Colossians 1:1-2
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TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS
The Salutation of Paul’s Letter to the Church at Colossae
BACKGROUND NOTES
DOCTRINAL POINT(S)
All Christians are “saints” and “brethren.”
PRACTICAL APPLICATION
Let’s remember our two spheres of life.
QUESTIONS
Who authored the book of Colossians, and why was he called an apostle?
Who was this person prior to his apostleship? How did he change?
Name the four prison epistles. Why are they called prison epistles?
Where did the Colossian church meet?
Who reported to Paul about the state of the church at Colossae?
What was the good news? What was the bad news?
What was the primary purpose of the letter to the Colossians?
ANSWERS
Paul; he was made an apostle by the sovereign will of God.
He was Saul, a persecutor of Christians, a prominent Pharisee. He became Paul, a willing bond-slave of Jesus Christ. See Acts 9.1-6.
Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon. They were written during Paul’s first Roman imprisonment.
In Philemon’s house.
Epaphras
The good news: the church was growing in numbers, in faith and in love. The bad news: there was false teaching about Christ in Colossae.
To keep the Colossians believers from being taken in by false teaching. To help the church mature and be steadfast in the faith.
DISCUSS/CONSIDER
What is a saint? Search the Scriptures for definitions and examples. What does it mean to be a faithful brother?
Name the two spheres of the brethren. What happens when one sphere is emphasized disproportionately? If the physical sphere is overemphasized, there is a tendency to become worldly; if the spiritual sphere is overemphasized, there is a tendency to be unaware or uncaring of earthly responsibilities.
CHALLENGE
Consider your claim to sainthood, both in position and in practice. Consider also the balance of spheres in your life, listing examples in each sphere.
KEY VERSES
“To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ” Colossians 1:2