Today’s passage: Colossians 1:1-2
Helpful thoughts:
- The church at Colossae was started during or shortly after Paul’s ministry in Ephesus (Over 100 miles east of Colossae). It is believed that Epaphras (4:12) put his faith in Christ under Paul’s ministry in Ephesus and then went home with the Gospel message.
- It appears there was troubling false teaching that was damaging the church. Paul writes this letter to teach truth to the church and correct any false doctrines.
- Paul appeals to his role as an Apostle to write and teach with the authority and commissioning he possessed in the early church.
- An Apostle was a “sent one.” Sent by Christ Himself to take the Gospel message at the beginning stage of the birth and growth of the church.
- The word for “grace” in the Greek sounded much like the typical greeting in society, so Christians were known to greet each other with the word for “grace” instead. “Peace” was the typical Jewish greeting. Paul here is simply (Yet meaningfully) greeting all the men and women in the church with both cultural greetings, “Grace to you and peace from God our Father.”
Questions to consider:
- “Saint” simply means to be set apart. All those who have put their faith in Christ have been set apart. That means “the saints” and the “faithful brothers (and sisters)” who received this letter was the same group of people? To whom then was this letter originally written? How do these words help us to better identify who we are still today?
- Why was Paul an Apostle? Was it because he wanted it (Acts 8:1-3)? Or because he was a great speaker (1 Corinthians 2:1-5)? Who made Paul an Apostle?
- How has God shown you grace and given you peace? How has Christ given you grace and peace with the Father?