I have had a desire for some time to really dig into the book of Colossians. And this year I’m one of several teachers who will be taking our women’s ministry through this powerful little epistle. So I thought I would share some of the truths we are learning with you all, as well.

Colossians is all about Jesus. It calls us to worship Him, to understand who He is, and to live in light of that truth. It’s both theological and practical. And it contains one of the most quoted and most taught portions of Scripture, especially when it comes to Christ.

Studying it will help us answer some very important questions. For starters, what does it mean when we say that Jesus is preeminent? That He is sufficient? And how should we live in light of who He is? So, I hope you will come back each week and grow with me through Paul’s letter to our first-century brothers and sisters.

Below you’ll find a complete list of the other lessons in this study on Colossians.

Introduction to Colossians

Colossians 1.1-10

A Little Background

The letter to the Colossians was written at about the same time as the books of Ephesians and Philemon, probably 58-62 A.D. It was written by the Apostle Paul, possibly with the help of Timothy who may have served as his amanuensis or recording secretary. Chapters 1 and 2 are theological and doctrinal. Chapters 3 and 4 read like a summary of instructions for the Christian life.

So, let’s get started …

Salutation

The book opens with a customary greeting:

¹ Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

² To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father.

Though it was similar to the openings of his other letters, every word served a purpose.

Paul’s reason for writing to the Colossians had to do with reports of false teachers who were trying to infiltrate the church. So, Paul began by reminding the readers of His authority to address these issues. He was “an apostle of Christ Jesus.” He went on “by the will of God.” God Himself had called him to that office.

He was writing to “the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae.” Because this was a church made up of Jews and Gentiles, the word translated as saints may have referred to Jews and faithful brothers to gentiles. The phrase “in Christ” is important because it began to touch on a theme that would be repeated throughout the book. These believers were “in Christ.” Christ alone was the basis of their salvation. It, also, touches on something theologians call our union with Christ. We’ll talk more about that in a later post.

A Flourishing Church Under Attack

The church at Colossae was apparently a flourishing church. You might think a growing church in the first century would have been started by the Apostle Paul himself. After all, he was the great missionary church planter. But it turns out, this church began when a man by the name of Epaphras heard the gospel, probably through Paul’s ministry, allowed God to change his heart, and then returned to his hometown to share the truth with those who lived there.

³ We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, ⁴ since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, ⁵ because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, ⁶ which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth, ⁷ just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf ⁸ and has made known to us your love in the Spirit (Col. 1.3-8).

And now, it’s five to seven years later and Epaphras has joined Paul in prison in Rome to tell him about the teaching that is threatening his home church and to pray with Paul for all the churches in his region.

First Encouragement

Paul began his letter with encouragement. Look back at verses 3-6. He told them he was thankful for God’s work in their lives and the love they had for fellow believers. He reminded them of the hope that was laid up for them in heaven and commended them for the fruitfulness of their lives. Then he told them he was praying for them.

Praying for the Colossians

In fact, he told them specifically how he was praying for them. As he did, he was able to express some of his concerns for them. 

⁹ And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, ¹⁰ so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; ¹¹ being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; ¹² giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. ¹³ He has delivered 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.

I will go into this passage in more detail over the next couple of weeks but notice how Paul prayed. His concerns were about spiritual things. He wanted them to grow in wisdom and understanding, be pleasing to the Lord, and bear fruit for the kingdom. Then he reminded them of God’s power at work in their lives, their inheritance as His children, their deliverance, their redemption, and their forgiveness from sin.

How about Your Prayers?

What are your prayers like? Are they preoccupied with the cares of this world? Or are they more about spiritual growth for those you love? If you have never prayed God’s Word, this would be a great passage to turn into a prayer. If you would like to read more about praying the Scriptures, you might check out this post, “Praying like Paul: A Prayer for Spiritual Growth.”

You can click on the links for Colossians Part 2 and the following lessons below. And if you would like to purchase my eBook on prayer, you will find a link at the bottom of this page.

Complete List of Lessons in this Series:

The Preeminent Christ & Why It’s Important | Colossians Part 2

What Does Christ’s Preeminence Mean to Me? | Colossians Part 3

A Summary of the Christian Life | Colossians Part 4

The Unfolding Plan of God, Crimes of Passion & Our Hope of Glory | Colossians Part 5

Rooted & Established in Christ | Colossians Part 6

The Danger of a False Gospel | Colossians Part 7

The Power of God in Us | Colossians Part 8

Our Union with Christ | Colossians Part 9

Seek to Be Like Christ | Colossians Part 10

Putting on the Character of Christ | Colossians Wrap-Up

Most Read Post

Last week’s most-read post was:

“Remember God’s Power, Promise & Presence”

Other Posts from the Previous Week:

Here are last week’s other posts:

“Is Jesus Lord of Your Opinions?”

“When to Help & When to Get Out of the Way”

“Can Christians Seek to Know the Future?”

“When You’re Tempted with Discouragement”

“Could Your Righteousness Keep You Out of Heaven?”

“10 Steps to Parenting God’s Way”

“How to Get Unstuck & Start Growing”

“An Excellent Wife or a Rotten One?”

“How to Teach Your Children the Real Meaning of Easter”

“God’s Criticism at the Cross”

8 Ways to Rid Yourself of Spiritual Clutter – Part 2 & Newsletter

I hope you’ll check out a couple.

In the coming days, we’ll talk about judging God, the downward spiral sin can take us on, the danger of becoming bored with God, facing storms, and when friends betray us, among other subjects.

You can sign up for this weekly newsletter or the daily posts here. 

Blessings as you grow in Christ,
Donna

I sometimes LINKUP with these blogs.

Do you ever struggle with prayer? Do you sometimes feel it’s just one more thing on your to-do list or that you don’t measure up in this area? Me, too, but these are some of the strategies that I’ve learned through the years that have helped me have a more consistent and meaningful prayer life.