All who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord.

John Farley
Pastor-Teacher
Sunday,
December 17, 2017

All who lived in Asia heard the word
of the Lord

Col 1:1-2

We are going to do some background study on the letter.

Next, we are going to examine “the big picture” of Colossians.

After that, we are going to outline the letter.

And then we are going to proceed paragraph by paragraph through the letter.

1. Who is the author? What biographical information about the author is presented in the letter?

2. What are some significant facts about the author that add to our understanding of the letter?

3. When was the book written? Where?

4. Who is the audience (recipients of the letter)? What are the significant facts about them?

5. What was the occasion (specific situation) for the writing of the letter?

6. Why was the book written? What was the author’s purpose in writing the book?

7. What is the book about? What is the overall message of the book?

8. How is it written: what genre is it, how is it organized, and what is the author’s writing style?

1. Who is the author? What biographical information about the author is presented in the letter?

The author of Colossians identifies himself by name three times in this letter.

Col 1:1-2

Paul the apostle is the author of Colossians, joined by Timothy.

He also identifies the recipients of the letter: the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are at Colossae.

Col 1:23
Col 4:18

Here Paul says that he wrote the greeting at the end with his own hand, and that he is in prison.

In each of these three places where he identifies himself by name, Paul also shares a fact about his life.

2. Significant facts about the author.

We learn from the letter itself that Paul had never personally visited Colossae.

Col 2:1
Col 1:3-10

Paul and Timothy heard of their faith.

If they had evangelized in Colossae themselves, they would have personally observed their faith.
 

The saints at Colossae learned the gospel and the grace of God from Epaphras, not Paul.

Col 4:12-13

Epaphras was with Paul at the time he wrote Colossians.

Epaphras was one of their number, meaning that he hailed from Colossae himself.

From Paul’s letter to Philemon we learn that Epaphras was in fact imprisoned with Paul at this time.

Phm 1:23-24

Paul wrote Philemon and Colossians during his same imprisonment.

Tychicus delivered the letter to the Colossians. He was accompanied by Onesimus.

Col 4:7-9

Onesimus was a member of the congregation at Colossae.
And Paul sent Onesimus back to Philemon.

Phm 1:10-13

In Colossians we learn that Archippus has a ministry in Colossae.

Col 4:17

And in Paul’s letter to Philemon we find that Archippus is with Philemon.

Phm 1:1-3

Since Onesimus arrives in Colossae with Paul’s letter to Philemon, the two letters were written at around the same time.

Phm 1:23-24

We find Epaphras, Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke with Paul in both letters: (Phm 1:23-24; Col 4:10-15).

 


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