Colossians (written)

Tuesday, 21 March 2017

that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; Colossians 1:10

This is a continuation of the previous verse in which Paul explains why he and Timothy were giving thanks to God and praying for those at Colossae. He says that their prayers were also “that you may walk worthy of the Lord.” He had just mentioned the desire that they “be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.” This then logically follows that. With knowledge, one needs to then apply what they know, living out the life that their knowledge has told them is appropriate. In this, their walk will be worthy of the Lord.

In this state, their conduct will be “fully pleasing” to Him. The word Paul uses here is found only this once in the New Testament. It is areskia, and it indicates making an effort to fully and satisfactorily please. He is making a logical sequence of events in the believers’ lives that demonstrates the process of growing unto maturity. In such a state, the believer will be “fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.”

This thought goes backward now in order to reexplain what is “fully pleasing” to the Lord. Being fruitful indicates the positive results of a walk worthy of the Lord which is seen in every good work. Increasing in the knowledge of God is what leads to that state of fruitfulness. His thoughts form a mini chiasm as they first move forward to “fully pleasing Him,” and then moving backwards after that thought.

Paul’s desire for this to occur in the Colossians was so strong that he purposefully repeats the thought in order to solidify it in their (and thus our!) minds. Albert Barnes’ commentary on this verse is well worth citing –

“God is pleased with those who desire to understand what he is; what he does; what he purposes; what he commands. Hence he not only commands us to study his works…, but he has made a world so beautiful as to invite us to contemplate his perfections as reflected in that world. All good beings desire that others should understand their character, and God delights in those who are sincerely desirous of knowing what he is, and who inquire with humility and reverence into his counsels and his will. People are often displeased when others attempt to look into their plans, for they are sensible they will not bear the light of investigation. God has no plans which would not be seen to be, in the highest degree, glorious to him.”

Life application: If you are not growing in the knowledge of God through Bible studies, you cannot be pleasing to Him. Only when one takes the knowledge of God and His expectations, and then unites it with a walk in accord with that knowledge, can one be truly pleasing to Him. As always, it comes down to knowing the word. Study your Bible.

Lord God, thank You that we have not been left without instructions for how to conduct our lives in a way which is pleasing to You. They are there in black and white in the pages of the Bible, waiting for us to pick it up, grow in knowledge, and then walk according to that knowledge. As there is a Bible in almost every house, and 100 versions at the tip of our fingers on-line, we really have no excuse for not doing this, do we? Give us wisdom to think this through and to strive to know You, walk closely with You, and revel in who You are. Amen.

Monday, 20 March 2017

For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; Colossians 1:9

This takes us right back to verses 3-8. Paul had said in verse 3, “We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you.” After that, he gave his reasons for this thanks. Now, using that same list, he says, “For this reason we also…” The same thing that brought thanks to the hearts of Paul and Timothy is the thing which now brings something else along with it.

Before he tells what it is that he is referring to, he says, “since the day we heard it.” As soon as the news came to their ears, and even until the present moment, this has held true. And that thing is that they “do not cease to pray for you.” They weren’t just thankful for the good news that they heard, but they began to pray for those who they were thankful for. Although this isn’t necessary in all situations, Paul next explains what the prayers are for. He says it is “to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.”

These words set up the train of thought for the rest of his epistle. The question must be, “How can someone be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding without being properly instructed in it?” Paul’s words ahead will help lead them on this path. They may have had a copy of the Old Testament writings available to them if there were Jews among them who had converted to Christ, but they probably had no instruction on the doctrines of Christ outside of their instruction from Epaphras.

Now they would need that instruction, lest they fall into the heresies which were already coming into being at the time. To have “the knowledge of His will” means that of His will for us in Christ. This is certain, because Christ is God’s will for all humanity. To have a faulty view of Christ would then lead to a faulty view of God’s will.

This knowledge is to be “in all wisdom.” The Bible says that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. To have that, and then to grow in that fear of the Lord is the proper path. The book of Ecclesiastes shows the contrast between earthly wisdom and that which is heavenly. The prayers of Paul and Timothy were for those in Colossae to have this heavenly wisdom.

But their prayers were not only for wisdom, but also “spiritual understanding.” This is the ability to “put things together.” Not only should the Christian have wisdom, but also the ability to take that wisdom and to be discerning in it. Though the word “Trinity” is not in the Bible, Christians should be able to discern that is is a truth which is clearly presented there, and which can be logically deduced from various passages. The same is true with other major doctrines as well. Spiritual understanding is also speaking of that which is not correct. That Jesus Christ is God is plainly evident from even a cursory reading of the Bible. Therefore, to say that He is a created being is false. Spiritual understanding will reveal this.

Life application: It is good to give thanks for the salvation of others, but it should also be our heart’s desire that they grow in wisdom and knowledge concerning God and His word. Therefore, in addition to the thanks we give for the salvation of others, let us remember to pray for their development into mature followers of the Lord.

Heavenly Father, it is always a wonderful thing to see people come to a saving knowledge of Christ Jesus, but it should also be our desire to seem them mature in their walk with Him. Help us to remember to give thanks for what You have done in them, and also to give prayers in hopes of what You will continue to do in them. May this be so in order that they will be mature, doctrinally sound believers. Amen.

Sunday, 19 March 2017

…who also declared to us your love in the Spirit. Colossians 1:8

This is referring to Epaphras of the previous verse. He had come to Paul with word concerning those at Colossae. When he came, he had “declared to us your love.” The word “declared” gives the sense of “made manifest.” He had brought the love of the body to light for Paul and Timothy to understand the wonderful fellowship which had developed there. This love is, as Paul notes, “in the Spirit.”

The love among them was more than a sense of general, natural affection, but rather it was a love deeply rooted in what Christ had done for them, bringing them into the family of God and the body of believers. The Spirit had confirmed this to them, and this is the good news that was brought to the ears of Paul and Timothy. Certainly it was a point of great rejoicing to them.

Life application: It is not unusual for us to get a bit jaded in the church as we show up and are just one of many faces in the congregation. However, each person there who has called on Christ is a child of God through adoption. If we can remember this as we interact with our brothers and sisters, it would be a great help in putting aside petty differences and thus working together for the common good within the church.

Heavenly Father, help each of us to remember that when we enter our respective churches to worship, we are joining together with others who have been purchased through the shed blood of Christ. Because of this, they too are members of Your family through adoption. Understanding this, may we put aside our petty differences, and strive together for Your glory and for the good of the body. Amen.

Saturday, 18 March 2017

…as you also learned from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf, Colossians 1:7

Paul now introduces Epaphras whom he calls “our dear fellow servant.” He may or may not be the same as Epaphroditus who was seen in the letter to the Philippians. Epaphras is merely a shortened form of the same name, and so it is possible. However, in verse 4:12, Paul says that he “is one of you.” For this reason, it does appear he is not the same person. Either way, this individual was an evangelist, having taught the word of the Lord to those at Colossae. This is seen in the words, “as you also learned from Epaphras.” This is based on the previous verse which said, “since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth.”

Thus, the “bringing forth fruit” which Paul mentioned in verse 6 is realized in the evangelism of Epaphras. He was not just an evangelist, but one who was successful in his duties. In calling him “our dear fellow servant,” Paul uses a term that is seen 10 times in the New Testament, but his use of it will only be in this book. He uses the term here, and then he will use it once again when speaking of Tychicus in verse 4:7. It is a term which indicates “belonging to the same master,” and thus it is a term of endearment towards these two men. As Paul notes of Epaphras here, he is “a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf.”

There is a dispute as to whether the true reading is “on our behalf” or “on your behalf.” Either way, whether ministering for Paul and Timothy, or whether ministering for the good of those in Colossae, he was faithful in his ministry, and he is so recognized for it by Paul.

Life application: How are you perceived by the leaders of your church? Do they know you as a seat-warmer, a fair-weather attendee, or as a fellow servant who faithfully ministers in the church and towards others? The record is being compiled, and it will all be laid before the Lord on the day when we stand before Him for rewards or losses. Don’t waste right now… it counts forever.

Lord God, our record is being compiled concerning our faithfulness in ministering according to our calling. As the Lord has called us, so we have been given abilities to meet that calling. However, it is up to us to do something with them. Are we fair-weather Christians? Are we faithful seat-warmers? Are we willing to give 50% of our effort? Or are we going to go full-out and give heartily of ourselves now, knowing that what we do in this extremely short life counts for the ages of ages. Help us to think clearly on this, and to act wisely with the few hours we have been given. Amen.

Friday, 17 March 2017

…which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth; Colossians 1:6

Paul now refers to “the truth of the gospel” from the previous verse with the word “which.” It is this message, as he says, “which has come to you.” The gospel is that which established their faith (see Romans 10:17) as Paul noted in verse 4, and which has laid up the hope for them as he noted in verse 5.

Next, he uses hyperbole by saying that this same gospel message which has come to them has also come “in all the world [kosmos].” It is important to understand that he is using hyperbole because replacement theology wrongly uses this verse to show that Jesus’ words of Matthew 24:14[ouikoumene: world]. are fulfilled in Paul’s words of this verse. Such is not the case. Paul uses a different word for “world” than Jesus does. It is true that he uses the same word as Jesus in other verses (such as Romans 10:18) [oikoumene: world], but the context indicates there that he is not speaking of the gospel itself having gone out to the entire world. The context of his words in Romans is based on an Old Testament reference concerning the general revelation of God to the whole world. From there, Israel is rebuked for rejecting His special revelation, meaning the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Further, Paul uses the same word and in the same way in Romans 1:8 by saying –

“First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world [kosmos].”

It is clear that Paul is using hyperbole there to show that the faith of those in Rome seems to shout out to all the world. Rome was the center of the Roman Empire, and therefore the faith of those in Rome extended out in a unique way. Clearly not all in the Roman Empire, much less the entire inhabited world, had heard of the faith of those in Rome.

It is an inappropriate stretch to take Jesus’ words of the gospel going out to the entire world and then to apply them in an absolute way to what occurred in the first century. However, concerning the gospel which had come to those in Colossae, he next says that it “is bringing forth fruit.” Fruit is the result of something else. The gospel had been preached, and there was a result because of it. People were coming to Christ, they were being obedient to the message, and they were continuing to share the message with others. These things are evident from Paul’s coming words.

However, he is writing the letter now to correct misconceptions or misrepresentations of Christ which were already coming about. He is writing to ensure that the fruit which is brought forth will be good fruit. This is why he continues with, “as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth.” They had heard the message, they had received the grace of God, and it was received “in truth.” In order to ensure that this same message would continue on unstained by bad doctrine, or even heresy, he will continue with the words of this letter.

Life application: Context always needs to be considered when looking at statements which use the same terminology in the Bible. It is true that the use of identical words often is intended to show a pattern, or the fulfillment of something else, but the surrounding context cannot be tossed out in order to make unfounded conclusions. Always consider what the writer’s reference is before making a final determination about how his words are intended to be taken.

Lord God, Your word is big, and it is often complicated. Help us to read it carefully, and to always consider the context of what is being said. Without following this most basic guideline, we sure can get misdirected down unnecessary paths which have nothing to do with what You intend for us to see. Give us wisdom in this, as it is our desire to stick to Your intent for us as we read and study this marvelous gift which You have given to us. Amen.