Bible Study Colossians: 1: 1-14

 

A Commentary of the Book of Colossians 

By Dr. Barry L. Jenkins

Text Used: Legacy Standard Bible

Bible Study Colossians: 1: 1-14

We will study the book of Colossians. Our introduction comes from the Scofield Study Bible:

1917 Scofield Reference Bible Notes

Colossians 1:1

Book Introduction

The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Colossians

WRITER. The Apostle Paul (Col 1:1)

DATE. Colossians was sent by the same messenger who bore Ephesians and Philemon, and was probably written at the same time.

THEME. Epaphras, who laboured in the Word in the assembly at Colosse, was Paul's fellow-prisoner at Rome. Doubtless from him Paul learned the state of that church. As to fundamentals that state was excellent (1.3-8), but in a subtle way two forms of error were at work: The first was legality in its Alexandrian form of asceticism, "touch not, taste not," with a trace of the Judaic observance of "days"; the object of which was the mortification of the body (cf Ro 8:13). The second form of error was false mysticism, "intruding into those things which he hath not seen"--the result of philosophic speculation. Because these are ever present perils, Colossians was written, not for that day only, but for the warning of the church in all days.

The Epistle is in seven divisions:

I. Introduction 1.1-8 II. The apostolic prayer 1.9-14 III. The exaltation of Christ, Creator, Redeemer, Indweller 1.15-29 IV. The Godhead incarnate in Christ, in whom the believer is complete. 2.1-23. V. The believer's union with Christ in resurrection life and glory 3.1-4 VI. Christian living, the fruit of union with Christ, 3.5-4.6 VII. Christian fellowship, 4.7-18

Text: 

Thanksgiving and Prayer

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus [a]by the will of God, and Timothy [b]our brother,

2 To the [c]saints and faithful brothers in Christ in Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father.

3 We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, 4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which you have [d]for all the [e]saints, 5 because of the hope laid up for you in [f]heaven, of which you previously heard in the word of truth, [g]the gospel 6 which has come to you, just as [h]in all the world also it is constantly bearing fruit and [i]multiplying, just as it has been doing in you also since the day you heard and [j]understood the grace of God in truth; 7 just as you learned it from Epaphras, our beloved fellow slave, who is a faithful servant of Christ on our behalf, 8 who also informed us of your love in the Spirit.

9 For this reason also, since the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the [k]full knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, [l]to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and [m]multiplying in the [n]full knowledge of God; 11 being strengthened with all power, according to [o]His glorious might, [p]for the attaining of all steadfastness and [q]patience; joyously 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us [r]to share in the inheritance of the [s]saints in light. 13 Who rescued us from the authority of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Verse by verse commentary:

Verse 1: “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,”

The disciples after the ascension, chose Matthias to replace Judas the betrayer. Nothing much is known about Matthias from the Scriptures. However, our Lord Jesus Christ chose Paul to be the replacement and he wrote much of theNew Testament. Timothy was Paul’s co-laborer and true child in the faith. 

Verse 2: “To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ in Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father.”

The “saints” were those who have been separated from sin and set apart to God; the believers in Colosse . The “faithful” was a word used in the New Testament exclusively for believers. The words “grace and peace” are coming greetings in all 13 of Paul’s epistles.

Verse 3: “We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,”

This designation was often used to show that the Lord Jesus Christ was one in nature with God the Father as any true son is with his father. It was a proclamation of Christ’s deity. 

Verse 4: “since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which you have for all the saints,”

There was a  teaching in Colossae that challenged whether Christ alone could be sufficient, Paul reminds the readers through his prayer of thanksgiving that what they already have “in Christ Jesus” is sufficient.

Verse 5: “because of the hope laid up for you in heaven, of which you previously heard in the word of truth, the gospel”

The believer’s hope is inseparable from his faith. What do we base our hope on? It is based on the gospel. What is the Gospel? Simply put, it is: Christ crucified, Christ buried, Christ resurrected, Christ ascended to heaven and Christ returning again. Our hope is in the Gospel message. It is the answer to every question, fear or challenge you face.

Verse 6: “which has come to you, just as in all the world also it is constantly bearing fruit and multiplying, just as it has been doing in you also since the day you heard and understood the grace of God in truth;”

While the Gospel is presented to the world, only the elect will receive it and be transformed. Our transformation will bear fruit in our individual lives as well as those around you. An old time preacher used to say, “the old yellow dog on the back porch will know when you get saved.” When a person is born again, they change for the better. People around you can see it. Even the old dog on the back porch will see the difference. Notice the word “understood.” It is only through awakening (being made aware by the Holy Spirit of your lost condition) can you understand and receive the Gospel that will bear fruit.

Verse 7: “just as you learned it from Epaphras, our beloved fellow slave, who is a faithful servant of Christ on our behalf,”

Epaphras may have been the founder of the church at Colosse. 

Verse 8: “who also informed us of your love in the Spirit.”

This is referencing the Holy Spirit instilling and nurturing in the Colossian Christians an affection for others.

Verse 9: “For this reason also, since the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the full knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,”

“Knowledge “ is not an inner impression or feeling, but a deep and thorough knowledge of the will of God that is completely revealed in the Word of God. Notice what Paul did not do. He did not pray that the Colossians would receive the gift of knowledge or the gift of wisdom as listed in 1 Corinthians 12. We have everything we need to have sufficient wisdom and knowledge from the Scriptures to handle any challenge or circumstance we encounter. 

Verse 10: “so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and multiplying in the full knowledge of God;”

This is a fundamental New Testament concept which calls the believer to live a holy life that is consistent with his identification with the Lord Jesus Christ. We are to bear spiritual fruit consistent with our Lord and His teachings. We are to grow in the knowledge of God. This will be seen in an increased love for the Word Of God, love for other people, increased knowledge, and expanded faith.

Verse 11: “being strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously”

The word for “power” is the Greek word dynamis. The word refers to explosive power. It is where we get our word dynamite. The Greek word for “might” is kratos. Kratos means dominion and mighty deeds. “Patience” is persevering through problems, trials, tribulations, and so forth. “Steadfastness” is forbearing the faults and offenses of others. The power and might referenced in this verse is the reason we can walk worthy of the Lord as described in the preceding verse.

Verse 12: “giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.”

The false teaching in Colossae resulted in cowardice before the pagan supernatural beings thought to have the power to disqualify even believers from life with God. We face similar pressures today and candidly, it will become worse. As believers, we need to understand and act on the foundation that God has qualified us for His purposes. This accounts for Paul’s use of “qualified”; no power in the universe can question the credentials of those who are “in Christ”. The best qualification in the world is the Lord Jesus Christ. When you know Christ, you are ready for whatever the world sets against you.

Verse 13: “Who rescued us from the authority of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of the Son of His love,”

Believers are rescued from this world order and its authority and brought under the dominion and protection of God’s Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Notice I said, “Lord.” There is no salvation apart from Christ being the Lord of your life. For years I was mistaken about the need for a second work of grace to supplement the born again experience. I mistakenly thought that you got saved first and then sanctified when after conversion you surrendered your life to Him. The error was that if you were really converted, you had already surrendered everything to Him. The former error I now refer to as “salvation lite.” But know, it is not true salvation.The image of light is appropriate here, for elsewhere Paul speaks of the light of the gospel shining in the darkness and penetrating the blindness of those who are perishing.

Verse 14: “in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”

While I enjoy many features of the Legacy Study Bible (changing “Lord” in the Old Testament yo “Yahweh” and “bondservant” to “slave” in the New Testament), this is a verse where I must go back to the King James Version which reads: “In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins….” There is no salvation without blood. It is only the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ that is pure enough to be a sacrifice for the sins of God’s people. The blood of Christ has redeemed, i.e. bought back, the elect of God.