The people of Colossae lived in a mixed bag of cultures,
philosophical thoughts, and religions. They lived in an area called Asia Minor,
specifically the Lycus River valley, where a major crossroad traversed from east
to west. The Babylonians, Romans, Jews, and Greeks influenced the lives of the
people. To these people in the 1st century AD, Paul wrote while
imprisoned. About the Christians in Colossians, he heard good things and things
about which he needed to teach and correct.
As Paul almost always did in his letters, he gives a
foreshadowing of his teaching in the opening statements. He opens with by introducing
himself (vs 1), giving a greeting (vs 2), then praying over the Colossian
brethren (vs 3-8). That prayer of thanksgiving leads directly into the principal
topic and teaching of this letter.
The Greeting
Identification with the Sender
“Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother…” (Colossians 1:1 [NASB])
Paul introduced himself to the believers in Colossae. Though
he had spent extended time in Asia Minor on his 2nd and 3rd
missionary journeys, he had never been to Colossae. It was during one of those
journeys, probably the 3rd journey, that Paul discipled Epaphras,
the founder and pastor of the Colossian church. What is important about Paul’s
introduction of himself to the Colossians are the credentials he gave? He told
them first he is an apostle of Jesus Christ. An apostle of Christ is an
ambassador of the Gospel commissioned by Jesus Christ to go preach. Paul was sent
out by Christ. The authority for his apostleship came from Christ. Remember his
Damascus road experience in Acts 9. Christ called and sent out Paul as an
ambassador of the Gospel. As an apostle of Christ, Paul was identified with
Christ.
The next part of verse one says he was an apostle of Christ
by the will of God. Paul had not decided on his own to be an ambassador,
an apostle. God willed it. He chose Saul even while he persecuted the people of
the Way, the Jesus-followers. God had a purpose to use Saul, later known as
Paul, to reach the Gentile world. When Saul met Jesus on the Damascus road, he
became a completely changed man with a new agenda. His life turned around 180
degrees from persecuting Christians to proclaiming the Gospel, from taking the
lives of believers to leading them to the Source of Life, and from enforcing
every jot and tittle of the Law to reinforcing believers by teaching the Gospel
as given to Him by God. Paul repented, he turned 180 degrees from facing away
from Jesus to facing and following Him.
Paul never went alone to where Jesus led him to proclaim the
“mystery of God.” Another believer traveled with him, whether that person was a
believer before Paul met him or her or that believer became a Christian because
of Paul’s proclamation. Paul dedicated his life to learning and mentoring other
believers. On a journey in which men arrested him, Paul identified with the
person who resided with him. On this journey, Timothy was with him. Paul called
Timothy “our brother by God’s will.” The people of Asia Minor either knew
Timothy or knew of him. Timothy’s family raised him in Lystra about 360 miles
east of Colossae. His grandmother and mother, who were Jewish and later became
Christians (2 Timothy 1:5), and his Greek father raised him with the knowledge
of Jewish Scriptures. Paul took Timothy with him on his journeys and mentored
him. Timothy was a companion, mentee, and co-worker of Paul.
Why was it important for Paul to tell the Colossian
believers about himself and Timothy? Paul wanted these believers to understand
that he identified with Christ. Christ appointed him as His ambassador. Paul
wanted the Colossian believers to realize who Timothy was, too. Timothy
identified with Christ, as one saved by Him and called to service for Him.
Identification with the Recipients
“To the saints and faithful brethren who are at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father.” (Colossians 1:2 [NASB])
Paul wanted the believers in Colossae to realize he and
Timothy identified with them, as well as with Christ. How do we know Paul
wanted the believers in Colossae to identify with him and Timothy? He wrote to the “saints and faithful brethren
in Christ.” Paul made known to whom he was writing. He wrote to the saints. Saints
are people set apart by God, those whom He made holy by the atoning sacrifice
of Jesus’ death. Paul and Timothy were saints, too, as he explained in verse
one. Paul added the Colossian Christians were faithful brethren in Christ.
“Faithful” comes from the Greek word pistos meaning one who is persuaded
and who has the fullness of faith about Jesus. Paul wrote to the ones who
received faith from God and believed it to the full, without doubt. He called them
brethren, too. A person of the brethren is a person who is a member of
the same religious community of others who believe similarly, in this case
people who believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God. With these titles for the
believers at Colossae, Paul said they identified with Christ as saints
set apart by God’s redeeming grace. The Colossian believers identified as faithful
because the faith they received they had in full and lived based on it. They
identified as brethren who were actively part of the community of Christ
in Colossae. The Colossian Christians, Paul, and Timothy identified with each
other as followers of Christ. Saints identify upwards with God, and brethren
identify horizontally with other Christians.
Paul added a blessing to his salutation. He said, “Grace to
you and peace from God.” This blessing from Paul meant “May God’s undeserved favor
be on you.” This quietness and rest of heart, soul, mind, and body is the peace
that comes knowing, fully trusting, God will take care of you. This trust
requires full faith as saints. It requires being identified with Christ through
His life, death, and resurrection.
The Colossae church comprised Jews and Gentiles. Paul was a
Jew from Tarsus in Asia Minor called by Christ to preach to the Gentiles and
Jews. Timothy was a man raised as a Jew by his family and was a Greek because
of his father. Yet, more than these, Paul and Timothy were Christians. They identified
with Christ and with the Colossian Christians. The Colossian believers could
identify with Paul and Timothy as saints and faithful brethren in Christ and as
Jews and Greeks of Asia Minor. Their
identification was heavenly and earthly. Paul and Timothy’s identification with
Christ and the people of Colossae gave them the right and privilege to preach,
teach, and correct the heresies flowing around the Colossian believers. The
Colossian believers would trust what Paul taught them as from God and out of
love for God and them.
Thoughts to Consider
Paul gave the Colossian Christians his credentials. He
showed them how he was like them in several ways, as a saint and part of
the brethren. Paul included Timothy as part of his greeting to tell of
his credentials, that he, too, is a Christian called by God and from Asia
Minor. His blessing of this church in Colossae reminded them of who God is and
for them. It served as a springboard for Paul’s purpose in writing this letter.
- Does God still call people to teach and correct the beliefs of others, especially Christians who have become lost in the whirlpool of cultures, philosophical thoughts, and faiths?
- Would people consider your credentials as highly as Paul’s, as saint and brother, because of your faith, and your actions and words that came from your faith?
- Are you like the Colossian Christians who heard the Gospel, but allowed other cultures, philosophies, and faiths to enter your reasoning and potentially water-down your faith?
- How do you think the Colossian believers will react to what Paul will teach them in this letter?
- How would you react since you have read this letter from Paul?
- Why do you think Paul put a heavy emphasis on brethren, faithful, saints, apostle, and brother?
Paul knew why God
had him write to a people to whom he never physically preached or taught. His relationship
with God prepared him to be His instrument even from prison to teach, correct,
and proclaim the Gospel of Christ. With Colossians 1:3-8, we will learn of the
Christian triad of faith, love, and hope. Were the Colossian Christians in danger
of losing one side of this triad because of other cultures, philosophies, and faith
systems? Paul prepared them for his correction of their confusion. What must we
do so as not to be confused and or water-down the faith that we originally received
and believed?
For next week,
re-read Colossian 1:1-8. Be prepared to answer these questions again after
re-reading those verses.
“May you give thanks to the Father who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light.” (Colossians 1:9, 12 [NASB])
