Yesterday, we looked at the first of the “sales strategies” Paul uses in this passage to persuade his audience to trust him and his message. (You’ll need to read it first, if you’re just joining us.) Today, we look at the second strategy: the idea of scarcity – whether it be scarcity in time (limited… Continue reading Colossians 1:24–2:5 (Part Two)

Paul would have made a great used car salesperson.  OK, so hear me out on this one. What I mean is, in seeking to persuade the Colossians of the supremacy of Christ over all of the other cars on the lot competing philosophies of the world, in today’s passage Paul uses two strategies often employed by… Continue reading Colossians 1:24–2:5 (Part One)

This continues directly from yesterday’s post (which you definitely need to have read first), looking at how the Colossian hymn speaks against the backdrop of our culture’s worldviews. We pick it up from verse 18: Colossians 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church Brian Walsh’s poem continues:*

Having looked at what this hymn said against the background of the competing philosophies of the first century – and against the rhetoric of empire – what might it say in our time and culture? I think the key to reading it today lies in the overwhelming message given to everyone in Paul’s diverse first-century audience:… Continue reading Colossians 1:15-20 (Part Three)

This week, we’re looking at the Colossian hymn as a word against the competing worldviews of Paul’s audience. Yesterday, we looked at how it presented Christ as superior to all that Judaism was looking for – indeed, Jesus is its fulfilment – as well as superior to the local pagan mystery religions, with their desires… Continue reading Colossians 1:15-20 (Part Two)

Last week, we looked at the background to Colossians: how Paul was writing to guard against the temptation for his audience to incorporate the philosophies of this world into their way of following Jesus – and so water it down into just another human scheme. One of Paul’s key arguments throughout the letter is for… Continue reading Colossians 1:15-20 (Part One)

Yesterday, we read Colossians 1:1-14 and saw how Paul used two strategies to encourage his audience to “live a life worthy of the Lord” and not be swayed into incorporating into their following of Jesus the human-constructed philosophies of the world around them. He asked them to remember what Jesus has already achieved for them,… Continue reading Colossians 1:1-14 (Part Two)

Over the past two days, we’ve seen how Paul’s letter to the Colossians was written to guard against the temptation to incorporate the philosophies of the culture around them into their own philosophy – their own way of life in following Jesus. Instead, they are to “live a life worthy of the Lord” (1:10) and… Continue reading Colossians 1:1-14 (Part One)

Yesterday, we introduced the purpose of Paul’s letter to the Colossians: to encourage his first hearers to live their lives in light of their belief that Jesus is Lord (2:6), and not to be taken captive by an alternative way of life (“philosophy”, 2:8). Although there is much discussion about what that alternative philosophy was,… Continue reading Introducing Colossians – Part Two

Colossians 1:1-2 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, 2 To God’s holy people in Colossae, the faithful brothers and sisters in Christ: Grace and peace to you from God our Father. This week, we begin a new series through Paul’s letter to the Colossians. But before… Continue reading Introducing Colossians – Part One