Focus: - [[Colossians 4]]:2-18 # My notes - The word "servant" in v. 7 and 12 could also be "slave" - v. 14 [[Bible/Characters/New Testament/Luke|Luke]]: the only instance in the [[New Testament]] where [[Bible/Characters/New Testament/Luke|Luke]] is described as a doctor - The set of names mentioned in the end is very similar to those mentioned in [[Philemon]] -- one of the pieces of evidence used by those who claim [[Colossians]] was not actually written by [[Paul]] - [[Paul]]'s points on prayer complement last week's sermon [[2025-11-16 All Souls 1130am -- Opposition Overcome]] ## Structure Breakdown - v. 2-6 Further Instructions - v. 2 Re-emphasize importance of prayer - v. 3-4 Prayer request for [[Paul]] - v. 5-6 Reminder to be wise and graceful to outsiders - v. 7-18 Final Greetings - v. 7-9 Info on letter bearers - v. 10-15 Greetings from others - v. 10-11 Greetings from [[Jew]]s - v. 12-13 Greeting and status from someone from [[Colossae]] - v. 14 [[Bible/Characters/New Testament/Luke|Luke]] and [[Demas]] - v. 15 [[Paul]] greets those at [[Laodicea]] and the church in [[Nympha]]'s house - v. 16 Instruction to exchange with [[Laodicea]] - v. 17 [[Paul]] wants to remind [[Archippus]] about his ministry - v. 18: Parting words ("Remember my chains. Grace be with you.") ## Author's Purpose - The final things [[Paul]] wants to remind the [[Colossians]] is a call to pray, and to be wise towards outsiders - This may suggest that those are what [[Paul]] wants them to remember most? - [[Paul]] wants to be prayed for - As a letter, one would naturally expect a farewell or sign-off - Yet in a world of internet and instant communications, we may forget what it's like to not see or hear from people for years at a time - Instead of having all these people write their own letters, [[Paul]] seems to prefer sending a brief greeting with his letter # Notes from elsewhere ## [[2025-10-26 Colossians 3.18-4.18 Lecture Notes]] - At the time, hearing about all these other people following [[Jesus]] can be encouraging, especially to combat any sense of isolation that could arise when cities and communities are so far apart from each other ## [[Zondervan NIV Biblical Theology Study Bible]] - v. 2 "being watchful". Matches other [[Paul]] letters like [[Romans 12]]:12 and [[1 Thessalonians 5]]:17 where he reiterates to continuously and constantly pray - v. 3 Note how [[Paul]] asks to be prayed for. He doesn't directly ask for prayer on his current imprisonment. The first thing on his mind is that he and his co-workers have more opportunities to evangelize - v. 7 Personal news about [[Paul]]'s current situation isn't important enough to put in this letter (the letter's main subject is knowing the mystery of [[Christ]]), and so he relegates it to those who are carrying the letter - [[Tychicus]]: Mentioned in [[Acts 20]]:4 as "from [[Asia]]", travelled with [[Paul]] to [[Jerusalem]] - [[Onesimus]]: identified in this letter as simply a Christian (and from [[Colossae]], with no mention of being a slave. See [[Philemon]] - [[Paul]]'s friends: - [[Aristarchus]]: also in [[Acts 20]]:4, from [[Thessalonica]] - [[Mark]]: the author of the [[Gospel]] of [[Mark]], also called "[[John Mark]]". It was common for [[Roman]] [[Jew]]s to have two names (a [[Semitic]] name and a [[Greco-Roman]] one). Here, "Mark" (Marcus) is the [[Latin]] name - Similarly with [[Jesus Justus]]. Note again that [[Jesus]] is not uncommon as a name, with [[Joshua]], and [[Jesus Barabbas]] ([[Matthew 27:15]]) being two other notable examples - [[Demas]] is given no extra regards here. [[Zondervan NIV Biblical Theology Study Bible]] thinks this is a reference to his desertion in [[2 Timothy 4]]:10 - Letter to [[Laodicea]] is probably [[Ephesians]] (it's written with no specific location greeting). But it may also have been a specific letter that is lost to us - v. 18 [[Paul]] normally dictated most of his letters. But he took special care to write this greeting with his own hand ## [[Colossians FG leaders notes.pdf]] - Continuation of [[Paul]]'s practical exhortations to the Christians of [[Colossae]] for how to live lives under lordship of [[Christ]] - [[Paul]] went from church community ([[Colossians 3]]:5-17), to household (see [[2025-11-11 Colossians 3.18-4.1 Study Notes]]), and now to "outsiders" # Summary - v. 2-6 is the most important bit - As part of their living in [[Christ]], [[Paul]] asks the [[Colossians]] to devote themselves to prayer, and specifically to pray for his own gospel ministry, whilst encouraging them to participate by being wise towards outsiders and making the most of every opportunity to commend the gospel and win over others for Christ. - In the same way, we too should be a prayerful community, praying for wisdom to make the most of every opportunity to proclaim the word of Christ through our interactions and conversations with non-believers. # Questions (What, why, apply) ## Review and Intro (15 min) - [ ] What was the main takeaway of the last study [[2025-11-11 Colossians 3.18-4.1 Study Notes]]? - Models of how you should act in household roles as someone rooted in [[Christ]] - [ ] What was the main takeaway of [[Colossians 3]]:5-17 (Study 6)? - Because you are rooted in [[Christ]], you should act in a way that reflects that (differently from "your earthly nature") in your relationships - [ ] How does today's reading build off the last two sections? How is it different? - Continuation of "[[Paul]]'s Practical Pragmas™" of what living while rooted in [[Christ]] should be like - Focus is on "outsiders". Note inwards-facing household focus of last study, and how Study 6 is focused on community (full or presumably non-outsiders) ### [[Paul]]'s Prayer Requests - [ ] So what exactly is [[Paul]]'s prayer request in v. 2-4? Is there anything noteworthy here? - Opportunities to proclaim mystery of [[Christ]] - Does NOT pray about his imprisonment, even though he acknowledges it - [[Philippians 1]]:12-18 "Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. 13 As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. 14 And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear." ## Instruction towards Outsiders (10 min) - [ ] How should the [[Colossians]] behave towards outsiders? What's the purpose of this way of living? - Not just prayer, but participation in global mission - Sense of urgency -- "make the most" - "seasoned with salt" => winsome and witty - [ ] What temptation might the [[Colossians]] have been facing which [[Paul]] anticipates and seeks to counteract with these instructions? Consider the context of the false teaching and balancing what [[Paul]] has said previously in the letter - Temptation to retreat into their own Christian bubble and take shelter from hostile/tempting market of alternate philosophies ## v. 2-6 Application (20 min) - [ ] What would "making the most of every opportunity" look like in practice for you? - [ ] In which day-to-day situations do you most frequently speak with non-believers, and how can those conversations be full of grace and seasoned with salt? - [ ] What do you find most difficult about knowing how to answer everyone? - [ ] How can we support each other in this? ## Final Greetings (15 min) - [ ] How does [[Paul]] describe [[Tychicus]], [[Onesimus]], and [[Epaphras]]? What does this tell us about how [[Paul]] views his colleagues and what kind of attributes he commends? - [[Tychicus]] is "a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord" - [[Onesimus]] is "a faithful and dear brother". Potentially noteworthy that he (was?) a slave, and is now only being recognized as a brother - [[Epaphras]] is "a servant of [[Christ]] [[Jesus]]" (see also [[Colossians 1]]:7) and is "working hard" for them - [[Paul]] values his coworkers and frames ministry as a team effort - Gospel ministry, in any form, will be hard work, require humility, and support+unity from other [[Christian]]s - [ ] What does [[Epaphras]] pray for and where have we seen those themes before in this letter? - v. 12 "that you stand firm in all the will of [[God]], mature, and fully assured" - Recall that he probably founded the church here (as well as [[Laodicea]] and [[Hierapolis]]) - [ ] Overall, what can we learn from [[Paul]] and [[Epaphras]]' prayers throughout the letter about their attitude to prayer and the content of their prayers? - Recall also [[Colossians 1]]:3 and 9-12 - Prayer can be like "wrestling" and involves "hard work" - Worthwhile for the content -- greater knowledge of [[God]]'s will, leading to greater Christ-likeness and bearing of spiritual fruit - The battle language should be taken seriously, and prayer is a spiritual weapon that [[God]] has placed at our disposal - [ ] How does our attitude to prayer compare to this? What do we mostly pray about, and how can we help each other to devote ourselves to prayer for things that are in line with [[God]]'s will?