Colossians
Author and Title:
Because
of the greetings in 1:2, Colossians became known as Pros Kolossaeis, “To the
Colossians.” As with the other epistles of Paul surveyed thus far, both the
external and internal evidence strongly support Paul’s authorship. But the
authorship of this epistle has been doubted by some on the grounds of the
vocabulary and the nature of the heresy refuted in this epistle. Expositor’s
Bible Commentary has an excellent summary of the key issues involving the
authorship and date of Colossians.
That
Colossians is a genuine letter of Paul is not usually disputed. In the early
church, all who speak on the subject of authorship ascribe it to Paul. In the
19th century, however, some thought that the heresy refuted in ch. 2 was
second-century Gnosticism. But a careful analysis of ch. 2 shows that the
heresy there referred to is noticeably less developed than the Gnosticism of
leading Gnostic teachers of the second and third centuries. Also, the seeds of
what later became the full-blown Gnosticism of the second century were present
in the first century and already making inroads into the churches.
Consequently, it is not necessary to date Colossians in the second century at a
time too late for Paul to have written the letter. Instead,
it is to be dated during Paul’s first imprisonment in Rome, where he spent at
least two years under house arrest (see Ac 28:16-31).58
Date: A.D. 61
Paul
wrote all four prison epistles during his first Roman imprisonment. This means
he wrote it in A.D. 60-61 (see the discussion on the date of Ephesians and
Philippians).
Theme and Purpose:
The
theme is the fruitful and effective power of the gospel message which heralds
the supremacy, headship, and the utter sufficiency of Christ to the church
which is His body. In this little epistle, we see Paul’s “full-length portrait
of Christ.”59 Colossians demonstrates that because of all that Jesus Christ is
in His person and has accomplished in His work, He, as the object of the
believer’s faith, is all we need for in Him we are complete (2:10). In scope,
Colossians presents the all supremacy, all sufficiency, uniqueness, and the
fullness of the person and work of Jesus Christ as the God-man Savior, the
Creator and Sustainer of the universe, and the total solution for man’s needs
both for time and eternity. It is a cosmic book, presenting the cosmic Christ:
the Creator/Sustainer and Redeemer/Reconciler of man and all the universe.
Key Words:
Key
words in this book are “supremacy” and “sufficiency.”
Key Verses:
1. 1:15-20.
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation, 1:16 for
all things in heaven and on earth were created by him—all things, whether
visible or invisible, whether thrones or dominions, whether principalities or
powers—all things were created through him and for him. 1:17 He himself is before
all things and all things are held together in him. 1:18 He is the head of the
body, the church, as well as the beginning, the firstborn from among the dead
so that he himself may become first in all things. 1:19 For God was pleased to
have all his fullness dwell in him 1:20 and through him to reconcile all things
to himself by making peace through the blood of his cross—whether things on the
earth or things in heaven.
2. 2:8-10.
Be careful not to allow anyone to captivate you through an empty, deceitful
philosophy that is according to human traditions and the elemental spirits of
the world, and not according to Christ. 2:9 For in him all the fullness of
deity lives in bodily form 2:10 and you have been filled in him, who is the
head over every ruler and authority.
3. 3:1-3.
Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things above,
where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 3:2 Keep thinking about
things above, not things on the earth, 3:3 for you have died and your life is
hidden with Christ in God.
Key Chapters:
Chapters
2 is key in that it demonstrates why and how the believer is complete in Christ
and needs nothing added to the saving person and work of Christ. Chapter 3 then
builds on this as root to fruit or cause and effect. Because believers are
complete in Christ (2:10) and are thereby risen with Him, they now have all
they need for Christ-like transformation in all the relationships of life
(3:1f.).
Christ As Seen In Colossians:
Wilkinson
and Boa points out:
This
singularly Christological book is centered on the cosmic Christ—“the head of
all principality and power” (2:10), the Lord of creation (1:16-17), the Author
of reconciliation (1:20-22; 2:13-15). He is the basis for the believer’s hope
(1:5, 23, 27), the source of the believer’s power for a new life (1:11, 29),
the believer’s Redeemer and Reconciler (1:14, 20-22; 2:11-15), the embodiment
of full Deity (1:15, 19; 2:9), the Creator and Sustainer of all things
(1:16-17), the Head of the church (1:18), the resurrected God-Man (1:18; 3:1),
and the all-sufficient Savior (1:28; 2:3, 20; 3:1-4).60
Assignment
1. Read the above commentary carefully and thoughtfully and in 10 salients points summarise the commentary.
2. Read Colossians 1:19-2:3 and write a brief sermon on 'The Work of Christ' follow the outline below:
1. The Description of His Work
2. The Application of His Work
3. The Propagation of His Work
To submit, click on the comment section under this post, indicate your name and paste your answers.
Deadline is Saturday, March 29, latest 4:00pm
