Colossians Introductory Message

Christ Is All Sufficient: An Introduction to the Book Of Colossians.

Key verse: Colossians 2:9,10 Shp Kevin Jesmer NIU UBF 6/5/09

“For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority.”



I thank God for our study of Jonah. Through our six week study, we have learned how God had grace on a reluctant prophet. We learned how God trained Jonah, through many hardships, in order to mold him into a servant of God who could deliver the message of salvation to a people in desperate need for the grace of God. We found meaning for all of our hardships of life and hope for ourselves to be used by God in our generation. Most of all we found direction for our summer ministry, to concern over the students of our great university, NIU. Now we want to get back into the New Testament. It is good to mix up our Bible study a little bit, with both the New and Old Testaments. It is good to learn more about Jesus. That is why we are going to study the Book of Colossians. Paul, in Colossians, proclaims that all the fullness of God dwells in Jesus. We can gain everything in Jesus. We can receive love, joy, peace and happiness and all the things that we are really searching for in Christ. It is a mystery, but through our study of Colossians may the desire to find in Jesus, your “all in all”, be kindled in your hearts. May we see Jesus and find him in the midst of today’s mixture of religions and philosophies.

Part l: The Church Of Colossae.

This book is a letter, by Paul, written to the church in a city called Colossae. Paul was in prison in Rome in A.D. 61-63. Colossians is one of the letters of Paul written during his stay there. Paul worked so hard to preach the gospel. Even prison could not stop him. His entire life was dedicated to spreading the good news of Jesus Christ and his salvation throughout the Mediterranean region. He spoke boldly to the Jews and Gentiles alike. His main work was visiting the churches and strengthening the disciples through preaching and teaching the gospel. When he was not able to go there personally, he sent his co-workers. When he could not send his co-workers to preach the gospel or to solve the problems of the churches, he sent letters. In time, these letters became vital parts of the New Testament and became an important part of spreading the gospel in early Christianity. The book of Colossians is closely associated with Philemon, because the church in Colossae met in Philemon’s home (Phm 3) and because a person named, Onesimus, mentioned in Colossians (4:9) was Philemon’s slave. (Phm 16) The followers of Christ have greatly benefited from Paul’s letters throughout the centuries. We are blessed because of Paul’s prison letters.

The prison was actually a house where Paul was kept under close guard at all times. He probably was chained to a Roman soldier. He was given certain rights and privileges not afforded to most prisoners. He was allowed to write letters and to see any vistors he wanted to see. Maybe Roman guards peeked over Paul’s shoulder to see what he was writing. Maybe Paul asked them to proof read his letters. Maybe when a guard was sick, Paul asked him how he was feeling and prayed fro him. In this way some Roman soldiers could have met Jesus personally.

Colossae was a city in Phrygia. Some people from Phrygia were in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost. (Acts 2:10) and may have accepted Jesus then. These people could have started a church in Colossae. Paul had passed through this region on both his second and third missionary journeys. (Acts 16:6; 18:23). The church was also the result of Paul’s work in Ephesus. (Acts 19:10), for Colossae was near the border of “Asia” about 100 miles east of Ephesus. Epaphras (1:7;l 4:12-13), is thought to have been the planter of the Colossae church. Paul stayed in Ephesus and had daily discussions, for two years, in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. Through this, “all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord.” (Acts 19:10) During this time Epaphras and Philemon from Colossae, and Nympha from Laodicea also heard Paul’s message, returned to their homes and pioneered new churches. Epaphras could have visited Paul in prison and reported about the work of God in Colossae and the problems he encountered. Epaphras also pioneered churches in Laodicea and Hierapolis. (4:12,13)

In Colossae there were Greeks, Romans, Jews and immigrants from other parts of the Roman Empire. There were slaves and free people, rich and poor, educated uneducated. There were business people. It was truly cosmopolitan in nature. But one thing was for certain, a godless atmosphere pervaded over the entire city. Asia Minor, where Colossae was, had many kinds of religions. They worshipped various gods and goddesses and each city felt that its own god or goddess was superior to all others. Ephesus was home to Artemis, the huge female goddess whom they claim fell from heaven. Mystery religions were becoming especially popular. These religions did not focus so much on a god or a goddess, but on having some kind of mysterious knowledge, that if a person studied and understood it, they would have some fantastic spiritual experience. They involved some secret society with secretive initiations. Many of the meeting places of these mystery religions have been discovered by archeologists. Colossae was full of mystery religions.

Part ll: The Purpose Of The Letters

When the Apostle Paul was imprisoned, Epaphras visited him and told him how the church in Colossae was suffering from heretical threats from false teachers. Epaphras asked for Paul’s help. (1:8; 2;1,2; 4:12,13) For this reason Paul wrote Colossians, to protect the young Christian church from these heresies. He wanted to reveal who Jesus truly is and to let believers know that they have everything they could ever need in Christ. Paul makes his purpose clear in 2:1-3, where he writes, “I want you to know how much I am struggling for you and for those in Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally. My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” None of these mystery religions could hold a candle to the mystery of God, namely Christ, and Paul wanted them to know why.

The church had been infiltrated by religious relativism, with some believers attempting to combine elements of paganism and secular philosophy with Christian doctrine. As a young Christian community, they were attacked by the influence of many secular and religious groups. The Colossian heresy seems to have been a mixture of Greek, Jewish and Oriental religions, a sort of “higher thought” cult, masquerading itself in the name of “philosophy” (2:8), promoting the basic principles of this world. (2:8,20), calling for the worship of angels as intermediates between God and man. (2:18), and insisting on the observance of certain Jewish requirements almost to the point of asceticism. (2:16,21). The dangerous part was that they were including it as part of the Gospel of Christ. These false teachers were attacking the uniqueness and supremacy of Christ and making Christ relative, that is, just another choice among many choices. They were denying the truth that Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation and that he alone is enough for salvation. Paul answered the various tenants of the Colossian controversy that threatened the church.

Listen closely as I explain deeper about each of these areas and see if you can see some of their influence on our own times. Let’s see.

First, hollow and deceptive philosophy. At the time philosophers traveled around to the different cities trying to prove their false teachings. They used many beautiful words and expressions, but they were nothing more than hollow and deceptive theories trying to take peoples’ hearts captive. Nowadays they may not travel from town to town, but they may use the internet and propagate their ideas through film, or books or television. Our universities are churning with many hollow and deceptive philosophies that take students’ hearts captive and lead them away from Christ. In fact 50% of Christian freshman leave their faith by the time they graduate. What do they leave their faith to? Is it not to hollow and deceptive philosophies of this age?
Second, the basic principles of this world. People followed a certain worldview, defined by certain principles. In ancient Colossae, they thought that the world was ruled by earth, wind, fire and water and by the signs of the zodiac. The Jews thought the world was ruled by angels and demons. Astrologers believed man’s happiness depended on the stars. Some worshipped and served the stars. Some thought they could change their future, that was determined by the stars, through mentioning some secret formulas. There were as many world views back then as there are today. What is your world view? What principles guide your life? I have heard that only 3% of those who say they are Christians actually have a Biblical world view. As the moral principles in our society move further and further from Biblical ones, the importance of world view looms ever larger. We need to formulate and live out a Christian world view according to the principles in the Bible and not of this world. Otherwise, “we may know our Bible well and even cite chapter and verse, but we will lack the broader framework that connects our moral and spiritual beliefs to the issues we face in a secular culture.” (Chuck Colson… http://www.equip.org/articles/apologetics-for-the-church-why-christians-are-losing-the-culture-war) Not only that, but we can never stand against competing philosophies of the world.
Third, Judaistic legalism. In 2:16, Paul mentions to “eat or drink.” He is referring to the Jewish laws of clean and unclean foods. “A religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day” refers to all the sacred days of the Jews. Religious festivals were held almost every month. Among them, Passover, Pentecost and Feast of Tabernacles were the major one. They believed they could please God by keeping religious rules meticulously. But these rules were only a shadow of the things to come. The reality was found in Christ. (2:17) After Christ had come, these things were voided. But some Jewish-Christian converts were twisting the Gospel, insisting that even Gentile Christians were to keep these rules, otherwise they could not be saved. Paul, on the other hand, had taught the young church that only believing in Jesus is enough. To subject new Gentile converts to these meticulous rules was too much for them to bear. A modern day example is when some Christians become very legalistic and claim that one needs Jesus, “plus” something else to be saved. This is not true. Jesus is all sufficient for salvation. Their lives of faith are reduced to trying to obey rule upon rule.

Fourth, worship of Angels. Those who worship angels claim that people could not approach God, who is holy and the Almighty Creator God on their own. They said that they people need angels as mediators. These people were nullifying Christ’s role as the mediator. (1 Tim 2:5) “For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” It also nullifies what Jesus accomplished for us on the cross. For when Jesus died on the cross the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The way to the “Most Holy Place” was open wide to any who are forgiven by God through the blood of Jesus. (Mk 15:38) That is why we can pray directly to God and be heard. Jesus is our mediator. Those who worship angels and focus on angels more than Jesus seem to be humble, but they are actually very proud, holding onto their own ideas.

Fifth, asceticism. Ascetics made all kinds of rules and regulations to control their bodily desires, saying, “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!” (2:21) The rules they follow seem to be wise because they require strong devotion, humility and severe bodily discipline. People who followed them seemed to be very holy. But forcing your body to comply had no effect when it comes to conquering inner evil thoughts and desires. Asceticism is man-made attempt to make yourself holy and sanctified without simply trusting in the blood of Jesus and the grace of God. It is practiced today. There are people who bow their heads to the ground in repeated prayers until their heads look like a leathery camel’s knee cap. There are those who keep their arm raise in religious devotion until their arm fuses in place. There are Christians who punish themselves through endless self condemnation and seek redemption through paying penance etc. The list of ascetic practices goes on and on. Colossae was full of ascetics. To be certain, they were not fun people to hang out with.

We are living in a post-modern era. Post modernism is a philosophy that claims that there is no absolute truth, and it tries to make all belief systems relative. Post modernists cast off time honored traditions and what people claim as truth, and only trust their own thoughts and ideas. Each person, therefore, adopts his or her own truth and world view. To them, theirs is as good as any other. So today, many religious forms have become popular, including atheist religions like materialism and hedonism. Angel worship and demon worship exist. There is New Age religion and “Kabala”. Many people develop a kind of “smorgasbord” religion, taking ideas they like from here and there and call the end product their own “religion”. In this environment many young people are confused and wandering without clear life direction. Even Christian young people can not see how Jesus is the only way, truth and life…the only way to the Father. (Jn 14:6) They ask themselves “How can Jesus be the only way? It seems too boring to only believe in Jesus.” People want to be entertained. They want their own ideas honored even though they may be totally wrong. But Paul, in Colossians, proclaims that all the fullness of God dwells in Jesus. We can gain everything in him.

Throughout this letter, Paul showed his thanksgiving to God for the Colossians. He thanked God for their faith in Christ Jesus and the love they had for all the saints. Paul also shared with them his personal struggles and his sufferings for the sake of the church. He encouraged them to continue to live in Jesus, rooted and built up in Christ, strengthened in the faith, that they may be overflowing with thanksgiving and glorify Jesus in a confused world full of spiritual darkness.

Paul reminds Christians that they have been raised with Christ. They are those who have put to death their earthly selves and have put on new selves. He presented to the Colossians the lifestyle and principles of a new people who are raised with Christ. They are those who, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe themselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. They are those who are called to peace, to be thankful and to have the word of God dwell in them richly. Paul said that the new people of Jesus are those who, in whatever they do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Paul encouraged them to pray for him so that God might open a door for his message. Finally, he reminded them of his chains, which had hindered Paul’s travel, but had not hindered the gospel.

Part lll: Conclusion.

The Book of Colossians was written by Paul while in prison. He refutes false teachings that threatened the spiritual lives of the young church in Colossae. He counters the false teachings of mystery religions that taught hollow and deceptive philosophy, operated according to the basic principles of this world, contained elements of Judaistic legalism, the worship of Angels and asceticism. Paul wanted the Colossian Christians that everything they ever wanted and needed is found in Christ. “For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form ….” May you discover this truth personally through our study of Colossians.