All agree that Paul wrote his letter to the Colossians to combat a heresy. There's little agreement about the exact shape of that heresy. Yet it clearly contained both pagan and Jewish elements and, though masquerading as a form of Christianity, it denied Christ His central place and distorted the Christian lifestyle reflected in all the New Testament writings. In attempting to reconstruct the heresy from the truths Paul puts forward most strongly, many scholars have concluded it was an early form of Gnosticism.
Gnosticism takes its name from the claim of its proponents to have access to a superior, hidden knowledge, or gnosis. The Gnostics made a sharp distinction between matter and spirit. The material was essentially evil; God and good were essentially spiritual. It followed that God could not have created the world, that Christ could not be God incarnate, and that what Christ did on the cross in a material body could not really accomplish salvation. Salvation could only be achieved when the divine spark held captive in the material body was released. What a person did in the body mattered little, so some adopted the most profligate lifestyles, while others turned to asceticism to loosen the cords which held the inner man to the body.
There is great value in the Book of Colossians for Christians today. In warning those being influenced by an early heresy the Apostle Paul has sketched for us a bright, clear vision of Jesus Christ and His central role not only in God's plan, but in our lives. As we read this great book prayerfully we cannot help but be brought closer to our Lord.
Chapter summary
Paul's greeting (1:1-2) is followed by heartfelt thanksgiving for the impact of the Gospel (vv. 3-8) and a prayer which outlines the way to spiritual fruitfulness (vv. 9-11) in Christ's kingdom (vv. 12-14). Paul then quickly draws the Colossians' attention to Christ. The Jesus Paul describes is the real Christ: the One in whom we find redemption and forgiveness. This Christ is the visible manifestation of the invisible God, the heir of all creation (v. 15). This Christ is the creative source of the visible and invisible universe, who not only made all things but whose power holds all things together (vv. 16-17). He is supreme over everything and though God in His fullness, His blood shed on the cross is the source of reconciliation for all humankind (vv. 18-20). Paul says it again: God in Christ took on a physical body and in that body He died to make us holy (vv. 21-23).
As for Paul, he gladly accepts any personal sufferings in order to share the great mystery of the Gospel: that this glorious Christ now takes up residence in the believer and is Himself the hope of all the glorious things that await you and me here, and in eternity (vv. 24-29).
1) Paul who was an Apostle by the will of God wrote this letter. Timothy is also mentioned.
2) We are to be God’s holy and faithful people; united as one in Christ.
3) Thanksgiving should be a part of any prayer.
4) Our faith in Jesus Christ and love for others should be the hallmarks of our lives.
5) We have a confident expectation of heaven and all that awaits us.
6) The gospel (the power of God to save) is the message of truth. The gospel produces results, and reveals to us God’s kindness.
7) The Spirit of God produces love in the believer (us).
8) We should pray to be filled with the knowledge of God’s will, through spiritual wisdom and insight.
9) Our lifestyle should confirm that we belong to God, pleasing Him in every way.
10) Our lives produce good works as we increase in our knowledge of God.
11) God will strengthen us with His power that we need to patiently endure everything with joy.
12) We have been rescued from the power of darkness and brought into God’s kingdom by His Son (Jesus Christ).
13) Because Jesus paid the price for sin (death on the cross) we are free and forgiven.
14) Jesus is everything that God is and the beginning of all creation (He created everything).
15) Jesus (the Word) created everything in heaven and on earth; things visible and invisible. Everything was created through Him and for Him.
16) Jesus (the Word) existed before everything and holds everything together.
17) The church is His body and He is the head.
18) God was pleased to have all of Himself in Christ. Jesus had God’s Spirit without measure.
19) God brings everything back to Himself through Christ. Because of Jesus’ shed blood harmony has been restored between God and man.
20) When man was separated from God the evil things done were signs of our hostility towards God.
21) Jesus through the death of His physical body brought us back to God. We can now come to God without sin, fault, or blame.
22) We must not be moved from the solid foundation of our faith that comes to us by the gospel.
23) We will suffer because of Christ. The church has fellowship and power with Christ through suffering.
24) The church (the body of Christ) in the past was a mystery.
25) Christ living in us gives us a confident expectation of God’s manifested presence (glory).
26) Learning and applying God’s word helps us become mature.
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