Col. 1:1-8

Both Ephesians and Colossians were written by Paul from prison at the same time and were delivered by Tychicus.  The letters have many similarities.  The application sections (Eph. 4-6 and Col. 3) deal with some of the same issues.  Both letters emphasize the fullness of Christ (Ephesians our fullness in Christ and Colossians Christ’s fullness in us).

          A significant difference in the letters is the backdrop against which they are written.  Ephesians was concerned with the status of Gentile believers in the body of Christ and addressed the Jew-Gentile problem.  Colossians deals with an early attack on the Church that denied the sufficiency of Christ for believers, intimidating them into seeking for something deeper or higher.  Key terms are not only the fullness or complete words but also simple terms like all and every.  

          Colossians begins with the salutation (1:1-2).  Timothy was with Paul in Rome and helped write the letter.  Given the attack on the Colossian church Paul’s reference to them as saints and faithful brethren is pertinent.  Saints is a term of position, noting that as believers in Christ they are saints, ones set apart by and for Christ.  Faithful brethren is a practice word.  Paul is noting that they have been faithful since coming to Christ and anticipates they will continue in like manner.

          This letter begins with an absolutely fabulous prayer of thanksgiving (1:3-8) and request (1:9-13).  The thanksgiving revolves around Paul’s evaluation of how God has been working at Colossae to develop those qualities of faith, hope and love. According to v4 their faith in Christ and love for the saints seem to be solid and he is thankful for that.

          Their faith and love is said to be based on the hope we have laid up in heaven which they had heard of in the gospel.  The gospel tells us that Christ has finished the work of redemption on the cross and been raised from the dead.  That redemption guarantees to the believer an inheritance that is reserved in heaven.  The Colossian believers had heard and received the gospel even as many had done in the Roman world.  Note that the Colossian church was not started through Paul’s ministry but through Epaphras who was now in Rome visiting Paul and relaying to him the situation back home.

          Tucked into this thanksgiving is a powerful statement in v6.  Paul says they heard and knew the grace of God in truth.  The Greek word for knew is significant.  It is the word for knowing with a prefix that means full.  He is saying that when they heard and received the gospel, they were receiving at that time, the full knowledge of the grace of God.  They did not receive Christ partially with more to be added later as was being suggested to them by the false teachers.

          These passages are always valuable for us in considering our maturity in Christ.  We must be willing to ask Him to make clear to us our spiritual growth on His terms.  Is your life characterized by faith in Christ? by love for fellow believers? by the endurance prompted by hope in Christ?