Location of Colosse - Situated east of Ephesus in the province of Phrygia in Asia Minor on the river Lycus near it junction with the Meander. Near Colosse lay the towns of Laodocia and Hierapolis. (4:13-14) Therefore, the influences which pervaded one would more than likely pervade the other.

Laodocia was famous for its wealth and also for its philosophers, sophists, and rhetoricians. Hieropolis was distinguished as the birthplace of Epistetus, the greatest heathen moralist, and a contemporary of the great Apostle. Phrygia, the region containing Colosse had long been famous as the adopted home or Oriental mysticism.

Under such influences we would naturally expect that false doctrine would spring up and thrive. The content and character of this epistle show that Paul dealt with such conditions.

The founding of the church at Colosse: From chapter 2:1 it appears that this church was not founded by Paul. His knowledge was from report. Epaphas, their minister, was likely the founder (1:7; 4:12) Perhaps, Epaphras was a convert of Paul. At least being so near Ephesus he must have been in close contact with Paul.

Time - About 62 or 63 A.D. sometime during Paul's first imprisonment. (4:3,18)

The occasion of the writing - It was the communication to Paul of the state of the church at Colosse. The evil which threatened the church was an admixture of Judaic legalism and Oriental mysticism. (2:13,18) This may be called gnosticism.

1. A claim to superior knowledge.

"Good at knowing." They were the aristocrats of knowledge, exclusive in spirit.

2. A speculative philosophy

embracing the problem of creation, evil, and angels. They contended that creation was not by the supreme God since He can have nothing to do with matter which is inherently evil, but by angelic emanations from Him. They even worshipped these emanations or aeons.

3. A rigid asceticism

because of matter being the abode of evil or unrestrained licentiousness because of the inherent evil of matter.

One saturated with these principles when he became a Christian would incorporate them with the princliples of the Gospel and most grossly pervert them. These errorists were tempted to rob Christ of His deity and assign to Him a place as Mediator as one of the angelic emanations from God. These same principles widely prevail today and threaten Christianity. We do well to attend to them in order to be ready to meet them. Paul's method in this epistle is to assail these errors and to place in opposition to them the true view of Jesus Christ in the dignity of his person and mediatorial work.

• Man's spirit derived from God and combined in a material body and animal soul. By this union the spirit was enslaved and defiled. Redemption means liberation from the body so as to reenter the sphere of pure spirit.
• Christ was one of the higher aeons come into the world.

1. Docetists - Christ was aphantom, that is, he seemed to be. His whole life was an illusion. There was no birth, no death, no suffering, no resurrection, no ascension.
2. Cerenthians - Jesus and Christ were distinct. Jesus was an ordinary man, son of Joseph and Mary. Christ came upon him at baptism and left him at the cross.

1. Introduction
1. Salutation. 1:2
1. Designation of Paul's apostleship.
2. Designation of Timothy. (brother)
3. Designation of believers in Christ.
• Saints and faithful in Christ Jesus.
• Not because of merit, but because of our relationship to Him.
4. Designation of the Christian graces.
• Grace
• Peace
2. Thanksgiving. 1:3-8

Grace is the divine life flowing to us and thanksgiving is our response.

1. To whom - To God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. (gospel name of God)

This shows that the God whom the gnostic pushed far away from the experience of man is now in touch with sinful men.

2. For whom - for you. (Colossian believers)
3. For what -
1. Their faith
2. Their love to the saints
3. Their hope of the coming glory.
3. Prayer. 1:9-14
1. For a full knowledge of God's will. 1:9

This means more than knowledge of the plan of salvation. It means acquaintance with His word and plan.

2. a walk worthy of the Lord.
3. For the strength to joyfully edure suffering.
4. That they might be thankful for the blessings of redemption. 1:12-14
1. The inheritance of the saints in light
2. Deliverance out of the power of darkness.
3. Translation into the kingdom of His dear son.
2. The glory of Jesus Christ, the Son. 1:15-23
1. In relation to God. 1:15

He images the invisible God.

• God is invisible save as manifested through the Son.
• To profess to know God while denying the son is consummate folly.
• An eternal relation, not just in the Incarnation.
2. In relation to creation. 1:15-17
1. Lordhip over all creation.
   First born suggests preeminence. Ex 4:22; Ps. 89:27.
   
2. By Him and for Him all things, visible and invisible were created. 1:16.

He was not among the created things.

3. He antedates all things. 1:17
4. He is the upholder of all things.
3. In relation to the church. 1:18,19
1. He is the head of the church.

The one who created and upholds the whole universe is the One who is the Head of the Church. There is no conflict between His creative and redemptive work. The Lord of creation is the Head of the Church.

2. The Design of this headship was that He might have the preeminence.

He has preeminence
• in Creation
• in Providence,
• in Redemption.

In Him all fulness dwells. i.e., in Him dwells the number, the plentitude, and the perfection of the attributes of deity.
4. In His work of redemption. 1:10-23
1. The ground of redemption - His blood.

The indwelling fulness of the Godhead in the man Jesus combined with His wonderful teaching was not suffcient. Blood must be shed, because it was God's plan. His death was not by accident. Though man's hand had not touched Him, he would have died, for God caused our iniquities to strike upon Him.

2. The scope of the atonement. 1:20-21

"All", not universal restoration.

3. The means of the atonement. 1:22

The body of His flesh.

4. The evidence of reconcilliation. 1:23

Steadfastness in the faith.
3. The mission of Paul. 1:24-29
1. Suffering to fill up that which was lacking in the sufferings of Christ.

The sufferings of Christ were:
• at the hand of God;
• at the hand of man for righteousness sake.
• in His physical suffering as a man.

Paul's suffering was from man for righteousness sake. This is so of every believer.

2. To reveal the mystery of God.

That which is undiscoverable by human reason, but made known by revelation. The mystery is the church.

3. To preach Christ 1:28,29

By divine energy and power.
The work of a preacher:

1. Preach Christ (Christ crucified)
2. Method (warning, teaching)
3. Object (to present every man perfect in Christ.)
4. Paul's earnest desire for the Colossians. 2:1-7
1. That their hearts might be comforted. 2:2

Comfort preceeds instruction.

2. Their unity in love. 2:2
   Hearts knit together . One in Christ.
   
3. For their understanding of the mysteries of God. 2:2,3
4. For their security against delusions. 2:4
5. For their stability and order. 2:5-7
5. Grave perils which threatened the Colosians. 2:8-23
1. Vain deceitful philosophy. 2:8-15

What philosophy? It is of noble origin. Grew out of the humility of Pythagoras. The people called him a wise man. He asked them to call him a "lover of wisdom" or philosopher. The world's philosophy is vain and empty because it rests upon the reasonings of men handed down and the principles of this world. A fallen man's reasonings upon the principles which seem to prevail in a fallen world is most unsafe. It requires a special revelation and this we have in Jesus Christ. This warning is of perpeual importance because the proud intellect of man is constantly attempting to measure the facts of Christianity by the standards of human philosophy. The believer being in Christ in whom all the fullness of the Godhead dwells, and Christ being in the believer, he is absolutely complete. The believer has been brought into this relationship by a spiritual circumcision which is identication with Christ in His death and resurrection symbolized in baptism, faith being the bond of connection. This deceitful philosophy was like much that is called philosophy today in an attack upon the person and dignity of Jesus Christ.

2. Legalism 2:16,17
1. Eating and drinking
2. Observance of holy days.

The importance of a sacred calendar is contrary to the Spirit of Christ. We should not allow ourselves to be called to account for these things.

3. False mystecism. 2:18,19

Worship of angels dishonoring to Christ.

4. Ascetism. 2:20-23

The root of sin is not in the body, but in the soul. No affliction of the body can ever eradicate sin. Much of the efforts of men today to curb sin means (signing of pledges or wearing badges) comes under this warning.

3. The true Christian life as opposed to these false views. 3:1-4:6
1. What it is - 3:1-4
1. It is union with Christ through death and resurrection. 3;1 with 2:20
2. It is a life the aspirations and desires of which are set upon heavenly things. 3:2-4
2. How to live it. 3:5-4:6
1. Mortify, that is, put to death your earthly members. (reckon dead) 3:5-7
1. Fornication.
2. Uncleanness.
3. Lustfulness.
4. Evil Longings. (must be brought to the cross)
5. Covetousness.
2. Put off the sins of the old nature. 3:8-11
1. Anger.
2. Wrath.
3. Malice
4. Blasphemy (railers)
5. Shameful speaking.
6. Lying.
3. Put on the graces of the new man. 3:10-14
1. Compassion.
2. Kindness.
3. Humbleness (not proud)
4. Meekness (submission to God)
5. Longsuffering.
6. Forbearing one another.
7. Forgive one another.
8. Love is the bond of all these.
4. Let the peace of God rule in the heart. 3:15

The state of mind, the condition of heart which comes to one who is conscious of peace with God.

5. Be Thankful
6. Let the word of Christ dwell richly in you

Result - teaching, admonishing, singing of grace.

7. Allow the proper spirit to control all action. 3:17
8. Maintain right behavior in all relationships. 3:18-4:6
1. In the family. 3:18-21
• wives.
• husbands.
• children.
• Fathers provoke not your children to wrath.
2. servants and masters. 3:22-4:1
3. Prayer is the spirit in which all these duties are to be performed. 4;32-4
4. social intercourse. 4:5,6
6. Personal matters and greetings. 4:7-18


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