Read: Jesus is Supreme

Overview (Colossians 1-3)

The book of Colossians is a letter attributed to the Apostle Paul, written to the Christians in Colossae. In this letter, Paul outlined how Jesus is unique and superior over everything. He warned the Colossians against false teachings infiltrating their church.

Background to the Book of Colossians

The letter to Colossae’s church is attributed to Paul; however, some debate this and believe a close disciple wrote it with Paul’s approval or after his death. If Paul was the author, he was in prison when he wrote it. He asked the church to “remember his chains.” After Paul converted Epaphras, Epaphras returned home to Colossae and founded a Christian church there. The church was predominantly Gentile, with a minority of Jews.

In the first century, the city of Colossae was a small city in southwest Asia Minor (modern Turkey). It was situated in a valley area plagued with earthquakes. The city was destroyed by an earthquake sometime between 60-64 CE and was never rebuilt.

Jesus is Unique and Supreme

Paul began by greeting God’s faithful people at Colossae. After expressing gratitude for their Christian faith and love, he shared his ongoing prayer for the Colossians. He told them he was praying:

That you may be filled with the knowledge of the will of God, which comes through all true spiritual wisdom and insight. Then you will live lives worthy of the Master, and so please God in every way. Your lives will be fruitful in every kind of good action, and grow into a fuller knowledge of God; you will be made strong at all points with a strength worthy of the power manifested in his glory – strong to endure with patience, and even with gladness, whatever may happen to you; and you will give thanks to the Father who made you fit to share the lot which awaits Christ’s people in the realms of light.

After his prayer, Paul wrote about Jesus’s supremacy over everything. He taught the Colossians that Jesus was the image or incarnation of God. To affirm Jesus’s supremacy and uniqueness, Paul cites that Jesus was the firstborn from among the dead. Although some were resurrected in the ministry of God’s people, each died again. Jesus was the first to be resurrected, never to die again. Paul taught that Jesus’s resurrection showed his supremacy.

A Repaired Relationship with God

As Paul continued, he wrote about a Christian’s repaired relationship with God. God, to make peace between himself and humankind, reconciled through Jesus’s death. Once, the Colossians were alienated from God and intent on wickedness, but they were reconciled through Jesus’s sacrifice of his physical body. Paul encouraged them to remain true to their faith and never to abandon hope.

False Teaching

In light of this repaired relationship, the church was on alert for false teachers who tried to gain power or influence over the church. Some false teachings infiltrated the Colossian church. Paul warned them against these teachers.

He described the false teachings as human commands. These doctrines included an improper view of Jesus, forbidden food and drink, the worship of angels, the legalistic practice of Jewish traditions and other religious festivals, and asceticism (harsh religious practices to make one spiritually pure). These deceptive human philosophies led to false humility.

In contrast, Paul told the Colossians that wisdom and knowledge were hidden in Jesus. Therefore, no one should deceive them by arguments about human-made rules and religious practices. As Christians matured, their understanding of this increased. If all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge were hidden in Jesus, human-made religions and their rules and practices were composed of earthly wisdom. Such practices appeared wise, but they failed to restrain sensual indulgence. Following a list of legalistic rules led to false humility and harsh treatment of the body, not a deeper spirituality.

Expand: Christian Character

A critical theme in Colossians is a Christian character. Paul wrote that, because of a Christian’s new relationship with God through Jesus, one’s character should be transformed into Jesus’s character. This new character should be reflected in relationships with others.

The Former Nature

According to the New Testament, Christians were raised into life with Jesus; therefore, they should focus their hearts and minds above, where Jesus is seated at God’s right hand, not on earthly things. In this letter, Paul described Christians’ character qualities before they followed Jesus and the character qualities after destroying one’s earthly nature in Jesus.

Paul encouraged the Colossians to destroy their former earthly nature: immorality, evil desires, greed, anger, malice, slander, and lying. They should put on their new self. As they learn how they should live, their new self will be renewed to be more like Jesus.

The New Self

In light of what Christ did, Christians were commanded to clothe themselves with their new self, with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, and forgiveness. If Christians had a grievance against someone, they were told to forgive as God forgave them.

When Jesus walked on earth, his words and actions towards others reflected these character qualities. When one is transformed into a Christian character, one speaks as Jesus spoke and treats others as Jesus treated others. This transformation spills into Christians’ relationships with others in the church and the community. In their relationships, Christians are commanded to let the peace of Jesus control their hearts and to be thankful so that Jesus’s message dwells among them as a church. Christians are called to peace. They should worship God with gratitude.

Paul closed by asking the Christians at Colossae to devote themselves to prayer, be watchful, and be thankful. He requested prayer for himself. Although he was in prison, his prayer request was not related to his freedom but that God would open a door for Jesus’s message.

Module 13 Lesson 2 of 4