Colossians 1 (Nasb)

The Book of Acts ends with Paul in prison in Rome. Four letters – Philippians, Philemon, Colossians and Ephesians – are known as the Prison Epistles, since all make reference to Paul being in prison. Paul, however, was imprisoned in Caesarea and possibly in Ephesus, besides Rome, so the placement of any one of the Prison Epistles must be considered tentative. Philemon was written about AD 62, AD 70-75 is when Paul’s followers wrote Colossians and Ephesians (?). c/o The Chronological Study Bible, Thomas Nelson

Marilyn Hickey Ministries – Christ is the head of the church; Doctrine – Christ’s preeminence; Redemption, Creator, the church and ministry; They used horoscopes; it compares diet and spiritual living; Paul never visited it, just heard of it (see verses 4 and 9)

Salutation

Paul, an apostle (sent one) of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

2 To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father.

Thanksgiving

We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,

Never say (3x) Amen for when we pray, we pray to Him, we should never say amen . . .:)

4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which you have for all the saints; (not Catholic; sinners?)

Is our faith in Christ known to the public, or do we hide it? How about our love for others?

5 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven, of which you previously heard in the word of truth, the gospel (Great News)

6 which has come to you, just as in all the world also it is constantly bearing fruit and increasing, even as it has been doing in you also since the day you heard of it and understood the grace of God in truth;

I was pleasantly surprised to recently learn 2/3 of the world has heard of Christ, not ½.

7 just as you learned it from Epaphras, our beloved fellow bond-servant, who is a faithful servant of Christ on our behalf,

8 and he also informed us of your love in the Spirit.

Prayer

9 For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,

Never Say Amen / Word of Knowledge – 1 Corinthians 12

10 so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;

11 strengthened with all power (dunamis – dynamite), according to His glorious might for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; Some of you are learning patience here since you won’t be leaving anytime soon.

joyously

12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light. The Father qualified us.

Are we thankful for our food, clothing, shelter, family, friends, faith, etc.? REDEMPTION

13 For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son,

14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Don’t take this the wrong way, but Christ is our Redeemer, our “coupon”, so we don’t have to go to hell.

The Preeminence of Christ / His Divine Person / Creation

He (Christ) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.

16 For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things have been created through Him and for Him.

17 He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.

18 He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. KEY VERSE

His Reconciling Work

For it was the Father's good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him,

20 and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.

Because He shed His blood, we have peace with the Father & others.

21 And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds,

This is a good reminder for those of us in prison. I wonder what Paul’s fellow inmates were like.

22 yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach