1. Biblecia.com. Colossians Bible Study Notes. FBCH 2013-2014. Joseph Pittano 1 Colossians 2:6-10 “Increasing in the incomparable Christ!” knowledge of the St. Paul’s Letter to the olossians C

2. Draw a fingerprint with doctrinal points written within. The fingerprint of God, like those in all of us He created, is unique to Him. Draw the words ( ἀ ρχ ή ) archē “principles.” This word comes into English in things like Arch-angel or arch-enemy. And (λ ό γος) logos “doctrine.” Does this word look familiar? Used of many things. St. John uses it of Christ Himself more than once. Our text for today: 6 “Therefore as you 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. 8 See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ. 9 For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, 10 and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority.” “Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him.” “Walking” is kinetic. It implies movement. Let’s talk about receiving Jesus. How did these folks “receive” Christ? No different than us. It was by faith. Is faith ever “blind?” Faith is persuasion. It is furthermore a group persuasion. It is not a solo act. God builds community. Even from the start, Abram was promised family and Christ had His 12. A way I know I’m in Christ is because I’m a member of a local body that affirms this. Nearly every word of the NT is directly written to gathered bodies of believers. This local Colossian body, like all bodies, was being invited to walk together. Do we therefore, “Need to go to church to be saved?” Surely no and surely yes. We don’t need to go to be saved. We need to grow in it and, at least in some ways, to act like it. Biblecia.com. Colossians Bible Study Notes. FBCH 2013-2014. Joseph Pittano 2 20 Oct. Day 10.

3. Biblecia.com. Colossians Bible Study Notes. FBCH 2013-2014. Joseph Pittano 3 How do we know we’re in Christ? Leaving aside any corporate life or church attendance (which doesn’t save)? Are we simply, like so many, those merely, “With an experience?” Do not false religions have such “faith assurance” also? Yes. So, what’s different about the faith itself? It’s the truth itself. It is right doctrine and, based upon that, right living. Use the analogy of the promise of wealth to come and the small down payment being given as earnest. It is by a true leading of the Holy Spirit that we know true doctrine. 14 “ Now about the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and taught. 15 And the Jews marveled, saying, “How does this Man know letters, having never studied?” 16 Jesus answered them and said, “My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me. 17 If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority.” It is the truth itself through which we can know God. This is why preaching sound doctrine is the job of every Epaphras. 12 “Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. 13 Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. 14 Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership. [church membership] 15 Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. 16 Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.” 1 Timothy 4:12-16.

4. Biblecia.com. Colossians Bible Study Notes. FBCH 2013-2014. Joseph Pittano 4 See also Titus 1:9 and the qualifications of any leader. Scripture abounds with passages that speak of truth as that which we share. Truth is: what Christ is, what we “do,” what we believe, what we are “of,” what frees us, in John 14:17 (et al) the Holy Spirit is called, “The Spirit of truth,” the word is truth, and we’re to be people of the truth. 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.” There is the assumption of growth here for them that’s the same with all Christians even today. Paul is inviting them to it. Having been rooted by the teachings of Epaphras they were to now be being built up in Christ upon them. This letter would be a substantial part of that in the years to come. Foundation is everything, but a building has more than just its foundation or it’s not a building. It’s the foundation or rock that Christ said we’re to, “Build upon.” Paul spoke elsewhere of doing this “wisely.” Ever seen a ten year old still sucking down milk? Not a pretty sight! Recall, knowing The OT IS knowing Christ. For example, knowing God as the Shepherd of Israel makes the imagery of Christ as Shepherd all the more evident. The more they knew the OT, the more they could know Him; it’s the same with us. On first being “Firmly rooted” in Christ. In Mark 4:1-9 there is the parable of the sower. Explain the imagery of rootedness and non-rootedness. Our roots are to sink down into the “why” of Christ (our sin/God’s holiness). We can then move on to the “what” in Christ. On being built up on our foundation. They were to be maturing in God. This is sanctification. It is on-going. Hebrews 6:1 “Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation…”

5. Biblecia.com. Colossians Bible Study Notes. FBCH 2013-2014. Joseph Pittano 5 This verse [NKJV] speaks of, “Elementary” (arche) “doctrines” (logos) that they were to move beyond in Christ. These are also truths referred to as “foundational” there in the same text. Hebrews is replete with such admonition around this section. The Colossians were to have such roots and move beyond them as well. We are here comparing spiritual things with spiritual things. This passage in Hebrews is a categorical statement. It applies to all readers everywhere as God permits it to. The Greek word “arche” is translated often as “elementary” in most Bible versions. It can also be translated simply as “principles” as the KJV translators did. It’s the same word used for “beginning” in John 1:1. Heb 6:1- KJV: “Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ…” The NLT translates “arche” here as basic, “Basic teachings”. NKJV (main text today) and NASB- as “elementary,” elementary principles. ASV- as “First principles.” The verse in Greek reads, “Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ.” The KJV is therefore closest to the original text here. It is the context given of “going on to perfection” later in the verse that makes the translation of “arche” as “elementary” teachings or “basic” principles, etc. make sense. Words like elementary or first before “doctrines” or “principles” is a translator preference. In Greek it would likely not have been needed. If we don’t place this word there in English it reads a bit odd. For example, when the KJV reads, “Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ…” (Webster’s being the same) one might ask: What “principles” do we leave, and why? How do we leave them? It is when the context brings to light our being built upon the foundation of such things that “elementary or basic principles” makes sense. What might those principles be? (The 6 listed in Hebrews 6 are: 1) repentance from dead works, 2) faith toward God, 3) the doctrine of baptisms, 4) of laying on of hands, 5) resurrection of the dead, 6) eternal judgment).

6. Biblecia.com. Colossians Bible Study Notes. FBCH 2013-2014. Joseph Pittano 6 Our roots should be fixed in such things. Then we can be moved to be built up in other things in Christ. All overflowing with gratitude to the Lord who makes it possible to grow. From the NET Bible Commentary: “The three participles rooted, built up, and firm belong together and reflect three different metaphors. The first participle “rooted” (perfect tense) indicates a settled condition on the part of the Colossian believers and refers to horticulture. The second participle “built up” (present passive) comes from the world of architecture. The third participle “firm [established]” (present passive) comes from the law courts. With these three metaphors (as well as the following comment on thankfulness) Paul explains what he means when he commands them to continue to live their lives in Christ. The use of the passive probably reflects God’s activity among them. It was he who had rooted them, had been building them up, and had established them in the faith.” We thank God for our growth, not ourselves! Our lives should echo the theology of Romans 6:17: “But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered.” To be continued…

7. Biblecia.com. Colossians Bible Study Notes. FBCH 2013-2014. Joseph Pittano 7 Colossians 2:6-10 “Increasing in the incomparable Christ!” knowledge of the St. Paul’s Letter to the olossians C