The Epistle to the Colossians

1. Col 1:3 – “We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,” Was that your first thought this morning? Who’s we? Timothy Note that in verse 2 we have the only instance in the opening benediction of an epistle when the name of Jesus Christ is not joined with God our Father – RWP But Paul makes up for this in verse 3. Notice to whom the thanks is delivered. and probably not in the original translation. Do we pray to our Lord Jesus Christ or to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ? What does Paul mean when he says he’s praying always for you? The Epistle to the Colossians Colossians 1: 3-5 Paul's Favorite Trilogy of Word 1 Feb 10, 2019 Bob Eckel

2. Greek word is pántote -at all times, always, ever Can we pray always or is it giving thanks always? And a similar statement was also directed to the Philippians Phil 4:6 - Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. Another example of Paul’s love for and devotion to the brethren. Eph 1:15,16 - Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: Col 1:4 – “since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all the saints;” Does this make verse 3 conditional? Notice the order, hearingof their faith in Christ Jesus and then their love (agape) for all the saints. The source Epaphras? – verses 7,8 The Epistle to the Colossians Colossians 1: 3-5 Paul's Favorite Trilogy of Word 2 Feb 10, 2019 Bob Eckel

3. Paul had only heard, not seen the body of believers at Colosse. Col 2:1 - For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; Wuest – ‘The preposition used here is en, a preposition of rest. Having placed our faith in the Lord Jesus as our Savior, it now rests in Him.’ Whatever, it’s clear that the faith and love that is being reported here was something very special and reflected good doctrine. And we looked at this in Ephesians,how faith and love are bonded is noted there too! Notice that the direction of the love is to all saints, but not to the world? Gal 6:10 - As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. Is doing good (agathos) the same has agape love? Agathos – good nature, salutary, useful, upright, honorable So how do deal with the unsaved world that surrounds us? The Epistle to the Colossians Colossians 1: 3-5 Paul's Favorite Trilogy of Word 3 Feb 10, 2019 Bob Eckel

4. And this love for our brothers and sisters in the Lord does not go unnoticed. Heb 6:10 - For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love, which ye have shown toward His name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. Col 1:5 – “because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel,” McCalley suggests that verses 3-5 reflect different phases and time periods of our spiritual development: Col 1:4, faith – past Col 1:4, love – present Col 1:5, hope – future He also states the following: ‘In English, hope implies doubt; in the New Testament, hope indicates certainty. Heaven is our hope, not because it is The Epistle to the Colossians Colossians 1: 3-5 Paul's Favorite Trilogy of Word 4 Feb 10, 2019 Bob Eckel

5. in doubt, but because it is future. Hope is the part of our salvation that has been promised but has not been dispensed yet.’ is laid up is present tense, therefore a current fact, but our hope is to experience this when His time is ours. Remember, our citizenship is in heaven – Phil 3:20 And we have promises there 1 Peter 1:4 - an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, What’s your view of heaven, and in context it’s not the sky above? of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel heard – aorist active indicative So when and where had this been heard of before? Likely from Epaphras and what he shared distinguished the true from the false gospel of more recent teachers. And likely an extended part of the gospel beyond our first steps of fatih.! Eph 1:13 - In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, The Epistle to the Colossians Colossians 1: 3-5 Paul's Favorite Trilogy of Word 5 Feb 10, 2019 Bob Eckel