Message: Apostle Paul’s love and letter
to Colossians (Colossians 1-4)
by Rev.
Katherine Liu Bruce Christian Arts Ministries: Biblical precepts & Gospel
Music
Apostle Paul
wrote a letter to the saints in Colossae, when he was first Roman imprisonment
and dated about A.D. 60. He gave thanks for Colossians’ faith in Christ and the
love they have for all the saints. The faith and love that spring from the hope
that is stored up for them in heaven. The gospel was bearing fruits and was growing
among them. However, young church became the target of heretical attack (the
Colossian heresy). It led to Epaphras’s visit to Paul in Rome and ultimately Apostle
Paul wrote this letter.
The theme of Apostle Paul’s letter
to the saints in Colossae is emphasis on the supremacy, adequacy and all
–sufficiency of Christ, and His work. In the letter he pointed out the false
teaching at Colossae such as “syncretistic, fusing Jewish legalism, Greek
philosophic speculation, and oriental mysticism. Specifics included dietary and
Sabbath observances and circumcision rites, the worship of angels and the
practice of asceticism.”[1] The
heresy of angel worship distracted the saints in Colossae from holding Christ
as the Head. “God’s economy is to head up all things in Christ through His
Body, the church, making Christ the center of all things. The subtle one’s
device is to carry the saints away. Therefore, cause the Body of Christ to
collapse.”[2] To
debate with this heresy, Paul emphasized the significance of Christ is the Lord
of creation and the head of the body (the church) Christ is beginning, and the firstborn
from the dead. Christ is all and
in all” (3:11).
In the letter, Apostle Paul pointed out firstborn, πρωτοτοκος (prototokoz) 長子. He emphasized the supremacy of Christ
and expressed the fullness of Christ is completely adequate and contrasted with
the human philosophy. He stated,
“He is the image of the invisible God, the
firstborn over all creation. For by him all things
were created; things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether
thrones or powers or rulers or
authorities, all things were created in him and for
him. He is before all
things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body,
the church;
he is the beginning and the first born from among the death so that in
everything he might have the
supremacy.” (Col.1:15-18).
In Greek πρωτοτοκος (prototokoz)
interprets as “firstborn”, “existing before”. Chinese says, “長子”Literally as
oldest son in a family (Luke2:7; Heb.11:28). Figuratively and substantively, singular
form οπ used of Jesus Christ as the unique
preexistent son of the heavenly Father. (He.1:6); “as the one existing before all creation” therefore, “πρωτοτοκος πασης κτισεως” interpreted as “the firstborn of
all creation”. In Col.1:18 said, “He is the head of the body, the church who is
beginning, the firstborn from the dead.” In Greek interpretation figuratively,
“Christ Jesus as the first to be resurrected from the dead” and “As the head of a spiritual family of many siblings” (Rom.8:29). Plural form οι πρωτοτοκοι (prototokoz)
interprets “of redeemed mankind as God’s
honored family”[3]
(Heb.12:23). In another words, Christ Jesus is first resurrection as head of
the body and the first place in Church, God’s new creation and has preeminence
among the creation.
Second: Apostle
Paul pointed out “reconciliation”. All things were reconciled through
the Christ’s body death and his bloodshed on the cross. “God was pleased to have all his
fullness to dwell in Him and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things,
whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood,
shed on the cross.” (1:20). Paul expressed, though they were once hostiles and
enemies in their mind because of their evil behavior. But they were reconciled
by Christ’s physical body death on the cross; Christ has redeemed them and
presented them as holy vessels in God’s sight without blemished. However, there
is a conditional term, if they continue in their faith, established and firm,
not moved away from the hope held out in the gospel.
What is
the Apostle Paul’s expectation and intention to awaken the saints in Colossae?
ü
First, they may be encouraged in heart and
united in love so that they may have the full riches of complete understood, in
order that they may know the mystery of God.
ü
Second, no one may deceive them by fine
sounding arguments. (v.4)
ü
Third, no one takes them captive through hollow
and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic
principles of this world rather than on Christ. (v.8). Here “philosophy”
indicates to “Gnostic teaching, a mixture of Jewish, oriental, and Greek
philosophies, which is an empty deceit. Tradition is related to culture and has
its source in culture. The source of the Gnostic teaching at Colossae was the
tradition of men; it was not based on the revealed writings of God but on the
traditional practices of men. The elements of the world refer to the teachings
of both Jews and Gentiles, consisting of ritualistic observances regarding the
eating of meats, drinking, washings, asceticism and other matter.”[4] The practices of Asceticism are the
elementary principles of outward, material things. “The rules and regulations
concerning material things and deal with, respectively, things that move things
that are edible, and things are tangible. Handling, tasting, and touching
include virtually every kind of action. The ordinances, rules, and regulations
of the elementary teachings of externalism and asceticism are no value in
restraining the indulgence of the flesh.”[5]
ü
Fourth, Paul emphasized the saints in Colossae
having been buried with Christ, in baptism and raised with Christ through their
faith in the power of God, who raised Christ Jesus from the dead. (v.11) In
Christ, they were circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature. Not
with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by
Christ. When they were dead in their sins, and in the un-circumcision of their
sinful nature. God made them alive with Christ. He forgave them all their sins.
Having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against them
and that stood opposed to them be took it away, nailing it to the cross and
having disarmed the powers and authorities. (2:13)
ü
Fifth, Paul urged them, “do not let anyone
judge them by what they eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a
New Mood celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that
were to come; the reality however, is found in Christ.” (2:16-17). “the
Sabbath” signifies “completion and rest. Feasts are yearly, new moons monthly,
Sabbaths weekly and eating and drinking daily. Daily we eat and drink Christ,
weekly we have completion and rest in Him, monthly we experience a new
beginning in Him, and throughout the year He is our joy and enjoyment. Therefore,
to us, Christ is the reality of every positive thing.”[6] Man’s
physical body is the substance and like the shadow of a man’s body, the rituals
in the law are a shadow of the real tings in the gospel.
ü
Sixth, Apostle Paul urged them, “do not let
anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify them
for the prize. Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen and
his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions. He has lost connection
with the Head, from whom the whole body supported and held together by it
ligaments and sinews, grows as God cause it to grow. The saints in Colossae
died with Christ to the basic principles of this world. (2:18-20). “The
heretical teachers judged the saints unworthy to worship God directly and they
had to approach God through the mediation of angels. This was to defraud the
saints of their prize, depriving them of the enjoyment of Christ.” [7] Paul
debated, In Christ, our sole Mediator, we can worship God directly. “The
heretical teachers of angel worship taught the saints to show lowliness in
realizing that they were not worthy to worship God directly, they defrauded the
saints of their prize in Christ in the element and sphere of such self-chosen
lowliness and angel worship. The heretical teachers lived in the realm of
sight, in contrast to the faith mentioned v.12. They like to have curious
visions. Such insistence on visual experience resulted in fleshly pride, the
vain puffing up by the mind set on the flesh. The heresy of angel worship
distracted the saints from holding Christ as the Head. God’s economy is to head
up all things in Christ through His Body, the church, making Christ the center of all things. The subtle
one’s device is to carry the saints away, therefore, cause the Body of Christ
to collapse.”[8]
ü
Seventh, Apostle Paul urged them “persevere in
prayer, be watchful with thanksgiving” (4:2). And put to death to their earthly
nature sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed which is
idolatry (3:5) and they must rid of themselves of anger, rage, malice, slander,
and filthy language from their lips and do not lie to each other. Since they
have taken off their old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in
the image of its Creator. (3:8-10).
Apostle Paul’s final encouragement to the
saints in Colossae is that let peace of Christ rule
in their hearts, since as members of
one body they were called to peace and be thankful. (3:15). As God’s chosen
people, holy and dearly loved, clothe themselves with compassion,
kindness, humility,
gentleness and patience,
bear with each other, forgive as the Lord
forgave them, and put on love which binds them all together in perfect unity.(3:12-14). The Greek
favored philosophical wisdom, the Jews delighted miraculous signs, circumcision
are those who observed the Jewish religious rituals; un-circumcision are those
who did not care for the Jewish religion, and the uncultured person like barbarian
and Scythian. In the new man there is room only for Christ. Christ is the
centrality, and the constituent of the new man. He is all in all in the new
man. Therefore, Apostle Paul stated, “There is no Greek or Jew, circumcised, or
uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, salve or free, but Christ
is all and is in all.” (3:11).
Conclusion
Apostle
Paul’s letter to the saints in Colossae is emphasis on the supremacy, adequacy
of Christ, all –sufficiency of Christ, and His work. Paul explored the false
teaching at Colossae such as syncretistic, fusing Jewish legalism, Greek
philosophic speculation, and oriental mysticism. Specifics included dietary and
Sabbath observances and circumcision rites, the worship of angels and the
practice of asceticism. To debate this heresy, Paul emphasized the significance
of Christ is Lord of creation and the head of the body, the church who is
beginning, and the firstborn from the dead. In Greek “πρωτοτοκος”
interprets figuratively, Jesus
Christ as the unique preexistent son of the heavenly Father (He.1:6)
as the one existing before all creation. Christ Jesus is the first to be
resurrected from the dead and the head of a spiritual family of many siblings.
Rom.8:29 said, “For those God foreknew he also
predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son that he might be the
firstborn among many brothers.” In another words, Christ Jesus is first
resurrection as head of the body and first place in Church. All the saints are
living stones build together as spiritual house and Christ is head cornerstone.
He has preeminence among the creation.
The Colossians’ sins were forgiven, and they were redeemed and reconciled to
God by the blood of Christ Jesus shed on the cross. In the new man there is
room only for Christ. Christ is the centrality, and the constituent of the new
man. Christ is all in all in the new man. (3:11).
Bibliography,
Bauer, Walter. A
Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian
Literature. 3rd Chicago: The University of Chicago press, 2000.
Brown, Robert, Philip
W. Comfort and J.D. Douglas, ed. The New Greek English Interlinear New
Testament. Carol Stream: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.1990.
Friberg,
Timothy, Barbara Friberg, and Neva F. Miller et al., eds. Analytical Lexicon
of the Greek New Testament.1st ed. Victoria BC: Trafford
Publishing, 2005.
Lee, Witness. The New Testament (R.V.) Anaheim,
CA: Living Stream Ministry, 1985.
Lucado, Max. God is with you every day.
Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2015
Myers,
Roth.
31 days of praise. Colorado Springs, CO: Multnomah Books, 1994.
Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie study Bible
(NIV). Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986.
Strong, James. Strong’s:
the expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Nashville, TN: Thomas
Nelson Publishers, 2010.
[1] Charles C. Ryrie, the Ryrie study Bible (NIV). (Chicago,
IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986),1269
[2] Witness Lee, the New Testament. (Anaheim, CA: Living
Stream Ministry, 1985),931
[3] Timothy Friberg, Barbara Friberg, and Neva F. Miller et
al., eds. Analytical Lexicon of the Greek New Testament.1st
ed. (Victoria BC: Trafford Publishing, 2005.),338.
[4] Witness Lee, the New Testament. (Anaheim, CA: Living
Stream Ministry, 1985), 929.
[5] Witness Lee, 932.
[7] Witness Lee, 931
[8] Ibid.,
