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Colossians
BC Weekly Digest Monday, December 15 1997 Volume 01 : Number 03 In this issue: Colossians 2:1-3 Colossians 2:1-3 Colossians 2:4,5 Colossians 2:5 Colossians 2:16-21 Colossians 2:6,7 Colossians 2:8 Colossians 2:1-3 Colossians 2:1-3 (OPV) 1 For I want you to know what a deep concern I have for you, and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not seen my face in the flesh, 2 that their hearts may be comforted, being united in love and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, unto full knowledge of the mystery of God, of Christ, 3 in whom all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden. === 2:1 "What a deep concern I have for you" Here Paul demonstrates the high form of love Jesus taught His followers to have, namely, a genuine concern for the welfare of others. 2:2 "That their hearts may be comforted" Paul understood that a person's welfare depends more on the condition of his heart than on his external circumstances. 2:2 "Being united in love" Love is the foundation of Christian unity, love for God and love for one another. 2:2 "Unto all riches" This unity in love leads to all riches of knowledge and understanding. A believer's heart is comforted because this unity in love with other Christians allows him to know and understand things which are worth more than all material riches combined. In this knowledge he has "full assurance"! 2:2 "Unto full knowledge of the mystery of God, of Christ" This unity in love also leads to full knowledge of Christ which allows us to understand the mystery of God! 2:3 "All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" These treasures are "hidden" in Christ. Unfortunately, for many people, they remain hidden! Fortunes have been spent looking for hidden material treasure. How much effort are we willing to spend to search for spiritual treasure. This was Paul's great concern for the brethren at Colossae. He wanted them to go on to fully experience the riches to be found in Christ. Roy Davison ------------------------------ Colossians 2:1-3 The question has been asked: In Colossians 2:1 Paul mentions his "struggling for you.." Can you give any insight into Paul's struggles, as in with whom and with what and about what? I understand that Paul cares for the Colossians and the Laodiceans and their understanding of who God is, but help me better understand how he struggles for them. May it be as simple as a parent fretting over a child's well-being, or is he referring to any spiritual warfare? You could maybe enlighten me on spiritual warfare, if possible. == The Greek word is AGOON, the basic meaning of which is 'contest' but which can have various specific meanings depending on the context. A literal translation would be: "For I wish you to know how great a contest I have for you." This word can vary in meaning from 'fight' to 'struggle' to 'contest' to 'care' or 'concern' depending on the context. In the Arndt & Gingrich Greek Lexicon the latter meaning is assigned to Col 2:1 and it is suggested that a comparison be made with the early uninspired Christian writing of 1 Clement 2:4 - "Day and night you were concerned for the whole brotherhood" (literal: "You had contest day and night for all the brotherhood"). In concurrence with this I have translated Colossians 2:1 as "For I want you to know what a deep concern I have for you" because this seemed to best fit the context. In other passages the word definitely does refer to the Christian's spiritual struggle or even 'fight'. This word in its various meanings is used in the following passages in the New Testament: Phil 1:30; Col 2:1; 1 Thes 2:2; 1 Tim 6:12; 2 Tim 4:7; Heb 12:1. Roy Davison ------------------------------ Colossians 2:4,5 Colossians 2:4,5 (OPV) 4 This I say, that no one may delude you with persuasive argumentation. 5 For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing and observing your orderliness, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ. == 2:4 "Persuasive argumentation" This is one of several words in Colossians that appear only one time in the New Testament. The word means "sophisms" or "specious arguments". Many people allow themselves to be tricked by the fancy, good-sounding (but invalid) arguments of false teachers. Jesus had warned: "And many false prophets shall arise, and shall lead many astray" (Mat 24:11 ASV). Paul pointed the Colossian brethren to the true source of complete knowledge and understanding, Jesus Christ, so they could resist the crafty arguments of false teachers. He had also warned the saints at Rome about such people: "Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them that are causing the divisions and occasions of stumbling, contrary to the doctrine which ye learned: and turn away from them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Christ, but their own belly; and by their smooth and fair speech they beguile the hearts of the innocent" (Romans 16:17,18 ASV). 2:5 "Observing your orderliness" Christian service is to be orderly. "But let all things be done decently and in order" (1 Cor 14:40). 2:5 "The steadfastness of your faith in Christ" Christ has given leadership to the church that we might develop a faith that can endure. Although the wording is different, the basic idea of Colossians 2:1-5 is almost identical to that of Ephesians 4:11-17 (ASV): "And he gave some [to be] apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, unto the work of ministering, unto the building up of the body of Christ: till we all attain unto the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a fullgrown man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: that we may be no longer children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error; but speaking truth in love, we may grow up in all things into him, who is the head, [even] Christ; from whom all the body fitly framed and knit together through that which every joint supplieth, according to the working in [due] measure of each several part, maketh the increase of the body unto the building up of itself in love." Roy Davison ------------------------------ Colossians 2:5 Paul rejoiced as he, in spirit, observed the "orderliness" of the Colossians. According to some Greek lexicons, this is military language describing someone inspecting the troops. Later, in the letter Paul will warn his readers but first he compliments them not only for their orderliness but for their steadfastness. This positive approach is a good procedure for preachers and elders to follow today. Charles Hess. ------------------------------ Colossians 2:16-21 The question has been asked: Can we apply Col 2:16-21 to Christian traditions and festivals which follow some Christian confession such as Orthodox, Catholic or others? I mean their rules and traditions with regard to fasting at certain times, confessing to a priest on the eve of the Lord's Supper and so on. In the time when this letter was written these confessions did not yet exist. === These verses were of course written with regard to false teachers in that time who were impossing rituals and regulations on Christians that were not of divine origin. The same principles apply today, however. Most of the division among people who call themselves Christians is caused because different "confessions" have their own distinctive rituals and regulations that are NOT of divine origin. And, as Paul says in this passage, these practices are actually not of a true spiritual nature, but have been added from carnal (fleshly), unspiritual motives. In many cases they are for show or to glorify man. Anything we do in religion that does not have divine authority is actually rebellion against the authority of God. Thus these verse certainly apply to similar circumstances that exist now. Roy Davison ------------------------------ Colossians 2:6,7 Colossians 2:6,7 (OPV) 6 Therefore, just as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in Him, 7 having been rooted, and being built up in Him, and being established in the faith, as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. == 1:6 "received Christ Jesus the Lord" To receive Christ means to believe in Him. Of His own nation it is said: "He came unto his own, and they that were his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he the right to become children of God, [even] to them that believe on his name" (John 1:11.12 ASV). The word "Christ" means "Anointed" (The Greek equivalent of "Messiah" in Hebrew. To "receive" Christ means that one acknowledges Jesus to be the Messiah, the King of kings and Lord of lords, the long-awaited Savior of the world promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets. 1:6 "walk in him" Truly receiving Jesus Christ as our Lord results in a way of life, a "walk," which is so controlled by the will and word of God that one walks IN Christ. 1:7 "having been rooted" First the foundation must be laid. "For other foundation can no man lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ" (1 Cor 3:11 ASV). But to lay a foundation is not enough. A foundation is intended as something solid on which something else can be built! Blessed is the man who builds his life on the Lord Jesus Christ. 1:7 "being built up in Him" Not only do we build ON Christ, but we are built up IN Him as well. Going back to the unity mentioned at the beginning of this chapter, we remember that this "construction work" takes place in the church and as a PART OF the church. As Paul explained to the brethren at Ephesus: "So then ye are no more strangers and sojourners, but ye are fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God, being built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief corner stone; in whom each several building, fitly framed together, groweth into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom ye also are builded together for a habitation of God in the Spirit" (Eph 2:19-22 ASV). 1:7 "being established in the faith" Again we see the similarity in thought between this and what is said in Paul's letter to the Ephesians about the importance of the instruction we receive from the leaders Christ has given to the church: "for the perfecting of the saints, unto the work of ministering, unto the building up of the body of Christ: till we all attain unto the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a fullgrown man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: that we may be no longer children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error" (Eph 4:12-14). When we are "established" in the faith we stand firm and are not blown about by all the strange and weird teachings we hear from so many different sources. 1:7 "abounding in thanksgiving" Who has more to be thankful for than a Christian? Roy Davison ------------------------------ Colossians 2:8 Colossians 2:8 (OPV) 8 See to it that no one carries you away as [his] prey through philosophy and vain deceit, in agreement with the tradition of men, in agreement with the principles of the world, and not in agreement with Christ. == 2:8 "Philosophy and vain deceit" Christianity is not opposed to true knowledge and understanding in any field. Someone with the knowledge that comes from the Creator of the universe has a reliable frame of reference, however, to evaluate the validity of the many conflicting claims in the field of philosophy and even science. Some skeptic has said that a philosopher is a man in a dark room looking for a black cat that isn't there, and that a theolgian is the same, except that he finds the cat! A Christian, however, isn't in the dark. He has light from God. He doesn't look for cats that aren't there, let alone find them! As Paul explained to the believers at Corinth: "Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For seeing that in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom knew not God, it was God's good pleasure through the foolishness of the preaching to save them that believe. Seeing that Jews ask for signs, and Greeks seek after wisdom: but we preach Christ crucified, unto Jews a stumblingblock, and unto Gentiles foolishness; but unto them that are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men" (1 Cor 1:20-25 ASV). 2:8 "The tradition of men" False religions are based on the traditions of men. The one true faith is based on the word of God. Jesus continually emphasized this, much to the irritation of the religious leaders of His day. "And ye have made void the word of God because of your tradition. Ye hypocrites, well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying, This people honoreth me with their lips; But their heart is far from me. But in vain do they worship me, Teaching [as their] doctrines the precepts of men" (Mat 15:6-9 ASV). 2:8 "not in agreement with Christ" Unfortunately, the world is full of false forms of "Christianity" that are not in agreement with Christ. Paul is telling us how to avoid them. Roy Davison