Intro & ch1:1-12

Paul writing from prison in Rome AD62 Colossae situated in Lycus Valley, 100

miles from Ephesus, modern day Turkey City of Colossae in economic and social

decline after a series of earthquakes Losing commercial influence to

neighbouring Laodicea and Hieropolis Sister church at Laodicea

Lightfoot quote:

“Without doubt, Colossae was the least important church to which

any epistle of St Paul is addressed…”

Church plant about 10 years old, not planted by Paul personally (Col 2:1), but as a result of his evangelism in Ephesus

Church was under Paul’s apostolic ministry

Led by Epaphras, a fellow prisoner of Paul at the time of the letter (Col 1:7; 4:10-12)

Church was a mixture of Gentile and Jewish converts (2:13; 2:16)

Although he had probably never visited Colossae, Paul has a great love, care and concern for the believers there

The “Colossian Heresy” (Col 2:4, 8)

1. WISDOM / KNOWLEDGE / UNDERSTANDING / MINDCol 1:9, 1:21, 1:28, 2:2, 2:3, 2:8, 2:18, 2:23, 3:2, 3:16, 4:5

2. ALL / EVERYTHING / COMPLETE / FULLNESSCol 1:6, 1:9, 1:10, 1:11, 1:14, 1:15, 1:16, 1:17, 1:18, 1:19, 1:20, 1:23, 1:24, 1:25, 1:28, 2:1, 2:2, 2:3 2:9, 2:10, 2:13, 2:22, 2:23, 3:8, 3:14, 3:16, 3:17, 3:22, 4:12, 4:17

3. HEAVEN & EARTH / VISIBLE & INVISIBLE / CREATION / WORLD Col 1:5, 1:13, 1:15, 1:16, 1:20, 1:23, 2:10, 2:15, 2:18, 2:20, 3:2, 4:1

4. HEAD & BODYCol 1:18, 1:22, 1:24, 2:5, 2:9, 2:10, 2:11, 2:17, 2:19, 2:23, 3:5, 3:15

5. FLESHCol 1:20, 1:22, 1:24, 2:1, 2:11, 2:18, 2:23, 3:12, 3:14, 3:22

6. DEATH / LIFE / RESURRECTIONCol 1:18, 1:22, 2:12, 2:13, 2:20, 3:1, 3:3, 3:4, 3:5

7. MAN / OLD MAN / NEW MANCol 1:28, 2:8, 2:22, 3:9, 3:10, 3:23

8. PUT ON / TAKE OFF (CLOTHING)Col 1:5, 1:11, 1:23, 1:27, 3:4

9. GLORY / HOPECol 1:5, 1:11, 1:23, 1:27, 3:4

10. RICHES / WEALTH / TREASURECol 1:27, 2:2, 2:3, 3:16

11. MYSTERY / HIDDENCol 1:12, 1:13, 1:26, 1:27, 2:2, 2:3, 3:3, 3:4

12. IMAGECol 1:15, 3:10

What is God like?What should the church look like?

How did we get here?What should we do now?

What is God like?◦Trinitarian: Father, Son, Spirit

What should the church look like?◦Characterized by Faith, Hope & Love v4-5

How did we get here?◦Heard the Truth of the Gospel of Grace

v5-6

What should we do now?◦Send out more workers with the gospel

message! v7-8

“Be filled!”

“Walk!”

Feeling worthy Pleasing God Bearing fruit Doing good works Growing in knowledge Being strong in His power Learning steadfastness and patience Being joyful and thankful