January 26 - Colossians & Philemon

January 26 - Colossians & Philemon

While Paul was living in relative comfort, though imprisoned within his own home in Rome, he wrote a letter to the people living in Colosse. Colosse, Laodicea and Hierapolis are sister cities located relatively close to Ephesus. In Colossians 4:16 Paul asks that this letter be transmitted to the church in Laodicea as well.

There is no record of Paul having traveled to Colosse. More than likely Epraphras (Colossians 1:7) was influential in bringing the message from Ephesus and Archippus (Colossians 4:17) was a leader within the church.

We'll see Archippus again in the letter to Philemon (Philemon 1:2). Since Paul mentions that the believers met in Philemon's home, it is more than likely that Philemon lived in Colosse.

Epraphus visited Paul in Rome and brought him news of this church. Paul acknowledges the faith and love that they have and lets them know the intensity of his prayers for them (Colossians 1:1-14).

False teachers had sprung up in Colosse and were teaching the believers there that mysticism, strict legalism and self-denial would help them discover heaven.

Paul teaches that Jesus Christ is preeminent in all things (Colossians 1:13-19) and warns against heresies that would teach against that. The heresy that was predominant at the time combined several things: Old Testament laws (Colossians 2:8, 11, 16) with human philosophy (Colossians 2:8) and angel worship (Colossians 2:18) as well as teaching that offered special knowledge into the workings of the universe and man (Colossians 2:4, 8, 18).

Paul’s response stressed Christ as Creator and head over the church (1:16–18); the source of all wisdom and knowledge (2:3–4); the fullness of the Deity and head over all authority (2:9–10); and the only source of hope for future resurrection glory (3:1–4). All believers, who are Christ’s body, are connected to Christ, their head (2:19). They are to seek after heavenly things (3:1–2), put on the new self (3:9–10), and let the word of Christ dwell in them richly (3:16).

Hughes, Robert B. ; Laney, J. Carl: Tyndale Concise Bible Commentary. Wheaton, Ill. : Tyndale House Publishers, 2001 (The Tyndale Reference Library), S. 607

The letter to Philemon was written for one purpose - to substitute forgiveness and acceptance for the legal rights of ownership. Paul asked him to see relationships as they are based on the bonds created with Christ, rather than social structures, status and achievement. Philemon was a wealthy man, a slave-owner. The church met in his home. While the letter was a private one, Paul obviously intended for the matter to be made public. More than likely, the hope was that other slave-owners would follow Philemon's example.

Colossians 1:1-29
Colossians 2:1-23
Colossians 3:1-25
Colossians 4:1-18
Philemon 1:1-25