Commentary On The Epistle To The Colossians
By the Rev. Horace M. Patton
Colossians 1:1-2
Introduction:
There are thirteen books in the New Testament that begin with the same word—Paul. Paul is one of the most outstanding men in the history of the world. His influence has reached to the ends of the world from his day unto our day. How should we understand his renown (greatness)? He tells us that he is an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God. An apostle is a sent one—a person who has been sent on a mission by his leader. How did Paul get to be an apostle?
Conversion:
Paul was raised in a Jewish home in Tarsus. He was trained to be a Pharisee, that is, a teacher of the Jewish law. He excelled in his studies. When he heard of Jesus, he viewed Him as a heretic, an enemy of the God he served. He stood by the coats of those who stoned Stephen to death. He further persecuted the church so effectively they were scattered in every direction. Paul went to Damascus to put an end to the spread of this heresy. On his way, he was brought to his knees by a bright light that flashed around him. He heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
“Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.
“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” He replied. “Now get up and go to the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” (See Acts 9.)
Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. After three days the Lord Jesus sent to Saul a man by the name of Ananias to whom He said: “This man is a chosen instrument to carry my name before Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”
Ministry:
Called by the Lord, Paul sought with all his strength to make Christ known everywhere. As the Lord’s chosen apostle he wrote at least thirteen letters or epistles to various churches or individuals. The reading and studying of Paul’s letters has transformed millions of people all over the world.
On his third journey Paul visited the town of Ephesus. He stayed there for three years or more. He used Ephesus as his central office for reaching the whole area. Ephesus was located on the Lycus River just above where it flowed into the Mediterranean Sea. About 100 miles up the Lycus River to the east lie Laodicea and Hierapolis, in what was then called Asia, but is present-day Turkey. The ruins of these two towns bear witness to their former wealth. Twelve miles further east up the Lycus River is where the small town of Colosse was located. There has been no discovery of any remains of Colosse as yet.
The Lycus valley was well known for its earthquakes, chalk deposits and wealth. The chalk was deposited in the valley by the spring floods and supplied the pasture land with abundant fertilizer. That helped provide excellent grazing land for the cattle that they raised. The lambs provided excellent and abundant wool for home use and for trading. While Paul was carrying out his mission in Ephesus, he had opportunity to speak to farmers and traders from the whole region. This is how he met Epaphras and learned of his work in Colosse. (Acts 18 & 19).
Verse 1:
How did Paul get to be an apostle? He was hand picked by God. What he once hated, now he loved. In one of his speeches he said, “I could not be disobedient to this heavenly vision.”
Paul was in prison in Rome when he wrote the letter to the church in Colosse. With him was Timothy, a fellow pastor in the work of Christ, whom Paul had helped to mature (grow) in the faith. (The epistles 1 and 2 Timothy were writtten to him.)
Verse 2:
Paul addresses the Colossians as the holy and faithful brothers in Christ. Obviously the ministry of Epaphras had borne good fruit. These fellow believers were demonstrating in their lives the distinctive Christian mark of holiness and were faithful (steadfast) in their Christian walk.
Paul’s salutation is characteristic—blessing them with grace (God’s undeserved, unearned, forgiving love of Christ) and peace (the inner peace which transcends or surpasses human understanding) which come to us from God the Father.
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