Colossians

Believers are constantly bombarded by the philosophies and religious perspectives of this world, while trying to practice the pure faith of the gospel of Christ on a daily basis. It was no different in Paul's time, especially in a small city bustling with commercial interests like Colossae, where exchange of ideas and information was common place due to trade traffic.

It seems likely that the church was founded by Epaphras as an offshoot of Paul's three-year ministry in Ephesus (1:4-8; 2:1), and when Epaphroditus brought news to Paul in prison about the onslaught of heretical and cultic teachings the church was facing, Paul was stirred to write this letter.

Ephesians and Colossians are basically twin sister epistles. The former describes the Church of Christ, while the latter portrays the Christ of the Church; one focuses on the Body and the other centers on the Head. In this respect, both letters when read together, offers us a picture of the glorious Bride and that of her magnificent Bridegroom.

What sets Christ and Christianity apart from all other religions and philosophies is the sufficiency and centrality of Christ in His Person and work. No speculations, superstitions, or any supernatural visions and experiences, proposed or pursued by man in his vain attempt to circumvent the simplicity of the gospel, can ever hope to attain in any measure the knowledge and perfection that is found in Christ.

The supremacy of Christ must be matched by the submission of the Christian in order to bring out the splendor of the divine life in the believer. Paul sums up this mystery which had been hidden in ages and generations as—

1:27 Christ in you, the hope of glory.

OUTLINE OF COLOSSIANS

1. Introduction (1:1-14)

        a. Greetings (1:1-2)

        b. Prayer and Thanksgiving (1:3-14)

2. The Transcendence of Christ (1:15-2:3)

        a. In His Nature over Creation (1:15-18)

        b. In His Redemptive Work (1:19-23)

        c. In His Church as the Head (1:24-2:3)

3. The Completeness of Christ (2:4-23)

        a. Secured in Christ (2:4-7)

        b. Complete in Christ (2:8-10)

        c. Renewed in Christ (2:11-17)

        d. Contrasted with Greek Worships (2:18-19)

        e. Contrasted with Jewish Beliefs (2:20-23)

4. The Preeminence of Christ (3:1-4:6)

        a. Our Position in Christ (3:1-4)

        b. Our Priorities in Christ (3:5-4:6)

        Put off the Old Man | Put on the New Man

        Conduct at Home | at Work | in the World

5. Conclusion (4:7-18)

        a. Sending Tychicus and Onesimus (4:7-9)

        b. Greetings from the Brethren (4:10-14)

        c. Further Instructions (4:15-18)