Colossians

Overview

Something was being added to Christ at Colosse: angels, visions, rules about food and days, a claimed higher knowledge. Paul answers not by arguing point by point but by setting out who Christ is — the image of the invisible God, creator of all things, head of the body, in whom all fullness dwells.

If that is true, the additions are not merely wrong but pointless. The second half applies it: seek things above, put off the old, put on the new, and let the word dwell in you richly at home and at work.

Background

Epaphras, converted probably during Paul’s years at Ephesus, had carried the gospel home to Colosse. He came to Paul in prison with news of the church and of the teaching unsettling it.

Colossians and Ephesians cover much of the same ground and were carried by the same man, Tychicus, along with the personal note to Philemon — who lived in Colosse and hosted the church.

Key themes

• Christ is supreme: over creation, over the church, over every power.
• In Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily — and you are complete in Him.
• Rules and rituals have a show of wisdom but no power against the flesh.
• Risen with Christ, believers set their affection on things above.
• The new life shows up in ordinary relationships and ordinary work.

Outline

1. Who Christ isChapter 1

   Thanksgiving, a prayer, and the great passage on His supremacy and reconciling work.

2. Beware of additionsChapter 2

   Philosophy, legalism, angel worship and asceticism answered by fullness in Christ.

3. The new lifeChapter 3

   Risen with Christ: put off anger and lying, put on mercy, and let peace rule.

4. Prayer, speech and friendsChapter 4

   Continue in prayer, walk in wisdom, and greetings from those with him.

Key passages

• Colossians 1:15-17 The image of the invisible God — by him all things consist.
• Colossians 1:18 He is the head of the body, the church.
• Colossians 2:6-7 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him.
• Colossians 2:9-10 In him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
• Colossians 2:14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances, nailing it to his cross.
• Colossians 3:1-2 Seek those things which are above.
• Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.
• Colossians 3:23 Whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord.

Christ in Colossians

No book says more about His person in less space. He is before all things, all things were made by Him and hold together in Him, He is the firstborn from the dead, and God was pleased to have all fullness dwell in Him and to reconcile all things through the blood of His cross.

Reading it

• Read 1:15-20 first and let it set the terms for everything after.
• Read it beside Ephesians; the overlap and the differences are both instructive.
• Ask of each rule in chapter 2: does this add anything Christ has not already given?