Transcript Unfolding The Book of Colossians

Unfolding The Book of
Colossians
CIFC
31st May 2009
Bro Josphert
The Book of Colossians
• Its in the New Testament
• Written by Paul in Prison at Rome about
A.D. 60-62 while imprisoned in Rome
(Acts 28:30).
• It has four chapters
• It’s the most Christ-centred book in the
Bible.
• Written to the saints at Colossae
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The style of Paul
• When Paul could not visit a Church he
wrote a letter to deal with the problem.
• But, towards the end of his ministry Paul
could not visit churches because he was in
prison or under house arrest.
• Sometimes God arrests us, so that we can
listen to Him…and seek His perfect will.
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The Kinds of letters written by
Paul
He wrote 3 kinds of letters
1. Letters to Churches.
2. Letters to individuals.
3. General letters: for general circulation.
Our lives are centred around these
three areas. Church, Me, work.
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At one time!
• At this time Paul wrote:
• The three kinds of letters [Philemon (Personal),
Ephesians (General) and Colossians (Church)]
• from Rome,
• to the same area ( Asia),
• and sent them by one person (Tychicus) who was
accompanying the runaway slave Onesimus back
to his master, Philemon, a member of the
Colossian church (Col. 4:7-9).
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How to read the Epistles
• We need to read carefully so that we can
discern:
• 1. What he corresponds to?
• 2. Why he corresponds?
• 3. Who does he correspond to?
• We must understand the principles
which are being taught so as to apply
them now.
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The sequence!
Look at the
situation,
environment,
people…etc
back at the time
when the letter
was written.
Bring it to today
and apply the
principles of
God being
taught. For God
does not change
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The formal order of a Greek
letter
1. The sender
2. The address of the receiver
3. Greetings
4. The main body of the letter.
5. Summary of the main letter.
6. Final greetings
7. The signature of the sender.
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Colossae
Colosse (also known as Chonae or Kona), was
an ancient city of Phrygia, on the Lycus, which is
a tributary of the Maeander River.
It was situated about 12 miles above Laodicea,
near the great road from Ephesus to the
Euphrates.
Colosse was a major trade center on the trade
route from Sardis to Konya, and was famous for
the dark red wool cloth that carried its name,
colossinum.
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It was on the circular route!
• There was a circular route which
connected the cities of :
• Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira,
Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.
• Somebody could take letters to all
cities using one road.
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The special mixture in cities
• In major routes and cities you have the
possibility of getting mixed populations.
• There are also many religions –pluralist
• This presents many Relational problems
unlike in Ephesus which had only one
goddess-diana.
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Location in Asia
• During the New Testament age in the
Roman Province of Asia there were three
important cities in a Lycus valley: Laodicea,
Colosse and Hierapolis.
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The ruins of Colossae
• Colosse, Laodicea and Hierapolis, were
destroyed by earthquakes in 17 A.D.
during the reign of Tiberius, and then
again in 60 A.D. during the reign of Nero.
By 400 A.D. the city of Colosse no longer
existed. The site of Colosse has never
been excavated, but there are remains of
some buildings to date.
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The founding of the Church in
Colossae
• It does not appear that Paul had visited
this city when he wrote his Epistle to the
Colossians there (Col. 1:2), since he tells
Philemon of his hope to visit it upon being
freed from prison (see Philemon 1:22). It
seems that Epaphras was the founder of
the Colossian church (Col. 1:7; 4:12),
after being converted in Ephesus after
meeting Paul. He then took the gospel
home!
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The trigger of the letter
• Epaphras, came to Paul in Rome with
good news and bad news.
• The good news was the gospel had born
fruit among the Colossians (Colossians
1:6), who were continuing in the faith
(Colossians 1:4) in Christ and in love for
their fellow believers.
• The Bad news was the Colossians were
being troubled by a new teaching
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Religions in Colossae
1. Animism: the believe in elemental power
in nature- spirit in mountains, trees,
astrology…today we have mother nature.
2. Mystical religions: require initiations.
3. Judaism: but had changed to be
philosophical when practiced outside holy
land.
4. Christianity: by Epaphras.
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What was the problem in
Colossae?
• Many arguments about it…but none is
specific.
• Basically, there were wrong teaching
which came in and had affected their belief
and behaviour.
• Wrong belief always produces
bad behaviour.
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It was a mixture!
• The error in Colossae was syncretism.
Like compromising and agreeing to bring
so much from outside into the Church.
• The mixing was making Christ to lose His
preeminence in the Church. making it to
be just a religion without Christ
• The simplicity of the Gospel was being
neglected.
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The balance of Christianity
• That God is far away and yet to near us. Psalms
113: 6...who humbleth Himself to behold the
things which are in heaven and in the earth.
i.e., The transcendence and eminence of God.
• If God is not near you, you try to fill that vacuum
with other things!
• We need the balance!
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The position of Christ
1. All things were created by Him and for
Him. (Colossians 2:16)
2. In Him dwelleth all fullness of the
Godhead bodily (Colossians 2:9)
3. He disarmed principalities and powers at
the cross. (Colossians 2:15)
4. He is the Head of the Church. (Col 2:19)
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The true center of Christian life.
1. Relationship with Christ
(a). Put off the old man with his deeds
and put on the new man. col 3: 8,10)
(b). Continue in the Word, Pray, Watch.
2. Relationships in:
(a). The Church, forgive, forbear, love.
(b). In the Family; submission, obedience
(c). At place of work-submission, justice
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Can you lose it?
• As you have therefore received Christ
Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him, Rooted
and built up in Him and stablished in the
faith as ye have been taught, abounding
therein with thanksgiving. Col 2:6,7
• Beware because: If you lose Christ you
lose everything!
• Abide in me…, John 15:5
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