The Growing Church - A Study of Colossians 1:1-14

THE GROWING CHURCH - A STUDY OF COLOSSIANS 1:1-14.

By Ezekiel Kimosop

INTRODUCTION

Bible scholars say the Letter to the Colossians was written around 60 AD during Paul's first imprisonment when he was under house arrest (Acts 28:16-31). Colosse was a city in Asia Minor (present day Turkey), which was located on the Lycus River on the great east-west trade route from Ephesus on the Aegean Sea to the Euphrates. The Letter was written to encourage the Colossians in their walk of faith and to contend with early Gnostic heresy that was prevalent at the time. Bible scholars consider Colossians 1:15-18 as evidence that Paul was defending the divinity and preeminence of Jesus Christ whose incarnate coming was under philosophical scrutiny by the enemies of the Christian faith. 

Gnostics were a Christian sect that denied the humanity of Christ, thus casting doubt on His divinity and the efficacy and theological validity of His atoning works. They could not reconcile the incarnate coming of Christ because Greek philosophy rejected the idea that the divine could incubate human flesh, which was considered sinful. John refutes Gnosticism in 1 John 4:1-3 saying, "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world" (NKJV). 

PASSAGE ANALYSIS

The salutation section is conveyed in vv. 1-2. Timothy is acknowledged in the Letter, not because he co-authored it with Paul but because he was a high ranking minister who happened to have been present with Paul when he wrote the Letter. Paul introduces himself as "an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God..." (v.1). This statement is significant because some church leaders initially doubted Paul's apostolic stature (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:9-10). The Colossians are described as "saints and faithful brethren" (v.2). Paul affirms this Christian community as a legitimate communion of God's faithful people. 

In the passage of Colossians 1:3-8, Paul thanks God for the spiritual growth of the Colossian Christian community and reveals that he regularly prayed for them. He begins by appreciating the Colossians for the fellowship they shared with him in Christ even though he was locked up in prison in Rome. Paul's confidence demonstrates that no circumstances, however unpleasant, can take away our Christian fellowship and identity in Christ. The free and the bound share equal heritage in Christ. 

Paul reveals that the Colossians had grown in faith and in their love towards all the saints (vv. 3-4). This is evidence of their spiritual maturity as a Christian community and their ministry outreach to neighboring Christian communities. This is precisely what ought to identify any growing Christian community. As they grow deeper in Christ, they grow wider in taking the gospel to the unreached and in edifying the saints.

Paul admits that the Colossians were beneficiaries of God's saving grace in the gospel of Jesus Christ which was brought to them. The gospel had spread far and wide, thanks to faithful Christian missionaries that Paul had raised in ministry such as Epaphras (vv. 5-6). Bible scholars believe Paul wrote the Letter to the Colossians alongside the Letter to the Ephesians to encourage the respective Christian communities to reject Gnostic heresy that had reared its head. This possibly explains his distinct focus on high Christology, which is the theological defense of the divinity of Christ and His mission to humanity (cf. Colossians 1:15-23). This teaching mirrors on the building of the Christian community in sound doctrine (Ephesians 4:11-16). The Letters to Colossians and Ephesians are theological intertwined. They focus on the essence of the gospel as a pivotal tool for Christian growth.  

Christian heresy is a growing concern in our contemporary religious space. Many false teachers today masquerade as apostles and prophets and draw huge crowds of followers who are unable to discern the spiritual poison that they regularly feed on. Others control the airwaves and doll out false teachings. We should defend the sanctity and purity of the gospel that was once for all delivered to the saints (Jude 1:3). This is a divine duty from which the true followers of Christ should never shy away.

Epaphras is described as "a faithful minister of Christ" (v.7). This confirms that he was more than an emissary from Colosse. He faithfully stood out for the Colossians in edifying and admonishing them in truth. The stature of an effective church minister is primarily marked out by their diligence and devotion to the regular and consistent exhortation of his congregation in the truths of God's word. He should grow believers in the knowledge of Christ. 

Paul deeply longed to see the Colossians. He looked forward to witnessing for himself what he had heard from Epaphras who is here introduced as a faithful minister among the Colossians. He was possibly the overseer of the Colossian congregation. This stands out Epaphras as a faithful teacher of the word of God.

Elsewhere in the New Testament Scripture, we learn that Epaphras was present when Paul wrote the Letter of Philemon. At that point in time, Epaphras was imprisoned alongside Paul (Philemon 1:23). The Letter of Philemon was possibly written after the Letter to the Colossians. Paul had apparently sent Epaphras to minister to the Colossians and he had come to Rome to check on the welfare of the Apostle Paul who was by then under restriction by the Roman authorities for preaching the gospel (vv. 7-8). Epaphras was possibly the bearer of the Letter to the Colossians. By this time, Epaphras had been freed from prison. 

Colossians 1:9-11 captures Paul's utmost wishes for the Colossians. He prays that the Colossians "...may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy" (NKJV).

This statement is significant in underscoring Paul's apostolic concern for this growing Christian community. His utmost desire was that the Colossians may continue to abound in Christ and walk worthy of Him. It reflects Paul's earnest desire to strengthen the Colossians in the knowledge of Christ. This is what stands out in his exhortation. He was aware that believers were undergoing difficult times. They had to contend with widespread heresy and perhaps Christian persecution as a young Christian community. Christian heresy should be refuted and rejected by right standing Christian communities. 

Let us briefly evaluate the passage of Colossians 1:9-11.

Paul prayed that the Colossians may walk worthy of the Lord. This prayer concerns their moral conduct in a sinful world. A Christian community should watch lest they bring disrepute to the body of Christ and hinder their Christian witness in their society of context. They should be pleasing unto Christ, holding Him in esteem and awe as Lord and Savior (v. 10). They ought to be fruitful in every good work. This fruitfulness should be understood in the context the things of God, the work of ministry. It has little to do with material prosperity per se as some have suggested. Our fruitfulness is measured by our spiritual maturity and Christian service. 

The Colossians also ought to "increase in the knowledge of God" (v.10). This refers to the spiritual maturity that comes from the dedicated study of the word of God and obedience to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Believers should feed on the balanced truths of God's word through individual devotion, regular fellowship (Acts 2:42-47) and congregational admonition (Ephesians 4:12-16). They should discern the leading of the Holy Spirit who is our Comforter and Helper (John 14). Believers should therefore regularly edify and admonish one another in the way of Christ (Colossians 3:16). This is the surest way to stay steadfast and keep our focus on the narrow path.  

Finally, Paul prays that the Colossians may be "strengthened in all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy" (v.11). This spiritual empowerment comes from a life that is yielded to Christ in truth, It is informed by our submission to Christ and the commitment to the devotional study and the application of the truths of His word (Psalm 119:10-12, 105). It is exemplified by a life of patience with God even in times of trials and afflictions (James 1:2-4). It takes God's empowering grace to keep believers walking in truth in a crooked world. 

Colossians 1:12-14 says "...giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. 13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins."

The concluding section of this passage recognizes that a life that is increasingly transformed in Christ is evidenced by a thankful heart. The Colossians, like us, were privileged to be partakers of the heavenly heritage in Christ that was drawn from the finished works of the cross at Calvary. We are beneficiaries of God's unmerited grace in Christ Jesus. Our sinful condemnation was taken away at the cross of Calvary so that we are now freed from the bondage of sin (Romans 8:1-2). We received God's transforming grace once we submitted to Christ in faith (2 Corinthians 5:17). God delivered us from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light; from death to life; from despair to the eternal hope in Christ; from sinners to saints! Praise God!

Glory to God indeed for the glorious work of redemption in Christ! Christian sanctification continues to the day that Christ shall appear to take away His church (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). It is a life long experience. Up till then, we ought to watch and pray even as we faithfully serve God.

Are you growing in the knowledge of Christ? Are you faithfully serving God with your gifts and talents?

We should never neglect opportunities for building our faith in Christ. No matter how long they have walked with Christ, no believer outgrows the Christian maturity and sanctification process! Instead, we should seek to be daily conformed to the image of His Son (Romans 8:29).

Keep it Christ!

Shalom

© Ezekiel Kimosop 2019.