Colossians: Preview

Welcome to our online study of Colossians. I am looking forward to spending some concentrated time listening to Paul as he writes to this church in Colosse. We, too, need to hear the things that he is telling them. My goal in this particular study is found in Paul's prayer in 1: 9 - 10: that we also may "be filled with the knowledge of God's will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding ... that we may please Him and bear fruit in every good work ..."

A little history:
Colosse had been described as "a great city of Phrygia", but by Paul's time had been surpassed by its neighbors, Laodicea and Hierapolis. The church in this city most likely began when Ephaphras, one of Paul's coworkers, brought the gospel to Colosse. It consisted mostly of Gentile Christians and flourished until it began to struggle with false teachers who introduced different heresies that confused these new believers. Commentators are not sure what all the heresies were. They make educated "guesses" from Paul's comments in the letter. The possibilities are:
1. Ceremonialism - strict rules about kinds of permissible food and drink, festivals, etc.
2. Asceticism - abusing the body to gain some kind of purity
3. Angel worship
4. Deprecation of Christ - questioning Christ's position and power
5. Secret Knowledge - knowledge of Christ is not enough - other "mysteries" needed
6. Reliance on human wisdom and tradition - beginnings of the gnostic heresy
(This list is from Navigator's LifeChange Study on Colossians)

Epaphras seeks Paul's help to deal with the false teachings. Paul was in prison in Rome and, therefore, could not visit the church in Colosse himself. When Paul hears of the false teachings that are running rampant in and around this body of believers, he sits down to pen his thoughts and instructions and encouragement to these Christians. It is somewhere between 60 - 64 AD.

As we begin ... your "assignment" is to read Colossians several times over the next 2 weeks. The specific lessons will begin following Memorial Day, May 26. Our format will be similar to the one we used in the "I Saw the Lord" study. After the overview reading, we will focus on a few verses at a time, listening for lessons (what is the text "saying") and identifying personal applications (what will I do about what this text is "saying"). As always, your comments and sharing of lessons learned are welcomed and valued.

May God bless our study of His Word ...
May the Holy Spirit guide and teach us ...
And may we grow to know our Lord Jesus more intimately.