Colossians The Christ Colossae Approximately 100 miles east

Colossians: The Christ

Colossae ¨ Approximately 100 miles east of Ephesus – Near Laodicea and Hierapolis ¨ Region was a producer of fine wool – And later cotton and cherries ¨ Lycus River provided ample irrigation – Water was part of the identity of the region ¨ Before Christ, was on a major east-west trade route

Colossae ¨ Highest prominence during Greek control – But dwindled after the trade route shifted northwards ¨ By the 1 st century, it’s a city in decline ¨ Suffered two major earthquakes in 1 st century – One before this letter, one probably after ¨ No mention of the city in Acts – Paul’s closest travels occurred in the third journey

Colossae

Phyrgia (West-Central Turkey) Heirapolis

Colossian Mound

Colossian Mound

Lycus Valley

Lycus Valley

Lycus Valley

Colossian Letter

Colossian Letter

Colossian Saints • Paul “heard of their faith” (1: 4; 2: 1) • He may not have met most of them (2: 1) • They learned the gospel through Epaphras (1: 6) • Epaphras now communicates with Paul about the Colossians (1: 7, 4: 12 – 13) • Perhaps he also told Paul of Philemon • Epaphras may be imprisoned (Phlm. 1: 23) • But false teaching is laying hold (2: 8, 16, 20)

Letter Themes ¨ “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (1: 27) ¨ Supremacy of Christ – “For by him all things were created…all things were created through him and for him. ” (1: 16) ¨ Salvation in Christ – “And you…he has now reconciled…to present…you holy and blameless…” (1: 21 -22; 2: 13 -14)

Letter Themes ¨ Sufficiency of Christ – “…but Christ is all, and in all” (3: 11) ¨ Motivation in Christ – “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above…” (3: 1) ¨ Nature of Christ – Fully God (Godhead) 2: 9 – Dwelling in human form (1: 19 -20, 2: 9)

Letter Outline 1. Truth 2. Response to truth Personal • Doctrinal • Practical • Personal • v v True doctrine False doctrine Christian living Christian fellowship

Mainly Personal Mainly Doctrinal 1: 3 We give thanks 1: 13 We pray Explanation of the Person and work of Christ 2: 4 Exposing of heresies 1. Legalism (Judaist) 2: 11 -17 2. Worship of human mind 2: 8 3. Angel worship Mainly Practical 3: 5 Exchanges in Christian’s conduct PUT ON/PUT OFF 1. In personal life 3: 5 -17 2. In domestic life 3: 18 -4: 1 3. In relation to the world 4: 2 -6 Mainly Personal 4: 7 Notes and Salutations 1. Fellow bond slave 4: 7 2. Fellow prisoner 4: 10 3. Fellow worker 4: 11 Topic Theme 4. Asceticism 2: 2023 Christ your Inheritance 1: 12 Christ your indweller 1: 27 True doctrine Christ your sufficiency 2: 10 False doctrine Christ your motivation 3: 17 Christian living Christ your master 4: 7 Christian fellowship

The The. Preeminenceofof. Christ CHRIST In Universal Government • • In reconciliation In wisdom and In personal In Christian knowledge observance living • Pleases the • Father Pleases the The visible (1: 19, • The source of • We are alive in • He is our life • image The visible Father (1: 19, • The source of all • We are alive in • He is our life of God 20) all the treasures Him (2: 11 -13) (3: 3) image of God 20) the treasures Him (2: 11 -13) (3: 3) (1: 15) • Reconciles us (2: 2, 3) • No need for • We can avoid The agent of through His • Worldly legalism and immorality and • creation The agent of through His • Worldly legalism and immorality and (1: 16) death (1: 21, philosophy ritualism (2: 16 - can bless creation (1: 16) death (1: 21, philosophy does ritualism (2: 16 - can bless The Sustainer 22) does not 23) others (3: 5 -14) • (1: 17) The Sustainer 22) not conform to 23) others (3: 5 -14) • Lives in us as conform to (1: 17) • our Lives in us as Him (2: 8) The Head of hope of Him (2: 8) • the The Head of our hope of church glory (1: 27) the church glory (1: 27) (1: 18)

Christ in You ¨ Is Christ your hope of glory?