Wednesday in the Word

what the Bible means and how we know

Lecture Notes

04 Jeremiah 7:1-15 What is wrong with religion?

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What’s wrong with religion?

Religion should make a difference in our lives. By “religion,” I mean the set of outward behavior, practices, ethics and rituals that we do or avoid doing to mark ourselves as believers.  Believing in God means we ought to love and value what God loves and values, and therefore we ought not to be nicer to each other.   Yet, religion doesn’t seem to solve all the problems we think it ought to solve.  What is wrong with religion?  Why doesn’t it make more difference?

Historical Setting

Jeremiah began his ministry as the dominant world power, the Assyrians, descended into civil war.  As the Assyrians began to lose their power,  Babylon and Egypt sought to occupy the power vacuum that the Assyrians would leave.  In the midst of this political turmoil the Lord calls Jeremiah.  His job is to predict and warn of the coming Babylonian invasion and the restoration that would follow the exile.

Outline

  • 7:1-7 – proclamation of the word of the Lord. This section exposes the folly of ignoring the 10 commandments and then attending church as if everything is okay.
  • 7:8-12 – description of the nation’s apostasy;  This sections exposes the even greater folly of using religion to hide from God.
  • 7:13-15 – announcement of judgment.  This section is the climax of the passage, the ruins of Shiloh expose the folly of trusting in religious rituals.

Notes

  • Jeremiah 7 is known as Jeremiah’s temple sermon. Jeremiah stood at the gate of the temple as the people entered and warned them about religion.
  • Jeremiah began his ministry during the reign of King Josiah who instituted many reforms, repaired the temple and encouraged the people to return to worshiping the Lord.
  • But during the reign of the next king, King Jehoiakim, Judah slipped back into her old idolatrous ways, but she still had this habit of going through the motions of worship at the temple.

1) People become religious to get what they want.

1The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, “Stand in the gate of the LORD’S house and proclaim there this word and say, ‘Hear the word of the LORD, all you of Judah, who enter by these gates to worship the LORD!'” 3Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, “Amend your ways and your deeds, and I will let you dwell in this place.  4Do not trust in deceptive words, saying, ‘This is the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD.’  5For if you truly amend your ways and your deeds, if you truly practice justice between a man and his neighbor,  6if you do not oppress the alien, the orphan, or the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place, nor walk after other gods to your own ruin, 7then I will let you dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers forever and ever. – Jeremiah 7:1-7
  • This passage is addressed to religious people (people who are entering the temple to worship).
  • The basic message is: “repent and you will avoid the consequences of disobedience.”
  • The people of Judah trusted in “deceptive words” instead of the word of the Lord.
  • They think going through the rituals of religion will protect them. They thought the temple was like the ultimate lucky rabbit’s foot.
  • This kind of “temple theology” is empty superstition.  What they really need is radical repentance and profound spiritual renewal.

 2) People use religion to fake a relationship with God.

8″Behold, you are trusting in deceptive words to no avail.  9Will you steal, murder, and commit adultery and swear falsely, and offer sacrifices to Baal and walk after other gods that you have not known,  10then come and stand before Me in this house, which is called by My name, and say, ‘We are delivered!’–that you may do all these abominations?  11Has this house, which is called by My name, become a den of robbers in your sight? Behold, I, even I, have seen it,” declares the LORD. – Jeremiah 7:8-11
  • Jeremiah 7:9 mentions six of the ten commandments, the foundation of the covenant relationship between the Lord and His people.
  • The people violated the basic agreement of their relationship with God and then entered the temple, saying “we are safe.”
  • Religious rituals allow us to fake having a relationship with the Lord.

 3) People use religion compare themselves to others.

12″But go now to My place which was in Shiloh, where I made My name dwell at the first, and see what I did to it because of the wickedness of My people Israel.  13And now, because you have done all these things,” declares the LORD, “and I spoke to you, rising up early and speaking, but you did not hear, and I called you but you did not answer,   14therefore, I will do to the house which is called by My name, in which you trust, and to the place which I gave you and your fathers, as I did to Shiloh.”  – Jeremiah 7:12-14
  • Shiloh was the center of worship for about 400 years when it housed the building that contained the Ark of the Covenant.
  • The people in Jerusalem thought they were better than the northern tribes because they had Solomon’s temple.
  • The Lord draws a comparison between Shiloh, where the tabernacle used to dwell and Jerusalem where the temple now dwells.
  • If He didn’t spare Shiloh because He had his dwelling there, what makes you think He will spare Jerusalem because His temple is there?

4) Religion disappoints.

“I will cast you out of My sight, as I have cast out all your brothers, all the offspring of Ephraim.” – Jeremiah 7:15
  • The Lord realizes His people are trusting in religion, and so He takes it away from them.
  • He doesn’t take away His presence, grace or mercy.  He removes their ability to practice religion.

Life, hope, forgiveness and blessing are found at the foot of the cross and faith the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, not in the outward practice of religion.

For more detail and explanation, please listen to the podcast.

Next: 05 Jeremiah 17:1-11 What is wrong with me?

Previous: 03 Jeremiah 2:1-13 Why is God so difficult to believe in?

Series: Questions Jeremiah Answered

Resources: Jeremiah Resources

Scripture quotes are from the New American Standard Version of the Bible.

Photo used here under Flickr Creative Commons.

02 Jeremiah 1:4-19 What does God want from me?

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02 Jeremiah 1:4-19 What does God want from me? | WednesdayintheWord.com

Why did Susan Boyle’s story draw so much attention?  We love the story of an underdog who everyone under-estimates but who then enjoys an unexpected triumph.  As we’re going to see, Jeremiah is that same kind of underdog.

Historical Setting

Jeremiah began his ministry as the dominant world power, the Assyrians, descended into civil war.  As the Assyrians began to lose their power,  Babylon and Egypt sought to occupy the power vacuum that the Assyrians would leave.  In the midst of this political turmoil the Lord calls Jeremiah.  His job is to predict and warn of the coming Babylonian invasion and the restoration that would follow the exile.

Notes

4 Now the word of the LORD came to me saying, 5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, And before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.” – Jeremiah 1:4-5
  • Jeremiah’s story begins with the word of the Lord.  The phrase occurs in almost 5% of the verses of Jeremiah.
  • Calling begins with the Lord.  He forms, creates, appoints and calls.  We respond.
  • God’s word came TO Jeremiah before it came THROUGH Jeremiah.

The 3 verbs in verse 5 are:

Is that true of everyone that God knows, sets apart and appoints?

Calling begins with God, develops through our relationship with God and that relationship leads us to others.

Recommended books on finding God’s calling for you:

6 Then I said, “Alas, Lord GOD! Behold, I do not know how to speak, Because I am a youth.” 7 But the LORD said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ Because everywhere I send you, you shall go, And all that I command you, you shall speak. 8Do not be afraid of them, For I am with you to deliver you,” declares the LORD.  9Then the LORD stretched out His hand and touched my mouth, and the LORD said to me, “Behold, I have put My words in your mouth. 10 See, I have appointed you this day over the nations and over the kingdoms, To pluck up and to break down, To destroy and to overthrow, To build and to plant.” – Jeremiah 1:6-10
  • Jeremiah’s first objection concerns himself:  He can’t speak well.
  • Jeremiah’s second objections concerns others: People don’t listen to young prophets.
  • Calling may begin looking like certain failure.
  • In response to Jeremiah’s youth, God promises His presence.
  • In response to Jeremiah’s lack of ability, God gives Jeremiah the words to speak.
  • The 6 verbs in verse 10 anticipate the  message of the book of Jeremiah: 4 relate to destruction; 2 to rebuilding.
11 The word of the LORD came to me saying, “What do you see, Jeremiah?” And I said, “I see a rod of an almond tree.” 12 Then the LORD said to me, “You have seen well, for I am watching over My word to perform it.” 13 The word of the LORD came to me a second time saying, “What do you see?” And I said, “I see a boiling pot, facing away from the north.” 14 Then the LORD said to me, “Out of the north the evil will break forth on all the inhabitants of the land.   15For, behold, I am calling all the families of the kingdoms of the north,” declares the LORD; “and they will come and they will set each one his throne at the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem, and against all its walls round about and against all the cities of Judah.  16I will pronounce My judgments on them concerning all their wickedness, whereby they have forsaken Me and have offered sacrifices to other gods, and worshiped the works of their own hands.  17Now, gird up your loins and arise, and speak to them all which I command you. Do not be dismayed before them, or I will dismay you before them.  18Now behold, I have made you today as a fortified city and as a pillar of iron and as walls of bronze against the whole land, to the kings of Judah, to its princes, to its priests and to the people of the land.  19They will fight against you, but they will not overcome you, for I am with you to deliver you,” declares the LORD. – Jeremiah 1:11-19
  • Just as the early first blooming almond tree heralds the arrival of springtime, so God will rapidly fulfill His spoken word.
  • Just as the liquid is about to boil over, so disaster from the north is going to be let loose on Judah.
  • In conclusion, Jeremiah is told 3 things: brace yourself; speak the Lord’s word and don’t be dismayed.

Summary

What does God want from us? God wants each of us to live in relationship with him so that we might bring life to others.

  1. Calling beings with God. God calls and we respond.  We don’t find our calling by finding ourselves.  We find our calling by finding the Lord.
  2. We are not alone, God is always with us. He gives us His presence and relationship with him.
  3. God will equip us for what He calls us to do.
  4. Calling will look like failure to us, but God is in the business of bringing using failures like us to bring about His glory and His kingdom.
  5. Success is humble faithfulness, not fame, fortune or impact. Success is doing that and only that which God has called you to do.
  6. It’s not going to be easy.  Brace yourself by keeping your focus on God, not yourself.  Then speak God’s word and don’t be dismayed.
For more detail and explanation, please listen to the podcast.

Next: 03 Jeremiah 2:1-13 Why is God so difficult to believe in?

Previous: 01 Jeremiah 1:1-3 What do we do when our country falls apart?

Series: Questions Jeremiah Answered

Study Resources: Jeremiah Resources

Scripture quotes are from the New American Standard Version of the Bible.

Photo used here under Flickr Creative Commons.

01 Jeremiah 1:1-3 What to do when your country falls apart

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01 Jeremiah 1:1-3 What to do when your country falls apart | WednesdayintheWord.com
1The words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, of the priests who were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin,  2to whom the word of the LORD came in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign.  3It came also in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, until the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah the son of Josiah, king of Judah, until the exile of Jerusalem in the fifth month. – Jeremiah 1:1-3

Why study Jeremiah?

  1. Jeremiah is about national, political crisis.
  2. Jeremiah is about personal crisis.
  3. Jeremiah is about the word of the Lord.

Historical Context

NOTE: One of the best summaries of the history of the time is the Introduction in Derek Kidner’s commentary on Jeremiah.

See also: Blue Letter Bible Old Testament timeline.

  • 734 BC – Israel rebelled only to be crushed by Assyria;  the northern and eastern tribes deported.
  • 722 BC – Israel rebelled again. Assyrian conquered her capital city, and took the 10 northern tribes into exile.
  • 627 BC – In the year of Jeremiah’s call, the Assyria king (Asshurbanipal) died sparking a civil war over succession. Both the Babylonians and the Egyptians rebel.
  • 626 BC – Babylon defeated the Assyrians outside of their capital city, gaining independence. Josiah, the King of Judah enacts reforms.
  • 627 BC – Jeremiah begins his ministry.
  • 605 BC – at the Battle of Carchemish, the Babylonians defeat the combined forces of Egypt & Assyria.
  • 586 BC – Babylon destroys Judah & Jerusalem and takes the remaining Israelities into exile
  • Jeremiah’s job was to predict and warn of the coming Babylonian invasion.

The question that the book of Jeremiah encourages us to ask is when the world is falling apart is “What is God doing?”

Who was Jeremiah?

  • Jeremiah was a priest from the village of Anathoth.
  • He was an “insider” who would soon be an “outsider.”
  • He was too young and inexperienced to be respected by his peers.

The book of Jeremiah is about a prophet declaring disaster yet promising hope.  What do you do when your country falls apart?   You seek the Lord.

For more detail and explanation, please listen to the podcast.

Next in Series: 02 Jeremiah 1:4-10 What does God want from me?

Part of the series: Questions Jeremiah Answered

Study Resources: Jeremiah Resources

Scripture quotes are from the New American Standard Version of the Bible.

Photo used here under Flickr Creative Commons.

05 Colossians 2:4-15 The Work of our Hands

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05 Colossians 2:4-15 The Work of our Hands | WednesdayintheWord.com

Review

Colossians 1:1-12 – Paul prays that they would be filled the wisdom and spiritual knowledge such that the hope of the gospel would change their lives now.

Colossians 1:13-23 – Paul argues that Jesus Christ is absolutely central to the gospel.  Essentially, Paul claims you cannot seek God and avoid Christ.

Colossians 1:24-2:3 – Paul reminds them that he suffers to make the word of God fully known and to present every believer mature in Christ he urges them to hold fast to the gospel they first believed.

In 2:4 then he starts main point of this letter: He is writing to warn them because he’s heard they are being deceived by a false gospel.

Passage

2:4  I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments.  5For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.  6Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him,  7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. – Colossians 2:4-7

Key Phrases:

  •  “let no one delude you with persuasive argument” (2:4)
  • “as you have received Christ (2:6)”
  • “just as you were taught (vs 7)”
  • “walk” (2:6) in Paul’s usage typically refers to living your life in such a way that it is clear what governs you.

The emphasis is on remaining true to the original gospel proclaimed by Jesus through the apostles to you.

The Spirit produces understanding, understanding produces hope and hope produces gratitude.  To reach the end of that chain is understand the gospel, hold fast to the gospel you first believed.

8See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. 9For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily,  10and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. – Colossians 2:8-10

Key Phrases:

  • “takes you captive” (2:8) – the image is like pirates raiding and looting and collecting spoils.
  • “through philosophy and empty deception” (2:8) – to understand this phrase consider its opposite: Scripture. Why does does “philosophy and empty deception” sound so wise? It reaches a conclusion that I want to be true.
  • “to the elementary principles of the world” (2:8) – the basic building blocks of life, the initial starting point; like elementary school is the starting point of education.
  • “in him the whole fullness of deity dwells” (2:9) – Everything you need to know about God is found in Christ; restatement of Colossians 1:13-23
  • “and you have been filled in him” (2:10) – the full solution to our biggest problem is found in Christ and no where else.

Why does does “philosophy and empty deception” sound so wise? It reaches a conclusion that I want to be true.

2:11In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ,  12having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.  13And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.  15He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him. – Colossians 2:11-15
  • The overall idea in 2:11-15 is that Christ’s death on the cross legally frees us from guilt and makes us spiritually alive.  We are dead in our sins, guilty and cut off from God.
  • What is the solution? Nothing made with human hands. Jesus’ literal physical death and resurrection is the solution to my problem of spiritual death.

Conclusion

Having been saved by grace through faith, the Colossians are now tempted to go back to a system of rituals, rules and regulations (works done with human hands).

The Old Testament Prophet Haggai faced a similar situation.  The Jews who returned to Jerusalem are rebuilding the temple.  They are tempted to think their obedience guarantees God’s blessings.  God speaks to Haggai to correct that theology.

2:11  “Thus says the LORD of hosts: Ask the priests about the law:  12’If someone carries holy meat in the fold of his garment and touches with his fold bread or stew or wine or oil or any kind of food, does it become holy?'” The priests answered and said, “No.”  13Then Haggai said, “If someone who is unclean by contact with a dead body touches any of these, does it become unclean?” The priests answered and said, “It does become unclean.”  14Then Haggai answered and said, “So is it with this people, and with this nation before me, declares the LORD, and so with every work of their hands. And what they offer there is unclean. – Haggai 2:11-14
  • Disease (not health) is contagious.  Dirt (not cleanliness) spreads. “So it is with this people.”  We are dirty and there only one thing we can touch to get clean.
  • As Jesus is hurrying to heal a sick child (Mark 5:21-35), there is a woman in the crowd stricken with a disease that makes her bleed continuously.  Her illness not only made her anemic and sick, it made her an unclean, outcast who was prohibited from taking part in the life of the community.  In desperation, she touches the hem of Jesus’ robe.
  • What should happen? Dirt should win; disease is contagious.  Yet, in this case, health wins.  She is healed and Jesus tells her that her faith has saved her (Mark 5:34).
  • Performing an external ritual with human hands does not change my sinful heart.  The only way to be made clean is through the blood of Christ.  “Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him. “
For more detail and explanation, please listen to the podcast.

Next: 06 Colossians 2:16-23 Passing Judgment

Previous: 04 Colossians 1:24-2:3 Riches of Assurance

Series: Colossians: Getting the Gospel Right

Study: Colossians Resources

Scripture quotes are from the English Standard Version of the Bible.

Photo by Ben White on Unsplash

03 Colossians 1:13-23 You cannot seek God and avoid Christ

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03 Colossians 1:13-23 You cannot seek God and avoid Christ | WednesdayintheWord.com

In December 2015, Dr. Larycia Hawkins a tenured professor at Wheaton college began wearing the traditional Islamic headscarf. She explained her actions in a Facebook post:

“I stand in religious solidarity with Muslims because they, like me, a Christian, are people of the book. And as Pope Francis stated last week, we worship the same God.” – see Christianity Today: Wheaton College Suspends Hijab-Wearing Professor After ‘Same God’ Comment and Joint Statement by Wheaton College and Dr. Larycia Hawkins Announcing a Resolution.

Not surprisingly, her explanation sparked some debate in the Christian community.  While I can’t pretend to settle that debate, I think Colossians 1:13-23 speaks to the questions her explanation raised.

In this section, Paul argues that Jesus Christ is absolutely central to the gospel.  Essentially, Paul claims you can not seek God and avoid Christ.

Review

The Colossian church was in danger of believing a false gospel and Paul is writing to correct them.

In Paul’s opening prayer, he emphasized the life-changing hope believers have in the gospel. Continuing that theme, Paul claims that we have this hope only because of Jesus Christ.  All that we can know of God is know through Jesus and all of creation falls under Jesus’ authority.

We ought to take Paul’s claims seriously because idolatry is not just worshiping a false God; idolatry is also worshiping a false idea of the true God (Exodus 32).

Passage

1:11  May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, 12giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light 13He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,  14in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.  15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. – Colossians 1:11-15
  • “image of the invisible God” – When I look at the visible man Jesus, I can see and learn what I need to know about the invisible God.
  • Compare with John 14:8-10 
  • “firstborn of all creation” – The first-born had the authority to speak for the father in the father’s absence.  In all of creation idea there is no one higher than Jesus.
1:16For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities–all things were created through him and for him.  17And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.  19For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,  20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.  21And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds,  22he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him,  23 if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister. – Colossians 1:16-23
  • Jesus Christ has priority in every way. Everything in creation — every throne, every power, every authority both visible and invisible — falls under the authority given to Jesus.
  • Jesus is the visible manifestation of everything I need to know about God. You cannot seek God and avoid Christ.
  • The Colossians were trying to define the gospel without Christ. But, you can not seek God and avoid Christ.
  • Search creation high and low for the meaning of life and you will find it only in Jesus.  All this reconciliation and life-changing hope is yours IF you continue believing the gospel of Jesus Christ.
For more detail and explanation, please listen to the podcast.

Next: 04 Colossians 1:24-2:3 Riches of Assurance

Previous: 02 Colossians 1:3-12 Life Changing Hope

Series: Colossians: Getting the Gospel Right

Study: Colossians Resources

Scripture quotes are from the English Standard Version of the Bible.

Photo by Ben White on Unsplash

02 Colossians 1:3-12 Life-Changing Hope

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02 Colossians 1:3-12 Life-Changing Hope | WednesdayintheWord.com

Review

Paul wrote this letter late in his life from a Roman prison the church at Colossae.  He never visited this church, but he has heard from Epaphras that the Colossians were on the verge of believing a false gospel.  In Colossians 1:3-12, Paul introduces one of the main themes of the letter: hope.

Passage

1:3We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you,  4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints,  5because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel,  6which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and growing–as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth,  7just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf   8and has made known to us your love in the Spirit. – Colossians 1:3-8

Paul starts by focusing their attention on what God has done for them.  Paul is thankful for what God has done in the Colossian church to bring about their faith and salvation through Jesus Christ which has resulted in their faith and love of their fellow believers. What has transformed their thinking and who they identify as their people is the hope which results from understanding and believing the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Life-changing Hope

What I hope for ought to change the way I live my life now. For example, imagine I told you that right now something wonderful was waiting for you at home.  Let’s say it’s a lottery ticket worth millions of dollars that will allow you the resources to pay for some desperately needed medical treatment, quit a job of drudgery and pursue your dreams and pay off all your college loans?  The ticket to solve all your problems is there right now, waiting for you right now.  You’ll receive it as soon as your drive home.

All of a sudden your experience here would be transformed. Life would look a whole letter better. Your spirits would be lifted, your outlook on today would change and problems that seemed so large and overwhelming would be trivial.  That hope would change you from this moment forward even though you don’t have the tangible object now.

This is how the hope of the gospel changes us.

Paul prays that they would be filled the wisdom and spiritual knowledge such that the hope of the gospel would change their lives now.

1:9 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,  10so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.  11May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy,  12giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. – Colossians 1:9-12
  • There is a sense in which Paul wants God to bring all believers to a mature faith.  However, this group is starting to embrace ideas counter to the gospel.  He is praying this in contrast to what he fears is happening among them.
  • What Paul wants for them is what we ought to want for ourselves.
  • He wants more than anything for God to strengthen their faith, to give them understanding, to teach them what’s truly important and give them the strength to persevere in life; to understand and be grateful for what God is doing now and joyously look forward to the hope before them.
For more detail and explanation, please listen to the podcast.

Next: 03 Colossians 1:13-23 You can not seek God and avoid Christ

Previous: 01 Introduction to Colossians 1:1-2

Series: Colossians: Getting the Gospel Right

Study: Colossians Resources

Scripture quotes are from the English Standard Version of the Bible.

Photo by Ben White on Unsplash

01 Colossians 1:1-2 Introduction

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01 Colossians 1:1-2 Introduction | WednesdayintheWord.com

Background

Paul wrote the letter to the Colossians from a Roman prison cell around 60-62 AD. This letter is probably being carried to by a man named Tychicus.  See Chart Chronology of Paul

Colossae was located 120 miles east of Ephesus in the Lycus River Valley in what is now modern Turkey and was then part of the Roman territory of Asia Minor.  Colossæ produced fine wool called “colossinus” which probably had a purple hue.  The city perished by an earthquake a short time after the date of this epistle. (Adam Clarke’s Commentary on the Bible)

Paul did not found the Colossian church; most likely Epaphras was their first evangelist

1:4  since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, 5because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, 6which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and growing–as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth, 7 just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf – Colossians 1:4-7
2:1 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, – Colossians 2:1

Epaphras is with Paul in Rome as Paul writes.

Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God. – Colossians 4:12

This letter is probably being carried to Colossus by Tychicus

4:7 Tychicus will tell you all about my activities. He is a beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. 8I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are and that he may encourage your hearts, 9and with him Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you of everything that has taken place here. – Colossians 4:7-9

Passage

1:1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, 2To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father. – Colossians 1:1-2

The first two verses of Colossians follow the typical greeting for a NT letter:  the author(s), the recipient(s), greetings.  Paul identifies himself and what you should know and understand about him. Then he identifies his readers and explains who he considers them to be, particularly their status as the people of God.

Paraphrase: This letter is from Paul whom God himself appointed as an authorized representative of Jesus Christ the Messiah and Timothy is with me as well. I am writing to the believers who live in Colossae, those whom God has called out of this world to be forgiven, to belong to him and to mark as his own. Those who have shown that they belong among the brotherhood of believers by their faithful adherence to the gospel. My wish for you is that you would arrive at grace and blessing through the mercy of God.

Implications

1) Paul confronts them with the issue of his authority. He sets this tone of warning because the Colossians are on the verge of turning to a false gospel.  We face the same problem today.   Consider the movement today called “Emergent theology.”

Rob Bell, perhaps the most famous name associated with ET, gives some illustrative imagery. He thinks of biblical doctrines as springs on a trampoline as opposed to bricks in a wall. Springs are sturdy but flexible; they can be adjusted as necessary, allowing users to jump and to feel the joy of flight.
Bell sees such movement as analogous to a healthy relationship to God, a faith not grounded by the dead weight of inflexible, brick like doctrine. Practitioners of “brickianity”, however, are doomed to a frustrating faith, vulnerable to collapse. Their indubitable, inerrant doctrines are stacked upon one another such that if one brick falls, the whole fortress comes crashing down.  – “An Unconditionally Conditional Faith” by Rutledge Etheridge

2) Paul divides people into two groups: those who belong to God and those who don’t. I could be in every category in this world that you don’t want to be in: poor, uneducated, wrong skin color, wrong gender, whatever — BUT if I’m in the category of saint, then I am blessed. I am a winner. That’s the important distinction.  What Paul wants for the Colossians we ought to want for ourselves.

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Next: 02 Colossians 1:3-12 Life Changing Hope

Series: Colossians: Getting the Gospel Right

Study: Colossians Resources

Scripture quotes are from the English Standard Version of the Bible.

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