GOD’S WORD FOR YOU
COLOSSIANS 1:1
COLOSSIANS CHAPTER 1
Some of Paul’s letters are interconnected with one another, or resemble one another in their themes and contents. Romans reflects Galatians and is greatly expands the same theme (Habakkuk 2:4, “the righteous will live by faith”). So it is here in Colossians, which is written in much the same way as Ephesians and has almost the same theme, from another point of view. Whereas Ephesians showed us the glorious Church, whose head is Christ, Colossians shows us the glorious Christ, who is head of the Church. In both cases, the shorter letters seem to have been written first: Galatians before Romans, and Colossians before Ephesians, although in the latter case was cannot be completely certain.
Colossians is one of the four prison epistles, which form the third group in Paul’s letters:
I, Early – Galatians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians
II, Middle – Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians
III, Prison – Philemon, Colossians, Ephesians, Philippians
IV, Pastoral – 1 Timothy, Titus, and 2 Timothy
Chapter 1 contains Paul’s praise for the people of the Colossian church and urges them to continue in their faith in Christ, crucified for us.
Chapter 2 is a warning against false doctrines made up by men which are contrary to faith. Luther says that Paul “depicts these doctrines more clearly than they are depicted anywhere else in Scripture, and criticizes them in a masterly way.”
Chapter 3 is an encouragement to put one’s faith to work, putting to death fleshly and earthly desires and urging the pursuit of Godly things. He says, “Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, di it all in the name of the Lord Jesus” (3:17). Paul finishes the chapter with a short form of the table of duties.
Chapter 4 continues Paul’s encouragement, especially toward prayer. He concludes with several greetings, one of which mentions Onesimus the slave and helps us understand the letter to Philemon a little more clearly.
Greeting
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy the brother,
When we send email, we’re identified already when the item appears in the inbox. Formal or professional letters have a full identification of the sender at the top of the first page. In ancient times, there was a similar practice. The author used his name, or a general identification if the letter was from a group of people (Ezra 4:11), or simply a title if he was so well-known that a name was unnecessary (as in 2 John 1 and 3 John 1). This is why Paul identifies himself with the very first word. His title could be translated either “Paul an apostle” or “Paul the Apostle.” Although there is no article like our “the” in Paul’s phrase, the fact that his name has the modifier “of Christ Jesus” makes his name definite and deserving of “the,”
Timothy “the brother” is not the co-author of this letter, but a kind of co-sender. Timothy was a prominent worker in Asia Minor and he was probably well known to everyone. Paul placed Timothy in Ephesus when he sailed across the Aegean Sea to Macedonia (1 Timothy 1:3). Timothy was, from that time, virtually the bishop or overseeing pastor of the churches of Asia Minor.
Paul has begun this letter by establishing his authority as an apostle of Christ Jesus. An apostle is a special representative, a kind of preaching ambassador, going out on a specific errand with authority, as Jesus himself was sent as an apostle of God the Father, “faithful to the one who appointed him” (Hebrews 3:1-2).
Now in prison in Rome, Paul was glad to have Timothy and a few other Christian brothers with him. He had never been to Colosse. We know this because he mentions that they heard the gospel from Epaphras (1:7) and he uses expressions like “we heard about you” (1:9). But more than this, he says in chapter 2, “I am struggling for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally” (2:1). Personal connections are not as important as souls that are at stake. To have a letter from Paul while he was in prison must have made a profound impact on these Christians in their forgotten little town. But every soul is important. The same will of God that made Paul an apostle has called everyone to faith, everyone who hears the gospel of Jesus Christ. By the grace of God, we have heard that gospel. Put your trust in Jesus for the forgiveness of your sins and the salvation of your body and soul forever in heaven.
In Christ,
Pastor Timothy Smith
Archives by Wisconsin Lutheran Chapel: http://www.wlchapel.org/worship/daily-devotion/
Pastor Smith serves St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, New Ulm, Minnesota