Colossians

Paul is in prison and he is checking in with a new church plant. He wants to give them some encouragement and direction, but first he needs to show how he is connected with them. He will introduce himself, explain his understanding of the Good News they share in common, and then tell the church how to live life. So, the first bit: building trust with the Colossae community of believers (the church) by describing the Good News:

Colossians 1:1-4:18 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, (2) To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father.

(3) We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, (4) since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, (5) because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, (6) which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and growing--as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth, (7) just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf (8) and has made known to us your love in the Spirit.

Paul introduces himself, and Timothy and connects their work to the Colossians via Christ, the one who graciously gives peace with God their Father. The description of prayerful gratitude is now aimed at showing how a faith community works: hope. "…because of the hope laid up for you in heaven". A HOPE, a conviction about where GOOD is to be found, gives these people the ability to confidently trust Christ and to love others who also align with Christ. Christ solves the problem of life needing connection back with our source and our destiny. His solution not only connects us, it does so with reason to believe that what is wrong will be right (physically,relationally, spiritually) and that love is a worthwhile risk.

(9) And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, (10) so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. (11) May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, (12) giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. (13) He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, (14) in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

 The link Paul is praying for is understanding so people can make good, active decisions which lead to an experienced awareness of God. His prayer is that God will in some way respond to requests given by people (like him) so that other people (church at Colossae) will 'get it' in relation to God, man, spirits and stuff. By 'getting it' the people will live out appropriate decisions on how to act. This will be productive in what they do and how they in turn know God better and better. To do this, there is also a need for energy not to give up doing what is good. A way has been opened, (thank God), for a life that is defined by light and not dark. Forgiveness and empowerment make it possible to live differently. This was accomplished through Christ.

 

When we say "Christ" what do we mean?

 

(15) He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. (16) For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things were created through him and for him. (17) And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. (18) And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. (19) For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, (20) and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

Head over creation, both physical and spiritual. He is the source (past), the purpose (future) and the sustenance (present) for everything; everything. Not only that, he is the head over the growing list of people who submit their lives to God in Christ, specifically because he leads the way in 'new creation', resurrection. All of God-ness in him and all of creation reordered to God through him and his ultimate choices and actions (sacrificialdeath).

(21) And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, (22) he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, (23) if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.

 How does this affect the readers? They used to be outsiders. God was not a meaningfully approachable reality and subsequently people were ruled by other forces in their lives. The hope, that Christ really is the solution to our failures, hurts, loneliness, and mortality; is what has the power to progressively bring about change. That is what must be focused on. That is what Paul does:

 

(24) Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, (25) of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, (26) the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints.

Paul is happy about his purpose, even when it brings pain and hardship, because he is carrying out the purposes Christ started with creating the community of reconciled people. By explaining things in such a way that people come to be set free in Christ and get to grow, Paul is fulfilling his purpose and destiny.

(27) To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. (28) Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. (29) For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me. (2:1) For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, (2) that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ, (3) in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

(4) I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. (5) For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.

Paul really wants these people, and others connected to them, to trust him so he can help them grow up in their faith. That is everything to Paul. He is convinced that all the good available to these people is ultimately found in Christ. He also is concerned that they will be fooled by poor substitutes; ideas which seem to make sense but aren't real and won't satisfy. He is glad they seem to be on course.

So what have we seen so far? Paul says that he has an appropriate place in the life of the Colossian people following Christ because he was sent by Christ. He now has information for them to understand that there is no way to overestimate the significance of Christ; he is everything. He recounts the story of what Christ has done, including how Paul is now sent to help explain things, for the following reasons:

 
 

(6) Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, (7) rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. (8) See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.

(9) For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, (10) and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.

(11) In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, (12) having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.

(13) And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, (14) by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.

(15) He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.

Receiving Christ means believing that he is the one to reconcile Heaven and Earth, including us. Other efforts at making sense (or avoiding) heaven and earth reconciliation issues (what's the purpose of life,etc.) are dangerously wrong. Why? Because Christ is God revealed. He is also the fulfilment of the long story of Promise given through the Jews. Since He is 'all that' and we are 'in him' we are alive in acceptance, peace, shalom with God. Not only that, but he details that being 'in Christ' also means we don't need to fear religious rules or bullying by spirits. 

 

(16) Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. (17) These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. (18) Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, (19) and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God. (20) If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations-- (21) "Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch" (22) (referring to things that all perish as they are used)--according to human precepts and teachings? (23) These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.

 If we understand what we have in Christ, we don't need to get sidetracked with weird rules or weird stories of the supernatural. Besides, they don't work in our battle against directing our body to submit appropriately to our will.

 

(3:1) If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. (2) Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. (3) For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. (4) When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

This is the key bit of advice Paul has been trying to communicate. Shifting from whatever one used to trust in, to trusting in God revealed in Christ, means that life is totally defined by Christ. By realizing this and focusing on this makes all the difference. Life=Christ eventually, our relationship with Christ should = ife now.

(5) Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. (6) On account of these the wrath of God is coming. (7) In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. (8) But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. (9) Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices (10) and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. (11) Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.

 On the other hand, that which is against Christ, pursuit of satisfaction without real reconciliation with God, is idolatry; worshipping creation instead of Creator. This is THE essential problem with the cosmic order. Creation rebelling against Creator. The Self in us does whatever it can to get what it wants. This is the problem. One wrong begets another and so on. The decision for Christ is supposed to be against selfishness. That is the biggest challenge, practically speaking, in daily living. That is also why we look at people, ourselves included, based on the groups they belong to. The challenge is realigning our identity relative to God first, not our earthly culture or any other lesser identity.

 

(12) Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, (13) bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. (14) And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. (15) And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. (16) Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. (17) And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

What we should be actively investing in is a way of life that is restrained by mercy and forgiveness and empowered by love. This is what we receive in Christ and accordingly what we should extend from being in Christ. Again, the investment of understanding 'what is' guides us in know 'what to do'. Here it is unity from the heart with gratitude, informed by the word of God shared in expressive ways so that everything we all do is consistent with Christ. What does that look like? Examples are given:

 
 

(18) Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

(19) Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them.

(20) Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.

(21) Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.

(22) Slaves, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. (23) Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, (24) knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. (25) For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.

(4:1) Masters, treat your slaves justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.

(2) Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. (3) At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison-- (4) that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.

(5) Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time.

(6) Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

 The idea, again, is that the 'mystery' is everything. Understanding it and sharing it, in deed and word, is what we should be about. That is exactly what is happening with… all the people mentioned below.

 

(7) Tychicus will tell you all about my activities. He is a beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. (8) I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are and that he may encourage your hearts, (9) and with him Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you of everything that has taken place here. (10) Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, and Mark the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you have received instructions--if he comes to you, welcome him), (11) and Jesus who is called Justus. These are the only men of the circumcision among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me. (12) Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God. (13) For I bear him witness that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis. (14) Luke the beloved physician greets you, as does Demas. (15) Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house. (16) And when this letter has been read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea. (17) And say to Archippus, "See that you fulfill the ministry that you have received in the Lord." (18) I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.

Summation? Creation trying to satisfy itself is what is wrong. We don't naturally understand that. We generally realize the problem with selfish living and indulgence, we just can't seem to figure out how to move beyond it. We try different rules and secret knowledge and such. We also try grouping people as 'good' vs 'bad' along ethnic or economic lines. This doesn't work. We still end up grabbing and struggling to get what we want or need and can't figure out what is wrong.

What we need is real peace with our real creator. This is done by our creator doing for us what we could not do. As a human he suffered the curse of human rebellion but did it with loyalty. That is the massive great mystery, the same one that stumps the smart people and rings true to the humble people. Somehow God fixed man's wrong by suffering man's wrong and extending God's right. That is Christ.

If that is true, that is everything to us. Everything we interact with us ultimately defined by Christ (God in man reconciling creation to its proper order and goodness). So, our thinking should be restructured away from the common way and toward the peculiar Way. That practically means doing right regardless of what we seem to miss out on or get mistreated for. It means doing that right with confidence that is where freedom is found. Lot's of people, including those listed in the letter, and loads of people since then, really do reorder their lives around Christ.

Should I?