EPISTLES OF THE NEW TESTAMENT
Prison Epistles:
III & IV
COLOSSIANS
Creeds
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1:9 spiritual wisdom and understanding 1:12 The Father who has qualified you 1:23 continue in your faith, established
and firm, not moved 2:2-3 complete understanding...wisdom and
knowledge 2:4 deceive you by fine-sounding
arguments 2:7 rooted and built up in him 2:8 captive through hollow and
deceptive philosophy...human tradition...principles of this world 2:14 canceled the written code with its
regulations 2:16 eat, drink...religious festival 2:18 false humility and the worship of
angels disqualify you...unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions 2:19 lost connection with the Head 2:21-22 Do not
handle...taste...touch....based on human commands and teachings 2:23 regulations...appearance of
wisdom...self-imposed worship...false humility 4:12 firm
in all the will of God, mature |
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Whereas
the people to the north in Galatia were aggressive and led by warriors, the
people in the county of Phrygia within the province of Asia were passive and
often taken as slaves to other nations.
They had originally lived in Assyria and migrated here when the
Hittites weakened. Around 730 BC they
were ruled by King Midas who, according to Greek legend, turned everything to
gold by just his touch. Through the
centuries this area alternated between control by the Assyrians, the
Galatians, and the Bithynians until the Romans finally turned it into the
province of Phrygia. The area was
famous for its black wool carpets and embroidery work. Their oldest religion centered around the Great Mother
of the gods. Her presence issued from
bare cliffs beside fresh water, and sanctuaries to her carved from such
cliffs were always built at such places in this mountainous area. They sought omens from birds. Since the people of Phrygia were
relatively passive, they may have tended more strongly to adopt worship of
protective angels. Some thoughts
regarding the angel worship to which Paul refers: (1) Since the area was, in ancient times, settled by
people from Assyria, it may have been their influence that created angel
worship. Assyrian architecture shows
winged animals guarding palaces and cities.
(2) The Assyrians were in turn influenced by the Hindu and Buddhist
religions, both of which believed their highest god - Brahma or Nirvana -
created gods and they in turn created angels. (3) The counterpart of angels of God was demons of Satan. The Bible sometimes calls idol worship
demon worship (Deuteronomy 32:17; Psalm 106:36-37). A couple centuries later, the biblical archangel Michael began
to be worshipped in this area. In
modern times, people are more likely to accredit heavenly care of them to
angels than to God himself, just one step away from worshiping angels. The Scythians mentioned in Colossians 3:11 in relation
with barbarians lived in southern Russia on the northern border of
Galatia. They were the earliest
people to ride horses into battle (rather than by chariot or on foot). Their armies seemed to appear suddenly out
of nowhere. In battle they wore
armor, double-curved bows, Persian-type swords, and curved-shaped
daggers. They scalped the enemy,
formed them into cups, and attached them to their belts. They had neither alphabet nor coinage
though they were successful hunters, farmers, and traders. Although seldom very religious, they did worship
the elements and never had temples.
Their greatest devotion went to the Great Goddess, patroness of fire
and beasts. They had no priests, but
did have magicians who spoke in high-pitched voices and dressed as women,
possibly eunuchs. The city of Colossae was never very important to the
area politically or religiously, but did have wealthy citizens due to trade
of its fine wools. It seemed to have
been a twin city to Laodicea which was quite wealthy, and of which we will
learn more in John's epistle called Revelation. Paul traveled through Galatia on his second missionary
trip, and parts of Phrygia wherein was Colossae. But, since Phrygia was a "county" within the province
of Asia, and the Holy Spirit kept them from preaching in Asia, he seems not
to have been here long enough to do much, if any, good (Acts 16:6). In fact, the church was established later
when they "learned [the gospel] by Epaphras" (Col. 1:7). Paul had met daily for two years in the
lecture hall of Tyrannus to teach the Bible where students from all the
province of Asia heard. It may have
been in Ephesus that Epaphras was converted. Epaphras was a fellow prisoner with Paul (Philemon
23). At the time Paul wrote the
church in Colossia, Epaphras "who is one of you...[was] always wrestling
in prayer" for them. So, even
though he had never met them (Col. 2:1), Paul wrote them as a personal favour
to Epaphras who undoubtedly had told Paul much about the church in his home
town. |
1:6 The gospel was bearing
fruit all over the _____________________________.
1:9 Paul encouraged them to
have spiritual _______________________________ and
_______________________________, not that which comes from popular opinion.
1:12-13 After
all, it was God, not religious leaders, who _____________________________ them
to share in the inheritance in heaven.
And it was God, not religious leaders, who had
____________________________ them from the dominion of __________________________.
1:15-22 Here are
listed ten traits regarding Jesus' supremacy:
v. 15: Image of the
_____________________________________________________
F_____________________________
over all creation
v. 16 By him all things were
____________________________________
v. 17 In him all things hold
____________________________________
v. 18 He is the head of the body, the
___________________________ (also 1:24)
First[re]born
among the ___________________________________
v. 19 God's __________________________________
dwells in him
v. 20 Through him God
________________________________ to himself all things
v. 22 He presents us _________________________ in
his sight, free from _________________________ [by Satan the accuser - Rev.
12:10]
1:23 The gospel had been
preached to ________________________________ creature under heaven.
1:27 The responsibility of the
church (v. 24) is to make known to the Gentiles Christ, the
____________________ and glory.
1:29 Whose energy was in Paul
as he labored and struggled for the gospel?
__________________________
2:4 Don't let anyone deceive
you by _________________________________________________ arguments.
2:7 We are to be strengthened
in the faith as we WERE ___________________________________, not by creeds.
THIS IS THE THEME OF HIS LETTER:
2:8 We are to make sure we
are not taken __________________________________ through hollow and
____________________ philosophy which depends on human
_______________________________ and the basic ____________________________ of
this world rather than on Christ.
2:10 Christ is the head over
every ____________________________________ and
__________________________________, not potentates in the church.
2:12 Christ cuts our sinful
nature away when we are ____________________________ with him in _______________________.
CEREMONIALISM:
2:13-14 God
cancelled the written code with its _____________________________ and
__________________________ it to the cross.
2:16 With each below, write in
an example of modern religious practices that apply to each.
Don't let others
condemn you over:
* Eat or
_____________________________
________________________________________________________________
* Religious
__________________________
________________________________________________________________
* New Moon [monthly]
_____________________________________
____________________________________________
* A Sabbath
__________________________
________________________________________________________________
MYSTICISM:
2:18 We are not to have false
_________________________________________ or worship
______________________________.
If we do, we are
_______________________________ for the prize.
Such people go into
great detail about what they have _________________________________ [visions,
revelations].
Their minds are not
spiritual, but are actually ___________________________________________. It all ______________ them up with
____________________________ notions.
2:19 Such people have lost all
__________________________________ with the Head, Jesus.
AESCETISISM:
2:21 Basic principles of the
world include "Do not __________________________! Do not _____________________________! Do not
_______________________________!"
2:22 These principles are based
on _________________________________________ commands and
_______________________.
2:23 They have the
_______________________________________ of wisdom. But this is self-____________________________ worship (KJV calls
it will-worship).
They display false
___________________________________________ and harsh
_________________________________ of their body. But with God, all this lacks any _______________________________
in restraining ______________________ indulgence.
Can you think of any
regulation toward clergy regarding abstinence that does not really restrain
sensualness? __________________________________
GODLY LIVING IS:
3:5,8f List below the traits we
must put to death retroactively with our baptism:
*
S_______________________________________________________
*
I_______________________________________________________
*
L_______________________________________________________
*
E_______________________________________________________
*
G________________________ which is __________________________________
*
A_______________________________________________________
*
R_______________________________________________________
*
M_______________________________________________________
*
S_______________________________________________________
*
F_______________________________________________________
*
L_______________________________________________________
3:12-15 Colossae
was known for its woolen cloth, out of which they must have made very warm
winter garments for this mountainous area.
But Paul urged them to clothe themselves in good traits.
3:17;23 "Whatever
you do, whether in _____________________ or ____________________, do it all in
the _____________________ of the Lord Jesus."
"Whatever you do,
work at it with all your ____________________________, as working for the Lord
and not for men.
3:19,21 Husbands are not
to be _______________________________ with their wives, or to
_______________________________ their children which results in
________________________________________
4:3 Paul prayed that God
would _______________________________________________________ for their
message, for which Paul was in ________________________________.
4:7,9 Tychicus was going to
Colossea with ______________________________________________. This second man is the subject of Paul's
letter to Philemon who lived at Colossea.
4:18 As usual, Paul wrote some
at the end in his own handwriting to authenticate the letter. He said, "Remember by _______________________________."
PHILEMON
Freedom
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v.8,9 I could...order you...yet I appeal to
you v.9 a prisoner...in chains v.11 Formerly...useless...now...useful v.12 who is my heart v.13 in chains v.14 your consent v.14 favor...spontaneous and not forced v.16 better than a slave v.19 you owe me your [soul] v.21 even
more than I ask |
|
The
church in Colossae met in Philemon's home.
Apphia must have been his wife.
Possibly Archippus was a relative.
When Paul wrote the church in general at Colossae, he encouraged
Archippus to "complete the work you have received in the Lord"
(Col. 4:17). Philemon was the owner of onesimus, his runaway
slave. While in Rome, Paul had
converted him and now was sending him back to his master accompanied by
Tychicus (Col. 4:9). The name
Onesimum means Useful. Paul plays on
this meaning in verse 11, "Formerly he was useless to you, but now he
has become useful both to you and to me." He called Onesimum "my very heart" (verse 12). Paul also offered to repay Philemon for
anything Onesimus may have stolen (v. 18-19). Paul was on the brink of being released from
prison. In verse 10 he indicated he
was no longer in chains. But in verse
9 he said he was still a prisoner. In
verse 22 he asked Philemon to "prepare a guest room for me, because I
hope to be restored to you in answer to your prayers." Not once did Paul - worse than a slave, but as a
prisoner - complain about his situation and tell Onesimus he ought to
consider himself lucky. |
1:1 Paul was a
_______________________ of Christ.
1:5 Paul heard about
Philemon's faith from whom? (See verses
10 and 23)? ___________________________
and _____________________________.
1:8,9 Although he could have
ordered him as an apostle, a master, Paul appealed to him in his weakness as an
__________________ man and a ___________________________________.
1:10 Onesimus had become Paul's
spiritual son while he was in ______________________________.
1:11 Had Onesimus been a good
slave or a bad slave?
_____________________________
1:13 But Paul had changed his
attitude and wanted to keep Onesimus with him so he could ____________________
him.
1:14 Though Onesimus was now
out of the territory of Asia and possibly Philemon's jurisdiction, and though
Philemon would not have known where Onesimus was if Paul hadn't told him, Paul
didn't want to do anything without his _____________________.
1:15 This verse indicates
Onesimus might have run away before.
1:16 Paul asked Philemon to
welcome Onesimus back, not just as a slave, but also as a dear
_____________________________.
1:18 Paul said he would pay
back what Onesimus owed, even though Philemon could never pay back what he owed
Paul - his very _____________________________.