> [!summary] Summary > **Original meaning:** [[Paul]] outlines his God-given commission to make known the mystery to all peoples, and his ministry to the [[Colossians]] for them to know the glorious riches of [[Christ]] and be fully mature in [[Christ]]. > > **Contemporary message:** We too should receive the word of [[God]] in its fullness and seek ever deeper knowledge of [[Christ]], standing firm in our faith and participating in the church's mission to make [[Christ]] known to all people. # Context (5 minutes) - [ ] Does anyone remember the probable reason that [[Paul]] is writing this letter? - [ ] In a short sentence, what was the main point of [[Colossians 1]]:15-23? # Overview (15 minutes) - [ ] What are the two main sections of the passage? What are the main points of each? A. [[Paul]]'s ministry: [[Paul]]'s struggling for the proclamation of [[Christ]] (1:24-29) B. [[Paul]]'s goals: [[Paul]]'s struggling for the progress of the [[Colossians]] (2:1-5) - [ ] How are these two sections similar? Are there any parallels across the reading? **First Half (1:24-29):** - **A** [[Paul]]'s sufferings for the sake of [[Christ]]'s body (1:24) - **B** [[Paul]]'s commission to present the word of [[God]] in its fullness (1:25) - **C** The mystery, which is [[Christ]] in you, the hope of glory (1:26-27) - **B'** [[Paul]]'s commission to present everyone fully mature in [[Christ]] (1:28) - **A'** [[Paul]]'s sufferings empowered by [[Christ]] (1:29) **Second Half (2:1-5):** - **A** [[Paul]]'s contending for the sake of those whom he hasn't met (2:1) - **B** [[Paul]]'s goal that they may have full riches of complete understanding (2:2a) - **C** The mystery, namely [[Christ]] (2:2b) - **B'** [[Paul]]'s goal that they may withstand deception by fine-sounding arguments (2:3-4) - **A'** [[Paul]] present with the [[Colossians]] in spirit though absent in body (2:5) | | [[Colossians 1]]:24-29 | [[Colossians 2]]:1-5 | Key Insights / Theological Significance | | -------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Line 1: Struggle** | "Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you" | "I want you to know how hard I am contending for you" | [[Paul]]'s suffering establishes his credibility—why listen to him rather than false teachers? His contending involves intense prayer, writing letters, and sending co-workers (cf. [[Colossians 4]]:12-13). | | **Line 2: Commission** | "...by the commission [[God]] gave me to present to you the word of [[God]] in its fullness..." | "My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding..." | [[Paul]]'s global commission to [[Gentile]]s (cf. [[Acts 9]]:15) applied specifically to [[Colossians]]. "In its fullness" = complete, sufficient revelation in [[Christ]]. Understanding happens in community, not isolation. | | **Line 3: Mystery** | "...the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the [[Lord]]'s people" | "...in order that they may know the mystery of [[God]], namely, [[Christ]], in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" | The central point: not *that* [[Gentile]]s would be included ([[Genesis 12]]:3), but *how*—through [[Christ]]'s death and resurrection. "[[Christ]] in you, the hope of glory"—our intimate union with him giving hope for future glory. | | **Line 4: Maturity** | "He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in [[Christ]]" | "I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments" | The word "all" (*pas*) appears 4 times in v.28—gospel is for all people, not spiritual elites. Maturity through knowing [[Christ]] protects against false teaching's persuasive but hollow rhetoric. | | **Line 5: Discipline in Christ** | "To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy [[Christ]] so powerfully works in me" | "...I... delight to see how disciplined you are and how firm your faith in [[Christ]] is" | Healthy balance: human effort enabled by divine power. [[Paul]]'s affinity with them in spirit despite physical absence parallels how [[Christ]] works powerfully in [[Paul]] though absent in body (v.29). | | **Overall Focus** | Autobiographical: [[Paul]] as [[Apostle]], his ministry and commission | Aspirational: [[Paul]]'s hopes and desires for [[Colossae]], specifically addressing false teachings | First part establishes credentials; second part applies them to combat deception. Both sections target the false teaching that offered secret knowledge and added requirements beyond [[Christ]]. | # Commission (10 minutes) - [ ] So what is the commission [[Paul]] is talking about in verse 25? (leads into next question) - [ ] "...what is still lacking in [[Christ]]'s afflictions..." -- does that make sense? Is he saying what it seems like he's saying? - If you think about it, this doesn't entirely make sense -- is he saying that [[Jesus]] did roughly ~80% of the atonement work and [[Paul]] has been commissioned for the rest? - Contradicts the [[Jesus Hymn]] in the previous section - But notice how in this line, there is no mention of atonement! - Most likely, he doesn't mean that [[Jesus]] hasn't done enough, but more like it is only the beginning of what will be done - cf. [[Acts 5]]:41: "The [[Apostle]]s left the [[Sanhedrin]], rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name." - [[Jesus]]' suffering wasn't enough to convince the religious leaders: provides atonement but not directly witnesses - [ ] So what is [[Paul]] "suffering" (verse 24) and "contending" (verse 1)? - In some sense, this whole evangelism is a continuing suffering in [[Christ]]'s body - Somehow for their good - effort, proclaiming, universal - [ ] Back the beginning, why is he rejoicing? - Similarly, [[Paul]] is rejoicing that he is one of the ones suffering for Him. More of a comment on the passage of time rather than [[Jesus]]' insufficiency - NOT asceticism: see 2:23 # Mystery (10 minutes) - [ ] What does [[Paul]] mean by "mystery"? - The mystery is something that was hidden for a long time, but with the coming of [[Christ]] and the accompanying gift of the Spirit, it has now been disclosed. - It has been revealed to "the Lord's people" – everyone who has faith in [[Christ]]. So it is no longer a secret which only the spiritual elite can access, as the false teachers in [[Colossae]] were saying. - In the greek sense, mystery just means something that was hidden but now revealed - Something to do with the [[Gentile]]s, but what exactly? - Recall [[Genesis 12]]:3 -- "all peoples on earth will be blessed through you" - The mystery is not *that* the [[Gentile]]s would be included (thats more [[Ephesians]]), but it's about *how* - The mystery: How exactly does it make sense that the death and resurection of [[Jesus]] brings in the [[Gentile]]s? - [[Gentile]]s were always supposed to make their way in, but the [[Jew]]s never figured it out due to all the ritual and rule stuff # Goal (10 minutes) - [ ] Why does [[Paul]] want the [[Colossians]] to be "encouraged in heart and united in love" (verse 2)? - False teachings about seeking knowledge and understanding apart from [[Christ]] - Important to learn truths together as manifestation of body of [[Christ]] - Can unite against common enemy - [ ] Put simply, what are his goals for them? - All wisdom are accessed by knowing [[Christ]] himself - No secret knowledge that only some believers or some rules have - Therefore avoid being deceived by false teaching and access true knowledge by knowing [[Christ]] and [[Holy Spirit]] - Maturity, discipline > [!note] Leaders' note > We will focus on the subject of the false teachers' fine-sounding arguments in the next two studies, so it is not necessary to discuss verse 4 in detail here. For now, we should simply reiterate that the foundation for avoiding being deceived by false teaching is to contend and pray for growth in knowing Jesus more and more through his word. # Conclusion (10 minutes) - [ ] Subtly different question: what does [[Paul]] want the [[Colossians]] to get from this passage? - See how hard he is working for them despite never meeting him -- credibility - Treasure [[Christ]] above all else, and grow in wisdom and knowledge of him - [ ] How does this apply to us? - [ ] What can we learn from [[Paul]]'s approach to ministry? - Rejoice in suffering - Body of [[Christ]] undertakes the work and suffering just like the head - Did not seek suffering deliberately, but always willing to build up the church at his own expense - All as part of body of christ are called to be part of evangelism and discipleship - [ ] What does "strenuously contending" involve today? What are some ways we could rejoice more in our suffering?