Colossians

Colossae

The question of Who?

• It is always important to establish to whom a biblical letter was written

• It is equally important to understand ourselves as we read it

• Who we are has an impact on the text we read

The Social Order of the Roman Empire

EmperorSenatorsEquestrian Order

Local OfficialsTax OfficialsTraders, Merchants and Artisans

Small LandownersTenant FarmersFreedmen / WomenDay LabourersBarbariansSlaves (Inc. Scythians)

Expendables

The Social Order of the Roman Empire

Around 90% of the ancient world lived in poverty

Most of Colossae would have been made up of uneducated gentiles

The main export of Colossae would have been purple linen

A large portion of the economy will have been farm based

Literacy would have been higher amongst the Jews, whom the letter would have been entrusted to

The Church at Colossae

“Sometimes the whole church in one city might be small enough to be accommodated in the home of one of its members.”

FF Bruce – The Epistles to the Colossians, to Philemon and to the Ephesians

The House Church of Colossae was likely in Philemon’s house

The church had been started by Epaphras, who is now with Paul and has been left in the care of Archippus.

Colossae on the Map

“Sometimes the whole church in one city might be small enough to be accommodated in the home of one of its members.”

FF Bruce – The Epistles to the Colossians, to Philemon and to the Ephesians

The House Church of Colossae was likely in Philemon’s house

The church had been started by Epaphras, who is now with Paul and has been left in the care of Archippus.

Colossae

Colossae

Christ and Christian Experience

• 2:6-15 – The core message of Colossians, Christ is wholly sufficient for the believer

• Rooted• Overflowing• Fullness• Whole• All

• Pause – Compare the compartmentalised world of the 1st century Colossae with our pick and choose, part-life religious world today. What difference does it make if the faith we hold is all consuming?

Christ and Christian Experience

• 2:16-23• Paul opposes both Jewish

and Pagan influences and imposed traditions from outside the church

• Pause – What is there in our traditions that have become a method or formula, rather than an expression or response to God’s grace in our lives?

Christ and Christian Experience3:1-17 – Paul’s Picture of the Christian Life1) Your heart and minds are set on things above2) Sinful desires should decrease as Christ increases3) The community you live in is not segregated and classed as in your world,

it is truly equal4) You don’t lie to each other5) You exude compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience6) You forgive as God forgives you7) You have a people to encourage and support8) What you do in your life is for God’s glory and not your own Pause – from what we know of the Colossian world, how do these

attributes change their lives and the world and around them?

Rules for the Christian Household3:18-25• This is not a controversial passage of

scripture!• Paul’s inclusion of wives, children

and slaves gave them status in a culture where they had none• In Christ all are made equal

Questions to ponder…• How much are we trying to make up our salvation?

• What are we trying to substitute Christ with in our church traditions?

• What old ways of the world are being blended with our faith?

• How does our faith in our all consuming Jesus subvert the empire in which we live?