“One World in Christ” The Book of Colossians Foundations Session I: Introductions and Settings

Opening Questions and Thoughts Do you feel as though your Growing? As a person? As a Christian? In your faith? What prevents you from Growing?

New Testament’s 27 Books History Four Gospels, Acts Epistles Pauline Epistles Journey Epistles (Galatians, I/II Thessalonians, I/II Corinthians, Romans) Prison Epistles (Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon) Pastoral (I/II Timothy, Titus) General Epistles Hebrews, James, I/II Peter, I/II/III John, Jude Revelation

The Church @ Colossae

When and Where. Written from Prison A.D. 56-58 4:3 “for which I am in bonds” 4:10 “Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner” 4:18 “Remember my bonds” Prison epistles “Colossians, Philemon, Philippians, and Ephesians. A.D. 56-58 Paul appeared before Festus on his way to Rome in Acts 25:1. Festus Procurator A.D. 56. Paul was in Rome 2 years (Acts 28:30)

The Topic Sentence As you received, so…. Colossians 2:6,7 “As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude. As you received, so…. How did you receive? (v7) Therefore, so walk? “In Him” In Christ (80x) Common rabbinical term “received” teachings, but here it’s Jesus, not tradition. Walk in what way? Walk – “imperative” Walk – “go about” in the manner of your course

The Topic Sentence Christ Jesus the Lord Colossians 2:6,7 “As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude. Christ Jesus the Lord The “Messiah” What does “anointed” mean? (to Jew or Gentile) What is Jesus the Lord of? “Jesus”, “Christ” and “Lord” 60x together in NT. 48x as Jesus Christ the Lord. Here Christ, Jesus, the Lord. Written to Gentiles, so they inherit the blessings.

The Topic Sentence Firmly rooted in Being built up Colossians 2:6,7 “As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude. Firmly rooted in “Perfect passive” tense having been. In What? For what purpose? Being built up How?, by what means? What is the image Paul is using to describe us? What is the tense of the verb? (present, passive)

The Topic Sentence Built up in Him. Organic Connection. Colossians 2:6,7 “As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude. Built up in Him. What does Paul mean? What is the connection between firmly rooted and being built up? Again, “in Him” – Why? Organic Connection. No disconnect between seed and plant, or vine and branch. Move from “perfected” past, to present and future on the basis of the seed

The Topic Sentence Established in your faith The Faith Colossians 2:6,7 “As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude. Established in your faith What does that mean? How would you do this? The Faith Content? What’s the relationship between “the” faith, and “in” him? What is the role of instruction? God’s sovereign work through his people.

The Topic Sentence Overflowing with “thanksgiving” (KJV,RSV) Colossians 2:6,7 “As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude. Overflowing with “thanksgiving” (KJV,RSV) eujcaristiva/ “eucharistia” Is this “normative” for human nature? What is different “in Christ”? What is the significance of the word “overflowing”? Is “overflowing thanks the distinguishing mark of our way of life? If not, how can we make so?

Why Look @ Colossians? The Centrality and Supremacy of Christ as it’s central theme. Jesus, the person and His work. The universality of Christ. A Bridge between the transcendent God and his material creation. A 20 minute refresher course on what we believe. Succinctly summarizes Christianity in a surprisingly contemporary manner for those not intimately familiar with either Christianity or the Old Testament. I read it occasionally, but regularly as a “refresher”

Why Look @ Colossians? Emphasizes genuine worship and spirituality. Contrasts with prideful worship or belief. Paul’s purposes so poignant for today. To express clearly “Christ” in a society of pluralistic and competing religious thought, and in the face of “heresy”. Written to those who accepted Christ, but immersed in a Gentile, secular world. To lead believers to spiritual maturity. To elicit prayer on behalf of the mission and community of believers. A Wonderful example of the power of individual words, sentences, and paragraphs in Scripture.

Why Look @ Colossians? Paul’s purposes so poignant and powerful on a personal level. The connection with all things yet, strikingly personal, and individual. My place in this world. The leading to deep, inner spiritual life. The importance of the connection between the “inner” life and the “exterior” or outer life. Jesus – The Total Package

Brief Outline of Colossians I. The Deeper Life in Christ Colossians 1:1-2:7 II. The Higher Life in Christ vs. prevailing religions and thought. Colossians 2:8-23 III. The Inner Life in Christ Colossians 3:1-17 IV. The Outer Life in Christ Colossians 3:18-4:18 OUTLINE: Norman Geisler from Walvoord, John F., and Zuck, Roy B., The Bible Knowledge Commentary, (Wheaton, Illinois: Scripture Press Publications, Inc.) 1983, 1985.