Intro to Colossians
Paul had not been to the churches of Colossae, rather he had trained men to go out and evangelize, and one of those men–Epaphrus–brought the Gospel (which we shall discuss at length later) to the area. This same man brought news to Paul of the church, and Paul responds to the news with this letter. Paul writes while imprisoned–though he is able to have visitors, and to continue his work as an apostle–though in a limited capacity.
Colossae
Once a large, wealthy area, by the time of Paul’s writing though, a small town. Part of Pergamum, along the Lycus River. On an atlas you could see that it is in the Lycus Valley, along a road running from Ephesus to the Euphrates River. The town is roughly 100 miles from Ephesus, and 1,000 from Rome. This region was settled at the time by both Jews and Greeks, so the church could have been comprised of both. Certainly we will see the influence of both Jewish and Greek philosophies.
While Paul never directly states “this particular issue is the heresy you are dealing with” we can look at what he is emphasizing, and surmise that they were dealing with heresies that exist still today: people questioning whether Jesus was fully man and fully God, questioning His authority, people adding back in OT lawkeeping practices, people listening to Jews who believed you have to placate angels, and hints of Gnosticism and other worldly philosophies.
Epaphrus loved these people, and true godly love will not allow the smallest hint of heresy to take root. Love will not worry about whether a confrontation from Paul would be offensive. Love seeks the good of the soul, the eternal good of the ones loved. So Epaphrus shared the truth with Paul–and this letter opens with high praise for the faith, the hope, and the love of these true Christians, and continues on to remind them, or perhaps refine for them, some beautiful and robust truths concerning person and work of Jesus Christ our Lord, of His preeminence, of our old fallen nature and of Union with Christ–and being made new in Him, of the Church and how life in the church must be carried out, of the need for continual Spiritual growth in knowledge and wisdom, of that knowledge and wisdom being found ONLY in Christ, and of how this will be the foundation for life in the Church, in families, in the community of Colossae as they interact with unbelieving neighbors, and will allow them to cling in hope to “Christ in you, the hope of glory.”
Hope is scattered throughout all this robust theology, and the directives, the “therefores” instructing us how to live in light of that theology, follow. Throughout this study we will keep in mind this thought from Martin Bucer (1491-1557), shared by Ian Hamilton in the introduction to Robert Letham’s recent book The Eternal Son (which I am thoroughly enjoying!):
True theology is not theoretical, but practical. The end of it is living, that is, to live a godly life.
Throughout this study we will be delighting in, kindling a warmth and affection for all the words the Spirit inspired, rather than giving in to the temptation by this generation to balk at “godliness” or “saints” or “holiness” or “chosen” or “perfect” etc. We will read, study, meditate on the word inspired by the Holy Spirit, and trust Him to be at work illumining our minds, and drawing us together in fellowship as we do! He will be at work in us, both to will and to do according to His good pleasure, we will spur one another on to live out this true theology.
Two Things
As we read each time, we will do so with these two spiritual disciplines in mind–Prayer, and Preaching to our own Souls. Jesus taught His disciples to abide in His words and let that direct their prayers (see John 15). So we will read with that in mind. The first chapter especially! What a beautiful portion to memorize, and then use as a springboard for praying for our own particular Body of Christ. (More on that next time!)
I was recently thought about this second spiritual discipline while revisiting an old friend (what I call books that I turn to often). C.S. Lewis taught that good books are worth re-reading, and a true reader will re-read; I heartily agree), The Saints Everlasting Rest, by Richard Baxter. If you haven’t added that to your library yet, find yourself a copy! Towards the end he has a chapter on how and why to preach the truths of Scripture to your soul, and it struck me: it has been soooooo long since I had encountered this phrase, even though it is something I love to do, it is not often talked about. It is easy to see in the Psalms that David told himself to “hope in God, for I will again praise Him!” or “let your heart take courage…” etc. So many times the Psalmist speaks to himself in this manner. How often do you interrupt your own doubts, worries, fears, grumblings with a good “preaching to your soul” the eternal truths that will calm, that will warm your heart, that will lead you back into the abundant, eternal life He has given you?
As we read, we will take note of passages that we will pray through, or that lead us into prayer and communion with our God. We will also journal, and perhaps even memorize, portions that we want to be able to preach to our souls.
Beginning at the End 4:7-end
7 As to all my affairs, Tychicus, our beloved brother and faithful servant and fellow bond-servant in the Lord, will bring you information. 8 For I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know about our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts; 9 and with him Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of your number. They will inform you about the whole situation here.
10 Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, sends you his greetings; and also Barnabas’s cousin Mark (about whom you received instructions; if he comes to you, welcome him); 11 and also Jesus who is called Justus; these are the only fellow workers for the kingdom of God who are from the circumcision, and they have proved to be an encouragement to me. 12 Epaphras, who is one of your number, a bondslave of Jesus Christ, sends you his greetings, always laboring earnestly for you in his prayers, that you may stand perfect and fully assured in all the will of God. 13 For I testify for him that he has a deep concern for you and for those who are in Laodicea and Hierapolis. 14 Luke, the beloved physician, sends you his greetings, and also Demas. 15 Greet the brethren who are in Laodicea and also Nympha and the church that is in her house. 16 When this letter is read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and you, for your part read my letter that is coming from Laodicea. 17 Say to Archippus, “Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it.”
18 , Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my imprisonment. Grace be with you.
4:7-9 Onesimus
Who brings this letter to be read among the churches? Two men are named, one of whom we know from the letter to Philemon, which was brought at the same time. The slave who met Paul, was converted and is now a true brother in Christ, Onesimus, delivers these two letters. What would this town, obviously used to the practice of slavery, have thought as they heard this letter, in the presence of a runaway-returning-slave? Side note, now is a good time to buy Twice Freed, by Patricia St John; a novel based on this storyline, enjoyable for any age.
He was “a faithful and beloved brother, and one of your number.” When is the last time you looked around your own particular local church and thought of these as beloved brethren, family, adopted into God’s true family? There is no room for partiality in the family of God. When the Gospel breaks in, earthly designations and cultural ways of looking at people slip away. In future weeks we will focus on this more.
After running through a list of fellow workers–isn’t it good that God has not left Paul alone!–Paul mentions again, for remember we are beginning at the end, Epaphrus. This man brought the Gospel–which in future weeks we will discuss, but for now remember, the Gospel is not something we try to fit into 30 second soundbytes. We do not trivialize God’s truth by ‘boiling it down’ to three points. NO! We will delight in the full Gospel, which God patiently teaches, through His Word and Spirit, and faithful vessels. Keep this promise in mind as you read, study, abide in, and keep His words:
Isaiah 59:21 “As for Me, this is My covenant with them,” says the LORD, “My Spirit which is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth, shall not depart from your mouth, or the mouth of your offspring, nor from the mouth of your offspring’s offspring,” says the LORD, “from now on and forever.”
Epaphrus’ Prayer
The very man who brought them the Gospel is continually praying for them. He lived among them, had traveled and heard and believed, and came back. A prophet has no honor in his own family or town, usually. But Epaphrus is one of their number, and he has a deep love for them, and reports to Paul of their love.
Love is a spiritual fruit, we need to be reminded often. There are shadows of love in this fallen world, but True Love is only known in and from and through Christ. He reveals the Father’s love. And when He sends the Spirit, and the Spirit dwells in us, He pours out His love into our hearts.
Do not mistake shadows for reality. Long for the reality! Abide in the reality of His love. There is no separation between love and knowledge: we know God because of the Spirit’s work in us, we love God because of the Spirit’s work in us. No one knows God apart from His revelation, and His regeneration.
Epaphrus is “always laboring earnestly for you in his prayers, that you may stand perfect and fully assured in all the will of God.” We will revisit that word “perfect” next time, but for now consider that He is making us stand. That we may stand perfect, is a prayer for endurance. The call of the Gospel is the call to be holy as He is holy, it is the call to follow Him, learn from Him, drink from the well that never runs dry, and have His life flowing in and through us. Those whom He calls, He also justifies, sanctifies, and glorifies! It is a reality, though we await the fullness of it–the hope we have is sure.
Fully assured in all the will of God, that is, in all that He has revealed in His Word. He has made known Who He is, enough for us to say we know Him, the One True God! (John 17:3; 1 John 5:20-21; Jeremiah 9:23-24; Hebrews 11:6) Our finite minds are not capable of infinite knowledge; but He has spoken in a way that accords with the minds He created. He has also revealed what He desires in fellowship with His creatures, how we are to live in harmony with Him. To stand perfectly assured in all this will is to understand and love His ways, to delight in what He delights in, to commune with Him ceaselessly, to learn from Him and then act on what we have learned.
This ‘will’ is not specifically a decision you are trying to figure out, as though you had one right path to figure out, and this path is “the will of God.” This will does involve us being good stewards–of our lives, our health, our hearts and minds, our time, our possessions, our resources, our talents and abilities, etc. Living in harmony with Who God is, and how He has ordered His creation, while seeking the city that is above rather than attempting to create our own heaven on earth, giving thanks and living for His glory…and even this is only a rough sketch of what He has revealed. As you abide in His Word, the Spirit teaches what we can know of His will, helping us to grasp “what eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor has it entered the heart of man.”
Let us pray likewise! What would a fellowship of believers be like if all members were laboring for one another in prayer that we would stand perfect and fully assured in all the will of God? What will studying this book together (again, our first time was 2013!) do for our assurance? Let us commit this season to praying this way, with the same love that Epaphrus had for his local body of believers, the love that God has poured out into our hearts.
Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash