 11:9; Phil. 2:30
4:10 3 you have revived your care
4:11 s 2 Cor. 9:8; 1 Tim. 6:6, 8; Heb. 13:5
4:12 t 1 Cor. 4:11
4:12 4 live humbly
4:12 5 live in prosperity
4:13 u John 15:5
4:13 6 NU Him who
4:14 v Phil. 1:7
4:15 w 2 Cor. 11:8, 9
4:17 x Titus 3:14
4:18 y Phil. 2:25
4:18 z Heb. 13:16
4:18 a Rom. 12:1; 2 Cor. 9:12
4:18 7 Or have received all
4:19 b Ps. 23:1; 2 Cor. 9:8
4:20 c Rom. 16:27
4:21 d Gal. 1:2
4:23 8 NU your spirit
Introduction to Colossians
Title
Colossians is named for the city of Colosse, where the church it was addressed to was located. It was also to be read in the neighboring church at Laodicea (4:16).
Author and Date
Paul is identified as author at the beginning (1:1; cf. v. 23; 4:18), as customarily in his epistles. The testimony of the early church, including such key figures as Irenaeus, Clement of Alexandria, Tertullian, Origen, and Eusebius, confirms that the opening claim is genuine. Additional evidence for Paul’s authorship comes from the book’s close parallels with Philemon, which is universally accepted as having been written by Paul. Both were written (ca. A.D. 60–62) while Paul was a prisoner in Rome (4:3, 10, 18; Philem. 9, 10, 13, 23); plus the names of the same people (e.g., Timothy, Aristarchus, Archippus, Mark, Epaphras, Luke, Onesimus, and Demas) appear in both epistles, showing that both were written by the same author at about the same time. For biographical information on Paul see Introduction to Romans: Author and Date.
Background and Setting
Colosse was a city in Phrygia, in the Roman province of Asia (part of modern Turkey), about 100 mi. E of Ephesus in the region of the 7 churches of Rev. 1–3. The city lay alongside the Lycus River, not far from where it flowed into the Maender River. The Lycus Valley narrowed at Colosse to a width of about two mi., and Mt. Cadmus rose 8,000 feet above the city.
Colosse was a thriving city in the fifth century B.C. when the Persian king Xerxes (Ahasuerus, cf. Esth. 1:1) marched through the region. Black wool and dyes (made from the nearby chalk deposits) were important products. In addition, the city was situated at the junction of the main north-south and east-west trade routes. By Paul’s day, however, the main road had been rerouted through nearby Laodicea, thus bypassing Colosse and leading to its decline and the rise of the neighboring cities of Laodicea and Hierapolis.
Although Colosse’s population was mainly Gentile, there was a large Jewish settlement dating from the days of Antiochus the Great (223–187 B.C.). Colosse’s mixed population of Jews and Gentiles manifested itself both in the composition of the church and in the heresy that plagued it, which contained elements of both Jewish legalism and pagan mysticism.
The church at Colosse began during Paul’s 3-year ministry at Ephesus (Acts 19). Its founder was not Paul, who had never been there (2:1); but Epaphras (1:5–7), who apparently was saved during a visit to Ephesus, then likely started the church in Colosse when he returned home. Several years after the Colossian church was founded, a dangerous heresy arose to threaten it—one not identified with any particular historical system. It contained elements of what later became known as Gnosticism: that God is good, but matter is evil, that Jesus Christ was merely one of a series of emanations descending from God and being less than God (a belief that led them to deny His true humanity), and that a secret, higher knowledge above Scripture was necessary for enlightenment and salvation. The Colossian heresy also embraced aspects of Jewish legalism, e.g., the necessity of circumcision for salvation, observance of the ceremonial rituals of the OT law (dietary laws, festivals, Sabbaths), and rigid asceticism. It also called for the worship of angels and mystical experience. Epaphras was so concerned about this heresy that he made the long journey from Colosse to Rome (4:12, 13), where Paul was a prisoner.
This letter was written from prison in Rome (Acts 28:16–31) sometime between A.D. 60–62 and is, therefore, referred to as a Prison Epistle (along with Ephesians, Philippians, and Philemon). It may have been composed almost contemporaneously with Ephesians and initially sent with that epistle and Philemon by Tychicus (Eph. 6:21, 22; Col. 4:7, 8). See Introduction to Philippians: Author and Date for a discussion of the city from which Paul wrote. He wrote this letter to warn the Colossians against the heresy they faced, and sent the letter to them with Tychicus, who was accompanying the runaway slave Onesimus back to his master, Philemon, a member of the Colossian church (4:7–9; see Introduction to Philemon: Background and Setting). Epaphras remained behind in Rome (cf. Philem. 23), perhaps to receive further ins
truction from Paul.
Historical and Theological Themes
Colossians contains teaching on several key areas of theology, including the deity of Christ (1:15-20; 2:2-10), reconciliation (1:20-23), redemption (1:13, 14; 2:13, 14; 3:9-11), election (3:12), forgiveness (3:13), and the nature of the church (1:18, 24, 25; 2:19; 3:11, 15). Also, as noted above, it refutes the heretical teaching that threatened the Colossian church (chap. 2).
Interpretive Challenges
Those cults that deny Christ’s deity have seized upon the description of Him as “the firstborn over all creation” (1:15) as proof that He was a created being. Paul’s statement that believers will be “holy, and blameless, and above reproach” if they “continue in the faith” (1:22, 23) has led some to teach that believers can lose their salvation. Some have argued for the existence of purgatory based on Paul’s statement, “I…fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ” (1:24), while others see support for baptismal regeneration (2:12). The identity of the “epistle from Laodicea” (4:16) has also prompted much discussion. These issues will be treated in the notes.
Outline
I. Personal Matters (1:1-14)
A. Paul’s Greeting (1:1, 2)
B. Paul’s Thankfulness (1:3-8)
C. Paul’s Prayer (1:9-14)
II. Doctrinal Instruction (1:15-2:23)
A. About Christ’s Deity (1:15-23)
B. About Paul’s Ministry (1:24-2:7)
C. About False Philosophy (2:8-23)
III. Practical Exhortations (3:1-4:18)
A. Christian Conduct (3:1-17)
B. Christian Households (3:18-4:1)
C. Christian Speech (4:2-6)
D. Christian Friends (4:7-18)
The Glories of Christ
“Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God…” (2 Cor. 3:5)
One of the great tenets of Scripture is the claim that Jesus Christ is completely sufficient for all matters of life and godliness (2 Pet. 1:3, 4)! He is sufficient for creation (Col. 1:16, 17), salvation (Heb. 10:10-12), sanctification (Eph. 5:26, 27), and glorification (Rom. 8:30). So pure is He that there is no blemish, stain, spot of sin, defilement, lying, deception, corruption, error, or imperfection (1 Pet. 1:18-20).
So complete is He that there is no other God besides Him (Is. 45:5); He is the only begotten Son (John 1:14, 18); all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are in Him (Col. 2:3); the fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily in Him (Col. 2:9); He is heir of all things (Heb. 1:2); He created all things and all things were made by Him, through Him, and for Him (Col. 1:16); He upholds all things by the word of His power (Col. 1:17; Heb. 1:3); He is the firstborn of all creation (Col. 1:15); He is the exact representation of God (Heb. 1:3).
He is the only Mediator between God and man; He is the Sun that enlightens; the Physician that heals; the Wall of Fire that defends; the Friend that comforts; the Pearl that enriches; the Ark that supports; and the Rock to sustain under the heaviest of pressures; He is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty on high (Heb. 1:3; 8:1); He is better than the angels (Heb. 1:4-14); better than Moses; better than Aaron; better than Joshua; better than Melchizedek; better than all the prophets; greater than Satan (Luke 4:1-12); and stronger than death (1 Cor. 15:55).
He has no beginning and no end (Rev. 1:17, 18); He is the spotless Lamb of God; He is our Peace (Eph. 2:14); He is our Hope (1 Tim. 1:1); He is our Life (Col. 3:4); He is the living and true Way (John 14:6); He is the Strength of Israel (1 Sam. 15:29); He is the Root and Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star (Rev. 22:16); He is Faithful and True (Rev. 19:11); He is the Author and Finisher of our faith (Heb. 12:1, 2); He is the Captain of our Salvation (Heb. 2:10); He is the Champion; He is the Elect One (Is. 42:1); He is the Apostle and High-Priest of our confession (Heb. 3:1); He is the Righteous Servant (Is. 53:11).
He is the Lord of Hosts, the Redeemer—the Holy One of Israel, the God of the whole earth (Is. 54:5); He is the Man of Sorrows (Is. 53:3); He is the Light; He is the Son of Man (Matt. 20:28); He is the Vine; He is the Bread of Life; He is the Door; He is Lord (Phil. 2:10-13); He is Prophet, Priest and King (Heb. 1:1-3); He is our Sabbath rest (Heb. 4:9); He is our Righteousness (Jer. 23:6); He is the Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace (Is. 9:6); He is the Chief Shepherd (1 Pet. 5:4); He is Lord God of hosts; He is Lord of the nations; He is the Lion of Judah; the Living Word; the Rock of Salvation; the Eternal Spirit; He is the Ancient of Days; Creator and Comforter; Messiah; and He is the great I AM (John 8:58)!
The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the
COLOSSIANS
Colossians 1
Greeting
1Paul, aan apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, The Glories of Christ
2To the saints band faithful brethren in Christ who are in Colosse:
cGrace to you and peace from God our Father 1and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Their Faith in Christ
3dWe give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,
4esince we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of fyour love for all the saints;
5because of the hope gwhich is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel,
6which has come to you, has it has also in all the world, and iis bringing forth 2fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew jthe grace of God in truth;
7as you also learned from kEpaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is la faithful minister of Christ on your behalf,
8who also declared to us your mlove in the Spirit.
Preeminence of Christ
9nFor this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask othat you may be filled with pthe knowledge of His will qin all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
10rthat you may walk worthy of the Lord, sfully pleasing Him, tbeing fruitful in every good work and increasing in the uknowledge of God;
11vstrengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, wfor all patience and longsuffering xwith joy;
12ygiving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of zthe inheritance of the saints in the light.
13He has delivered us from athe power of darkness band 3conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,
14cin whom we have redemption 4through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.
15He is dthe image of the invisible God, ethe firstborn over all creation.
16For fby Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or gdominions or 5principalities or 6powers. All things were created hthrough Him and for Him.
17iAnd He is before all things, and in Him jall things consist.
18And kHe is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, lthe firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.
Reconciled in Christ
19For it pleased the Father that min Him all the fullness should dwell,
20and nby Him to reconcile oall things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, phaving made peace through the blood of His cross.
21And you, qwho once were alienated and enemies in your mind rby wicked works, yet now He has sreconciled
22tin the body of His flesh through death, uto present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight—
23if indeed you continue vin the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are wnot moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, xwhich was preached to every creature under heaven, yof which I, Paul, became a minister.
Sacrificial Service for Christ
24zI now rejoice in my sufferings afor you, and fill up in my flesh bwhat is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for cthe sake of His body, which is the church,
25of which I became a mi
nister according to dthe 7stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God,
26ethe 8mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, fbut now has been revealed to His saints.
27gTo them God willed to make known what are hthe riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: 9which is iChrist in you, jthe hope of glory.
28Him we preach, kwarning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, lthat we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.
29To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mmightily.
Colossians 2
Not Philosophy but Christ
1For I want you to know what a great aconflict1 I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh,
2that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, 2both of the Father and of Christ,
3bin whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
4Now this I say clest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words.
5For dthough I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing 3to see eyour good order and the fsteadfastness of your faith in Christ.
6gAs you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,
7hrooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding 4in it with thanksgiving.
8Beware lest anyone 5cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to ithe tradition of men, according to the jbasic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.
9For kin Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead 6bodily;
10and you are complete in Him, who is the lhead of all 7principality and power.
Not Legalism but Christ
11In Him you were also mcircumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by nputting off the body 8of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ,
12oburied with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through pfaith in the working of God, qwho raised Him from the dead.
13And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses,
The MacArthur Study Bible, NKJV Page 613