Bible Study

Scripture: Colossian Chapter 1

vs. 1-29

Topic: The Greatness of Jesus Christ

PART ONE (1)

vs. 1 -14 (The Prayer of Paul)

PART TWO (2)

vs. 15-29

1
 Background
• The church at Colossae.
• Colossae, probably would never have been mentioned in
the New Testament had it not been for the Church there.

• The city is never named in the book of Acts, because Paul

did not start the Colossian Church nor did he ever visit it.

• Paul had heard of their faith (Chpt 1 vs 4 & 9) but he had

never seen these believers physically (Chpt 2 vs1 )

2
 Background
• Here was a church of unknown people, in a small town,
receiving an inspired letter from the Great Apostle Paul.
• How did the Colossian Church begin?

• It was the outgrowth of Paul’s three (3) year ministry in

Ephesus. (Acts 19. Chpt 20 vs 17-38) So effective, was the
witness of the church at Ephesus that all they which dwell in
Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.
(Acts 19 vs 10).

• This would include people in Colossae.

3
 Background
• During Paul’s Ministry, in Ephesus at least two(2) men from
Colossae, were brought to faith in Jesus Christ, Epaphras &
Philemon (note Philemon 1 vs 19)
• Epaphras was apparently one of the key founders of the
Church in Colossae, for He shared the gospel with his
friends there (Colossian 1 vs 7).
• (Note Philemon 1 vs 2)
• Philemon had a church meeting in his house, it is likely that
Apphia and Archippus mention in this verse, were
respectively the wife and son of Philemon and that
Archippus was the Pastor of the church. Colossian 4 vs 17.

4
 Background
• Here is a good lesson for us, God does not
always need an Apostle or a full-time Christian
Worker to get a Ministry established nor does
he need an elaborate building and extensive
organization.
• Here were two (2) lay men that were used of
God to start a Ministry.

5
 Background
• Snap Shot of:
The Crisis or Problem at the Church of Colossia.
The crisis that exist at Colossia is that:
A. Spiritual Knowledge was available only to those with superior
intellect, thus creating a spiritual cast system.
B. Faith was treated with Contempt.
C. Advanced Gnosticism even taught salvation was received by
knowledge.
D. Supporter or Adherent believed that they could understand divine
mysteries totally unknown and unavailable to the typical Christian.
NB: Another influence of Greek Philosophy was in its teaching that all
matter was innately evil and that the soul or mind was intrinsically
good.
6
 Background
• Snap Shot of:
The Crisis or Problem at the Church of Colossia.
E. This logically led to a denial of the creation of the
material world by God and to a denial of the incarnation of
Jesus Christ. Also, a rejection of His humanity, His physical
death and physical resurrection.

According to this group, since God did not create the world
in the past, He does not work in the world in the present.
This would rule out the value of prayer or the possibilities
of miracles. It led to a false worship of angels.
7
 Background
*For further information on background you can
consult, New Testament Survey by: Robert G.
Gromacki

8
 Outline of Chapter 1
• Topic: The Greatness of Jesus Christ
V1-2. Greetings and Giving of thanks
V3. Paul Habit of Prayer for the Colossian
V4-8. Why Paul was thankful
V9-11. How Paul prayed for the Colossian Christian
V12-14 Paul’s specific thanks to the Father
V15-20 Paul’s Meditation on the person & work of Jesus
V21-23 How the Greatness of Jesus’s work touches the lives of the
Colossian
V24-26 Paul is a servant of the Church revealing the mystery of God
that was once hidden
V27-29 Part of the Mystery that Jesus would actually indwell
believers.
9
 Part 1 vs 1-14
• V1-2. Greetings and Giving of thanks
Paul: According to the custom of writing letter in that day, the
authors name is given first.
Therefore the Author was Paul. He wrote the letter while in Roman
Custody. Col. 4 vs 3&18, probably from Rome.
• He probably wrote the letter because of the visit of Epaphras
from Colosse (chpt 1 vs 7). It is likely that Paul himself had never
visited the city (Chpt 2 vs 1 )
• Paul was qualified to write this letter of instruction to the
Colossian, though he had never met them personally as an
Apostle.
• “The literal meaning of Apostolos is one sent”, but at its deepest
level, it denotes an authorized spokesman for God, one
commissioned and empowered to act as his representative.
10
• Timothy was an honored companion of Paul, but he was
not an Apostle. Though Timothy is mentioned here, in the
salutation, yet he has never been understood as having any
part in composing this Epistle or letter.
• Notice V2 :To the saints and faithful brethren. He did not
separate some Christians, from the others in the Colossian
church. Every true Christian is a saint.
• However, he may make a distinction with the phrase
faithful brethren. He may refer to those who have not
embraced the false teaching that concerned Paul so much
in this letter.

11
• V3: Paul habit of Prayer for the Colossians
Though he had never met most of them, the
Christian of Colosse were on Paul’s Prayer list.
He pray for them not only often but always.
Notice: We give thanks, when Paul did pray for
the Colossians he did it full of gratitude. Perhaps
those who pray the most, end up having the
most reason to thank God.

12
• V4-8: Why Paul was thankful
Notice V4: Since we heard: Paul was thankful for
their faith in Christ Jesus and their love for all
the Saints.
Genuine faith in Jesus will always have a true
love for God’s people as a companion.

13
• V5 Because of the Hope
Paul was thankful for the hope laid up for them in heaven.
• He was thankful when he considered the destiny of the
Colossian Christians.
• Notice the familiar trend of faith, hope & love in verse 4-
5. These were not merely theological ideas to Paul; they
dominated his thinking as a Christian.
• V5: Which ye heard before in the word of the Truth.
• Paul was thankful that their eternal destiny was affected
by the Truth of the gospel, brought by Epaphras.

14
• V7 :
Epaphras is described as a faithful minister of Christ on their
behalf. This does not mean that Epaphras was superior to the
other Christian in Colosse.
The word minister does not mean “superior”, it means “one
who serves”.
• V6: And is bringing forth fruit; Paul was thankful that the
gospel was brining forth fruit over all the world even while
Paul was in Roman prison.
• The phrase in all the world, a legitimate term used for the
gospel was spreading all over the Roman Empire

15
• According, to Adam Clarke “The doctrine of
the Gospel is represented as a traveller whose
object is to visit the whole habitation earth, so
rapid is this traveller in his course that he
already gone nearly through the whole of the
countries under the Roman dominion and will
travel on until he has proclaimed his message
to every people and kindred and nation and
tongue.
16
• Verse 9-11 “How Paul prayed for the Colossian
Christians”
• Notice since the Day we heard of it, do not
cease to pray for you. Paul pray regularly, “Paul”
asking has been: regular, intense, focused and
intentional.
• Such deliberateness stand in sharp contrast to
the blind suggestion of praying in the comment.

17
•I will be thinking of you. I can imagine that Paul prayed regularly for a list of churches.
-We prone to pray only in emergencies.
-For those in need
-Those in trouble or in hard circumstances

Paul prayed continually for his churches, spiritual fortitude depends on

regularity in prayer.
Paul prayed with praise and thanks giving, sometimes we lack the joy and thanksgiving
in offering up our prayers.
Because we are too preoccupied with the evil that we fear is lurking
around the corner.
We sometimes resort to prayer only when we feel under siege and then only focus on
our problems.

18
• Paul give thanks in every situation because he could always
see God’s resplendent grace at work throughout the world.
• Praying for others:
An important facet of our communal faith is that we pray for
others and that they pray for us.
Such mutual concern becomes crucial during those dark
times when we may feel, for various reason unable to pray.
We can rest assured that in our family of faith we are cared
for, prayed for and supported. It should not be only when
there is a pressing need.

19
• V.9 Paul Prayed for Spiritual Development
• Paul recognizes that what his churches need most is to grow
in the knowledge that will govern their faith and decision.
• He prayed that they will be filled with Spiritual Wisdom and
will know the hope to which God has called them and will live
accordingly.
• Note, Paul specifically prayed for the Colossians spiritual
development in this passage. He pray that they will blossom
in the soil of God’s Grace so that they will please God.
• Paul prayed a picture or modeled of intercessory prayer that
we do not often emulate.

20
• V. 10 Pleasing God
• Paul pray that the Colossians will please God in every way.
He then list four(4) ways that are crucial for pleasing God.
1. Bearing fruit in every good work:
Go hand in hand: an abundant harvest of good fruit
reveals that a fruit tree is healthy.
An abundant harvest of good work reveal the spiritual
health of a Christian. Unfortunately some Christian do
not always put the truth they believe into practice (some
practical examples)

21
• Do you know of someone who needs a little help
during this time? If we can send some food
items, do it.
• A phone call to cheer up someone during illness
or whatsapp.
• Brethren, it is not necessarily the big things but
the little things.
• The test of faith is whether it makes any
difference in the way we live and treat others
22
• 2. Growing in the Knowledge of God
The axion that the rich get richer is particularly true
in the spiritual sphere. Knowledge of God will bring
even more knowledge and spiritual growth.
Sin become a vicious cycle as it plunges us deeper
and deeper into degradation. Knowledge of God
becomes a viscous cycle as it leads us deeper and
deeper into fulfilling God Sovereign purpose.

23
• Our knowledge should result in more than
knowing just good from evil but in doing good.
Knowledge leads to a transformed
relationship with God & others. If we as
Christians understand God’s will, we are
expected to follow through and do it.
Note: Luke 6 vs. 46; Why do you call me
Lord and do not do what I say.

24
• For Christian to grow in the knowledge of God
the body of Christ need to be a rigorous, biblical
and moral training ground.
3. Being strengthen with all power to his glorious
might
Knowledge does not enable obedience. Paul
petition to God to give his readers not only
Spiritual discernment of his will but also the
divine power to do it.
25
• That power has been revealed in the resurrection.
Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of
the father. Rom. 6 vs 4.
• That same power give Paul strength, to toil for the
gospel and empower other Christian to live lives
pleasing to God.
• Christianity is not to do it yourself Religion, the
believer can only be strong through God. Salvation is
more than a matter of restoring standing with God.

26
• It is a transformation in which God is at work in
the believer as well as for them.
• Paul recognizes however that Christian life and
growth “take place in a world antagonistic, both
to his faith & good works”.
• Christians will meet with adversity and affliction
which will require great endurance and
patience. In this context with the Colossians,
endurance is exercised towards circumstances.
27
• It is the power to cope and be content in all circumstances
(Phil 4 v. 11-13).
• Even when we are overwhelmed by suffering. It is the
opposite of complaining, grumbling or becoming
despondent.
• When our faith in Christ fail to deliver; ease or greater
earthly reward but instead bring persecution and
suffering, those who endure do not abandon their faith for
something that looks less demanding and more promising.
Endurance refers to hanging on during tough times.

28
• 4. V12-14 Joyfully giving thanks
NB: Giving thanks to the Father who has qualified
us to be partaker of the inheritance of the Saints.
In the Divine Administration, the Father is
mentioned in connection with the broad sweep of
His plan of Redemption.
He is the person of the Trinity who initiate the
plan of the Ages.

29
• It is the Father who qualifies us not our own works. We
gain this as an inheritance instead of earning it as a wages.
V. 13
A. Deliver us from the power of darkness
B. Translated us into the Kingdom of His Dear Son
C. In whom we have redemption through His Blood, even
the forgiveness of sins.
• Christians have been delivered from Satan’s Domain, the
word has the idea of a rescue by a Sovereign power and
place us into the kingdom of God

30
• There are three (3) Greek words for Redemption.
1. Exagorazo – To buy out, especially of purchasing a
slave with a view to his freedom.
2. Agorazo- To purchase
3. Lutroo- Signifying to release by paying a
ransom price .
In a spiritual sense: Jesus Christ death on the cross,
satisfied the demand of a righteous God and set us free.

END OF PART ONE (1)

31