The Book Of Colossians

The Book Of Colossians
Randall Caselman
3/2/97 pm

The Book Of Colossians

Reading - Colossians 1.13-23

Last week we examined the book of Philippians. The city of Philippi was the sight of the first recorded preaching of Christ on European soil. As we come to Colossians, we need to understand that we are back in Asia Minor.

THE CITY OF COLOSSE
The city of Colosse was located about 125 miles inland, east of Ephesus. During the Persian wars, in the biblical time of Daniel, Colosse was a very important city. It was located on a rocky ridge overlooking the Lycus river valley. However, by New Testament times, the city ranked third in the district of Phrygia. Colosse was the least important city to which Paul addressed a letter. The nearby cities of Laodicea and Hierapolis were more prominent. Paul mentions both these cities in this short letter. Colosse was located on a major trade route to the east. Commercially, it was known for two things: Its valuable glossy black wool. And its purple die made from the madder plant. The city was destroyed by an earthquake during the reign of Nero in the latter part of the first century. It was quickly rebuilt, but in the 12th century it was destroyed by the Turks and was abandoned and never rebuilt. The destruction was so complete that archaeological remains of Colosse are almost nonexistent. The Colosse of Paul’s day is only a memory.

THE CHURCH OF COLOSSE
We do not know who planted the church in Colosse. The gospel was probably taken there during Paul’s two and a half year stay in Ephesus. In Acts 19.10, Luke records that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks. Most Bible scholars feel that it was at this time that the church at Colosse was founded. Two men are most frequently mentioned as being responsible for planting this church: Epaphras, who was possibly converted by Paul while he was at Ephesus, or Timothy. Primarily Timothy is suggested because his name appears in the introduction to this letter. One thing we know is that Paul did not start this church. This church had never met Paul. We know this from his statement in chapter two, verse one, I want you to know how much I am struggling for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally. A little side trip here, in writing to the Corinthians, Paul said, that the care of all the churches were a concern to him. So we see, by putting these two verses together, that Paul was concerned for ALL the churches. The ones he visited and the ones he had never visited. Even though they had never met him, they looked to him for Apostolic direction. In a sense, Paul was their spiritual grandfather. He had been responsible for teaching the ONE who had taught them. As far as we can determine, the membership of the Colosse church was composed largely, if not exclusively, of Gentiles. Paul identifies them as being dead in their sins and the uncircumcision of their flesh. We know that the title uncircumcision is a designation for Gentiles in Paul’s other epistles.

THE BOOK OF COLOSSIANS
The book of Colossians is one of Paul’s prison epistles, along with Ephesians, Philippians, and Philemon. This would have been during his first imprisonment in Rome from 60-62 A.D. It was the imprisonment that closes the book of Acts. Perhaps using the word imprisonment is somewhat misleading. Actually, Paul is under house arrest. He was chained to a Roman guard, but at the same time was free to receive house guest. This was the circumstance that allowed him to have direct contact with:  Timothy, John Mark, Epaphras, Onesimus, Epaproditus, and others mentioned.

There are some objections to the idea that Paul wrote this letter. The argument against Pauline authorship centers around the fact that the style and vocabulary in Colossians are different from the style and vocabulary in his others Epistles. Those who believe Paul did not write this material point out the fact that the book contains 55 Greek words which Paul never used in any of his other letters. Of course Paul didn’t have to use all the words he knew in every letter. I preach long sermons, but I don’t use every word I know in each lesson. The internal evidence points to Paul as the author... He says he wrote it. Plus the early church writers support a Pauline authorship. There is no real reason for us to doubt his authorship.

The purpose of the letter is very clear, to correct, what is called the Colosse heresy. Epaphras, who possibly planted this church had traveled to Rome to consult with Paul on the false doctrine that had infiltrated the church and to get Apostolic advice on how to handle the situation. Colossians is a direct result of that visit. We do not know exactly what the heresy was, we can only surmise from the corrective statement that Paul makes. This system of false teaching appeared to center around a form of early Gnosticism. Note with me now some thing we can ascertain about this heresy from:

HISTORY -- AND FROM PAUL’S COMMENTS.

• First, we know it was seductive and appealing to human wisdom.
Something about it was very appealing, for Paul says in 2.4, I tell you this so that no-one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments. Then in 2.23 he writes, such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom.

• Secondly, it taught that salvation was the result of superior intellect. This false doctrine taught that only the very knowledgeable could share in salvation and that it certainly was not for the common man. It taught salvation as a result of intellect and superior knowledge. Listen as I read from Colossians 2.8 & 23, See to it that no-one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ... Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.

• Number 3, this heresy had some legalistic rules and regulations rooted in Judaism... Rooted in the Law of Moses. This is seen in verses 16 of chapter 2, Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day.

• Fourthly, it involved angel worship. True Gnosticism taught that the existence of the material world was a result of the work of angels. It taught that God created an angel, who created another angel, who in turn created another angel, ad infinitum. The last angel in this series than created the world. This angelic cosmology thus denies the creation of the universe by God through Christ. The conclusion of this thinking was that, because God did not directly create the world, He was no longer active in it. This all lead to the worship of angels which Paul strictly forbids in 2.18, Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for he prize. Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions.

• Number five, the heresy attacked the deity, the preeminence and all-sufficiency of Jesus Christ. The Gnostics held that Christ was a create being, perhaps the highest being that God created, but that He was not God in the flesh. Paul addressed this falsehood with such verses as our reading tonight. Lets rehearse it again, now have in mind what Paul wrote these verses for.

For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation; if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.

• Then number six, gnosticism taught that all matter was innately evil and that the soul or mind was intrinsically good. This logically led to a denial of the creation of the material universe by God and to a denial of the incarnation of Jesus Christ. Advanced Gnosticism of the second century, taught that one could separate the mind and the body, so that the body could sin and still leave the mind pure. Paul uses chapter 3 and the first 6 verses of chapter 4 to encourage the Colossians Christians to CONTROL THEIR MINDS by setting them on things that are above and to maintain their moral purity.

He is saying, your body and mind are connected and that we can live pure lives by EXERCISING MIND OVER BODY CONTROL. He is saying that God created us in such a way that we can control our wants by our will. Lets read chapter 3-4.6.

“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged. Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism. Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven. Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. Be wise in the way you act towards outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”

The final 12 verses of Colossians contains Paul’s personal greetings.

I hope the sermon tonight helps give you some insight to the problems of the first century church. You see, the truth is, their problems are not that much different from ours today. We currently must deal with false teachings that:

• Are certainly seductive, appealing and filled with human wisdom. Does evolution appeal to human wisdom?

• False doctrines which contend that salvation is a result of legalism. This was why Martin Luther and others broke away from the Catholic church, because of their legalism. They contended, and still do, that salvation was based upon a system of works, rather than salvation by grace through faith.

• Angel worship is big today... It’s like we have been transported back to the first century.

• There are many who believe today that Jesus was certainly a prophet, a teacher, a moralist and a good man, but not God.

• Our generation is filled with the teachings that we are not responsible for sin. This is big today.  We are being told that sins is a disease; that it is a result of our environment, our genetics.  We are told that we cannot control our desires, our lust, our passions and want-to’s by a God-given will. Paul gives Christians Biblical advice on all false doctrines in chapter 2, verses 20-22. Listen closely to him, Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules:
• Do not handle!
• Do not taste!
• Do not touch!
These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings.

Even though the church at Colosse added very little to Christianity in the first two centuries, it does affect us tonight, because of this important letter Paul wrote, telling us how to deal with false doctrines that:
• Deny the deity of Christ
• And promote sin through denial of self control.

Tonight, and as long as there is breath within us, we have an opportunity to take control of our life and submit to the WILL of God. For instance you can enjoy the forgiveness of all past sins by accepting Jesus Christ for who He is --  the Son of God. You can become a child of God by: Faith, Repentance, and N. T. Baptism, immersion in water for the forgiveness of sins. God then promises us that He will help us say NO to sin as we strive to be His children.

Deny today’s false doctrines; say no to Satan; obey God; come to Jesus.