7) 3:1-9 Avoid false teachers in the “last days” who slip into households and lead believers astray. They are like Pharoah’s magicians (Paul even names them even though they are not named in Exodus) who tried to lead Pharoah into not believing that Moses was giving him the word of God. Those “last days” would be the last days of the Jewish Age (from 30 AD to 70 AD when the temple was destroyed by the Romans), but Paul’s warning would apply to us today living in the Messianic Age (the “age to come”). Look at the list of sins given in these verses and you will see the same today. There are still plenty of false teaches who “slip into” the church and lead believers astray, starting up cults or splitting churches, preaching for money and interested in power and control.

8) 3:10-12 Follow my (Paul’s) teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance, ¹¹ persecutions, and sufferings.” Paul said, “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ” in 1 Corinthians 11:1. Would you recommend that someone you are mentoring follow your example in these matters? We are to follow Jesus’ example, but it sure helps to have some mentor in our lives to set the example for us. I’ve had mentors like that. When my wife and I first left Birmingham to attend a school of preaching for 2 years in West Monroe, La, we met Hugh and Dorothy Minor. They became mentors and examples to my wife and I all through the years during the school and after that as our paths crossed over the years. We had the privilege of working with them for many years here in Huntsville before they passed away. Hugh especially was my mentor with the way he handled church matters and problems. His wisdom, love, and patience was so obvious. I only wish we had spent more time with them. Unfortunately, that’s what we often say when a friend dies, so go spend more time with that person now.

9) 3:13-17 Continue in the scriptures that you were taught from childhood that are able to make you wise unto salvation in Jesus through faith. That would be OT scriptures that he would have been taught in childhood of course. But Paul then gives a great statement on all Scriptures: 3:¹⁶ All Scripture (graphé: Scripture, writing) is inspired (theopneustos: God-breathed, inspired by God) by God and beneficial for teaching, for rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness; ¹⁷ so that the man or woman of God may be fully capable, equipped for every good work.” From AI: “ In the New Testament, “graphé” primarily refers to the sacred writings of the Old Testament, regarded as divinely inspired and authoritative. It is used to denote the collection of books that constitute the Hebrew Bible, which were considered the Word of God by early Christians. The term underscores the belief in the divine origin and enduring authority of these texts.” A good definition of “inspiration” is found in 2 Peter 1:²⁰ knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. ²¹ For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” Their original writings and teachings were infallible words of the Holy Spirit even though they were allowed to use their own vocabulary and thoughts. We don’t have the original OT or NT writings, but we have plenty of manuscripts and translations that are trustworthy. The battle today is about the inspiration of the Bible. From the gallup poll, 2022: “A record-low 20% of Americans now say the Bible is the literal word of God, down from 24% the last time the question was asked in 2017, and half of what it was at its high points in 1980 and 1984. Meanwhile, a new high of 29% say the Bible is a collection of “fables, legends, history and moral precepts recorded by man.” Bottom line, if you believe fallible men wrote the Bible, then it is not the authoritative word of God binding on us today. The inspiration of the apostle Paul is questioned when he condemns homosexuality. Those who question that might still say they believe the Bible is the word of God, but they would “twist” his writings (2 Peter 3:16), saying that Paul’s writings are just his homophobic opinions not binding on us. So it is important that we correctly understand the claim of the inspiration of the Bible.

When Paul says “All Scripture” I think he is here including any of the NT inspired writings along with the OT scriptures. Peter calls Paul’s writings “Scripture” in 2 Peter 3:¹⁵ And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, ¹⁶ as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures.” By 67 AD when Paul wrote 2 Timothy, there would have been several NT inspired writings like the gospels, Paul’s other letters, and the rest of the NT letters that were being circulated and copied by the churches.

10) 4:1-5 Do the work of an evangelist: preach the word at all times, patiently correcting, rebuking, and exhorting. Paul said that times would come when men would “not tolerate sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance with their own desires, ⁴ and they will turn their ears away from the truth and will turn aside to myths.” BTW, Paul also said: 4:1 I do fully testify, then, before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who is about to (mello, always means “about to” in the NT) judge living and dead at his manifestation and his reign”. That imminent judgment was the motivation for being diligent in preaching the word, to get people ready for that judgement. The Bereans were the example of those who searched the OT scriptures to see if Paul’s teaching about the Messiah was true. Acts 17: ¹¹ Now these people were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.” Paul told the Thessalonian believers: 1 Thessalonians 2:¹³ For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of mere men, but as what it really is, the word of God, which also is at work in you who believe.” Contrast that with those that Paul predicts would accumulate teachers who would simply tell them what they want to hear and not what the word of God says. We are faced with that today big time. The Bible is clear in condemning the LGBQT movement and teachings. But that movement still has hundreds of paid preachers who tell them what they want to hear, i.e. that homosexuality is not a sin, even though the word of God clearly condemns it.

11) 4:9-15 Come to me in Rome as soon as possible, before winter (4:21), bringing Mark, my overcoat, and books. We don’t know if Timothy made it to see Paul before he was beheaded in 67 AD. Only Luke is with Paul in this 2nd Roman imprisonment, others having deserted him or gone on to do evangelistic work (like Titus to Dalmatia).

12) 4:19-21 Greet Aquila and Priscilla and Onesiphorus. Aquila and Priscilla had made tents with Paul in Corinth before moving to Ephesus, and had a housechurch in Ephesus when Paul wrote 2 Timothy. Onesiphorus is only mentioned twice in the NT (here and 2 Timothy 1:16). He had served Paul during the 3 years Paul spent in Ephesus on his 3rd missionary journey. He had come to Paul in his 2nd Roman imprisonment and helped Paul. So Paul ends 2 Timothy with “tell everyone hello; give them my love.”

In closing, let’s notice Paul’s “mood and state of mind” during this 2nd imprisonment. He was fully expecting to die soon. 4:⁶ For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come.” He is disappointed at those who forsook him and left him, no doubt fearing they would be imprisoned. 1:¹⁵ You are aware of the fact that all who are in Asia turned away from me, among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes.” 4: ¹⁰ for Demas, having loved this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica.” 4:¹⁶ At my first defense no one supported me, but all deserted me; may it not be counted against them.” But he is not “doom and gloom”. 1:¹² For this reason I also suffer these things; but I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to protect what I have entrusted to Him until that day.” 4:⁷ I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; ⁸ in the future there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.” 4:¹⁷ But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that through me the proclamation might be fully accomplished, and that all the Gentiles might hear; and I was rescued out of the lion’s mouth. ¹⁸ The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed, and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom; to Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.”

Will you be able to say, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith” when your death is imminent? Will you be fully confident that the Lord will reward you with eternal life in the heavenly kingdom? Paul is such a great example for us to follow. He said in Philippians 1 that he preferred to die even during his first imprisonment in Rome (Acts 27, 28) but that he thought that the Lord wanted him to live and preach longer, and he was indeed released. “For me to die is gain, but to live is Christ”, he said. But now in 2 Timothy, he is ready to go. After reading what all Paul suffered since becoming a believer in Jesus, you can see why he was ready to go. 2 Corinthians 12: in far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death. ²⁴ Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. ²⁵ Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent adrift at sea. ²⁶ I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers at sea, dangers among false brothers; ²⁷ I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. ²⁸ Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches. ²⁹ Who is weak without my being weak? Who is ^[k]led into sin without my intense concern?” Paul was probably about 30 years old when he was converted (Acts 9) and about 60 years old when he died. Paul had 30 long, tough years as the apostle to the Gentiles! He sufferred much and often. He gave his life for Jesus, martyred in Rome by Nero.

I’m glad Paul wrote this last letter to Timothy before he died. There is so much in it for us today!

 

Acts 27,28: Paul is in a Roman prison when he wrote the “prison epistles” (Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon). Actually, more like “house arrest” in his own quarters with a guard for 2 years. He had appealed to have his trial before Caesar and apparently was wating for that trial. We don’t have any follow up on that trial, but we think that he was released after the 2 years and made another missionary journey.

Here is a great map from thebiblejourney.org tracing of his last missonary journey after he was released.

“Paul commissioned Titus to be the leader of the local church while in Crete (which Paul had visited only briefly before, en route to Rome – see Titus 1:5 & Acts 27:8-9). He visited Miletus (and left Trophimus there because he was ill – see 2 Timothy 4:20) and then left Timothy in charge of the church at Ephesus (see 1 Timothy 1:3) (see 2 on Map 28). He may have visited Colossae (see Philemon 1:22) before he continued to Troas (where he left his coat with Carpus – see 2 Timothy 4:13) (see 3 on Map 28).

Paul then went on to Philippi in Macedonia (see 1 Timothy 1:3) where he wrote his First Letter to Timothy and his Letter to Titus between 63 and 66AD (see 4 on Map 28). He may have visited Ephesus again (see 1 Timothy 3:14 & 4:13) before travelling back via Corinth (see 2 Timothy 4:20) (see 5 on Map 28) and Nicopolis (see Titus 3:12) (see 6 on Map 28) to Rome (see 7 on Map 28) where he was imprisoned in the Mamertine Prison (see 2 Timothy 1:8,16-17 & 2:9). From Rome he wrote his Second Letter to Timothy shortly before he was beheaded (as he was a Roman citizen) in c.67AD during the intense persecution of Jews and Christians by Nero (see 2 Timothy 4:6).

Paul may also have visited Spain at some time between 63 and 67AD (see Romans 15:24 & 28) but we have no Biblical evidence of such a visit.”

I encourage you to take time right now to read 2 Timothy (12 minutes reading time). As you read it, think about the mood that Paul was in during his last months in prison in Rome before he was beheaded. It says a lot that he would write his last letter to Timothy, “my beloved child” (2 Timothy 1:2; 2:1), his “child in the faith” (1 Timothy 1:2). If you knew your death was imminent and that you could write one last letter, who would you write it to? I would probably write it to my surviving family, but Paul had no surviving family that we know of. His family was his church family. His brothers and sisters were those who worked with him preaching the gospel to the Roman Empire. You can just feel the emotion as he thinks about his time with Timothy: 2 Timothy 1:³ I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. ⁴ As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy. ⁵ I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.” He hoped that Timothy could come to him soon: 2 Timothy 4:⁹ Do your best to come to me soon.” We don’t know if Timothy made it to see Paul before he died.

Paul had a lot of instructions for Timothy.

1) 1: 6 “Kindle afresh (anazópureó: To rekindle, to stir up, to fan into flame) his gift (i.e. his evangelistic miraculous gift, Ephesian 4:11). The ESV translates it “fan the flame”. That’s not to say that Timothy’s zeal had begun to waver. It is just a reminder to constantly keep that zeal blazing, just like you stoke a fire constantly to keep the fire bright and burning.

2) 1:8 Don’t be ashamed of Paul’s imprisonment. Some of Paul’s enemies might try to make Timothy be ashamed of Paul being in prison as a condemned criminal worthy of death. Especially Jewish unbelievers might say that Pauls’ death proved that he was just another misled false teacher of this false sect called Christianity. After all, his imprisonment was at the time that the Jewish rebels were rebelling against Rome, trying to convince all Jews that victory over Rome was imminent.

3) 2:1-7 Be strong, suffering hardship as a good soldier, a competitive athlete, and a hard working farmer. Those are 3 down to earth examples to show Timothy how to handle his suffering.

4) 2:2 Entrust the gospel to faithful men who would then be able to teach others. An evangelist must train others to carry on the work. This verse was our “mission statement” when we went to Trinidad to do 3 years of mission work. There were already hundreds of baptized believers in Trinidad due to evangelistic campaigns and several churches already established (we worked mainly with two of them in the south). We baptized several more and established 3 new congregations while there. But our main focus was identifying and training their leaders to carry on the work after we left. We had a “Saturday school” where we taught many of the church leaders the same Bible courses that we had studied in our 2 years in a school of preaching in West Monroe, La. Apparently that worked b/c those leaders carried on the work in the churches for the next 50 years without depending on U.S. money to pay preachers there! I recently talked to several of those leaders via WhatsApp. That was very encouraging to me. Those leaders also continued to train other men. A son of one of those leaders worked with some of the new congregations and did mission work over in Guyana, South America. Paul wanted Timothy to do the same training of leaders, and I’m sure that he did.

5) 2:14-19 Remind those faithful men (and all believers) to “accurately handle the word of truth”. Avoid disputes over words, worldly and empty chatter. Especially avoid heretical teachings like that of 2 men who were saying that the resurrection had already taken place. Paul had said that “there is about to be (mello, which always means “about to” in the NT) a resurrection of the righteous and unrighteous (Acts 24:15). That would be the resurrection of Daniel 12:2 which would occur at the end of the Jewish Age in 70 AD. The OT dead in hades would be raised to receive their final sentencing in 70 AD. Paul wrote 2 Timothy in 67 AD, so that resurrection had not taken place yet. We don’t know exactly what arguments were used by those 2 men to say the resurrection had already happened. It is interesting that Paul did not just say, “it is obvious that the resurrection has not happened yet b/c no one has seen bodies coming out of the tombs”. Apparently, the resurrection as Paul taught it was not a bodily resurrection as many teach or else Paul could have said that and used that argument against them. In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul taught that the resurrection would be changing to immortal spiritual bodies, not physical bodies raised. He even told them in 15:⁵⁰ I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. ⁵¹ Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed.” He told them that some of those he was writing to would still be alive at the resurrection that was “about to happen” (Acts 24:15). But dead or alive, the believers would be given immortal, spiritual bodies at that resurrection. Either Paul is a false prophet predicting this to happen in their lifetime or else it did happen, and it did. Yes, that means that I am saying that, based on Paul’s writing, the resurrection “has already happened” at 70 AD. You might say I am a heretic for teaching that just like those 2 men. But the difference is when those 2 men made that statement and when I am making that claim (which is today, long after 70 AD). Food for thought!

6) 2:22-26 Flee youthful lusts and purse righteousness, faith, love, and peace. Don’t be quarrelsome in trying to correct those teaching error. Many who try to “defend the faith” end up being very argumentative, thinking their opinion on doctrine is the only correct one. That leads to sectarianism. The church I was raised in taught a lot of truths but also became very argumentative about minor doctrines, condemning those who disagreed.

Ephesians 1-3 is doctrine (spiritual blessings in Christ, predestination, salvation by grace through faith, Jews and Gentiles united in one body, the mystery revealed). Ephesians 4-6 is practical (the 5 “walks” or conduct Christians should have, and stand up to the devil using the armor of God).

Colossians is very similar. Both letters were written while Paul was in “house arrest” in Rome for 2 years (Acts 27,28). But in the Colossian letter Paul is fighting specific heretical teachings about Jesus. The first two chapters are doctrinal, stating the preeminence of Jesus Christ. They deal with the person and work of Jesus Christ. Christ is sufficient for all our spiritual and doctrinal needs. He condemns the false teaching of asceticism, mysticism, Jewish laws being bound on Gentiles, and gnosticism (at least early gnostic thinking if not full blown gnosticism of the 2nd century). Please refer to my last blog to read that discussion and see a couple of very good short videos.

The last section of Colossians is practical. Since Christ is all-sufficient for our spiritual and doctrinal needs, we don’t need to be distracted by human philosophy, religious rules, visions, asceticism, etc. The last verse of chapter 2 gets us ready for chapters 3-4: “22 according to human precepts and teachings? ²³ These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.”

So, now Paul is ready to talk about the real issue facing Christians, and that is how to “stop the indulging of the flesh”. Someone can be a great debater of doctrine, or a very strict religious rule keeper, but if he/she then lives in lust, adultery, hate, jealousy, greed, etc. then all his religion is worthless.

3:1  If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. ² Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. ³ For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. ⁴ When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

These 4 verses set the tone for chapters 3 and 4. 2:¹² having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. ¹³ And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses.” You were raised from spiritual death and made alive in Christ. So, what should I be seeking? What should be the main priority and purpose of my living? It should be seeking the kingdom of God. It should be things that are above, i.e. spiritual things. Set (phroneó: To think, to set one’s mind on, to have a mindset) on things above, where Christ sits at the right hand of God, on spiritual things. Can you picture Jesus sitting at God’s right hand somewhere in heaven. He is watching everything I do and say. HIs Spirit is working on me to help me fight the flesh and be a good example of a cleansed sinner. What is he thinking about how I am acting? Is he pleased or displeased? Am I in total submission to him? What does he want me to work on in my life? What plans does he have for me?

Romans 8:⁵ For those who live according to the flesh set (phroneó: To think, to set one’s mind on, to have a mindset) their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. ⁶ For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. ⁷ For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. ⁸ Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” I like that word for “set”, i.e. “one’s mindset”. (AI) “A person’s mindset is a set of beliefs that influences how they think, feel, and act in different situations. It also affects how they perceive the world and themselves.” Is my mind set on the things of the flesh or the things of God? Do I spend most of my time thinking about materialism, pleasure, fulfilling my lusts of the flesh, eye, and pride of life? What is my mindset? Is my mindset on spiritual beliefs and things? Is that spiritual mindset strong enough to guide me and stop my from “indulging in the flesh” (2:23)?

So, if you have the proper spiritual “mindset”, here is what you will do. You will “put to death” earthly, sensual thought, deeds, words, and lusts. 3:⁵ Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.” You will “put away” these things: 3:⁸ But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. ⁹ Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices ¹⁰ and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.” You have been re-created by the grace of God into a new spiritual person, constantly cleansed by the blood of Jesus. Now act like such a cleansed sinner should act. You don’t have to be perfectly sinless in putting off these old self practices, but you must make a sincere effort to do so.

Picture being given a new white beautiful dress or a sharp all white men’s suit. Your old clothes are covered in dirt, mud, grease, paint, and holes. You are so thankful for the new clothes that were given to you out of love and compassion. You put off the old clothes and put on the new. How hard would you try to keep that new white dress or suit clean? If you wore it all the time, you would probably spill food or drink on it, or get it dirty, but you would try your best to keep it clean. And if you get it dirty, you have this magic “stain remover” that you quickly apply so that your dress or suit remain white. To me, that is the example of putting off the old self and putting on the new.

Having sincerely tried to put off the old self and old sinful practices, you will try to put on the new self and new practices. 3:¹² Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, ¹³ bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. ¹⁴ And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony (teleiotés: Perfection, maturity, completeness).” In the New Testament, this word is used to describe the process of becoming spiritually mature and fully developed in faith and character. A Christian who is not a loving person is not a mature Christian. He will have little influence on others for Jesus no matter how religious he is or how doctrinally sound he is.

One could do a sermon on each of these new attitudes and practices that we need to “put on”, but their meaning is quite easy to understand. How hard am I trying to work on putting on these? For example, do I have compassion for those less fortunate and the lost? That’s not just to “feel sorry” for them, but to help them. On a scale of 1 to 10, how am I doing in each of these areas? And “above all these put on love”. Would people call me a “loving person”? Love makes one compassionate, kind, forgiving, and patient.

3:¹⁵ And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. ¹⁷ And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” The peace of Christ will rule (brabeuó: To rule, to arbitrate, to decide, to govern: From the root word βραβεύς (brabeus), meaning “an umpire” or “a judge.”) in our hearts. It will be an umpire or judge to tell you, “No, your feelings for that person or the way you are treating that person is not right: change your attitude and action.” It will be an umpire that will call fouls on you when you violate the rules of Christian conduct. You were once alienated from Christ, an enemy of God due to your sin, but the grace of God has brought you into a state of being reconciled to God and peace with God. That peace is a spiritual peace with God and it brings an inner peace in your hear with your inner self and your dealings with all people. A person who has a troubled, sinful inner self will not be concerned about being kind to others. A person at peace with God and self will say, “God has been so good to me, saving me, and I want to share that peace with others and help them to find that peace.” 3:15 “and be thankful” for what God has done for you.

Let the word dwell (enoikeó: To dwell in, to inhabit) in you richly. Not just “dwell in you” but “dwell in you richly”. The way the word gets in you is by reading, studying, and meditating on the word of God. But, as the SEC radio slogan says, “it’s not that you schedule your child’s birth around college football games, it just means more than that”. It means that the word of God lives in you and influences and guides you in everything that you do. Of course, you have to know what the word says, thus the reading and studying. Once the word gets in your mind and heart, picture the Spirit of God constantly urging you to apply what the word says to your life. The Spirit through the word nudges you to not do something bad that you were about to do and urges you to do something good that you need to do. My mom wrote long letters telling how she felt about things. I read those letters at times and it is a constant reminder of what she would want me to do. Her spirit speaks to me through those written letters. It’s the same with the Spirit and the word of God. Hebrews 4:² For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. ¹³ And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” But the word is only “living and active” if you are intent on letting the Spirit energize that word to influence and guide you. I am a full preterist in doctrine and feel that I can really help people understand the Bible in context in such a way that it will increase their faith in Jesus and the word. That means a lot of the word in my mind. But I struggle to let the Spirit use the word to help me put away certain bad thoughts and deeds, and put on love, compassion, and kindness. That’s what I need to work on! How about you?

The word dwelling in you will also motivate you to teach (didaskó: To teach, instruct) and admonish (noutheteó: To admonish, to warn, to instruct) one another. A good way to do this is with singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with thankfulness in our hearts. Psalms were singing the 150 psalms of the Old Testament. Hymns were praise songs sung by a congregation. Spiritual songs would be any song that the Spirit led them to sing about our new life in Christ. This is not just a command for the assembly on Sunday morning. It is not a command that would forbid singing songs with instrumental music. The Greek word for psalms is psalmos and is derived from the verb ψάλλω (psallō), meaning “to pluck” or “to play a stringed instrument.” 5568 psalmós – a psalm (“Scripture set to music”). Originally, a psalm (5568 /psalmós) was sung and accompanied by a plucked musical instrument (typically a harp), especially the OT Psalms.” That doesn’t mean that we can only sing psalms with an instrument, but it certainly does not rule out using an instrument to sing psalms with. My church has made such a big issue of non-instrumental worship, even calling the use of instruments a sin, perhaps a sin that would condemn one’s soul. That is sad. It has caused division instead of eliminating it.

Finally, 3:¹⁷ And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” That covers it all, doesn’t it. Whatever you do in word or deed, do it by that authority and command of the head, Jesus, always giving thanks. Let a thankful heart be always in you. If someone saved my life, I would be always thinking about what they did for me and how I could show gratitude to them.

That leads Paul to state the commands for wives to submit to husbands, husbands to love their wives, children obey their parents, fathers don’t provoke your children, slaves server your masters as if you were serving Jesus himself, and slave masters to be fair and kind to their slaves.

A few personal instructions close the letter to the Colossian church. “3:² Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. ³ At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— ⁴ that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.⁵ Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. ⁶ Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” This speak of God’s providence opening doors for the preaching of the gospel. Organizations like Eastern European Missions are constantly looking for and finding open doors for printing and distributing Bibles and children’s Bible story books all over the world in many languages. Paul was in prison in Rome and yet God opened a door for him to preach to the imperial guard (they guarded the emperor) (Eph 1:13). The Colossians are told to pray for God to open a door for Paul to preach the gospel. I don’t know how intercessory prayer works, but it works.

Salt preserves and adds flavor. Our speech should be seasoned with salt. We should be encouragers when others are frustrated and pessimistic. We should be praising and thanking God when others are cursing. We should be peacemakers when people are arguing and fighting. We should be giving a special word to someone who needs it. We should be able to make a defense to anyone who asks us about the hope we have in Jesus (1 Peter 3:15). Especially to non-Christians, outsiders, who are watching us closely to see if we really are sincere Christians.

Then some very personal comments. Several names. Tychicus would carry the letter to the Colossians. Onesimus was the runaway slave of Philemon who was converted in Rome by Paul. Philemon was a member of the Colossian church. Aristarchus was a fellow prisoner, actually with Paul on his 3rd journey and as a prisoner with Paul on the ship to Rome. Markm the cousin of Barnabas, was back in favor with Paul after Paul rejected him going on the 2nd journey b/c he left them on the 1st journey. Jesus called Justus comforted Paul in prison. Those 4 men were the only Jewish Christians that helped him in prison. Most of the Jews in Rome who came to hear Paul preach in prison rejected His gospel message. The physician Luke who traveled with Paul on his 3rd journey and was with Paul in Rome. Demas was still in grace at this time (and in Philemon 24) but later left Paul, loving the present world (2 Tim 4:10). Nympha was a member of the church in Laodicea and had a house church in her church. Archippus was told to fulfill his ministry, maybe as a pastor in the church at Laodicea. The Colossians were to pass their letter to the Laodicean church and then read the letter Paul wrote to the Laodiceans, which we don’t have. Paul wrote this letter with his own hand.

I have a blog article on Colossians that is more complete, but this is a shorter version. I encourage you to stop right now and watch this 5 minute video on the historical background of Colossians. You might hear the term “dualism” and wonder what that means. This video will help understand some of the heretical philosophy being taught and discussed in Colossae.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2UW66oBEsA&list=PLWdLxfKtLrX6IqjbPbuybN0NouIq5nzjp&index=8

The theme of Colossians is “Christology“: the study (ology) of Jesus Christ, his person (who he is) and his work (what he came to do). The first two chapters discuss the person and work of Jesus Christ. Stop and watch this 4 minute video on the first two chapters.

This slide from Marvin Willis sums up the false teaching that Paul was confronting in the letter:

Gnosticism is complicated, but basically: all flesh is evil and God cannot come into an evil fleshly body, so Jesus cannot be “God in the flesh”.

HIs answer to all this heresy is that all the fullness of God dwells in Jesus Christ. He is fully God while being fully man. That is hard to understand fully and we don’t have to understand it perfectly. In the first few centuries of Christianity there were several councils to debate the different philosophies about the nature of Jesus, such as docetism. (AI) “Docetism, (from Greek dokein, “to seem”), Christian heresy and one of the earliest Christian sectarian doctrines, affirming that Christ did not have a real or natural body during his life on earth but only an apparent or phantom one.” There were many more. The councils usually ended up deciding which view was correct, and then they declared as heretics anyone who disagreed with that view. It was a lot of unnecessary “splitting of hairs” that led to much division in the early church. We simply must believe that the fullness of God dwells in Jesus (i.e. He is fully God), that He did come in the flesh (i.e. the incarnation), that He is the only begotten Son of God (John 1:14), that He is the Christ (i.e. the Messiah: Christ is the Greek translation of the Hebrew Messiah). 1 John 2:²² Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. ²³ No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also.”

Here is another good summary by Marvin Willis of what Paul says in chapter 1 and 2:

Or this slide (a little blurred) by Ernie Varra that gives the verses:

1:¹⁵ He is the image (eikón: Image, likeness, representation) of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.” The word is used by Jesus of the image of Caesar that was on a denarius coin. Matthew 22:²⁰ And He *said to them, “Whose image (eikon) and inscription is this?” So when you see the coin, you see the likeness of Caesar himself. Jesus said, “He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, ‘Show us the Father’?” (John 14:9). God is a spirit (John 4:24) and you can’t see a spirit (sorry, Casper is not real). But when you see all the qualities that Jesus had, you see what the Father is like.

1:¹⁸ And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.” Preiminent in the Greek is próteuó: To have the first place, to be preeminent. (AI) “The verb “próteuó” signifies holding the highest rank or position, being first in importance or influence. It is used in the New Testament to describe the supremacy and preeminence of Christ, particularly in relation to creation and the church.” The word is only used once in the New Testament and it fits so well in Colossians. The supremacy and preeminence of Jesus Christ. Why is He preeminent? 1:¹⁹ For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell” (i.e. b/c he was not just a man, a prophet, a spiritual guru: he was God in the flesh.

He was not a created being as the Jehovah’s Witness claim. John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was in the beginning with God. ³ All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him not even one thing came into being that has come into being.” Everything is either created (from nothing, Genesis 1) or not created (eternal). The “Word” here is Jesus. 1:¹⁴ And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us; and we saw His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” Thus Jesus created all things. Anything that was created was created by Jesus. If he was a created being, he would have to have created himself. He is the firstborn (prototokos: Firstborn) of all creation. (AI) “The term “prototokos” is used in the New Testament to denote the firstborn child in a family, emphasizing preeminence and priority in both birth order and status. In a theological context, it is often used to describe Jesus Christ, highlighting His supremacy and unique position in creation and redemption.” “Firstborn” here does not mean Jesus was the first thing created, which would contradict John 1:1-3. It means that he has the preeminence over all creation just as the firstborn son has preeminence.

All the elements that make up the earth are made up of cells with a nucleus in each cell. The nucleus has positively charged protons in the nucleus itself and negatively charged electrons that spin around the nucleus in defined shells and orbitals. Positive attracts negative. What keeps the negatively charged electrons from being drawn into the nucleus by the positively charged protons, thus collapsing the cell and destroying matter? 1:17 says that is is Jesus who holds thing together. Where does the force of gravity come from? 1:17 says it is Jesus’ power that creates gravity. There is an equation for the force of attraction between two objects: F = G * (m1 * m2) / r^2. M1 and m2 are the masses of the two objects. F is the force of attraction. G: is the gravitational constant (approximately 6.674 × 10^-11 N⋅m²/kg²). G is one of the many “constants” in physics and math that cannot be explained by random by chance atheistic explanations of how the earth came to be. But why does that equation exist and work? 1:17 says it is by the power of Jesus. Jesus created all objects. His power is the attraction between the two objects (which creates gravity and another constant, the force of gravity which is 9.8 m/sec^2). Jesus is the one who came up with the force of attraction equation and put it into effect at creation. Jesus is the one who wrote all the equations and constants that govern how the universe operates. It is by his power that they all work so consistently and perfectly.

1:¹⁸ And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.” If he is preeminent over all creation, then certainly He is the head over his spiritual body, which is the church, i.e. those saved by his death, burial, and resurrection. The husband is the head of the wife, which means she is in submission. The church is in submission to follow and obey all the teachings of Jesus. Just as our physical systems of the body are controlled by our heads, so it is with Jesus and his body, the church. The pope is not the head of the church. Ephesians 4:11 lists 5 gifted leadership offices or positions: apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors (elders), and teachers. Don’t you think that the position of “pope” would be in that list if Jesus wanted a pope to be the leader of the church? We must submit to Christ and Him only.

1:²⁰ and through him to reconcile (apokatallassó: To reconcile completely, to restore to favor) to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. ²¹ And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, ²² he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him.” Reconciliation emphasizes the total restoration of a relationship that was once broken due to sin. It is the restoration of a state of peace between two parties that were enemies in a conflict. Romans 5:¹⁰ For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. ¹¹ And not only this, but we also celebrate in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.” We were enemies of God due to our sin. It is not that we hated God. It is simply that our sins put us in a state of enmity with God. Reconciliation with God makes us at peace with God in our spiritual relationship. Romans 5:1: “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Jesus’ is our means of achieving that peace. Ephesians 2:¹⁴ For He Himself is our peace.” 2 Corinthians 5:¹⁷ Therefore if anyone is in Christ, this person is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. ¹⁸ Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, ¹⁹ namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their wrongdoings against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. ²⁰ Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. ²¹ He made Him who knew no sin to be sin in our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

Paul continues with what Jesus did, what he accomplished. 2: ¹¹ In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, ¹² having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. ¹³ And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, ¹⁴ by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. ¹⁵ He disarmed the rulers and authorities^[and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.” He made us alive spiritually as we rose from immersion in baptism (the word baptism means immersion). Baptism is an act of faith, not a work to earn salvation. He was circumcised (peritomé: Derived from the Greek verb περιτέμνω (peritemnō), meaning “to cut around, the cutting around of the foreskin) cut off from the land of the living (hence the word circumcision). Isaiah 53:By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people?”

Since Christ is all we need and he is the head of the church, we should not let anyone bind rules or laws on us that Jesus did not command. Apparently there were many false teachers who were doing that. They were teaching asceticism: the denial of the body’s normal desires in order to be more righteous: don’t taste, don’t touch. They were teaching the Gentile Christians that they had to keep the rituals of the old covenant, such as the unclean food laws, the observance of Jewish feasts and the new moon. Some were saying they had visions about angels and promoted the worship of angels. They were telling the Christians that they were not fully saved unless they did these things. None of these things were commanded by Jesus. We are sufficient in Christ. Don’t let anyone judge you or mislead you or bind human traditions or philosophy on you.

There is much to apply to today concerning the Christology that Paul presented. There are a lot of Christian denominations and cults that deny that Jesus was God, such as Christian Science, Jehovah’s Witness, and many others. There are many denominations that make their members observe the unclean food laws, such as the Seventh Day Adventists. Some groups have leaders that deceive the members with visions they claim to have seen. Some groups emphasize the teachings of their latter day prophets to the exclusion of making Jesus Christ the core of their teaching.

In other words, we have a lot of the same false teaching as the Colossians did.