by
Keith Hunt
FROM THE NKJV PERSONAL STUDY EDITION, Thomas Nelson
Quote:
The Book of Colossians is closely related to the books of
Ephesians and Philemon. It was written at the same time as
Philemon, and both were delivered by Tychicus and
Onesimus.
Colossians was probably written before Ephesians, with which it
shares main ideas and a general outline. Ephesians seems to
expand some of the key ideas of Colossians.
AUTHOR AND DATE
Paul wrote this epistle from prison, as he did Ephesians
Philippians, and Philemon. Most scholars believe this was during
his first imprisonment in Rome (Acts 28:16-31).
Colossians was probably written about A.D.62, not long before
Paul's release.
BACKGROUND
Colossae was located on the south bank of the Lycus River new
Laodicea and Hierapolis in western Asia Minor. It lay about a
hundred miles (160 km) east of Ephesus on the important trade
route between Ephesus and the Euphrates Valley. Trade brought
people there from many nations.
Paul had never visited Colossae, but the gospel had been preached
there, as well as in Laodicea and Hierapolis, while he was in
Ephesus. The message had been carried to Colossae by Epaphras and
others, who were converted under Paul's preaching. Only five
years after leaving Ephesus the apostle found himself a prisoner
in Rome. He was visited in prison by Epaphras, leader of the
church in Colossae, who told him of a doctrinal problem there.
This caused Paul to write the letter now called Colossians.
PURPOSE
This epistle was written primarily to deal with the doctrinal
heresy reported by Epaphras.
This strange false doctrine is not described directly, but we can
infer its nature from what Paul says. It was ... some early form
of Gnosticism which taught that Jesus was superhuman, but not
truly God. He was greater than human beings, but not great enough
to be the Savior. Thus those who believe in Christ must also go
through angels to get to the deeper levels of spirituality. In
response, Paul wrote that Christ is "all and in all" (3:11). He
created all things (1:16). He is all we need. Paul does not deal
harshly with these Christians who have been misled, but he makes
it clear that Christ is above all beings ever created. He is our
only hope of salvation....
The apostle does not directly argue with the Colossians about
their false doctrines! Rather, beginning in the first chapter, he
builds a positive case for the Christian truth in order to show
them the futility of their ideas.
CONTENT
The epistle has the same general form as Paul's other letters,
beginning with greetings (1:1,2) and closing with the mention of
persons known in the church to which he is writing (4:7-18). In
the main body of this letter we have Paul's usual doctrinal
discussion (1:3-3:4) followed by the ethical application
(3:5-4:6).
Colossians touches on important aspects of the Christian faith.
In 1:13-18 is one of the Bible's greatest descriptions of the
glory and power of Christ. He is the center of the universe, as
well as head of the church. In 2:1-3:4 Paul gives a model
approach in dealing with false teaching: we should seek to help
people rather than to win arguments. In 3:5-4:6 is a strong
contrast between the unbeliever and the person transformed by
Christ. This book will well repay our prayerful study.
OUTLINE OF COLOSSIANS
1. Salutation ... 1:1,2
2. A prayer for the Colossians ... 1:3-12
A. Thanksgiving for their faith ... 1:3-8
B. Petition for their growth ... 1:9-12
3. The preeminence of Christ ... 1:13-29
A. The supremacy of Christ ... 1:13-18
B. Reconciliation through Christ ... 1:19-23
C. Ministry for Christ ... 1:24-29
4. False teaching denounced ... 2:1-3:4
A. Not human philosophy but Christ ... 2:1-10
B. In Christ we are saved ... 2:11-15
C. Not legalism but Christ ... 2:16-3:4
5. The new life in Christ ... 3:5-4:6
A. The old way and the new ... 3:517
1. The character of the old man ... 3:5-11
2. The character of the new man ... 3:12-17
B. New Christian relationships ... 3:18-4:1
C. The new way of living ... 4:2-6
6. Personal greetings ... 4:7-15
7. Closing exhortations and blessing ... 4:16-18
End quote
Very few people really understand what and why Paul wrote in
his second chapter of this fine epistle. I shall spend some time
expounding this chapter when we get there.
CHAPTER 1:1-8
Paul give thanks to God for the faith shown by the
Christians at Colossae. They had been faithful since the day they
heard the Gospel. There is great hope laid up for them in heaven.
Paul does not say they will go to heaven when they die, or go
back to heaven with Jesus when He returns. He simply tells them
there is hope laid up in heaven.
Of course anyone who is in the Father and in Christ has this hope
of eternal life in heaven. Jesus is the resurrection to life
eternal. If we are in HIM, who is in heaven, at the Father's
right hand, then when He returns those in Him will be raised to
life from death or changed from moral to immortal, in the twinkle
of an eye.
All this we have seen in some detail in other parts of this
New Testament Bible Story.
VERSES 9-14
Because of their faith Paul says he and other never cease to
remember them in their prayers, and included in those prayers are
petitions that they will be filled with the knowledge of the
Father's will, spiritual wisdom, spiritual understanding, so they
might walk worthy of the Lord, being fruitful and increasing in
the knowledge of God.
As Christians we are to be ever moving forward in all those
directions, ever growing in grace and knowledge, as Peter put it
in his epistle. It is one of the hardest things for a human being
to do, and that is to admit errors, mistakes, sins, be it in
body, mind, or spiritual theology concerning God and His will,
ways, and teachings, as given to us in His Holy Word the Bible.
When we first receive Christ as our personal Savior, we are just
beginning on the spiritual road to know and understand God. We
are as Paul wrote elsewhere, only babes in Christ. From that
point on we must feed and drink the milk of God's Word and yield
to the guiding power of the Spirit of God. Jesus did promise that
when the Spirit came it would guide us into all truth, but God
does not give all truth at one time. We must be ever willing to
be taught and led into truth until the very end of our lives.
Paul prayed that they would remain firm and steadfast to the
end, and that they would remember and give thanks to God for
their calling to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints of
light. For it was God who had even NOW in this physical life
moved us, translated us, brought us from the darkness of the
world into the very Kingdom of His Son. Who through His blood we
have redemption, even the forgiveness of our sins.
We have seen in previous chapters that there is a coming
Kingdom of God to be literally set up on this earth, when Jesus
literally returns to live again on this planet. Many Old
Testament prophetic books tell us about this future Kingdom of
God on earth. It is mentioned and explained over and over again
in dozens of passages in the prophetic books. But we should not
fail to see that the New Testament teaches that even now in
this present flesh and blood body, as children of the Father, we
are already in that Kingdom of Christ. We have been moved out of
the darkness of sin and death, into the light and truth of
Christ's Kingdom.
VERSES 15-23
Still talking of Jesus Paul shows that He is the very image
of the Father, He is the FIRSTBORN from the DEAD. He has
PRE-EMINENCE in ALL things, and that does include physical death
to immortal life in glory. Moses was not the first to gain
eternal life in glory! Elijah was not the first to receive
glorified eternal life! Neither was it Enoch, or David, or
Samuel, or any other human man or woman you want to mention. It
was Jesus Christ who was the VERY FIRST human to gain glorified
eternal life!!
Paul is plain in saying that this person we know as Jesus
Christ, was BEFORE all things, existed before there was any
physical universe or even angelic beings. He was BEFORE ALL
THINGS, and in fact it was THROUGH HIM, that all things came into
existence. He, was the member of the Godhead that did the
creating. God the Father wanted it, but it was Jesus in eternal
God form, who did the work of creating.
And they should remember that it was the Father's pleasure
to bring them and all others to reconciliation through the cross
of Christ. People can be forgiven their sins, the evil, the
errors, the wicked ways of body and mind, through the death of
Jesus on the cross. And this is done for the purpose of making
those forgiven of their sins, to be holy and unblamable in His,
the Father's sight.
Yet all this must continue, the believer must continue in
the faith, grounded and settled, fastened securely, and never
moved away from the hope of the Gospel, which is being preached
to all mankind, Paul saying that he was one of the instruments
God was using in preaching that Gospel to all peoples and
nations.
VERSES 24-29
Paul's mind for a moment focusses on himself being a called
minister to preach the Gospel, to help fulfil the will and work
of God. His mind goes to the great truths of God now being
preached, that in detail had been for centuries actually hidden
from the world. It was now in some detail and with a brighter
light being revealed to all the saints of God. And the largest
truth of all God's mysteries, was the truth that with Jesus
Christ IN the saints, DWELLING in them, through the Spirit, there
was the sure promise of the hope of GLORY - eternal glorified
life, just as Jesus had received when He remained faithful to the
Father, even unto death, and was then resurrected to GLORIFIED
ETERNAL LIFE!
Paul ends this section by realizing what a huge
responsibility was given to him and to others so called of God,
to preach the Gospel. There was a WARNING in the massage, and
there was spiritual WISDOM, all for the end result that those in
Christ should be perfect and mature.
Once again Paul ends up back where he started ... back to
the thoughts of verses 9-14. Growing in grace and knowledge,
moving forward in spiritual growth, remaining faithful and so
becoming more like Jesus Christ all the time.
Paul tells them in closing this chapter, that he was a
faithful worker in the Lord, for it was God who was mightily
working through him.
CHAPTER 2
VERSES 1-6
Paul has admitted that they are strong in the faith, but he
tells them he has great pain and discomfort. Though he is absent
from them in a physical way, he is present with them in a spirit
way, and he then beholds their order and steadfastness of the
true faith of Christ. He tells them it is only through God and
christ that true treasures and wisdom of knowledge can come. He
is confident they have the correct hold of things, but yet he
knows there are those in their midst who can use cunning and
enticing words of deceit, to beguile and lead them away from the
truth they received and held fast to when they heard the Gospel
preached.
Paul encourages them to stay with Christ, to walk with Him,
to let Him live in them. If they look to how Christ lived and
walked, while on earth, if they have their roots in Him, they
will be established in the true faith, and will abound in the way
they were taught. They will have thanksgiving as it really is,
with the true way of Christ Jesus the Lord.
VERSES 8-15
Now Paul starts to get to the main problem the Christians
were encountering at Colossae. Verse 8 is a key verse. There were
men among them who were using the slight of hand of "philosophy"
- "vain deceit" - AFTER ... notice it "the TRADITIONS of MEN,
after the elements of the WORLD, and NOT after Christ.
Staying with Christ, how He lived and what He did in word
and action and observances, one can NEVER go wrong. But as soon
as you allow the "traditions" and "elements" of men and the world
to enter, then you are on a slippery path to the ditch of
spiritual destruction. It is Christ that is the complete answer,
in Him is the fullness of the Godhead. Listening to the ideas of
men, who want to follow the traditions of men and elements of the
unconverted world, is a sure way NOT to follow Christ.
Paul gives emphasis that it is Christ they need to look as
to how to live their lives, in all actions, thoughts, and in what
they observe. He reminds them that they are circumcised with the
true circumcision that is the putting away of sins of the flesh,
through Christ. They have had the baptism which is in Christ, and
have risen through faith from sure death to life, by the
forgiveness of those sins. All our sins as it were, were
written down on paper like a legal document, for all to see that
we were sinners and so had come under the penalty of sin - death.
This document of our sins stood against us, to condemned us, it
proved we were sinners, hence worthy of the judgment of sins -
the penalty of sins - death. But Jesus came along and said He
would take our sins upon Himself and die on the cross for us. He
had His blood shed in dying for us, in our stead, and it was as
if His blood was taken and thrown all over that document of our
sins, hence blotting our those sins. They could no longer be
found on that legal document, for blood had covered them all. No
one could read or see any of our sins listed on that paper.
This was God's answer to all those legal documents of the
sins of all people - the blood of Christ blotted them out and
away. There was indeed great TRIUMPH for God. It was shown to all
the universe in an open way when all the universe could see Jesus
dying on the cross, shedding His blood for all sinners and all
sins ever committed by any human. God and Jesus triumphed over
the evil fallen angels and powers of darkness of Satan and the
way of sin.
VERSES 16-23
"Let no man" - which no man? Was Paul telling them to NOT
follow him and others who had preached the true Gospel to them?
This can hardly be the case when we consider what Paul had
already said to the Christians at Colossae. The CONTEXT would
clearly show it was the men of verse 8 that Paul was speaking
about - the clever philosophic talkers who wanted to follow the
traditions of men and the elements of the world. It was THESE MEN
who Paul said should NOT judge, or govern, or decide this or
that way of living, for true Christians. Christians should never
let those who still wanted to cling to the ways of men and the
ways of the deceived world, even if cloaked in some "mystic"
religion of the world that looked "religious" or pious or
theologically sanctimonious (verses 18-23), but were still bottom
line, after the commandments and doctrines of men and not God
(verse 22).
Verse 16 and "Let no man judge you" should be joined with
"but the body of Christ" at the end of verse 17. What is between
is parenthetical. Paul often wrote with parenthetical thoughts,
as most scholars who have seriously studied how Paul wrote
know. This is one of those parenthetical thoughts. The word "is"
in verse 17, is NOT in the Greek. The whole complete sense is
"Let no man judge you, but the body of Christ." As Paul wrote
elsewhere, the body of Christ is the CHURCH of Christ. There is
correct judgement in the body of Christ (a classic example is 1
Corinthians 5). The body of Christ, does have the right to judge
matters as Paul shows in 1 Corinthians 6.
The Christian Colossians had received the truth of the
Gospel. They had been slaves to sin and the traditions and
elements of the world. They had been Gentiles in the main,
following traditions of Sunday worship, Eater worship, Christmas
worship, and a whole host of other traditions NOT FOUND in the
Word of God. They had followed mystic religions, spiritual angel
worship religions, outward forms of what looked like pious
theology (like cutting yourself, or walking a mile on your knees
to a god's throne), or not eating chocolate bars during the
"lent" season (putting it in modern terms). They had followed
this or that idea and commandment of MEN, from whatever crazy
imagination men thought up as a way to worship his gods, which
were and still are, many.
Then the Colossae Christians found the true way of the true
God, and in reading and studying that way in God's Word, they
discovered God's weekly Sabbath, God's festivals, God's calendar
and when the new month start. They now got in harmony with
the Father's true customs and observances, which DO HAVE A
MEANING FOR WHAT IS YET TO COME, they do have a SHADOW that is
cast forth that leads you back (follow the shadow) to the ways
and teachings and plans of the true God.
Then after getting in harmony with the true ways of the true
God, here come along these men with vain deceit and philosophical
talk, based on religious falsehoods of the traditions and
elements of the world, which had an outward look of pious
worship, with a physical element of the body (like the giving up
of candy or wine or pizza, during the "lent" season), who were
judging the Colossae Christians, and telling them they needed
to worship THEIR way, with their commandments, doctrines, and NOT
to look into the Bible to see how and in what way they should
live, think, act, and certainly NOT to observe the only festivals
that can be called God's festivals as found in Leviticus 23.
Paul very plainly tells the Colossae Christians NOT to
follow such deceitful talk by those men of the world, who follow
the commandments of men, traditions of men and elements of the
darkened world. They are to follow Christ. They can NEVER GO
WRONG if they follow Christ. And Christ DID observe the Sabbath
and Festivals of the Lord as found and proclaimed in Leviticus
23.
..................
TO BE CONTINUED
February 2005
DOES COLOSSIANS
2:16 abolish the
FEASTS of GOD?by Keith Hunt
Many a man down through the ages - some famous, some not
famous and some infamous - have tried reading the Bible, but
ended up rejecting it as coming from an all powerful God. These
individuals were stunned by the Bibles seemingly contradictions.
"This book" they said, "can not possibly be inspired for it
contains dozens of contradictions." And at first glance they
would seem to be right. Some Biblical scholars on seeing this
predicament have written whole books to answer the sceptics
concerning these contradictions. These Biblical scholars knew
that Jesus had said, "The Scripture cannot he broken'." God did
not contradict Himself in His word. They knew that for every
seeming contradiction there had to be a logical and harmonious
answer.
For those outside the "church" to be sceptical of how the
Bible is written is one thing, and we should expect to find this.
But it has never ceased to be of amazement to me when some
Biblical scholars, ministers and lay people also believe, by what
they say and write, that the Bible contradicts itself ! And what
is even worse - they seem to be quite happy with that belief and
make no attempt to untangle their mind.
One of these seeming contradictions of the Bible concerns
verse 16 of Colossians chapter 2.
It is said by the apostle Peter that one reason Jesus came
to this earth was to leave "us an example, that you should
follower His steps: Who did not sin" ( 1 Pet. 2: 21, 22 ). The
apostle John wrote, "He that says he abides in Him ought himself
also so to walk, even as He walked" (1 John 2:6).
Now those verses are quite plain I think - it doesn't take a
degree in a theological school to understand them. All we have to
do is look in the four Gospels and see HOW Jesus lived - what HE
taught, commanded and observed - and follow after Him - walk as
He walked. But here's where the problems start for some. You see
most have thought that Paul was telling the Jews and Gentiles at
Colossae (in chap.2:16) through his letter that those old laws in
the Old Covenant about eating and drinking, the 7th day Sabbath,
the New Month days and the Feasts, were now ABOLISHED (no longer
had to keep them) when one became a Christian.
Ahhhhhhhh, but didn't Peter say Christ came to set us an
example for us to follow? Jesus kept the "eating and drinking"
laws - He kept the weekly Sabbath - He kept the Feasts of
Leviticus 23. Jesus did not teach these things would no longer
need to be observed after His death. He said nothing
about.........abolishment of the things listed by Paul in verse
16.
In fact the opposite is the case. Look at what He said in
Mat.5:17-20. He first tells His disciples NOT to think He has
come to abolish the law (first five books) then notice
one of His plain teachings in verse 19, "Whosoever therefore
shall break one of these least commandments, AND shall teach men
so (to break what they think is the least commandments) he shall
be called the least in the Kingdom of heaven (doesn't say he'll
be in the Kingdom), BUT whosoever shall do and teach them, the
same shall be called great in the Kingdom of heaven. FOR..."
notice this, verse 20, "For I say unto you, that except your
righteousness(see Ps.119:172) shall exceed the righteousness of
the scribes and Pharisees, you shall in no case enter into the
Kingdom of heaven." The scribes and Pharisees kept the laws of
Col.2:16 externally at least.
So to many Paul contradicted Jesus - he taught differently
than Jesus - he changed the teachings of Jesus. But is that
REALLY SO?
PAUL CONTRADICTS HIMSELF?
Not only do some think that Paul contradicted Jesus but that
Paul contradicted Paul. He tells the Jewish/Gentile church at
Rome (according to many) that they can choose their own days to
keep holy to God, and the Lord will accept them - Rom.14.
Now surely some - even some Gentiles - would have chosen the 7th
day Sabbath and the feast of Pentecost or day of Trumpets, as
would have some Jewish Christians. Paul teaches it would seem to
many here - FREEDOM! Yet, to the Jews and Gentiles at Colossae he
calls them out and instructs them to not let people teach them to
observe the ways of eating and drinking, the weekly Sabbath, new
month days and Feasts. At least many claim Paul is teaching this
to the Colossians.
With all this seeming to be, contradictory teachings of
Paul, what do we find in the book of Acts on how Paul LIVED and
the FEASTS he observed? Why we fined he kept the 7th day Sabbath
- he kept the Passover (but the NT way as instituted by Christ) -
he kept the feast of Pentecost.
In fact Paul did nothing that his Jewish Pharisaical enemies
could accuse him in breaking the laws of God, see Acts chapters
22 through 26.
Some claim Paul was a Christian Jew and as such it was okay
for him to still keep his Jewish heritage by observing the
Sabbath and Feasts, but the Gentiles did not have to do this, or
they could observe the 1st day of the week and different
festivals other than those found in Leviticus 23.
With this reasoning, let's ask some questions. A Jew that
accepts Jesus as the Messiah - does he stop keeping the 7th day
and start keeping the 1st day? Does he continue to keep the 7th
day because it is national heritage and also start observing the
1st day as the Christian Sabbath? Or does he not observe either
the 7th or 1st day but can choose another as Romans 14 would
suggest he can do, according to how some interpret this section
of scripture.
Does the Gentile have to keep Sunday as the NT "Lord's day"
? If so - what then is Romans 14 teaching? Does God have the 7th
day for Jews and the 1st day for Gentiles?
Does God have one set of Feasts for the Jewish Christians
and another set of Feasts for the Gentile Christians? What does a
person do if they are half Jew and half Gentile blood? And how
does Romans 14 apply to all this? Does God have different ways
of salvation for different people?
It is not the purpose of this article to explain what Paul
is teaching in Romans 14 - I have another article which does that
- all I will say here is that the "days" of Romans 14 have
nothing to do with Sabbaths or Feasts of God as found in the Old
Testament.
No Paul never contradicted himself either in what he taught
or practiced.
Now let's get to what Paul was teaching the church in
Colossians chapter 2.
THE CONTEXT OF COL.2:16
Even the mightily inspired apostle Peter had to admit that
some things Paul wrote were "...hard to be understood" and he
went on to say that those who were unlearned AND unstable did
wrest unto their own destruction (2 Pet.3:16). The reason why so
many have trouble with Paul's writings is because they will not
look at the context of verses like Col.2:16 and the context of
Paul's life as recorded in the book of Acts. Too many want
to isolate a statement by Paul from the verses around that
statement and from other words of his in other letters. They read
Paul with what we call "tunnel vision" or with blinders (like
some horses wear over their eyes when racing) over their eyes so
they do not see all Paul wrote.
First, let's notice the basic spiritual condition that the
people to whom Paul was writing were in. They had faith in Christ
and love for all saints (chap.1 v.4). They had been alienated
from Christ by the way they had lived but were now reconciled
(v.21). Paul took pleasure in their order and steadfastness of
faith in Christ (chap.2:5). They had been baptized (v.11-12). And
their sins had been blotted out (v.13-14).
Secondly, we need to see the apprehension and fear that Paul
held for them and WHY. Paul wanted them to have full assurance of
understanding(v.2). He was concerned about them being led astray
by men with enticing words (v.4). He wanted them to WALK
in the way of Jesus (we have seen Peter said to do the same -
Jesus kept the Sabbath and Feasts of Lev.23) - see v.6. Paul
warns them about men preaching deceit, wrong philosophies,
teachings of the world, and ideas of men - that were opposed to
Christ's teachings (v.8). He warns them against people who were
entrapped in worshipping the spirit world, teaching observance to
the physical, from man's commandments, and asceticism (v.18-23).
He warns them about all this, the ways of the unconverted
and deceived religious world of various false dogmas.
With that background we can now start to understand what
Paul is warning the Colossian church about. Here was a people who
had been taught the gospel, had been shown the way and teachings
of Jesus - they had come to recognize they were sinners in need
of forgiveness - they had accepted Christ as Messiah and Savior -
they had been baptized, had their sins and debt of death removed.
They were now walking after Christ - living as He lived -
practicing things as He practiced them. Then Paul gets word that
sinister evil men were trying to shake and destroy their faith
and walk with Jesus, by enticing them with many traditions,
philosophies, doctrines, commandments of men and asceticism.
These men are falsely telling them about how they have had
contact with the spirit world. They are preaching to the
Colossians that they have the spiritual truths not Epaphras their
minister. These beguiling men are saying to those who will
listen, that to follow this Christ and walk as He walked is
foolishness, and that they have the correct traditions, customs,
worship and commandments.
Try to put yourself in the picture. You were a part of a
false pagan or religious society - doing things contrary to the
ways of Christ. Along comes a minister of Jesus and expounds the
saving truth to you - and you see your sins - you see that what
you have been believing and practicing have been the
philosophies, traditions and commandments of MEN. You see you are
a sinner in need of forgiveness - you see Jesus is the savior
- you repent and are baptized - you start to live as He lived,
walk as He walked. Your former friends and philosophical leaders
see they no longer have any influence over you pertaining to your
spiritual life. They do not understand your new faith - they
think what you are now doing is crazy!! Then they make every
effort to entice you back into their world and their man made
concepts and traditions.
SO IT WAS FOR THE CONVERTS TO CHRIST AT COLOSSAE!
These converts to Jesus at Colossae had been in sin - but
now are forgiver by the death of Christ on the stake. They now
have repented or their old former way of life, and are now
walking as Jesus walked - they are obeying God's laws concerning
eating and drinking - they are keeping as Jesus kept, the
festivals that God says are "my feasts" (Lev.23:1). Many are now
observing the 7th day Sabbath as God commanded in the fourth of
His 10 commandments (Ex.20). These followers of Jesus now observe
the Jewish calendar and honor the new month days set by that
calendar, together with the yearly Festivals as outlined in the
books of Moses. Then after they start to live this way - the way
Christ lived - along came men trying to criticize, sit in
judgment, and govern them back into their man made, philosophies,
commandments and traditions.
Paul admonishes the Colossian church, "Let no man therefore
judge you..."
What does Paul mean by "no man"? Is he saying that their
minister should not guide and govern them into God's way and
truth? Does he mean that he Paul should not lead and guide them
into the truth of Christ? Does the body of Christ - the church -
have no leadership, guidance, or government among itself? Of
course it does! See 1 Cor. 5 and 6:1-8.
Paul is telling the Colossian Christians that they should
let no man of these ENTICING, BEGUILING, vain, fleshly minded men
of the world govern or sit in judgment over them concerning the
way they now eat and drink, and the festivals they now observe.
No PART of this way of life is to be governed by the outside
people of this world who reject Christ, or who make up their own
rules of religion for their spirit worship of the unseen.
The Colossians are not to be governed by the fleshly
unconverted minds of men in regards as to "...eating and
drinking(as the Greek is), in regards festivals, new months
or sabbaths." The day to day eating and drinking habits, the
yearly, monthly, and weekly festivals, that God's people follow
should not be influenced, determined or governed by the
philosophies, traditions, doctrines and commandments of men who
would entice them from walking in Christ Jesus.
Now notice verse 17. Did Paul teach and believe the physical
laws of eating and drinking were "done away"? Did he believe the
Festivals, new month days, the weekly Sabbaths of God were "done
away"?
Look at what he says regarding these, "Which ARE" present
tense in the Greek - "Which ARE (not were) a shadow of things to
come..."
A shadow leads to the reality! A shadow of a man appearing
around a corner will lead you to the man.
So it is with all of God's yearly, monthly and weekly
festivals - they have GREAT MEANING about "things to come."
The Passover lamb was slain on the 14th of Nisan - Jesus as
the reality of the shadow was slain on the Passover day as the
true Lamb of God. The Passover festival was a shadow of things to
come.
The feast of Firstfruits(Pentecost) was a shadow of things
to come - the outpouring of God's Holy Spirit came on that
precise day (Acts 2).
The feast of Trumpets is a shadow of the coming last trump
when Jesus will return to earth. All the weekly, monthly, and
yearly festivals are a "shadow of things to come." They ARE,
presently, today, continually a constant reminder of the
wonderful plan of God for this earth and the people on it.
If the Christian world had continued to observe God's
festivals they would not be in confusion today as to what is the
plan of Salvation that the Lord has for mankind.
....BUT THE BODY OF CHRIST?
This phrase of Paul's has also been misused, abused, and not
understood but by a few. It is claimed that Paul was telling the
Colossians that laws to do with eating and drinking, festivals
and sabbaths were not important - were "done away" - only
accepting Jesus as the Messiah and Savior was now important. Just
"give your heart to the Lord brother," just "come as you are,"
the law is "done away and it's only grace today" is what
many teach that Paul is basically saying here in verse 17.
Nothing could be further from the truth!
In the inspired original Greek that the New Testament was
written in, the little word "is" can not be found - it is not
there. This phrase should read, "but the body of Christ"
and that puts a whole different light on this passage. The word
"but" is a connecting word, and what most miss is WHERE it is
connecting. It is connecting with the thought of verse 16 - the
phrase, "Let no man therefore judge you." Put these two phrases
together and you have Paul's complete thought and statement with
a parenthetical thought inbetween.
So Paul's complete statement should be, "Let no man
therefore judge you(parenthetical thought)but the body of
Christ." The Greek contained no punctuation whatsoever. Today we
would write verses 16 and 17 like this, "Let no man therefore
judge you(in eating and drinking, or observance of a festival, or
new month, or sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come)but
the body of Christ."
The "body of Christ" are the collective remembers of the
church. This can be seen from the following verses of scripture:
1 Cor.6 15; Rom.12:5; 1 Cor.12:12-27. It is the church of Jesus
Christ through the Holy Spirit and the Ministry that God has
established (Eph.4:11 12) that is to govern and guide the church
as a whole in matters of Christian living and observance of
Festivals, not those outside the church with their various ways
of a so-called spirituality, based upon "the way that seems right
unto man but which ends in death."
Certain individuals were endeavoring to get the followers of
Christ at Colossae into observing man made food and drink
commandments (i.e. touch not, taste not, handle not - give up
something during the Lent season. Or, do not eat fish on Friday)
as well as their festive traditions (i.e. pagan Easter, Xmas,
January lst and the Roman-Greek calendar), philosophical
teachings, humanism, bodily flagellation (they still walk on
their blood covered knees while reciting prayers to the altar, in
some parts of the world) and spirit (angel-demon) worship. They
wanted the Christians to give up following the physical and
festival laws of the Hebrew God and reject Jesus as the Savior
from sin. Paul tells the Colossian church to pay no attention to
these fleshly minded men, but to let the body of Christ - the
church - be their light and guardian over the things they were
NOW ALREADY practicing (in the way of eating, drinking,
festivals and sabbaths) as they walked in Christ.
Contrary to the popular teaching or Colossians 2:16 this
section of scripture is one of the greatest proofs in the New
Testament that the Jewish and Gentile converts to Christianity
continued to observe not only the physical laws of God, but also
the weekly Sabbath, the new month days(Hebrew calendar as
governed by the Jewish authorities) and the Festivals of the Lord
as outlined in Leviticus 23.
.............
Foot note
I've purposely stayed away from getting too technically
scholastic with the Greek in this presentation, while at the same
time bringing out what the Greek means. I do not believe
God's children need a degree in NT Greek to understand what Paul
is teaching in this part of his letter to the Colossae church. It
is really quite plain to see from the whole context. For those
who could desire a somewhat more technical presentation of this
passage I refer you to the scholastic book FROM SABBATH TO SUNDAY
by Dr. Samuele Bacchiocchi (4569 Lisa Lane, Berries Springs,
Michigan 49103 USA). Dr. Bacchiocchi has another way to explain
this section of Paul's letter. While I personally do not agree
with his explanation, it does still agree with the truth I have
presented here - namely that the Christians (Jews-Gentile) of the
first century A.D. continued to observe the Sabbath and Feasts of
God as established in the Old Testament.
...................
Written May 1987
by
Keith Hunt
  Chapter Eighty-five:Epistle of Colossians - Part two
by
Keith Hunt
CHAPTER THREE
In combatting the false philosophers and teachers of the
commandments and traditions of men that had come among the
Christian Colossians, Paul goes on in chapter three point them to
the SURE way of remaining "on track" as we say - and that way is
to follow Christ. Jesus observed the weekly Sabbath, and the
Festivals of Leviticus 23, as well as agree with the Jews having
authority over the calendar and WHEN those festivals should be
observed. Paul tells the colossians to seek those things that are
from above, that are of Christ, who now sits on the right hand of
the Father in heaven. They were to set their minds, thoughts,
actions, on the Godly things above, approved and commanded of
God, and not men's commandments.
We have many things today in the popular form of
Christianity that are inventions and traditions of men. Christmas
observance did not even come into the large Roman Catholic church
until the FOURTH century A.D. Easter observance was much earlier
but even that did not take full root until well into the SECOND
and THIRD century A.D. Then we have Halloween (yes, even that
open pagan festival is observed by many churches and their
members) which does not hide the fact that it is all about
witches and demons and black-magic, the "other world" of the dark
evil forces of spirit beings. If one reads the book "Christian
Feasts and Customs" by the Catholic writer Francis Weiser
(probably your public library with have it or can obtain it for
you through their inter-loan department), one will clearly see
MANY MORE customs of Christianity that are far from "the things
above" and what is truly ordained and sanctioned by our heavenly
Father above.
We need to be doing the will of Christ and the Father
because that is ONE important reason as to why we died with
Christ through the ritual of water baptism. We covered in some
detail all of the great meaning of water baptism when we studied
Romans chapter six. We are in SAFE keeping spiritually, if our
life is with Christ. Then God the Father is well pleased with us,
and as Paul says in verse 4, when Jesus shall appear in His
glorious second coming to live on earth, we shall assure
ourselves of being in that resurrection that happens when He does
come again. we shall also be glorified and be like Him (see 1
John 3:1-3).
Meditating on the mind-bending glory of all that, makes the
effort to do God's will and not man's will, all the easier. It
may sometimes seem hard to serve God in spirit and in truth in
our earthy lives, for we have to buck against so much of the
world's ways, thoughts, attitude, and wrong ways of living and
wrong observances of what man thinks is "religious" - but in the
picture of ALL ETERNITY in glory (that can hardly be imagined
by the human mind), it is well worth the effort to fully obey and
serve our heavenly Father and our elder brother Christ Jesus.
Starting in verse 5, Paul tells us to kill all the evil
parts of our human nature. The section is so powerful it is worth
the full disclosure as given in the Amplified Bible:
"So kill (deaden, deprive of power) the evil desire lurking
in your members (those animal impulses and all that is
earthly in you that is employed in sin): sexual vice,
impurity, sensual appetites, unholy desires, and all greed
and covetousness, for that is idolatry (the deifying of self
and other created things instead of God). It is on account
of these (very sins) that the (holy) anger of God is ever
coming upon the sons of disobedience (those who are
obstinately opposed to the divine will). Among whom you also
walked, when you were living in and dedicated to (such
practices).
But now put away and rid yourself (completely) of all these
things: anger, rage, bad feeling towards others, curses and
slander, and foulmouthed abuse and shameful utterances from
your lips! Do not lie to one another, for you have stripped
off the old (unregenerate) self with its evil practices. And
have clothed yourselves with the new (spiritual self), which
is (ever in the process of being) renewed and remolded into
(fuller and more perfect knowledge upon) knowledge after the
image (the likeness) of Him Who created it (Gen.1:26).
(In this new creation all distinctions vanish). There is no
room for and there can be neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised
nor uncircumcised, (nor differences between nations whether
alien) barbarians or Sythians (who are the most savage of
all), nor slave or free man; but Christ is all and in all
(everything and everywhere, to all men, without distinction
of person).
Clothe yourselves therefore, as God's own chosen ones (His
own picked representatives), [who are] purified and holy and
well-beloved (by God Himself, by putting on behavior marked
by) tender-hearted pity and mercy, kind feeling, a lowly
opinion of yourselves, gentle ways, (and) patience (which is
tireless and longsuffering, and has the power to endure
whatever comes, with good temper). Be gentle and forbearing
with one another and, if one has a difference (a grievance
or complaint) against another, readily pardoning each other;
even as the Lord has (freely)forgiven you, so must you also
(forgive).
And above all these things (put on) love and enfold
yourselves with the bond of perfectness (which binds
everything together completely in ideal harmony).
And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ
rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts (deciding
and settling with finality all questions that arise in your
minds, in that peaceful state) to which as (members of
Christ's) one body you were also called (to live). And be
thankful (appreciative), [giving praise to God always].
Let the word (spoken by) Christ (the Messiah) have its home
(in your hearts and minds) and dwell in you in (all its)
richness, as you teach and admonish and train one another in
all insight and intelligence and wisdom (in spiritual
things, and as you sing) psalms and hymns and spiritual
songs, making melody with God with (His) grace in your
hearts. And whatever you do (no matter what it is) in word
or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus and in
(dependence upon) His Person, giving praise to God the
Father through Him."
What a pregnant passage of Scripture, in many ways it is the
sum total of what a Christian is all about, or certainly should
be all about in thoughts, words, and actions.
We do need to realize that when Paul said there is in Christ
no Jew or Greek, no free or slave, no circumcised or
uncircumcised, he is speaking of the SPIRITUAL life in
Christ Jesus. Paul did not mean to say that a Greek should run
out and do whatever was needed in a physical way to become
UN-Greek, and so likewise the Jew should not take off as swift as
the eagle and try to become a none Jew in the physical state of
things.
After all if you are born a Jew how do you become a none
Jew? If you are born as a white or black American, how do you
become a none white or black American? Paul was not talking about
denouncing your citizenship, trying to erase where you were born,
or changing the color of your skin. You cannot really change
where you were born, nor can you become a neutral in the color of
your skin (what would be neutral color anyway?). If you are
circumcised you should not try to become un-circumcised (and
believe it or not there are groups of men who have devised long
and unpleasant ways to try and regain their foreskin on their
penis).
Paul was simply saying that on the spiritual platform of
God's grace and calling, every person is equal, one color or race
or physical form of mankind, has no extra brownie points with
God, just because they have that physical form or color or were
born into a certain race or nationality. And think of it, what a
blessing it is that way with God.
If God took into consideration our looks, form of body,
color of skin, and what part of the world we came from, then
millions would be "out of luck" with God, from a physical point
that is. But fortunately our heavenly Father does not look on
appearance but the heart, our inner being, and with the help of
the Holy Spirit we are constantly being renewed each day, to be
more spiritually mature and ever more like our brother Christ
Jesus.
From verse 18 through to the end of this chapter three, Paul
speaks about certain types of physical relationships, we all have
some part in, one way or the other.
From the Amplified Bible:
"Wives, be subject to your husbands (subordinate and adapt
yourself to them), AS IS RIGHT and fitting and you proper
duty IN the Lord."
I give emphasis to certain words. First, it is right and
proper for wives to be under the leadership and guidance of their
husbands. I know this is not the "politically correct" teaching
and mind-set of the present western world's idea in the thoughts
of most of its women. But then the western world has by and large
disregarded God and throw His word and teachings and commandment,
out the window. But here, if you do believe in God and do want to
follow His ways and His instructions, then these words are
straight-for-word enough. It does not take a college degree to
understand them.
Secondly, you will notice carefully, "as is right" and "in
the Lord." Which simply means a wife obeys God FIRST, you submit
and adapt (I like that word "adapt" - look it up in a dictionary
- meditate on it, think about it all, and think about what ways
you may have to adapt to your husband) AS LONG AS it is correct
and righteous to do so, so you do NOT have to disobey God. That
is the key here. Wives CAN DO many things, in actions, words, and
how to be "in sink" as we say, with their husbands, WITHOUT it
having to be contrary to any command of the Lord, or contrary to
the basics of His way of life.
There are times in any couple's marriage where someone has
to make the final decision on something or other that effects
both partners and their whole family, if they have children. I am
not talking about life or death matters, but things in everyday
life, where it may be quite possible to go in two or more
directions, but trying to go in two or more directions would only
being confusion and chaos.
There are things and times when a woman has the opportunity
to just want to please her husband, like wearing a certain dress
he particularly likes, for a certain special dinner or outing or
event.
Yes, there will be many times when a wife can be subordinate
and can adapt to her husband, all in the correct manner and all
still being within the law and general way of life that is
pleasing to God. The Lord has given us MANY things that we can be
different upon, yet all still be part of His family. We do not
all have to wear the same type of clothing, or shoes. We do not
all have to play the same type of musical instrument, or enjoy
the same sports, or belong to the same club or associations. Then
we all also know that in some situations (like the members of a
club going away for a week-end together) we adapt to others for a
while, simply to be nice and accommodating, to people we like
or love. It is all a part of at times, being able to get along
with people, and showing we do not always have to be selfish and
have it our way, every time and in all situations.
So it is then for the wife to learn how to live this way
with her husband. History is full of broken marriages - either
divorced couples or very unhappy couples - because the wife could
not follow this instruction from the Lord. It was God that
invented and created marriages, surely He knows the basic rules
and format to make those marriages happy and successful.
Then a happy marriage is NOT all ONE-SIDED, a woman cannot
all by herself deliver a marriage that is looked up to by their
children and friends and community. Oh, it may on the outside, on
the surface, look "just fine and respectable" to others (because
the husband puts on a "front" when in public - I'm supposing here
that the wife is indeed doing what God wants her to do) but
inside closed doors and behind four walls, the husband is a mess
and not at all doing the instructions of the Lord in how to be a
good husband and father to his children. Those instructions Paul
immediately speaks concerning in verse 19.
"Husbands, LOVE your wives (be affectionate and sympathetic with
them) and do NOT be HARSH or BITTER or RESENTFUL towards them."
Husbands, take some time and look up all those words I've
capitalized, in a dictionary.
Men are too often taught by parents or society to be
"strong, powerful, and never to cry." There are times to be
strong and even powerful (Jesus was at times as we have
seen from the Gospels) but it is also written "Jesus wept." A
lot of men need to learn to be affectionate and sympathetic and
loving, towards all people, not just their personal buddy male
friends or the cat or dog.
I will say that men are making good strides in the correct
direction on this matter, and more "TV interviews" (for whatever
the subject) are showing men who can cry and shed a tear, and in
some very disastrous situation (from a grave calamity etc.)
openly WEEP.
If husbands are courteous, kind, loving, affectionate,
considerate and sympathetic, towards their wives. If they are
acting like Jesus would act, and did act, in word and
thoughts, towards people, as He lived on this earth for nearly 34
years. If wives are following the instructions of verse 18. If
BOTH are serving the Lord with all their hearts, mind, words,
life, then Christian marriages would be an example to all the
world of what God truly desires a marriage to be.
Paul does not leave out the children. Verse 20, "Children,
OBEY, your parents in everything, for this is pleasing to the
Lord."
The rest of the Bible makes this clear that Paul is using a
GENERAL statement here. Children of accountable age, who know the
word of the Lord, righteousness as opposed to unrighteousness,
should not obey their parents IF their parents tell them to
go kill this or that person (as is done in societies where
different ethic groups or racial groups or religious groups hate
one another) because they are "evil."
The context is also the context of "Christian" marriages -
hence Christian parents would be conducting themselves in a Godly
manner towards their children, and so Paul instructs children to
then obey their parents. All in the proper framework, children
will not to asked to do anything directly against a command of
God, and hence children should have the knowledge and the
encouragement, to be assured that in obeying their parents it
would be a safe and happy way to live.
The importance of fathers (mother also of course, as God is
no respecter of persons) being the head and leader in the home,
doing their correct part of child-rearing, is not overlooked by
Paul, as we see from verse 21.
"Father, do not provoke or irritate or fret your children
(do not be hard on them or harass them), less they become
discouraged and sullen and morose and feel inferior and
frustrated. (Do not break their spirit)."
Nothing can be worse for a child to have a parent or father
who is DOING all that Paul says a parent should NOT do towards
their child. Breathing down the neck of a child with cutting
remarks, constant scolding, belittling, nagging, and plain
negativity, will surely break their spirit. Correcting a child,
when correction is needed, doing it in a right positive way, that
also corrects with encouragement, is not anywhere near the same
as the negative ways that Paul is referring to. It is an art, to
be a good parent. There are some fine Christian books out there
that can help you become the good Christian parent that God wants
you to be.
Paul is not through yet. He has some advise for all those
who work for others.
"Servants, obey in everything those whom are your earthly
masters, not only when their eyes are on you as pleasers of
men, but in simplicity of purpose (with all your heart)
because of your reverence for the Lord and as a sincere
expression of your devotion to him. Whatever may be your
task, work at it heartily (from the soul) as (something
done) for the Lord and not for men. Knowing (with all
certainty) that it is from the Lord (and not from men) that
you will receive the inheritance which is your (real)
reward. (The One Whom) you are actually serving (is) the
Lord Christ (the Messiah). For he who deals wrongfully, will
(reap the fruit of his folly and) be punished for his
wrongdoing. And (with God) there is no partiality (no matter
what a person's position may be, whether he is the slave or
the master)."
Here is another one of those lessons on how to correctly
read and understand the Bible. If this passage is taken out of
context, some could use it to say a servant should do anything
righteous or unrighteous, that he is required to do by his
master. A kind of "Well the servant is not responsible, it all
falls on the head of his master" attitude or theological belief.
The context of the WHOLE Bible teaches NO such idea or theology.
Righteousness, the doing of it, or not doing of it, is ALWAYS the
responsibility of the INDIVIDUAL. You may remember, as we went
through the first chapters of the book of Acts, Peter once said,
"We are to obey God and not man." The ways and directions and
commandments of God MUST ALWAYS come first. Once the righteous
ways of the Lord they are revealed to you, they, observing them,
must come FIRST, before any commandment of men. Never, is a
Christian permitted to DISOBEY the laws and commandments of God,
because some human master over you in some physical work or job,
tells you to obey his command, which could mean that in obeying
that master, you will disobey the way God instructs you to live.
Individual responsibility of doing righteousness and not sin
or unrighteousness is always the responsibility of the
individual, as clear shown from Ezekiel 14.
So the context that Paul is speaking in is the context of
servants obeying the wishes and directions of masters who are
"hard to work for" (unpleasant masters, hard nosed ones, always
on your back ones) or just trying to do the least you can for
them while getting the most pay you can get from them. The
context has nothing to do with obeying unrighteous orders, but it
has everything to do with being a faithful, giving all you've
got, doing the best work you can do, servant. For as Paul said,
you really are not doing it towards human people per se, but
towards God, who will indeed eventually render just payment to
all people, whether they were servants or masters. It is all to
do with being the best servant you can be or the best master you
can be, as God would want the best servant or master to be.
The context and thought of Paul also has nothing to do with
leaving a job, or finding another one, with kinder masters, or
better pay for the abilities or talents you have.
All those things are well within the laws of God, and well
within being the best you can be in this physical life with what
God has given you. That truth was all brought out by Jesus in
many parables He gave in His Gospel ministry, as we covered those
chapters.
Paul's context is the PRESENT job you have. If that job does
not conflict with God's laws and commandments (no Christian
should be working for a master who demands he work on the Sabbath
day etc.) you should be the very best servant you can be, doing
the best job you can do, all the time, not just when the "boss"
is next to you. For it is really God you are working for not some
man. And it is God who will reward you in due time.
............................
March 2005
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