COLOSSIANS 1:1-8
EXHORTATION CELEBRATION
SUSIE: Paul identifies himself as an apostle “by the will of God.” Paul did not proclaim himself to be an apostle, nor did he choose that calling.
G652 ἀπόστολος apóstolos, ap-os’-tol-os; from G649; a delegate; specially, an ambassador of the Gospel; officially a commissioner of Christ (“apostle”) (with miraculous powers): —apostle, messenger, he that is sent.
Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible
SUSAN: Apostle is a word meaning “messenger.” Paul, along with the twelve disciples including Matthias who replaced the betrayer, Judas Iscariot, was Jesus’s messenger and was allowed to use the word apostle as a title. The Apostles preached and taught the Gospel of Jesus, and some of them were used of the Holy Spirit to write the New Testament.
SUSIE: The Apostles were all witnesses of the resurrected Jesus. Paul is in this category because Jesus Himself appeared to him on the road to Damascus and changed his life forever.
He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?” “Who are You, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” He replied.
Acts 9:4-5 (BSB)
SUSAN: The Lord designed Paul for the task of apostleship and declared it to Ananias who laid hands on Saul and declared he would be filled with the Spirit.
Ananias [Ănanī’as]—jehovah is gracious. This name is the Greek form of Hananiah, meaning, “Jehovah hath been gracious” from the Aramaic, meaning, “beautiful” . . . A godly disciple of Damascus to whom was made known the conversion of Saul of Tarsus (Acts 9:10-17; 22:12), and who baptized Saul.
All the Men of the Bible, Lockyer
“Go!” said the Lord. “This man is My chosen instrument to carry My name before the Gentiles and their kings, and before the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for My name.” So Ananias went to the house, and when he arrived, he placed his hands on Saul. “Brother Saul,” he said, “the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here, has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
Acts 9:15-17 (BSB)
SUSAN: The leadership of the early church in Jerusalem knew of Paul’s past persecution of the church, and at first could not get that out of their heads and doubted the sincerity of Paul’s conversion; but Barnabas stepped in to vouch for him:
Barnabas [Bär’nabăs]—son of prophecy or consolation. Surname of Joses, Paul’s companion in several of his missionary journeys (Acts 4:36; 9:27). . . What triple grace this man possessed! “A good man and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith” (Acts 11:24). God-possessed, Barnabas was full of love, sympathy and faith. Vision and allegiance were his. Spirit-filled, he exuded the comfort of the Spirit. Dean Church says that Barnabas was “an earthly reflection of the Paraclete.”
All the Men of the Bible, Lockyer
When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple. Then Barnabas brought him to the apostles and described how Saul had seen the Lord, who spoke to him on the road to Damascus, and how Saul had spoken boldly in that city in the name of Jesus.
Acts 9:26-27 (BSB)
ACTIVITY: Read the account of Paul’s conversion in Acts 9:1-22 and Paul’s testimony in Acts 22:1-21. Note that Paul shared how he was before he met Jesus, how he met Jesus, and how his life changed after meeting Jesus. Write out your own conversion testimony using that format.
SUSIE: Paul loved Timotheus (Timothy) as his son because he discipled him. Paul encouraged Timothy as he worked alongside him and later when Timothy became a pastor himself.
Timotheus, Timothy [Tīmō’theŭs, Tĭm’o thy̆]—honored of god, worshiping god or valued of god. A young man of Lystra, son of Eunice, a Jewess, by a Greek father who was probably dead when Paul first visited the home (Acts 16:1). . . He was ordained as a minister of the Gospel (1 Tim. 4:14; 2 Tim. 1:6, 7). Conscious of Timothy’s unique gifts, especially of evangelism (Rom. 16:21; 2 Tim. 4:5), it was fitting that Paul should choose him as a companion and fellow-worker. Faithfully he served Paul “as a son with his father,” in the furtherance of the Gospel (Phil. 2:22). How indispensable he became to the apostle (Acts 17:14, 15; 18:5; 20:4)! Paul had no other companion so “like-minded” as Timothy, who enjoyed Paul’s constant instruction (2 Tim. 2:3; 3:14).
All the Men of the Bible, Lockyer
To Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
1 Timothy 1:2 (BSB)
SUSIE: Timothy could be with Paul even though he was imprisoned because Paul was allowed to have his own quarters.
When we arrived in Rome, Paul was permitted to stay by himself, with a soldier to guard him.
Acts 28:16 (BSB)
SUSAN: Paul was under house arrest. There were no ankle monitors in those days, so he was in always in the company of a guard which meant he had a captive audience at all times.
16 At Rome, Paul was allowed to live in private quarters, though a soldier guarded him at all times. The chain he wore (v.20) was probably attached to his wrists. Yet in Luke’s eyes Paul entered Rome in triumph. Through his coming the Gospel penetrated official circles in the capital of the empire, and God used his detention there for two years to spread the proclamation of the kingdom of God and the Lord Jesus Christ throughout the city (cf. vv.30-31).
Expositor’s Bible Commentary (Abridged Edition): New Testament
QUESTION: What was the relationship between Timothy and Paul? How was it that Timothy could be with Paul while he was imprisoned?
Colossians 1:2 To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: GraceG5485 and peaceG1515 to you from God our Father.
SUSAN: As with the letter to the Ephesians, Paul was writing to believers, those who had trusted Jesus, at Colossae and then at Laodicea.
SUSIE: Paul extended his usual greeting to the recipients of the letter by pronouncing grace and peace to them from the Lord.
G5485 Charis – . . .graciousness of manner or act: lit. fig., or spiritual; especially the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life . . .
Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible
G1515 εἰρήνη eirḗnē, i-ray’-nay; probably from a primary verb εἴρω eírō (to join); peace (literally or figuratively); by implication, prosperity:—one, peace, quietness, rest, + set at one again.
Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible
5485 cháris – (III) (B) Of the grace, favor and goodwill of God and Christ as exercised toward men: where cháris is joined with eirḗné (1515), peace, éleos (1656), mercy, and the like in salutations, including the idea of every kind of favor, blessing, good, as proceeding from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. 1:7; 1 Cor 1:3; 2 Cor 1:2; Gal. 1:3). Also, in the introduction to most of the epistles (Eph 1:2; Phil. 1:2; Col. 1:2; 1 Thess. 1:1; 2 Thess. 1:2; 1 Tim. 1:2, Titus 1:4, Phile. 1:3; 1 Pet. 1:2, 2 Pet. 1:2; 2 John 1:3; Rev. 1:4).”
The Complete Word Study Dictionary, Spiros Zodhiates Th.D. ed.
SUSAN: Grace as defined above was asking the Lord to effect change in their lives and bestow blessings on them. With the word peace, Paul was indicating his desire that the Lord set their lives in order, make them whole, and give them rest.
SUSIE: Perhaps we need to revive this greeting when we meet up with our Christian friends.
QUESTION: In your opinion, could we revive the greeting of “Grace and peace to you from God the Father?” Why or why not? Could we use this greeting with non-believers or with Christians only?
Colossians 1:3-4 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard about your faith in Christ Jesus and your love for all the saints—
SUSIE: In expressing his thankfulness for the Colossian believers, Paul refers to God as the “Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” which affirms Jesus’ deity. The Son shares identity with the Father.
SUSAN: The Father and Jesus are one in nature and in kind. They share the same attributes and are both fully divine.
. . . that all of them may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I am in You. May they also be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.
John 17:21 (BSB)
SUSAN: Paul and his fellow-laborers had the believers at Colossae on their prayer list . . .
SUSIE: . . . since Epaphras had brought him news of their conversions.
SUSAN: Epaphras had also told Paul of their unwavering trust in Jesus and how they ministered agápē love one to the other (see verse 8 below).
Three graces should be always evident in Christians—faith, love, and hope. They are each mentioned by Paul in the opening verses of this epistle. These lovely graces should be so obvious in every believer as to be spoke of and heard of even by those who have never seen us. These flowers should yield so sweet a perfume that their fragrance may be perceived by those who have never gazed on them. So it was with the saints at Colossae.
The Spurgeon Study Bible, Alistair Begg, general editor
Colossians 5-6a . . . the faith and love proceeding from the hope stored up for you in heaven, of which you have already heard in the word of truth, the gospel that has come to you.
SUSAN: Their hope is the certainty that Jesus has prepared a place for those who have trusted in the redemptive work that He accomplished on His cross and His resurrection from the dead. By dying in our place as our perfect sacrifice, Jesus conquered sin. When God raised Him up from the grave, Death was conquered as well.
SUSIE: This is the hope, the trust, that we will share in the glory of God in Heaven.
SUSAN: The Colossian believers had this hope because the Good News had been shared with them, and they received their salvation and trusted in this truth. The faith, hope, and love Epaphras saw in them was evidence of their salvation.
SUSIE: The gospel, the Good News, was the truth that Christ was victorious over Satan, sin, and death by His self-sacrifice on the cross and His resurrection from the dead.
Colossians 1:6b All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood the grace of God.
SUSIE: The gospel message is intended for all classes, races, gender, and political groups of people—all the world.
SUSAN: The evidence of their salvation is the fruit—their love for their brothers and sisters in Christ. They heard the gospel message, they received God’s grace, and their knowledge was observed in the way they carried themselves in everyday life.
QUESTION: The gospel was “bearing fruit and growing” in Colossae and “all over the world.” Is this still true today? Is the gospel bearing fruit in your city? Your nation? Your neighborhood? What role do we as believers have in the spread of the gospel in our immediate area of influence and beyond?
Colossians 1:7 You learned it from Epaphras, our beloved fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf,
SUSAN: Epaphras was the shepherd (pastor) of the congregation at Colossae. His fervor for the Gospel was manifested in his charming, effervescent personality. He was also a person of veracious intercession.
Epaphras [Ĕp’aphrăs]—charming or foamy. A fellow laborer of Paul and in some sense his fellow-prisoner (Col. 1:7; 4:12; Philem. 23.) . . . His prayers for the stability and maturity of others were numerous, continuous and strenuous. Epaphras brought to Paul at Rome a report of the Colossian Church where he had ministered in Paul’s stead, an account that cheered his heart and resulted in the writing of the Colossian Epistle which Epaphras took back with him to his flock. Can we say that we are true successors of the devoted servant of God? Like him, do we know how to wrestle in agony of prayer? (Rom. 15:30). Epaphras also manifested great zeal or properly “great labour of anxiety” for those under his care. Too few of us are concerned about the spiritual welfare of others.
All the Men of the Bible, Lockyer
SUSIE: He had brought the message of redemption through Jesus to the Colossians and instructed them in the ways of the Lord.
Colossians 1:7 The apostle clearly states that it was from Epaphras that the believers had heard the gospel message and had come to know it experientially in their lives. Paul commends Epaphras as a dear fellow servant and a faithful minister of Christ on their behalf. There was nothing of bitterness or jealousy about the Apostle Paul. It did not bother him to see another preacher receiving commendation. In fact, he was the first to express his appreciation for other servants of the Lord.
Believer’s Bible Commentary
Colossians 1:8 . . . who also informed us of your loveG26 in the Spirit.
G26 ἀγάπη agápē, ag-ah’-pay; from G25; love, i.e. affection or benevolence; specially (plural) a love-feast:—(feast of) charity(-ably), dear, love.
Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible
SUSAN: Epaphras had journeyed to Rome to report to Paul the love of the believers for one another at Colossae. The fact that they were able to love in this manner was evidence of the Holy Spirit working in and among them.
SUSIE: As we will see further on in this letter, Epaphras had also shared some disturbing news of heresy in the church at Colossae with the Apostle Paul.
ACTIVITY: List the attributes of Epaphras from this lesson. Are any of these something you would like to cultivate in your own life? Pray asking the Lord to mold you into the person He designed you to be. Then exercise the discipline to read/study the Bible, pray, worship, and fellowship with other believers.
PONDER THIS: Paul was all about preaching the gospel message, telling others about the saving grace available through trusting Jesus Christ. However, he also mentored churches by mail. He encouraged them in godly living and gave instruction to guard against heresy. Is there a new believer in your life that needs a mentor? Are you in need of a mentor? Encouraging one another and building up the body of Christ should be the work of every mature believer, not just the pastor.
CHALLENGE: Seek to enter a mentoring relationship with another believer. If you have walked with the Lord for a long while, find a new believer to disciple—to pour into, instruct, and encourage in their relationship with Jesus. If you are a new believer, ask your pastor or Bible study leader to help you find a seasoned, godly brother or sister in the Lord to disciple you one on one. We have the advantage of doing this in “real time” via the phone, facetime, Zoom, or Google Meet. Let’s embrace rather than spurn technology for the furtherance of the Kingdom. We are certain Paul would have eagerly done so.