An Intro - Colossians 1:1-13

Colossae, the place where the saints lived who were considered Colossians is located in "a site in modern-day Turkey." The epistle from Paul to the saints at Colossae was probably scribed by Timothy during the time that Paul was imprisoned in Rome. Unlike his letter to the Philippians, Paul's letter to the Colossians was not an unprompted "Thank you for the support." Paul had this letter written by the "saints and faithful brethren" in Colossae because, as the IM tells us, "false teachings and practices in Colossae were influencing the Saints there and threatening their faith… IN the region of Colossae, heretical beliefs and worship practices had developed, blending Christian, Jewish, and pagan ideas. These heresies minimized or denied the divine role of Jesus Christ. Such false ideas threatened the Church but had no yet won over the many Colossian Saints who remained 'faithful brethren in Christ.' In writing the epistle, Paul hoped to communicate his personal concern for the Saints, to counteract the false teachings and practices that threatened their faith, to testify of the divinity and preeminence of Christ, and to exhort the Saints to deepen their conversion to the Savior." It seems like such a constant hardship for people to hear and accept the gospel but then slip back into their "old" ways, or into complacency about commandment keeping, etc. I think one reason might be because a testimony of and commitment too the gospel is a living, breathing entity, meaning it takes attention and effort to keep strong and growing. Sometimes living the gospel life is lonely and hard and it's so difficult to stick to that lifestyle when short term "relief" could come so easily. It's just easy to see the appeal in accepting other aspects of other beliefs that fit what we "want" to believe. 1:1-13 - Paul introduces himself as "an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother." He wishes the "grace" and "peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." The IM points out that Paul always notes that they are separate beings joined by the same mission and purpose. He tells them that he is "praying always for you" and commends them for their "faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints." Apparently there was a missionary that came to Paul from Colossae named Epahpras, who I mistook for Epaphraditus, but in Colossians 4:12-13 we learn that Paul calls Epaphras "one of you" to the Colossians, and Paul extolls his work ethic and faith so it seems to me that Epaphras was one of the Colossian saints who went to work with Paul during his imprisonment. Epaphras also speaks highly of the Colossian saints to Paul, I think it's a matter of "How to Win Friends and Influence People" here, there's lots of hard things to talk about but let's start out with the positive. It's an excellent book by the way. Epaphras has been telling Paul good things about the people of Colossae, and together they have been praying for them to "be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing." He also prays for them to give "thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son." It seems like Paul is subtly reminding the people why they felt drawn to the Savior in the first place. Like "remember when you were miserable and then had joy when you learned the gospel?"