Colossians

Christ Centered Living

Colossians

Why Colossians?

A) To be “filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding”(v 1:9)

B) To “walk in a manner worthy of the Lord” (v 1:10)

C) To bear “fruit in every good work” (v 1:10)D) To “be strengthened with all power,

according to his glorious might” (v 1:11)E) To learn some simple keys to bible study

that will enable you to increase “in the knowledge of God” (v 1:10), on your own for the rest of your life.

Goals of the class:

Week One –Plan on Course Commitment Background on Colossians Basics of Bible studyWeek Two – V1-14Week Three—v15-20Week Four—v21-29Week 5—Chapt 2: 1-7Week 6—2:8-15Week7—2:16-23

Plan for study of Colossians

Back Ground on Colossae : Where?

Back Ground on Colossae: A little Closer

Back Ground on Colossae: Closer Still

Back Ground on Colossae: By-Passed

Back Ground on Colossae:WoolWool making and dyeing contributed to the economic health of the region. Colossae, in particular, was famous for its production of fine, dark red wool, called Colossinum.

Back Ground on Colossae:View

Back Ground on Colossae:View

Back Ground on Colossae:Religion

A Hellenistic god still popular in Roman times was—

Serapis : The god was depicted as Greek in appearance, but with Egyptian trappings, and combined iconography from a great many cults, signifying both abundance and resurrection.

Back Ground on Colossae:ReligionAphrodite: Goddess of love, beauty and sexuality

Abode Mount OlympusRoman equivalent Venus

"Goddess of Syria". Men would emasculate themselves in her honor

Main Temple right up the road in Hieraplois: Also called SY′RIA DEA (Suriê theos), "the Syrian goddess," a name by which the Syrian Astarte or Aphrodite is sometimes designated.

Back Ground on Colossae:Religion

Cybele enthroned, with lion, cornucopia and Mural crown. Roman marble, c. 50 CE. Getty Museum, Phyrian God of the mountains, Great Mother or Mother of the Earth

Though of lesser import now, Colossae still housed the Greek mother-daughter goddess cult of “Cybele.” The Sibylline (the priests and writers of the Sibylline books had the supervision of the worship of the Greek god Apollo and the "Great Mother" Cybele also called Magna Mater.

What does she bring to mind as you look at her?

Nothings new under the sun! (Ecclesiastes)

Back Ground on Colossae: Jews

Jews had settled in this region prior to their Babylonian captivity (Old School—600 years B.C. )

Because of their distance to the Temple and center of Jewish orthodoxy and their being close to Greek and then Roman influence:

they had been battling unorthodoxy (liberals), apathy (I’d rather be fishin’, at SPI),

and infighting (Baptists among others).

Now the Christians were emerging (Those Christ followers)

also, had Jewish traditions (legalists)and Jewish mysticisms and Greek philosophical ideas that reflected their culture and personal worldviews. (New agers—actually root of Jungian psychology)

Paul writes to Christians in Colossae:

Do you think this influences us today?Do they influence our churches? If so, what are we to do? The letter to Colossae applies to us today just as it did to its original audience and situation !

Paul writes to Christians in Colossae:

Acts 19:9 -10 But when some became stubborn and continued in unbelief, speaking evil of the Way before the congregation, he withdrew from them and took the disciples with him, reasoning daily in the hall of Tyrannus. This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks. (Act 19:9-10)

Paul writes to Christians in Colossae:

Col. 2:18 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, (Col 2:18)

Paul writes to Christians in Colossae:

Paul Writes his various letters: Galatians: c48 AD1–2 Thessalonians: c49-51 AD1 Corinthians: c53-55 AD2 Corinthians:c55-56 ADRomans:c57 ADHebrews:c60-70 (may not be Pauline)c62AD: Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians (maybe early 60 AD) and after that Philemon (maybe at same time)

Paul’s intro to Christians at Colossae:

Col 1:1-2 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.

Is anything missing?

Paul’s intro to Christians at Galatia:

Paul, an apostle--not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, …-Galatians 1:1,3

Is anything missing?

ColossaeCol 1:2 To the

saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father.

Galatians 1:3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ

Paul Writes to Christians atGalatia

In fact Paul’s intro to Christians everywhere else includes the statement:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus ChristGalatians 1:3, 1st Thessalonians 1:1, 2nd Thessalonians 1:21st Corinthians 1:3, 2 Corinthians 1:2Rom 1:7, Eph 1:2, Philippians 1:2

When you wrote to the Colossians?

and the Lord Jesus Christ

Paul why did you leave out

Your answers are:

1) --2) --3) --

We didn’t get to do this in class

Some have the following answers:1) --It shows Paul didn’t

write this2) --King James authors

added this maybe because they presumed it should have been there

3) --If you notice the region has gods that are very personal

Some have the following answers:3) --If you notice the region

has gods that are very personal, and people often say “by the Gods” or “by Zeus” or “with Aphrodite’s help. So since that is the case he may have intentionally left Christ’s name out until he could establish who Christ is.

4) Other?

What does this have to do with us?

1) --How do you use Jesus’ name?

2) --Who is Jesus to you?3) --?

What action might you take this week or in various situations as a result of this?

1) --Be more careful how I use Christ’s name

2) --Meditate on who He is 3) --and who He is to me4) --Other?