May 20 - Colossians 1:1-2
“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the holy and faithful brothers in Christ at Colosse: Grace and peace to you from God our Father.”
Paul begins this letter as he does many of his letters stating that he is an apostle of Jesus Christ. Look how he continues this statement, though. He is an apostle of Jesus Christ – by the will of God. By God’s will, Paul was chosen to be an apostle of Jesus Christ. Note that Timothy is considered a brother, but is not designated here as an apostle.
The apostles were envoys – messengers. Originally the twelve that Jesus chose, Paul was added to their number. Jesus gave to them the ‘keys of the kingdom’ equipping them to begin the work of His church. We see in Luke 6:13 that Jesus called the twelve and named them as His apostles. Paul was added to their number after his encounter with the Risen Christ on the road to Damascus.
The church in Colosse was probably not begun by Paul himself, but was definitely a part of his family. More than likely Epaphras was the missionary to this territory. He and Philemon were part of Paul’s retinue and would have been sent out on their own to evangelize. Paul is concerned with what he is hearing because deception is occurring (Colossians 2:4) and he wants to ensure that they are aware and can combat this.
We will look at Colossians 2:8 later, but it is certain that there were a group of people that were preaching nonsense, that humans and the things of the world as truth rather than Jesus Christ. The theme of this letter is the all-sufficiency of Jesus Christ for our needs.
Once again, the early church was seeing a conflict between the laws of Judaism and the saving grace of Jesus Christ. Gentiles were being told that unless they were circumcised, they wouldn’t be allowed into the Kingdom of God. Requirements of religious festivals (Jewish), dietary laws, fasting and other ‘religious’ forms of faith were being set above a simple faith in Jesus. Paul would have none of that.
He has heard much of this church … he identifies them as being holy and faithful. Before things get too tough for them due to outside influences, Paul wants to ensure that they know the truth of Jesus Christ and how He calls us to live in the world that surrounds us.
“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the holy and faithful brothers in Christ at Colosse: Grace and peace to you from God our Father.”
Paul begins this letter as he does many of his letters stating that he is an apostle of Jesus Christ. Look how he continues this statement, though. He is an apostle of Jesus Christ – by the will of God. By God’s will, Paul was chosen to be an apostle of Jesus Christ. Note that Timothy is considered a brother, but is not designated here as an apostle.
The apostles were envoys – messengers. Originally the twelve that Jesus chose, Paul was added to their number. Jesus gave to them the ‘keys of the kingdom’ equipping them to begin the work of His church. We see in Luke 6:13 that Jesus called the twelve and named them as His apostles. Paul was added to their number after his encounter with the Risen Christ on the road to Damascus.
The church in Colosse was probably not begun by Paul himself, but was definitely a part of his family. More than likely Epaphras was the missionary to this territory. He and Philemon were part of Paul’s retinue and would have been sent out on their own to evangelize. Paul is concerned with what he is hearing because deception is occurring (Colossians 2:4) and he wants to ensure that they are aware and can combat this.
We will look at Colossians 2:8 later, but it is certain that there were a group of people that were preaching nonsense, that humans and the things of the world as truth rather than Jesus Christ. The theme of this letter is the all-sufficiency of Jesus Christ for our needs.
Once again, the early church was seeing a conflict between the laws of Judaism and the saving grace of Jesus Christ. Gentiles were being told that unless they were circumcised, they wouldn’t be allowed into the Kingdom of God. Requirements of religious festivals (Jewish), dietary laws, fasting and other ‘religious’ forms of faith were being set above a simple faith in Jesus. Paul would have none of that.
He has heard much of this church … he identifies them as being holy and faithful. Before things get too tough for them due to outside influences, Paul wants to ensure that they know the truth of Jesus Christ and how He calls us to live in the world that surrounds us.
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