THE BOOK OF COLOSSIANS.

COLOSSIANS 1:1-3

OUR NEXT STUDY IS GOIN TO BE THE BOOK OF COLOSSIANS.AND LIKE ALL HIS LETTERS PAUL OPENS WITH A TELL OF HIMSELF AND A GREETING TO WHO HE IS WRITING.

1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, 2To God’s holy people in Colossae, the faithful brothers and sisters in Christ: Graced and peace to you from God our Father.

1: 1   Colossians, along with Philippians, Ephesians, and Philemon, is called a Prison Letter because Paul wrote it from prison in Rome. This prison was actually a house where Paul was kept under close guard at all times (probably chained to a soldier) but given certain freedoms not offered to most prisoners. He was allowed to write letters and to see any visitors he wanted.

1: 1   Paul was an apostle “by the will of God.” Paul would often establish his credentials as chosen and sent by God because he had not been one of the original 12 disciples. Apostle means “chosen and sent out as a missionary or ambassador”; Paul was sent out by God to preach the gospel. By the will of God means that he had been appointed; his mission and ministry were not just a matter of his own personal aspirations.

1: 1   Paul mentions Timothy in other New Testament letters as well: Romans, 1   and 2   Corinthians, Philippians, 1   and 2   Thessalonians, and Philemon. Paul also wrote two letters to Timothy (1   and 2   Timothy). (For more information on these men, two of the greatest missionaries of the early church, see Paul’s profile on page 0000 and Timothy’s profile on page 0000.)

1: 2-3   Letters in Paul’s day would frequently begin by identifying the writer and the readers and then offering a greeting of peace. Paul would usually add Christian elements to his greetings, reminding his readers of his call by God to spread the gospel, emphasizing that the authority for his words came from God, and giving thanks for God’s blessings.

1: 2   The city of Colossae was 100 miles east of Ephesus on the Lycus River. It was not as influential as the nearby city of Laodicea, but as a trading center it was a crossroads for ideas and religions. Colossae had a large Jewish population— many Jews had fled there when they were forced out of Jerusalem under the persecutions of Antiochus   III and   IV, almost 200 years before Christ. The church in Colossae had been founded by Epaphras (1: 7), one of Paul’s converts. Paul had not yet visited this church nor met these people. His purpose in writing was to refute heretical teachings about Christ that had been causing confusion among the Christians there and to show how new life in Christ should affect people living in the Roman Empire.Tyndale. NIV Life Application Study Bible.

ON THE WAY HOME WALK WITH JESUS and like Pauls be an example of what CHRIST has done in your life!!

onthewayhomeministries.org by RICHARD DEAN BROOKS