Colossians 1:1-2 - Greetings

Posted by Brance on April 14th, 2008 filed in Colossians

As we study any passage of Scripture we want to be sure we keep the big picture in mind, the context. We need to remind ourselves who wrote what we are reading, who it was written to, and why it was written. Context is key to proper understanding.

As we reflect on the text, and the recipients of the text, we need to keep in mind what we learned last week in our overview. The reason Paul wrote the letter was to correct errors in the theology and practice of the Colossians.

We might be tempted to look at their errors and say that we don’t suffer from them. No one in our church is suggesting we must adhere to Jewish type legalisms to be saved. No one is worshiping angels, at least not that I know of! Vain philosophies are not that obvious, but we might be able to zero in on the philosophies the world is trying to shove down our throats. And certainly no one is engaging in asceticism. Very few people in our culture do. We go to the opposite extreme and overindulge ourselves!

So we might be tempted to think there is nothing here that will speak to us, or that we can read this book and just skim over it because it doesn’t really apply to us. Nothing could be further from the truth!

We need to take a look at the underlying causes for the Colossian errors, and ask ourselves what the real issues are. Worship of angels is really idolatry. Do we engage in idolatry? Well, we don’t bow down and worship little figurines, but we are idolaters. Every day we “exchange the glory of the immortal God for images” (Romans 1.23), reflections, shadows of the real thing. In America today we worship ourselves. We worship entertainment, sports, music stars, actors, music itself, possessions, money, physical beauty, etc. The point is, we share this in common with the Colossians, we’re idolaters.

Finding this point of common, underlying sin with the subjects of the text, is referred to as the “Fallen Condition Focus.” As we’ll see during our study of Colossians, each of the errors Paul is correcting stems from man’s fallen condition, and we share that condition with the Colossians. Once we see how we share it, God’s Word will become suddenly very alive and applicable to us personally.

So we must ask ourselves these questions. How am I like these people? What aspect of our shared sin nature is being addressed here? How does this sin manifest itself in my life?

The next thing we have to do is ask questions of the text, and of ourselves. There are five primary questions I always ask myself when studying a passage of Scripture.

1. What does Scripture say?
2. What does Scripture mean?
3. Why do we resist this truth?
4. Why does this matter?
5. How is Jesus the hero?

If we can consistently, and honestly, ask these questions as we read and study, I’m convinced we will correctly understand Scripture.

So let’s take a look at the first section of Colossians from our working outline.

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae; grace to you and peace from God our Father. ~ Colossians 1:1-2

V1. In this opening greeting, Paul confirms who he is. Remember from our overview that he has never been to Colossae and hasn’t met these people. So he’s telling them about himself.

What does it mean to be an “apostle?”

The greek word used here is ‘apostolos’ and literally means

One sent forth

Though it is very consistently translated as ‘apostle’, it is sometimes translated as messenger, ambassador, or literally as ‘one who is sent’. The word is used to describe Jesus (Hebrews 3:1), the twelve disciples (Luke 6:13), Paul and Barnabas (Acts 14:14), Andronicus and Junias (Romans 16:7), Epaphroditus (Philippians 2:25), Silas and Timothy (1 Thessalonians 2:6), and some unnamed brethren (2 Corinthians 8:23).

Paul goes on to tell us who sent him. Christ Jesus sent Paul on his mission to the gentiles and hence, Paul is “an apostle of Christ Jesus”.

When Paul goes on to state that he is an apostle “by the will of God” he is saying that God willed, or actively chose him for the job. He is establishing his authority in this opening sentence. He’s not just some guy who is a good preacher. He is God’s chosen messenger, and therefore carries the authority of the One who sent him.

In this way, Paul distinguishes himself from the common use of the word as it is described above, and sets himself in the same category as the twelve. Namely ‘Apostles of Christ Jesus’, specially commissioned by our Lord himself.

Timothy, if you’ll remember from our study of Acts was from the region in which Colossae is found. The Colossians would know him and recognize his name. Paul mentions Timothy at the beginning of the letter to further establish his own credentials.

V2. Now Paul addresses his readers. He calls them “saints and faithful brothers”. Considering the false teaching being embraced at Colossae, is this a fair description?

The greek word here primarily means ‘separated’ and was used among the Greeks to denote something or someone who was dedicated to the gods. In Scripture the sense is of one who is separated from sin and dedicated to God. Its implication is that Divine demands are placed upon the conduct of believers. It is most often translated as ‘holy’ but is used some 60 times in reference to persons.

It does not mean those referred to have attained holiness, but that they have been made holy by a holy God.

As to the word ‘faithful’. In this context it should be understood as ‘believing’.

When Paul says ‘brothers’ in verse two, it is a general term denoting sibling relationships in the family. While it is sometimes uses specifically of males, exclusive of females, such is not the intent in this passage. The sibling relationship is in view here and should be taken to include all believers, of both genders.

“in Christ” tells us how it is that we are united as brothers. We are united in Christ. We are adopted into the family of God because of the saving work of Jesus on the cross. We are only faithful, or believing, brothers, when that belief is ‘in Christ’.

Paul has just described both his readers’ relationship to God, and to one another. They are saints, made holy in God’s sight by the atoning work of Christ Jesus. And they are part of the family of those who believe.

Paul then offers a prayer of blessing for his readers of grace and peace.

By this Paul is asking God to show approval on these believers, and mend relations between himself and them.

So let’s answer our five questions.

What does this Scripture say?

It says that Paul is an apostle sent by God with a message for his readers. He must therefore be taken seriously as one who speaks for God. He reminds his readers they should be holy because they have been set apart by this same God for his service. They should be a united family and he prays God would approve of them and give them peace.

What does this Scripture mean?

In this case it’s pretty plain without much ambiguity. It means exactly what it says. What it means for us, is the same as what it meant for them. Paul speaks for God in this letter and we must take his words as having that authority, we are also to be holy because God has set us apart for himself, and we are to enjoy that same peace with God and each other that Paul wished for the Colossians.

Why do we resist this truth?

At this point we probably don’t. But we must keep these truths in mind during the rest of our study. At times we might wish to dismiss Paul’s words and not take them to heart, but we must remember they are the very words of God himself and do apply to us.

Why does this matter?

It matters because it establishes the authority of the rest of the letter. And it reminds us of our position before God Almighty “in Christ.”

How is Jesus the hero?

Jesus is the hero because He is the one who chose and sent Paul with this message for us. Jesus is the hero because he is the one who chose us and set us apart as holy for himself. Jesus is the hero because we are reconciled to God “in” him.

Yes, Jesus is the hero!