Colossians Part 1
Detectives-Survey the Scene
In Modern Turkey, a hundred miles from the Aegean Coast and running through the Lycus Valley, there is a river which collects chalk and minerals from the surrounding hills. Where this river spills down steep slopes, it fashions chalk pools and grottoes used as medical pools. In Roman times, there were three cities close together in the valley. They were Colossae, Hierapolis and Laodicea, through which the main East/West highway passed.
Why this Letter?
Paul had not then visited Colossae (Chapter 2 verses 1 and 5), but had very close friends there, such as Philemon. One of Paul’s team, Epaphras, probably planted the Church while Paul was in Ephesus.Tychicus took with him Philemon’s ex-slave, Oneisemus, and a private letter to Philemon and this letter for the Church (Colossians Chapter 4 verses 7 to 9 and 16). The Colossian’s were in danger of being poisoned!
Poisoned Teaching
Nearly in Phrygia and Galatia was a large population of patriotic Jews.They were disturbed about the Messiah-ship of Jesus and for the whole world, not just for Jews. The society was opulent and they saw themselves as chic and as “New Age” and “Upper Class”. We do not have their words before us, but we do have Paul’s antidote to their poison so detect, in Paul’s ‘counter punches’, the attack the Church at Colossae faced.
Your task (should you choose to accept it …) is to make an identikit portrait of the enemy from Paul’s counter punches.
Exercise in Detection
The person of Jesus under smear attacks. Paul’s answer. Colossians Chapter 1 verses 15 to 22 and Chapter 2 verses 1 to 4.
The Gnostic cult taught that all physical matter was evil and the only sin is ignorance of (their) truth …Re-read Chapter 1 verses 15 to 17.
The Gnostic cult taught that life is determined by “elemental spirits”; by demons; by angels; by astrology, fatalism and ‘luck’. Paul says, Chapter 2 verses 8 to 10 and verses 13 to 23.
If things are OK for you, then they are not sins.Paul says,Chapter 3 verses 5 to 11.
Question – Can you see the identikit picture of ‘the enemy’ to Colossae?
Question – Can you see the relevance of Paul’s passionate letter?
Question – Can you identify modern versions of Gnosticism?
In your prayer time, pray for a truly Christian Church.
Optional Reading for Next Session read Colossians, Chapters 1 to 4.

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