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COLOSSIANS

    Background to Colossians: Colosse was a city in Phrygia in Asia Minor.  The epistle was written to solve more definite problem than had been occurring in Ephesus. False teachers had come into Colosse teaching the worship of angels and parts of the law of Moses. It apparently was not one of the churches Paul established (chapter 2:1). The church was mainly Gentile and Epaphras seems to have been their founder (chapter 1:7-8); date subsequent to Paul's second mission. Place of the writing was Rome where Ephesians, Philemon and Philippians were also written -- between 59-61 A.D. Probably about 60 A.D., but some commentators say it was written before the epistle to the Ephesians.

CHAPTER 1.

V.    1 -      Apostolic authority again mentioned as he had to rebuke and exhort.
        2 -     Saints and brethren (note Diaglott) -- one of the same. Saints -- holy brethren --                    brothers in the Church.
        4 -     Faith in Christ. In union with Christ as they were converted.
        5 -     II Tim. 4:8, Rev. 22:12. The position in the kingdom.
        6 -     It was a growing church.
        7 -     Epaphras seems to have been the founder.
        9 -     Paul shows his love and concern for the brethren. Eph. 5:1. Wisdom, knowledge and                      understanding all important.
        10 -     Always hungering for knowledge is important in growing. We must continually strive                      to be worthy of the calling.
        11 -     The potential available is almost unbelievable.
        13 -     II Cor. 4:4, Eph. 2:2. The power, the government, the authority of Satan's strength is                      void. Translated (caused a change of sides for) -- D.
        15 -     Image in character, personality -- not necessarily physically the same. First born or                      first begotten and interchangeable. All creation -- the ultimate, the goal, the highest                      achievement   of creation.
        16 -     Even the devil derived his power from Jesus Christ.
        17 -     Heb. 1:3. By him the universe is sustained.
        18 -     Pre-eminence of all creation -- physical and spiritual. John 17:5, Christ had the glory                      of God before the foundation of the world.
        19 -     According to God's plan.
        20 -     The life He gave made the peace needed for reconciling mankind. All things do not                      mean all things literally, but those God has purposed.
        21 -     Wicked works were what banished them previously.
        22 -     Christ had to die before man could receive the Holy Spirit.
        23 -     Gospel is preached by men, by creation, by astronomy. Creation itself is a messenger                      enough. Rom. 1:20. Hope -- that God would not forsake the work of His hands.                      Gospel within the created sphere.
        24 -     Paul was suffering physically for the church the same way Christ suffered for the                      church, showing Paul's love to even die for the church if necessary even as Christ died.
        26 -     Mystery here is the plan of salvation (I Cor. 15:15, Eph. 5:32). In almost every case                      this mystery is always shown as being made manifest to those under the election of                      grace (Rom. 11:5).
        27 -     This verse shows the plan of salvation. Christ living His life in us will lead to ultimate                      glory. (I John 4:2.)
        28 -     The gospel was going as a witness warning them at that time also. Perfection is                      absolutely necessary.
        29 -     Christ was actually doing the striving in Paul throngh the Holy Spirit (John 5:30,                      Phil. 4:13).

CHAPTER 2.
V.    1 -     Laodicea near Colosse. Shows Paul probably had not been to Colosse.
        2 -     Eph. 4:15. 3 - Christ is the first mystery (changed into immortality).
        4 -     Subject of Jewish teachers -- enticing words.
        6 -     Doesn't imply Paul had established them.
        8 -     Elements of the world -- Christianity does not have to do with physical ordinances
                 and vain intellect.
        10     How much intellectuality does God require us to have before we can become a world
                 ruler. God calls the weak of the world. Answer: In Him dwells the fulness. Christ
                 unlocks the key to the universe. God adds all the technical knowledge. We need a
                 heart yielded to God.
        11     Not a physical relationship, but a spiritual fellowship.
        12     Rom. 6:3.
        13 -   Rom. 7:8. The old way died.
        14 -   No place are the commandments spoken of as ordinances or bondage. Psalm 19:7,
                 Psalm 119:172, Psalm 111:10, Ex. 31. They are spoken of as being good,
                 Deut. 5:33, Isa. 66. Eunuchs promised eternal life.
        15     Rom. 14:8-9.
        16 -   II Cor. 3:10, 9:3, I Pet. 4:16. Parallel use of "in respect of". Respect of portion or
                  part of sacrificial portion. Let no man judge you on the physical things because
                  God does not look at the physical things.
        17     Holy day, new moon, Sabbaths are memorials not shadows. Heb. 10:1, 8:3-5, 9:9.
                 Body -- substance of the sacrifices -- Christ.
        18 -   Using angels as intermediaries as Catholics do in a sense.
        20 -   Eph. 2:15-16 and Col. 2:8. - 23 None of these physical things teach you how to
                 love God and love your neighbor, how to love, think, etc.

CHAPTER 3. (Christian principles in opposition to works of rituals.)
V.     1 -    That is by turning completely from the ways of the world, including worship.
        2 -     Spiritual goals and blessings. Eph. 1:17-18, Heb. 4:14-16.
        3 -     Changed in mind, in fellowship and community with God. Christ works through
                 us rather than for us. Prov. 4:7, Prov. 2:1-7.
        4 -     I John 5:11-15, Gal. 2:20, Col. 1:17.
        5 -     Kill the fleshly lusts entirely. Notice: fornication mentioned again first. Note
                  these pertain to the sex worship of heathen religion. Coveting-- loving something
                  more than God.
        6 -     You are who you obey (Rev. 21:8). 8 - Evils pertaining to the human mind.
        10 -   Phil. 2:5. Image -- His character and mind. Eph. 4:24, Rom. 12:2.
        11 -   All are the same in Christ's sight (v.25, Eph. 4:10).
        12 -   The things we should put on in living and loving God and our fellow man.
        14 -   Love is the most important though, and it does not come by tasting, touching,
                 and handling it.
        17 -   Even give thanks for your errors which are profitable to teach us lessons.

CHAPTER 4.

V.     1 -   All are under authority of God regardless.
         3 -   Bonds here are, of course, Paul's imprisonment.
         6 -   Salt -- the scintillating, dynamic speech that is always for edification and upbuilding.
                Know prophecy and world events by world conditions showing the world you don't
                have to refer to scripture. The world occurrences are enough proof. Also note
                Mark 9:50, Eph. 4:29.
        10    The breach between Paul and Barnabas sealed and John Mark acceptable in Paul's eyes.
                Acts 15:37,39 due to Acts 13:13. See also II Tim. 4:11. Christian love reunited
                Them.
        12    Note the kind or praying Epaphras did.
        14-   Luke, physician. The duties of a physician were not the same as those of today.
                Also note Paul in no place asked Luke any advice on healing or operating on people.
        15    Churches were in homes.
        17 - Ministering is a serious responsibility.