51-Colossians 1 – Hebrews 4
Dec. 12, 2009
We will begin our study this week with the Book of Colossians. Last week we covered several more of the Apostle Paul’s letters to the early church and the newly revealed doctrines of Jesus he taught. This week we will continue in Paul’s letters. The Book of Colossians was another one of the Prison Epistles Paul wrote from Rome while he was in prison there during 60-62 AD. The letter was written to the church at Colossae, a city in Asia Minor near the churches mentioned in the Book of Revelation. The city of Colossae was near the city of Laodicea, the location of the lukewarm church. In Chapter 1 Paul greeted the church at Colossae. He did not plant the church there, and had never been there himself. The church had been founded by Epaphras, who most likely learned from Paul during his time in the city of Ephesus. Paul had received good reports about the saints in Colossae and wrote this letter to encourage their continued good work. Paul then wrote about the characteristics of Jesus and of how he rejoiced in his own personal suffering he had endured in bringing the gospel to the world. In Chapter 2 Paul addressed the heresies that threatened the church at Colossae and also neighboring Laodicea. Even though Paul could not physically be there at Colossae with the church because of his imprisonment he had worked hard in prayer to keep them pure. The church was experiencing a period of intense Jewish legalism and a corruption of the deity of Jesus that would later be known in its full form as Gnosticism. The church was told to stay true to the faith and not be swayed by false teachings. Paul then discussed a fundamental difference between a Christian and the world in Chapter 3. The world also includes a Christian’s old self before salvation. Paul instructs us to put our thoughts on heavenly things and not the desires of the world. We are to daily put on our new self and put off the old nature we still possess. In this new self there is no difference between Jew and Greek, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian and Scythian, or slave and freeman in Christ. We are to exhibit the fruit of the Spirit, and most of all love to our fellow man. We should all do what is written in verse 17 “Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.” At the end of the chapter as in the Book of Ephesians, Paul wrote on God’s order in the family and other personal relationships. Paul then continued the thoughts on personal relationships in Chapter 4. He told masters to treat their slaves properly. He said to devote yourself to prayer with an attitude of thanksgiving. With this attitude God will open our eyes to the mysteries of Scripture that had caused Paul to be placed into prison. These mysteries would lead one to a deeper understanding of the Lord that is lost to the unbelieving world. To finish the letter Paul gave personal greetings and instructions to those that he knew. This ends the Book of Colossians. We will now turn to the Book of 1 Thessalonians. The Book of 1 Thessalonians was a letter written by Paul during 51 AD to the church at Thessalonica. This was one of the earliest letters from Paul that has been preserved in the Bible. Only the letter to the Galatians is believed to be older. The letter addresses several areas of concern in the Thessalonian church including some confusion about the future hope of the church. In Chapter 1 the letter was sent from Paul and his traveling companions Silas and Timothy. Paul commended the church for their faith and works. They had been an example to the other cities in Macedonia and Achaia. Paul had heard of them favorably during his travels. In Chapter 2 Paul reminded the readers of his imprisonment in Philippi when the jailer had been converted with his family into the faith. Paul said that even in hardship he had boldly proclaimed the gospel to all who would listen. He said also that he had suffered hardships bringing the gospel to them. The believers in Thessalonica had listened to Paul and had been a fine example to the neighboring cities. At the end of the chapter Paul told the Thessalonians that Satan had hindered him from coming to them. Paul was unable to travel at the time he wrote the letter so in Chapter 3 he spoke of how he had sent Timothy to them to find out how they were doing as a church. He was glad when Timothy returned to Rome with a good report on their spiritual health. He did though need to address several areas of concern with them. In Chapter 4 Paul exhorted the people to continue living out their faith. They had done well up to this point so Paul encouraged them to never go backwards and continue to mature. This also included their Christian love which they were known for throughout Macedonia. The believers in Thessalonica were concerned for some of their loved ones who had died before Jesus’ return and were confused about the second coming of Christ. The early church believed Jesus’ return was imminent and would occur during their lifetimes. Paul comforts them with these words from verse 13-18 “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.” This was a long passage of Scripture, but it is important in that it tells us of the rapture of the church to heaven, the blessed hope. In Chapter 5 Paul goes on to say that no one knows the time of the Lord’s coming. He will come as a thief in the night. We who know Him have nothing to fear. We are to put on the armor of God and wait for His return. The text records in verse 9-10 “For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him.” At the end of the chapter Paul again exhorts us to good Christian conduct, and also to mature in the faith. This ends Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonian church. We will now turn to his second letter, the Book of 2 Thessalonians. The second letter from Paul to the church at Thessalonica was written soon after the first in 50-51 AD. Paul wrote this letter in response to what he had heard after his first letter had been delivered. The church had grown and matured from when he had known them last and some false teaching had crept in especially in the areas dealing with the coming day of the Lord. Paul wrote this letter to address this issue. This letter was also addressed from Paul along with Silas and Timothy. In Chapter 1 Paul commended the church on their growth and maturity. Paul also acknowledged that they had been experiencing increased persecution and difficulty. Paul told them not to worry about the persecution, that the persecutors will be punished for their deeds by the Lord in His time. In Chapter 2 Paul refutes the false teaching that the day of the Lord had already come. Paul told the church that before that time there would be a falling away from the faith. He told them to not be deceived that apostasy would come first then a man of lawlessness. Paul said also that there is a restrainer of evil that is present in the world that restrains the full extent of sin on the world. I believe this restrainer is the working of the Holy Spirit through the church that will be removed before the day of the Lord will come. This removal of the restrainer represents the rapture of the church to heaven and the glorification of the church body of saints. Paul told us we should always give thanks to the Lord for choosing us for salvation. Because of this we need to hold on to the truth of the gospel and be obedient to the One Who Saves. In Chapter 3 Paul asks for prayer and exhorts the Thessalonians to continue to grow and mature. He also warns those in the church that have begun to lead unruly lives to repent and return to fellowship. This ends the Book of 2 Thessalonians. We will now begin the Book of 1 Timothy. The Book of 1 Timothy was a letter by the Apostle Paul to his young protégé Timothy after Paul’s first imprisonment in Rome about 60-62 AD. Timothy was most likely led to the Lord by Paul during his visit to Lystra during his first missionary journey. On Paul’s second journey he asked Timothy to accompany him when he came back to Lystra. These two books today picture how God wants the older men in the faith to nurture and teach the young to carry on God’s work in the world. Timothy remained a friend and co-worker to Paul until the apostle was martyred by Nero. Timothy would often be sent by Paul to cities on his behalf when he was unable to travel. Paul trusted Timothy with the ministry he had been given by God. The occasion for this letter was to have Timothy take over the Pastorate of the church at Ephesus. In Chapter 1 Paul told Timothy of the abuses and misleading doctrines he was aware of. He urged Timothy to stay true to the faith and teach with a pure heart towards God. Paul wrote these words to Timothy in verse 18-19 “This command I entrust to you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you fight the good fight, keeping faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith.” Paul also handed two men over to Satan to teach them not to blaspheme. Paul called on all men to pray and work together in Chapter 2. He then instructed the women of the church to dress appropriately and act in a manner fitting a child of God. They were to be in submission to their men, not teaching or exercising authority over them. God had set up an order from Adam and Eve that was broken to the death of mankind. Then in Chapter 3 Paul went through the qualifications for elders and deacons in the church. Both leaders needed to be obedient believers who had been observed to lead a godly life. Neither should be a novice, but a fully mature man that is full of the Spirit of God. Many problems will occur in a church fellowship that does not follow these guidelines in selecting their leadership. These positions are of a divine calling, not just a congregation elected job. In Chapter 4 Paul reminded Timothy that in the latter days people will fall away from the truth of God and follow strange doctrines. He encouraged Timothy to be disciplined and stay true to what he had been taught. He was to continue in the public reading of Scripture, and also to exhort and teach. He was also instructed to not neglect the spiritual gifts God had given him at his conversion, so that he could be assured of his salvation and the salvation of those under him. Timothy is instructed in Chapter 5 to honor true widows and help them as their needs require. He must use discernment to find out who these widows are so that the women with families that remain can help them, or if they are young enough they can find new husbands to care for them. Timothy by this was encouraged to be a good steward of the resources God had provided him. He was also told to respect his elders and listen to their counsel. Paul also told him to judge responsibly. In Chapter 6 Paul gave instructions to those who minister. There is great responsibility placed on those who would preach the gospel. Paul commanded Timothy in verse 13-14 “I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who testified the good confession before Pontius Pilate, that you keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ” He also wrote in verse 20-21 “O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding worldly and empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called “knowledge”—which some have professed and thus gone astray from the faith.” This ends the Book of 1 Timothy. We will now go on to the Book of 2 Timothy. The Book of 2 Timothy was written by Paul during his second imprisonment in Rome during 66-67 AD shortly before he was martyred by Nero. Paul was concerned for his friend Timothy’s spiritual health and needed to pass on his non apostolic ministry to him before his imminent death. In Chapter 1 Paul reminded Timothy of his mother and grandmother who had taught him well as a youth. Paul told him in verse 8-9 “Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity” He also told Timothy in verse 13-14 “Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you.” Everyone had turned their backs on Paul and he was now alone with only Luke for company. Paul told Timothy to be strong in Chapter 2. He was to suffer as Paul suffered to bring the gospel to the world. Paul said that the suffering was worth the reward. Paul also told Timothy in verse 15-16 “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness” Paul then gave Timothy the characteristics of a good servant. In Chapter 3 Timothy was warned by Paul of the difficult times that were ahead for him. In his ministry Timothy would be faced with all sorts of ungodly men and their temptations. Paul equates these men to Jannes and Jambres, the Egyptian wise men who opposed Moses back in the Book of Exodus with Pharaoh when he freed the Israelites from bondage. Timothy was told to remember what he had been taught by Paul and to continue steadfast in the ministry. Paul told him in verse 16-17 “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” In Chapter 4 Paul charged Timothy to “Preach the Word.” He was told to be ready at all times to do the work that God had laid out for him without excuse. Paul knew his days were numbered and that his death would soon come. He was satisfied that he had finished what the Lord had for him to do and was ready to go home and be with the Lord. Paul asked Timothy to come to Rome and visit him. Everyone else except Luke had deserted him and he wished to see his beloved son in the faith again one last time before his death. This ends the Book of 2 Timothy. We will now move on to the Book of Titus. The Book of Titus was written along with the Book of 1 Timothy during Paul’s time of freedom in Rome between his times in prison during 60-62 AD. This book along with 1 & 2 Timothy are known as the Pastoral Epistles because of their focus on church leadership. Titus was a fellow worker with Paul and like Timothy was well loved by the apostle. Titus was left in Crete by Paul to select elders for the church on the island. Paul trusted Titus with this task and sent him this letter with some additional advice. In Chapter 1 Paul listed the qualifications to hold the office of an Elder in the church. The candidate must be a mature Christian man who exhibited good character and a fruitful life. He also must be able to teach sound doctrine and refute those who come to contradict the faith. Paul gave examples of men who would come up against the church and try to corrupt and destroy the body of Christ. In Chapter 2 Paul then went through God’s order for people and their individual responsibilities. He began with older men then to older women and their proper behavior. He then listed younger men and slaves. These behaviors were necessary to be taught to the church so that it could remain pure until Christ’s return for it. In Chapter 3 Paul spoke of godly living. We are to conduct ourselves properly before one another. Titus is told to hold on to what is good and reject that which is evil. This ends the Book of Titus. We will now look at the short Book of Philemon. The Book of Philemon is a short personal letter from Paul to a wealthy believer in Colossae named Philemon. This letter was one of the Prison Epistles Paul wrote from a Roman jail during 60-62 AD. The reason for this letter was to plead for Onesimus, a runaway slave who Paul converted in Rome and had been useful to him in ministry. Before his conversion to Christianity, Onesimus had stolen some money from his master, Philemon and fled to Rome. In Rome he was led to the Lord and became friends with Paul and a worker in the Roman church. Due to Roman law and Philemon’s own repentant attitude Paul was required to return the slave to Colossae and his rightful master. Paul wished Onesimus would be forgiven by Philemon and included into the church at Colossae. Paul offered to pay back the money Onesimus had stolen from his own pocket. Paul also meant this letter to show the entire Christian church to show forgiveness and to accept people into the faith who had made mistakes in the past. This ends the Book of Philemon. We will now begin the Book of Hebrews. The writer of the Book of Hebrews is unknown and lost to time. Some say Paul wrote the book, and others say it could have been any from a host of characters in the early church. It is believed the book was written during 67 AD. One thing that is known about the book is that it was written to Jewish people to persuade them that the way of Jesus is a better way and the Lord’s fulfillment to the Law of Moses. In Chapter 1 the book reveals God’s thoughts about His Son. Jesus is better than the angels and has taken His place at the right hand of His Father. The first chapter is composed of passages from the Old Testament. In Chapter 2 the writer began to build his case for Jesus. We are told to take heed that our sin deserves a penalty. As the writer put in verse 3 “How will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?” Even though man has put the whole earth into subjection to him we see in verse 9 what Jesus has done for us “But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.” Even with our self-imposed greatness we are in need of a savior. In Chapter 3 Jesus is revealed to be our high priest. The text quotes from the Old Testament Book of Psalms 95 in verse 7-11 “Therefore, just as the Holy Spirit says, “TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS AS WHEN THEY PROVOKED ME, AS IN THE DAY OF TRIAL IN THE WILDERNESS, WHERE YOUR FATHERS TRIED Me BY TESTING Me, AND SAW MY WORKS FOR FORTY YEARS. “THEREFORE I WAS ANGRY WITH THIS GENERATION, AND SAID, ‘THEY ALWAYS GO ASTRAY IN THEIR HEART, AND THEY DID NOT KNOW MY WAYS’; AS I SWORE IN MY WRATH, ‘THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST.’” The Israelites died during the forty years of wandering through the wilderness because of their hardened hearts. The writer urges them to not harden their hearts to the salvation that had been promised to them through Jesus. Chapter 4 is on God’s rest He has promised to those who believe in His Son. The writer then revealed an important truth about Scripture in verse 12 “For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” The text also says in verse 14-15 “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.” I then personally like the King James Version rendering of verse 16 “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” This ends our study for this week. Next week we will finish up the Book of Hebrews and finish up in the Book of 2 Peter.