Intro to Colossians

Bible Text: Colossians | Preacher: Alan Conner | Series: 2007, Colossians

COLOSSIANS – Intro
Intro

I. THE CITY OF COLOSSAE

A. Tri-city area – Colossae, Laodicea, Hieropolis.

Hierapolis –

Laodicea –

Colossae –

B. Jewish community here.

II. THE CHURCH AT COLOSSAE

A. The church was primarily Gentile (1:21, 27).

B. Paul was not the founder of the church.

C. The Onesimus – Philemon connection.

D. The meeting place.

III. THE OCASSION FOR ITS WRITING: THE COLOSSIAN HERESY

A. Jewish elements – Jewish dietary laws, religious holidays – Festival, new moon, Sabbath day (2:16), angel worship (2:18), and circumcision.

B. Gnosticism – Did not get really developed till the 2nd century but its early seed form is visible here. What did it teach?

1) Matter is evil. Good is found only in the spirit world.

a) Thus, if matter is evil then God could not have created it.

b) If God is good but matter is evil then there are two problems with Jesus.

1) Not man.

2) Not God.

c) If matter was evil then morality was affected in two opposite extremes.

1) Asceticism.

2) Liscentiousness.

2) Knowledge is supreme.

IV. PLACE OF WRITING AND DATE

A. Paul is in Roman imprisonment (4:3, 10, 16). One of four prison epistles that we have in the NT (Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon).

B. Tychicus carries the letters (4:7-9; Eph. 6:21).

C. These letters are written around 60 A.D.

V. THEME OF COLOSSIANS

The absolute supremacy and sufficiency of Jesus Christ.

VI. OUTLINE OF COLOSSIANS

I. Personal: (1:1-14).

A. Introduction, 1:1-2.

B. Thanksgiving, 1:3-8.

C. Prayer, 1:9-14.

II. Doctrinal: the person and work of Christ (1:15-2:3).

A. The person of Christ, 1:15-19.

B. The work of Christ, 1:20-23.

C. The ministry of Paul, 1:24-2:3.

III. Polemical: the position of the body of Christ (2:4-23).

A. The danger of deception, 2:4-5.

B. Doctrines that deliver from deception, 2:6-15.

C. Practices that protect, 2:16-23.

IV. Practical: putting on the new man (3:1-4:18).

A. In personal life, 3:1-17.

B. In family life, 3:18-4:1.

C. In prayer and witnessing, 4:2-6.

D. Final information and greetings, 4:7-18.

Conclusion