a.a. “The church at Colossae was the least “The church at Colossae was the least important of any to which Paul’s epistles were important of any to which Paul’s epistles were addressed. But he had no greater message for addressed. But he had no greater message for any church than he here gives concerning the any church than he here gives concerning the person of Christ. There is no more important person of Christ. There is no more important message today for modern men.” -Archibald message today for modern men.” -Archibald Thomas RobertsonThomas Robertson

b.b. “The doctrine of the Person of Christ is here “The doctrine of the Person of Christ is here stated with greater precision and fullness than stated with greater precision and fullness than in any other of St. Paul’s epistles.” -Bishop J. B. in any other of St. Paul’s epistles.” -Bishop J. B. LightfootLightfoot

c.c. Main theme: Rise AboveMain theme: Rise Abovei.i. Because Christ is exalted and holy and true, Because Christ is exalted and holy and true,

we must live above the commonality and so-we must live above the commonality and so-called knowledge of this world, rising above called knowledge of this world, rising above this world’s standards.this world’s standards.

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the saints and God, and Timothy our brother, To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace to faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father. We always you and peace from God our Father. We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you,  since we heard of your when we pray for you,  since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you

have for all the saints, because of the hope laid have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, before in the word of the truth, the gospel,

which has come to you, as indeed in the whole which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing— world it is bearing fruit and increasing—

as it also does among you, since the day you as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in heard it and understood the grace of God in

truth, just as you learned it from Epaphras, our truth, just as you learned it from Epaphras, our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf and has made known of Christ on your behalf and has made known to us your love in the Spirit. And so, from the to us your love in the Spirit. And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for

you, asking that you may be filled with the you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and

understanding, so as to walk in a manner understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him,

bearing fruit in every good work and increasing bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. in the knowledge of God.

May you be strengthened with all power, May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all according to his glorious might, for all

endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in to the Father, who has qualified you to share in

the inheritance of the saints in light.the inheritance of the saints in light.(ESV)(ESV)

a.a. Col 1:1-2 Paul, an apostle of Christ Col 1:1-2 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the saints and faithful our brother, To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father.to you and peace from God our Father.

b.b. Paul and TimothyPaul and Timothyc.c. To the saints and faithful brothersTo the saints and faithful brothersd.d. Grace and PeaceGrace and Peace

i.i. chairein = Greetingschairein = Greetingsii.ii. charis = Gracecharis = Graceiii. eirene/shalom = Peaceiii. eirene/shalom = Peace

We always thank God, the Father of our Lord We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, (4) (4) since we since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, love that you have for all the saints, (5)(5) because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, truth, the gospel, (6)(6) which has come to you, as which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and growing--as it also does among you, since the growing--as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth, God in truth, (7)(7) just as you learned it from just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. He is a Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf faithful minister of Christ on your behalf (8) (8) and and has made known to us your love in the Spirit.has made known to us your love in the Spirit.

a.a. Paul thanksgiving and PrayerPaul thanksgiving and Prayerb.b. “God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ”“God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ”c.c. Their love for all the saintsTheir love for all the saints[Mat 22:37-40] "You shall love the Lord your [Mat 22:37-40] "You shall love the Lord your

God with all your heart and with all your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. soul and with all your mind. (38) (38) This is the This is the great and first commandment. great and first commandment. (39) (39) And the And the second is like it: You shall love your second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. neighbor as yourself. (40) (40) On these two On these two commandments depend all the Law and commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.“the Prophets.“

i.i. The Christian Triad: Love, Hope and JoyThe Christian Triad: Love, Hope and Joy

a.a. Paul thanksgiving and PrayerPaul thanksgiving and Prayerb.b. “God, the Father of our Lord Jesus “God, the Father of our Lord Jesus

Christ”Christ”c.c. Their love for all the saintsTheir love for all the saintsd.d. The hope laid up in heavenThe hope laid up in heavene.e. You have heard it before - Paul’s ThesisYou have heard it before - Paul’s Thesisf.f. The Gospel is bearing fruit and growingThe Gospel is bearing fruit and growingg.g. The simple Gospel - understanding the The simple Gospel - understanding the

grace of Godgrace of God

And so, from the day we heard, we And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, wisdom and understanding, (10) (10) so as so as to walk in a manner worthy of the to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him...Lord, fully pleasing to him...

a. From the day we heard it...a. From the day we heard it...b.b. Filled with the knowledge of his willFilled with the knowledge of his willc.c. All spiritual wisdom and All spiritual wisdom and

understandingunderstanding “ “through all the wisdom and through all the wisdom and

understanding that the Spirit gives.”understanding that the Spirit gives.”MooMoo

d.d. Walking in a manner worthy of the Walking in a manner worthy of the LordLord

……bearing fruit in every good work and bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. increasing in the knowledge of God. (11) (11) May you be strengthened with all May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with for all endurance and patience with joy, joy, (12) (12) giving thanks to the Father, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.inheritance of the saints in light.

a. Bearing fruit, good work, increasing a. Bearing fruit, good work, increasing in knowledgein knowledge

Bearing fruit AND [kai] Increasing in Bearing fruit AND [kai] Increasing in knowledgeknowledge

b.b. Strength from GodStrength from GodEndless strength, infinite powerEndless strength, infinite power

c.c. Endurance and patience in JoyEndurance and patience in JoyEndurance - impossible situationsEndurance - impossible situations

Patience - impossible peoplePatience - impossible peopled.d. The right attitude - ThanksgivingThe right attitude - Thanksgiving

–Rising Above:Rising Above:• The Christian Triad: Love, hope, The Christian Triad: Love, hope,

and joy.and joy.1.1. Remain faithful to the GospelRemain faithful to the Gospel2.2. Seek the knowledge of God’s willSeek the knowledge of God’s will