This blog post is from our Colossians chapter 2 podcast episode. Click here to listen to the podcast.

Paul’s letter to the Colossians, along with Paul’s letters to the Ephesians and Philemon, was apparently written during Paul’s first imprisonment. If this is the case, the most likely date is around 60-62 A.D. Moreover, Paul’s letter to the Colossians covers much of the same material and uses many of the same themes as his letter to the Ephesians.

There are two key differences between Paul’s letter to the Colossians and Paul’s letter to the Ephesians that should be pointed out in this introduction. First, Paul’s letter to the “Ephesians” seems very general in its greeting, subject matter, and conclusion. This seems strange since so much of Paul’s ministry had been previously centered in the city of Ephesus for two years (cf. Acts 19:10). In contrast, Paul’s letter to the Colossians has a more pointed warning to be on guard against the Judaizers (i.e., Colossians 2:8-23).

A second key difference is the naming of specific people in the extended conclusion of the letter. This indicates that Paul knew specific people in Colossae that he wished to address directly. One would also expect a conclusion like this at the end of the apostle’s letter to the Ephesians. These two facts seem to support the view that Paul’s letter to the Ephesians was possibly a letter to be read in several churches (for more information on this issue, see the introduction to Ephesians podcasts or the study of the Book of Ephesians under the “Bible Studies” link at teachmethebible.com).

While there are a couple of key differences between Colossians and Ephesians, the similarities are tremendous. The same structure, order, and similarities in content are found in both. If you have been with us through Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, then much of this letter will sound very familiar.  

In Colossians 2:1-7, Paul explained the “fight” or “struggle” in which he was engaged for the Colossians and the Laodiceans. Specifically, his ministry was not only to preach the gospel but also to defend it against those who would lead these believers astray through “persuasive argument.” In short, Paul was concerned about the Judaizers who would contradict Paul’s teaching and reject Christ. Paul will address this concern in the next verses in this chapter.

For further study, read all of Colossians 2.

In Colossians 2:8-15, Paul made his point. Namely, he exhorted the Colossians to “see to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.” Paul was referring to Jewish unbelievers who would try to persuade the Colossians with law-keeping and circumcision. As Paul explains, it is not the Law that makes one complete but Christ.

For further study, Galatians 3 and Paul’s argument against law-keeping and circumcision for righteousness.

In Colossians 2:16-19, Paul explained that since Christ has paid for all of the believers’ sins, they were not to allow anyone to act as their judge in trying to subjugate them to the Law, which only served as a shadow of the deliverance, that was to come in Christ.

For further study, read Galatians 5.

In Colossians 2:20-23, Paul explained that while law-keeping might have the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion, it is ultimately of no value. The problem is that no amount of law-keeping could ever take away sin. Only Christ could do that.

For further study, read Hebrews 10.

Paul's letter to the Colossians, along with Paul's letters to the Ephesians and Philemon, was apparently written during Paul's first imprisonment. If this is the case, the most likely date is around 60-62 A.D. Moreover, Paul's letter to the Colossians covers much of the same material and uses many of the same themes as his letter to the Ephesians.

There are two key differences between Paul's letter to the Colossians and Paul's letter to the Ephesians that should be pointed out in this introduction. First, Paul's letter to the "Ephesians" seems very general in its greeting, subject matter, and conclusion. This seems strange since so much of Paul's ministry had been previously centered in the city of Ephesus for two years (cf. Acts 19:10). In contrast, Paul's letter to the Colossians has a more pointed warning to be on guard against the Judaizers (i.e., Colossians 2:8-23).

A second key difference is the naming of specific people in the extended conclusion of the letter. This indicates that Paul knew specific people in Colossae that he wished to address directly. One would also expect a conclusion like this at the end of the apostle's letter to the Ephesians. These two facts seem to support the view that Paul's letter to the Ephesians was possibly a letter to be read in several churches (for more information on this issue, see the introduction to Ephesians podcasts or the study of the Book of Ephesians under the "Bible Studies" link at teachmethebible.com).

While there are a couple of key differences between Colossians and Ephesians, the similarities are tremendous. Both have the same structure, order, and content similarities. If you have been with us through Paul's letter to the Ephesians, then much of this letter will sound very familiar.  

In Colossians 1:1-8, Paul greets the Colossian Church and begins to explain his desire for them. Apparently, the Colossians had heard the gospel through Epaphras. Now in prison, Paul writes to welcome them into the Church and to begin the process of instructing them in the faith.

For further study, read Romans 11:13-15 in order to understand Paul’s reasoning for his ministry to the Gentiles.

In Colossians 1:9-14, Paul explained the reason for his ministry to the Gentiles. His desire was for them to be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding. That knowledge, wisdom, and understanding could only come from the teaching of the apostles through the empowering of the Holy Spirit.

For further study, read Ephesians 2. In this chapter, Paul made the same argument that he has made in Colossians 1.

In Colossians 1:15-23, Paul explained Christ's relation to the Church. While most translations repeat the phrase "all things," what was in Paul's view was not "things" but people. Namely, Paul was explaining that both Jews and Gentiles had been placed together in one body  - the Church. Thus, "He (Christ) is before all and in Him all hold together; and He is head of the body, the Church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead so that He Himself will come to have first place in all." (Colossians 1:17-18)

For further study, read Ephesians Chapter 1. In this chapter, Paul makes the same argument that he made in Colossians 1.

In Colossians 1:24-29, Paul explained his ministry. He was suffering for the sake of the gospel, in service to Christ, and in service to the body of Christ – the Church. Paul's ministry as an apostle who was tasked with taking the gospel to the Gentiles was certainly unique to Paul. However, the sacrifice that Paul made was not unique at all. Not only did other apostles and prophets suffer, they exhorted others to join them in suffering. Identifying with Christ has always had a cost. However, there is also a promise of great reward – eternal life.

For further study, read 2 Timothy. In the first four chapters of this letter, Paul brought up the issue of suffering six times. Pay special attention to 2 Timothy 1:8, 2:3, and 4:5.

On a wintry day in 1618 René Descartes rejected tradition, the church, and the Bible as the source for authority. In his famous conclusion “I think, therefore I am,” he revolutionized the quest for authority. Following Descartes declaration, a new day was sprung. It was called “the enlightenment.”
Deeply influenced by enlightenment thought, John Lock provided the world as well as the American colonists with his view of government and religion. In short, Locke’s defense of laissez-faire liberalism centered on the concept that there was no authority above the individual. Therefore, authority of leadership is by consent of the individual alone.
Does “government of the people, by the people, for the people” sound familiar? Does Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg ring a bell?  How about “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.” Aren’t these the words of the Declaration of Independence?

In America we believe that God has given every human the individual right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. What verse is that again? I thought that it was God who ensured the death of Adam and Eve by expelling them from the garden. Adam and Eve had earned the “right to death” because of their disobedience, not the “right to life”! Liberty? I thought that Paul continually called himself a slave, a bond-servant of Christ. The God-given right to pursue happiness…yes, I’m sure that concept is in the Bible somewhere. Keep looking, but it will be a long search.
One of the biggest struggles facing the church in America is that church has become American. The fact that you probably don’t have any idea what I mean by what I just stated is evidence of this fact. Therefore, let me pose this issue in the form of a question. Is the Christian faith that we have been taught here in America distinctly Christian or is it distinctly American?
While there are many truths in our American Christianity which are distinctly and correctly Christian (e.g. salvation by grace through faith, substitutionary atonement of Christ, etc.), there are just as many beliefs which we hold dearly that are nothing more than the product of our western mindset which has its roots deeply embedded in the enlightenment. The problem is that American Christians have no idea where one begins and the other ends. In order to address this problem, American Christians must attain a solid understanding of not only the core essentials of the Christian faith, but also of the history and origins of American thought.
Why is it that switching churches in America is becoming more and more common? Christians are switching churches in larger and larger numbers because they believe that they have the right to have their needs met in church. They have the right to be happy. They have the right to be served. (Let’s forget for a moment that Jesus taught that “the greatest among you will be your servant.”)
Why is it that church discipline is non-existent in American churches? There is no church discipline in America because Americans whole-heartedly reject the notion that there is authority above the individual. However, was it not the author of Hebrews who wrote, “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.” All scholars agree that the church leadership is in view here.

Why is it that you don’t think that your pastor has any authority over you? The reason that you don’t think that your pastor has any authority over you is because you are American. However, reality could not be further from the truth.
Why is it that there are more denominations than fast-food chains in America? By most accounts, the number of denominations in America exceeds two thousand. Why so many? The answer is simple. When the principles found in the Declaration of Independence are applied to the church the document would read, “ Churches are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Church becomes destructive of these ends (life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness), it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Church, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.” You don’t think that this is exactly what is happening? Take a look at this list of beliefs that John Locke held concerning the church:
1. The church has authority of leadership only by consent of the individual.
2. The church has no power to enforce religious faith.
3. “Everyone is orthodox to himself”
4. The individual is his own judge and has supreme and absolute authority over himself.
The truth is that switching churches is becoming the norm in America. The fact is that there is no such thing as “church discipline” in America. The truth is that you don’t think that you pastor has any authority over you. The reality is that protestant denominations in America number in the thousands.
Here’s the fact of the matter whether you like it or not. Our country was not founded upon “Christian principles” but on Lockian philosophy and enlightenment thought. In fact, if Christians believe in the Trinity (i.e. the Divinity of God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit), then most of our founding fathers were not Christian but Unitarian Deists. This is an undeniable fact, not opinion.
The challenge of the American Christians is to become less “American” and more “Christian.” After all, these terms are not synonymous. So, what is it that you Christians believe again? Hmmm, that sounds awfully American to me. Do you know the difference?

Divisions in the church are nothing new; they are as old as the church itself. The early church was ridden with problems even from the start. In fact, every epistle written in the New Testament was written to address a problem or issue that had arisen in the body of Christ. The solution, of course, was always the same: return to the words of the apostles and prophets. At least that was the case for the first several centuries of the church.

Even in the first century, however, the church had problems. Consider the church at Corinth. The problem in the church at Corinth which caused Paul to write 1 Corinthians was that the Corinthians were elevating themselves, their wisdom, their power, their prestige. The problem was that their wisdom, power, and prestige were all based on the world’s value system. Therefore, they had no regard for Paul, his apostolic revelation (God’s wisdom), his power (see Acts 14:19-23; 19:11-20; 20:7-16; 28:1-9), or his prestige (chosen by Christ to be a steward of the mystery of God’s revelation) since he didn’t have any of the worldly value system. In other words, the core issue was that the Corinthians rejected the authority given to Paul from the LORD. Instead, they wanted to be their own bosses, justify their own views, elevate their own gifts. Unfortunately for them, they had forgotten that the church was built on the testimony of the apostles and prophets (i.e., the Scriptures). Thus, the Corinthians (along with everyone else in history) would be judged by those words.

Fast forward to the last 1000 or so years of the church. Divisions and church splits have multiplied at almost an unbelievable rate. Unfortunately, we “protestants” are the worst! Around 1000 A.D., the Roman Catholic Church split from the Eastern Orthodox churches over an issue with a creed. Some 500 years later, the protestants left the Roman Catholic Church because of more doctrinal issues. Today, churches split over such ridiculous things as the type of music, color of the carpet, or personal issues. While these may sound like they are a long way from the early church, they are really no different. The problem is still that people in the church are concerned with their own personal views (i.e., worldly wisdom), their own quest for power, and their own prestige. If someone can’t get along with someone else in the church, they cause divisions. If someone doesn’t agree with the pastor, they leave and find someone with whom they agree. If someone doesn’t like the style of music, they leave and find a church with “better music.” If someone doesn’t like “the leadership,” they leave and start their own church where they can be a pastor/elder. If someone doesn’t like the building, the budget, the carpet, the women’s ministry, the children’s ministry, the hospitality, or whatever else, they cause divisions in the church. In short, people in the church are still unwilling to learn and listen to the words of the apostles and prophets.

Today we begin our podcast series on Paul’s letter to the Corinthians (called 1 Corinthians) where Paul addresses the divisions that had arisen in the congregation in Corinth. As Paul explains, the church isn’t about you; you are to be about the church. In 1 Corinthians 3:16-17, Paul states, “do y’all not know that y’all are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in y’all? If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what y’all are.” Each of us are members of the body of Christ, the temple. And as such, we are to build up the body of Christ, not tear it down. Paul’s words to the Corinthians are truly timeless and just as applicable today as they were to the first-century church.