COLOSSIANS LESSON 1


     This letter was written to the church at Colosse. This was
located in Asia Minor. Paul wrote this letter from Rome somewhere
between 60 and 64 A.D. It seems that the people in this area were
caught up in the power of the mind. There is some question about
whether Paul started the church at Colosse, if he did, it was on his
third missionary trip. I personally believe that he did start the
church and had become concerned about the direction the church was
headed. Some of the men he trained could have physically started it.
It still would have been Paul's church.

     In some cultures today, mind control is still being practiced as
a kind of religion.

     The main message in Colossians is Christ is the head of the
church.

     We will now begin the verse by verse study in Colossians 1:1
"Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus
[our] brother,"

     In this very first verse, we see that Paul wrote the letter.
Timothy was with Paul at the time of the writing and was in agreement
with what was said. We have mentioned several times the qualifications
of an apostle, and Paul fit every one of them. We do not question that
Paul was, in fact, an apostle. We also agreed that Paul was chosen by
God to bring the gospel to the Gentiles in particular, and unto all
mankind as opportunity arose. Timothy is spoken of as brother of Paul,
when in fact, he was not related to Paul in the physical. He was a
brother in the sense that all believers in Christ are brothers.

     Colossians 1:2 "To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ
which are at Colosse: Grace [be] unto you, and peace, from God our
Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."

     This letter was addressed to the people of the church in Colosse
who had believed Jesus Christ to be their Saviour. Here, again, we see
that all believers are brothers in Christ. Paul's letters always start
with grace. Grace is a free gift from God, which brings the peace
spoken of here. The saints, spoken of here, have received this as a
gift after believing in Jesus. We see honor given to the Father and
the Lord Jesus Christ here. The name Lord Jesus Christ tells us who,
and what, Jesus really is. He is our King, our Saviour, the Messiah,
the Anointed One.

     Colossians 1:3 "We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ, praying always for you,"

     Paul, always starts his letters on a positive note. This is no
exception. They are in the constant prayers of Paul.

     Colossians 1:4 "Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and
of the love [which ye have] to all the saints,"

     More than anything in the letter, this indicates that Paul might
not have founded the church here. It is as if he is saying, all that
he knows about this church is what he has heard others saying. The
things Paul mentions here that he has heard are good things. The very
first thing is that they have set their faith in Jesus Christ. It
appears, also, that this is a church of great love for God and for all
of the believers.

     Colossians 1:5 "For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven,
whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;"

     The hope is of the resurrection to eternal life in heaven. Paul
says here, You have been taught the truth of the gospel and you
believed. Paul has commented on their faith and love, and both of
these are things that will get them to heaven.

     Colossians 1:6 "Which is come unto you, as [it is] in all the
world; and bringeth forth fruit, as [it doth] also in you, since the
day ye heard [of it], and knew the grace of God in truth:"

     This same gospel had been taught in all the known world of that
time. Actually, love is a fruit that was brought forth by their faith
in Jesus. Wherever this gospel is preached in all the world, it
produces fruit. Galatians 1:11 "But I certify you, brethren, that the
gospel which was preached of me is not after man."  The good news of
the gospel is not a man-made belief, but comes from God Himself.
Christianity is contagious. In the beginning it spread very rapidly.
This happened in part because of the many eyewitnesses to Jesus. We
see that many times thousands were saved in one day. Acts 2:41  "Then
they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day
there were added [unto them] about three thousand souls." Paul is
saying, these people at Colosse have been very productive in bringing
in new Christians ever since they heard the gospel themselves.

     Colossians 1:7 "As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear
fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ;"

     Now we see that Epaphras was one of the ministers who had brought
the truth of the gospel to the church here. Paul speaks highly of
Epaphras, who had served with Paul on some of his missionary journeys.
He had ministered here being sent by Paul. He had worked with Paul,
and the message was the same as Paul's. Paul is saying that Epaphras
brings a true message of the gospel of Christ.

     Colossians 1:8 "Who also declared unto us your love in the
Spirit."

     It seems as though it was Epaphras who had told Paul of the great
love of these people. Spirit, here, is speaking of the Holy Spirit.
None of us know how to truly love, until the Spirit comes and teaches
us how to love. Man's love is because. God's love is in spite of.

     Colossians 1:9 "For this cause we also, since the day we heard
[it], do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be
filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual
understanding;"

     We have mentioned so many times in these lessons, that wisdom is
a gift from God and knowledge is accumulated learning. The way we can
learn of God's will, is to study His Holy Word. Then, Paul is saying,
he had prayed that they would study God's Word and find out what God's
will for their lives is. This spiritual understanding, here, is
speaking of being guided into all truth by the Holy Spirit of God.

     Colossians 1:10 "That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all
pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the
knowledge of God;"

     To obey God's will in our life pleases God. When we become a new
creature in Christ through accepting Jesus as Saviour, we are expected
of God to walk in that newness of life. The only way we can walk
worthy is to allow Jesus to live and walk in us. We must be fruit
bearers. God expects every Christian to produce other Christians. The
best way to do all of this, is to stay in the study of God's Word and
accumulate His knowledge in us.

     Colossians 1:11 " Strengthened with all might, according to his
glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;"

     It is the power of God within which strengthens the inner man.
The power of the Holy Spirit within produces the patience,
longsuffering, and joyfulness.

     Colossians 1:12 "Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made
us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:"

     It is the Father through Jesus Christ our Lord which makes us
acceptable unto Him. The righteousness of Christ puts us in right
standing with the Father. Jesus is the Light of the world. Acts 26:18
"To open their eyes, [and] to turn [them] from darkness to light, and
[from] the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness
of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that
is in me." Our inheritance is in Jesus. We receive the inheritance
because of our faith. Hebrews 9:15 "And for this cause he is the
mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the
redemption of the transgressions [that were] under the first
testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal
inheritance."   John 8:12  "Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying,
I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in
darkness, but shall have the light of life."  We are in Light, if we
are Christians, because we are in Jesus and He is the Light.






                        Colossians 1 Questions


1.  Who was the letter written to?
2.  Where was Paul when he wrote this book.
3.  Approximately when was it written?
4.  The people in this area were caught up in what?
5.  What is the main message in Colossians?
6.  What does Paul call himself in verse 1?
7.  Why did Paul become an apostle?
8.  In what sense was Timothy Paul's brother?
9.  Who was the letter addressed to?
10. What do Paul's letters always start with?
11. What does the name, Lord Jesus Christ, tell us?
12. What had Paul heard about them?
13. What is the hope of the believer?
14. Wherever in the world this gospel is preached it produces ______.
15. In Acts chapter 2 verse 41, how many souls are added in one day?
16. Paul names _______ who is a faithful minister to them?
17. Who had told Paul of the great love of these people?
18. Paul was praying that they be filled with what?
19. How do wisdom and knowledge differ?
20. That ye might walk __________ of the Lord.
21. How can we walk worthy?
22. What strengthens the inner man?
23. What puts us in right standing with the Father?
24. Quote Acts chapter 26 verse 18.
25. Who is the mediator of the New Testament?
26. We receive an inheritance, because of our _______.
27. Quote John chapter 8 verse 12.