This is not a blog post. Well, it technically is, but I am using it in a more unconventional way. Here I will be performing a study, a read through, exegesis of the book of Colossians. I will be continually updating and refreshing this study. So while I may have started writing this post in August of 2020, I plan to update it continually over the next few months as I return to study Colossians.
Why Am I Doing This?
There are multiple reasons. As I studied and learned Exegesis in school. Exegesis is basically the process of reading the Bible correctly so we read it to determine what God is telling us rather than what we think it says. As I learned and practiced Exegesis in school I realized how little I knew, and how unqualified I am. This article is a pursuit to improve my exegesis capabilities one book at a time. And I picked Colossians to study.
Why Did I Pick Colossians?
Over this summer, the youth group I am a leader in focused on a section of Colossians to study and teach the students, and I learned so much. But as always with the Bible, I wanted more context and understanding of the book of Colossians. I want to know the fine details of the book of Colossians. I want to understand God’s people in Colossae. To know Paul and Timothy’s purpose in writing the book of Colossians, and more than anything, to grow in my relationship with Christ through this study.
Join Me In My Study of Colossians
Join me as I study the book of Colossians. Maybe make a Bible study of it! But I must warn you, I am a human (as if you didn’t already know that). So I will make mistakes, and what is written here, while being rooted in truth is through my own personal lens and perspective. Do not look to me for truth but to the Bible. I will say this before teaching or studying God’s word because I want you to go to Him for the source, not me. Oh! I’m using both NIV and ESV to study this. I will occasionally dive into the NKJV as well.
The Opening of Colossians
Colossians opens with a greeting from Paul and Timothy to the church of Colossae. What is so cool is that they specify that the people are Holy, set apart, special. Also they indicate that they are faithful brothers and sisters in Christ. The opening of Pauls letters has a habit of indicating what kind of book of the Bible it is going to be. He always opens in a welcoming loving way, but he does not always give praise. When he does give praise there is usually “light correction” given. Essentially, you are doing great in these areas, and here is an area for improvement.
In the books where Paul does not open with praise or is less positive, usually, it is a harder lesson that needs to be learned. This opening shows the church of Colossae appears to be in good standing. This is such a great spot to be in! Here, you can grow effectively and stronger from a place where you have solid footing. In other cases, you are just trying to get to solid land because you are not right with God.
Thanksgiving & Prayer
The first section is titled thanksgiving and prayer in my translation, but it is important to remember that these headings did not exist in the original letters. What I will be breaking down or unpacking here is Colossians 1: 3-8.
My brain breaks the verses down in this way:
- Col. 1: 3 Statement about the Church of Colossae
- Col. 1: 4 Reason for the first statement (the because).
- Col. 1: 5-6 Explanation of the “because” breakdown of faith, love and fruit.
- Col. 1: 7-8 Context on where the previous statements are coming from.
So let’s dive into the above structure.
Colossians 1:3
NIV & ESV: We always thank God, the father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you,
What this verse displays are 3 things. First, they are praying for them. Second, when they are praying for them they are thankful. Third, they take the time to expand on God, the father of our Lord Jesus Christ. This is always good to include as a reminder, but having read ahead I think this may have been included with a purpose (note that I said “I think” this is my own presupposition so that means it holds little to no weight in the meaning and translation of this verse).
Colossians 1:4
NIV: because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people—
ESV: since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints,
Notice that the ESV and NIV versions diverge here. NIV includes starts the “because” train of thought or explanation for why they are thankful in their prayer. In the ESV version, there is more of a tag with the usage of “since”. I like how ESV indicates that this thankfulness is because of what they have heard earlier in the text. It places a bit more reason behind the praise. Besides that, both verses indicate why they are thankful for the church of Colossae. The people in the church have faith in Jesus Christ and they love each other! This is so great. Sounds like a church I would like to go to.
Colossians 1:5-6
NIV: the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel that has come to you. In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world—just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace.
ESV: because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth,
Whoa! We have a lot to unpack here. So the faith and love they display is rooted in the hope in heaven that is possible through Christ. Essentially, they stated the same thing, but with more depth and layers behind it. This truth is rooted in the gospel, the good news, the Bible. Paul is driving at the source of their hope and love.
Moving forward he expands what the gospel is doing in the world as a whole. While the gospel is what has given them hope, it is also what is bearing fruit throughout the world in a growing measure, just as it did in them. So the good news of God’s word is growing. It, in faith is growing and the people are growing in the fruit of the spirit. The fruit of the spirit as indicated in Galatians 5 as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
It is important to note that the source of this fruit is God’s grace and truth. Which Paul returns to in each statement.
Colossians 1:7-8
NIV: You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf, and who also told us of your love in the Spirit.
ESV: just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf and has made known to us your love in the Spirit.
Epaphras was the messenger who brought them the Gospel!
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