Studies in Colossians September 13, 2023
Session 2

PAUL’S LETTER TO A CHURCH IN CRISIS

· Paul was a prisoner in Rome during this time (Acts 21:17-28:31).

· Epaphras travels 1,300 miles from Colossae to Rome to seek Paul’s help concerning heretical teachings that were beginning to infiltrate the church.
o Hope was not yet lost.
o Paul commends the Colossian believers for their steadfast faith, love, and lives of prayer (1:4, 4:2).

· Within this general timeframe, Paul wins Onesimus, a runaway Colossian slave, to Christ.

· Epaphras apparently stays in Rome to assist Paul.

· Paul sends Onesimus and Tychicus to deliver the letters to Philemon, the Ephesians, and Colossians to their respective destinations.



A MYSTERIOUS FALSE TEACHING EMERGES

· The precise nature of this blended heresy is uncertain.

· The letter’s evidence shows this teaching was a mixture of Eastern philosophy, Jewish legalism, and an early form of Gnosticism.

· We will discuss these false teachings in more detail as we move through the letter.

· Early Gnosticism overview
o “To know” the hidden, deeper revelations of God.
o Spiritual elitism and “full knowledge”
o Philo of Alexandria, 1ST century Jewish philosopher, “matter is evil.”
o Gnostics adopted this theme. Since matter is evil, God cannot come into contact with matter.
§Emanations of God and angelic intermediaries
§Jesus was one of many emanations and not truly the Son of God.
§His preexistence and preeminence were denied.
§Some Gnostics claimed he didn’t really possess a human body.
§Rigid discipline and ascetism as a means to greater revelation

· Jewish legalism
o Taught that Old Covenant observances were useful in attaining spiritual advancement.
§Dietary laws, Sabbath observance, and Jewish festivals (Colossians 2:16)

· Pagan astrology - an unchangeable fatalism, fixed by the stars, much like horoscopes today.

· Mysticism and folk beliefs added to their Christian faith – appealing directly to angels for protection against evil spirits and diseases.



CHAPTER 1

· Paul addresses the church using his apostolic authority (1:1).

· He presents the Father and Son as unified and parallel in relationship and purpose (1:2).

· Paul’s Gospel message included the promise of heaven, the grace of God, and expectation of its effectiveness (fruit) (1:5-7).



PAUL’S PRAYER FOR THE COLOSSIANS

· Paul attacks the Gnostics on their own ground, “filled with theknowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding” (1:9).

· True spiritual knowledge leads to right conduct, and fruitful works versus empty words/head knowledge (1:10).

· Being empowered according to the might of his glory (1:11).

· God himself qualifies his children to partake of his inheritance. Special knowledge, observances, and religious rites play no role.

· Christ the Savior
o He delivers His own from the powers of darkness and dominion of Satan (1:13).
§The Gnostic teachers believed in an organization of evil spirits that controlled the world-Weirsbe.
o He transferred us to His son’s dominion.
§This word was used for population deportations in the ancient world.
o He redeems us with his blood.
§To release a prisoner by ransom or making payment.
§Jesus met the Holy demands of God’s law.
o He has cancelled every debt.
§The forgiveness of sins -“Tetelestai” – Jesus’ words on the cross, “It is accomplished, paid in full.”



JESUS, THE PREEMINENT GOD OF CREATION

· Jesus, the image of the invisible God
o The word used for “image” conveyed two ideas, “exact representation -likeness” and “manifestation of the hidden” (1:15) – Wuest.
o Jesus is the manifestation and exact representation of the invisible God.
· Jesus, preeminent in status over his creation
o Jesus is the firstborn over creation (1:15).
§This speaks of his status, importance, and rank, not physical birth.
§The nation of Israel termed God’s firstborn to Pharaoh (Exodus 4:22).
§ King David prophetically referenced as the firstborn (Psalm 89:27).

· Jesus Christ, the Originator of All Creation
o All created things, material and spiritual, were created by Jesus.
o He was not created when he was placed in the womb of the virgin Mary.
o Thrones, dominions, principalities, or powers – Jewish terminology used for various spiritual beings and their rankings.
§This reference likely highlights evil forces that rebelled against God.
§Angel worship of the Colossians – a means of communication filling the chasm between God and men.

· Everything exists in Him, for Him, and through Him.
o Greek philosophers taught that everything needed a primary cause, an instrumental cause, and a final cause (plan, power, and purpose).
§“When it comes to creation, Jesus is the primary cause, (He planned it.), the instrumental cause (He produced it.), and the final cause (He did it for His own pleasure.)” – Weirsbe

· Jesus existed before anything that came into being.

· Jesus upholds creation and the laws that govern the material universe.
o Jesus sustains creation and keeps it from degenerating into chaos.
o Sunéstekō – All things “cohere” in Him.
o He the All- powerful, All-holy Word of the Father, spreads his power over all things everywhere, enlightening things seen and unseen, holding all and binding all together in Himself. He, the wisdom of God, holds the universe in tune together. – Athanasius



THE ORIGINAL APOSTLES PROCLAIMED JESUS AS GOD.

· Paul’s words about Christ’s preeminence was not exclusive to the Colossian believers.
o Christ Jesus, who, ... was in the form of God (Philippians 2:6).
§Morphé – consider the butterfly, metamorphosis.
§The true and exact essence of something, while possessing all its qualities, characteristics, and nature.
o Did not consider equality with God an earthly advantage (Philippians 2:6).

· John, one of the twelve, clearly understood Jesus’ divinity.
o Jesus, in the beginning, the Word was with, God, Word was God (1:1).
o The Word became flesh and we beheld his glory (1:14).
o By calling Himself the “Son of God” the Jews understood this as a claim of deity (5:18).
o Jesus’ “I AM” statements and the Jews taking up stones to stone Him (6:35, 8:12, 8:18, 10:9, 10:11, 11:25, 15:1, 14:6).
o Jesus referencing His own glory before creation (17:5).
o Purpose of John’s Gospel “that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.” (20:31).

· Simon Peter proclaimed Jesus’ deity.
o “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16).
o “To those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our ” (2 Peter 1:2).



THE EARLY CHURCH CONTENDED OVER THIS TRUTH

· Arius of Alexandria – early 4th century presbyter
o He essentially denied that Jesus is of one essence, nature, and substance with God. Further, he held that Jesus is not consubstantial with the Father, and therefore not like Him, or equal in dignity, or co-eternal, or within the sphere of real deity.
o This heresy was formally denounced at the Council of Nicea, 325.

· Satanic doctrine is content to acknowledge Jesus. Consider the following:
o Jews believe Jesus was Mary’s son, was a teacher (Rabbi), had many disciples, was respected, performed miracles, claimed to be the Messiah and was crucified on the cross. They also acknowledge His followers reported Jesus was raised from the dead.
o Muslims believe Jesus was born of a virgin, is to be revered and respected, was a prophet, a wise teacher who worked miracles, ascended to heaven, and will come again.
o Hindus believe Jesus was a holy man, a wise teacher, and is a “god.”
o Buddhists believe Jesus was an enlightened man and a wise teacher.
o New Age believers maintain Jesus was a wise moral teacher.
o Mormons believe Jesus was the spirit child of Heavenly Father and Heavenly Mother. The Son of God was the product of divine procreation—the firstborn of many spirit children made by heavenly parents.
o Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that Jesus was created by Jehovah as the archangel Michael before the physical world existed, and is a lesser, though mighty god.They believe when Jesus was born on earth, he was a mere human and not God in human flesh.Jehovah’s Witnesses also believe that Jesus was resurrected spiritually from the dead, but not physically.

· Beware any teachings that rejects, demeans, diminishes, downplays, and ignores the full deity and Lordship of Christ.


The Nicene Creed

I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible. I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages. God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father; through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. I believe in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins, and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen