Materials
Gospel
of Colossians
Paul's
Prayer For The Colossians
Colossians 1- 4
by Jack Burch
Introduction
1. The church at Colosse was an interesting church. They had significant
problems, which were unlike those of any other church in the New Testament.
2. There seems to have been a mixture of types of difficulties, including
a Jewish desire to incorporate portions of the Law into Christianity,
along with some heathen philosophy, and shades of Gnosticism.
3. In order to understand the force of Paul’s prayer for them
it is important that we understand some of these doctrinal issues.
I. The situation at Colosse as described in the letter.
A. The position of Christ in their thinking.
1. Colossians 2:8. Some had deceived them with “hollow and deceptive
philosophy which depends on human traditions and the basic principles
of this world rather than on Christ.
2. This is a serious charge, that some had allowed human philosophy
to threaten to dethrone Christ.
3. As we read the book then we can more easily see why he continually
calls their attention to the preeminence of Christ.
a. Colossians 1:15. “He is the image of the invisible God.”
b. Colossians 1:16. “By Him all things were created in heaven
and on earth.”
c. Colossians 1:17. “In Him all things hold together.”
d. Colossians 1:18. “In everything He might have the supremacy.”
e. Colossians 1:19. “God was pleased to have all His fullness
dwell in Him.”
f. Colossians 1:19. “Through Him to reconcile to Himself all
things, whether things on earth or things in heaven.”
B. There was Jewish influence in the church which was drawing, threatening
to draw some back to the Law.
1. Colossians 2:16. “Therefore do not let anyone judge you by
what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New
Moon celebration or a Sabbath day.”
2. Colossians 2:18. He warns them against a showing of humility and
worship of angels. We don’t exactly know what this refers to,
but their worship was being detracted in some way.
C. Warnings against asceticism, and its uselessness.
1. Colossians 2:20-23. Do not taste, do not handle, do not touch,
all have a show of wisdom with their self-imposed worship , false
humility, and their harsh treatment of the body.
2. Colossians 2:23. He concludes this thought by saying these “lack
any value in restraining sensual indulgence.”
II. Paul’s prayer for the Colossian church.
A. As a preamble he expresses his thanksgiving for them.
1. Colossians 1:3-5. He expresses his thanks for their faith, love,
and hope.
2. These are three of Paul’s favorite words when he describes
the essence of Christianity. See I Thessalonians 1:3, I Corinthians
13:13, and throughout the book of Romans.
3. He has heard of their faith, and thanks God for it. (This church
which had so many problems? Is Paul really thankful for their faith?
Could we say that about such a congregation?)
4. Colossians 1:9. “For this reason, since the day we heard
about you we have not stopped praying for you.”
5. His prayer for them is an echo of his thanksgiving for them.
B. Colossians 1:9. “Asking God to fill you with the knowledge
of His will through spiritual wisdom and understanding.”
1. By praying for this he goes directly to the root of their needs
“spiritual wisdom and understanding.”
2. Gnostics believed in a mystical wisdom to the initiate, the privileged
few.
3. By praying for their wisdom and understanding he changed the
climate of the debate from confrontation to one of prayer for brothers
and sisters in Christ.
4. The Greeks would look at the word “wisdom” (sofia)
from an intellectual or philosophical point of view, but Paul prays
for their spiritual wisdom and understanding.
a. We may have all sorts of philosophy and knowledge and wisdom
on our side, but Paul prays that they might have knowledge of God’s
will, spiritual wisdom, and understanding.
b. This knowledge is not just a collection of facts, but an intimate
knowledge which means knowing God, not just knowing some facts about
God.
c. We need to learn to pray for each other in this way.
C. Colossians 1:10. “We pray this in order that you may live
a life worthy of The Lord and may please Him in every way.”
1. Without this knowledge, spiritual wisdom and understanding we
cannot live a life worthy of The Lord.
2. Paul knew that our lives ought to be a reflection of the redemption
God has blessed us with.
3. I John 4:20. John chimes in on this same thing by asking, “He
that does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love
God whom he has not seen?”
4. Paul said about the same thing to the Philippians, a church of
exemplary character, contrasted with the Colossian church. Philippians
1:27. “Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy
of the Gospel of Christ.”
D. Colossians 1:10 “Bearing fruit in every good work.
1. When Paul wrote to the Galatians he listed the fruit of The Spirit,
Galatians 5:23. “But the fruit of The Spirit is love, joy,
peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and
self-control.” That is, these are things which The Spirit
will produce in your life if you will just allow Him to do so.
2. Look at some of the things he listed for the Colossians.
a. Colossians 3:1-2. “Since you have been raised with Christ,
set your heart on things above where Christ is seated at the right
hand of God.”
b. Colossians 3:5-14. Read selections from this passage.
E. Colossians 1:11. “Strengthen with all power . . . so that
you may have great endurance and patience and joyfully give thanks.”
1. Many churches were under severe persecution at one time or another,
and Paul prays that they might have strength to endure whether it
be persecution, drifting away from Christ, weakness of faith, or
whatever comes.
2. Let’s pray for each other that together we may have strength
to endure…that we be strengthened with all power from God.
Conclusion:
1. Why does Paul feel that he needs to pray for these people, and
why did he feel such a close relationship to them? Colossians 1:13.
“For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness, and
brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves, in whom we have
redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
2. Perhaps when we learn to appreciate this a little more, learn
to be a little more thankful for each other, and learn to love each
other more we will be able to pray for each other more, and that
our prayers for each other will reflect the same depth of love for
Christ and our fellow Christians as the prayer of Paul for the Colossians.
October 23, 2005
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