Colossians

INTRODUCTION

This letter was written by Paul to the church at Colosse (ancient Asia Minor), present-day Turkey, while he was in a Roman jail. He wrote the letter because he had heard of the problems they were having with the false teaching that was influencing the believers in the church. Christians in Colosse incorporated the teachings of Christ with ideas and practices from other cultures that were non-Christian. Thus, the gospel was compromised. Therefore, Paul wrote the letter to let them know that they are complete in Christ. This message is applicable in today’s culture. Christians must know that they are complete in Christ.

Author: Paul

Date: Around 61-62 AD

OBJECTIVE: To know what Jesus Christ has done for you, and who you are in Him. To understand in your heart that “…in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power” Colossians 2:9-10, (KJV).

OUTLINE

CHAPTER 1

• Greetings (1:1-2)
• Thanksgiving (1:3-8)
• Prayer (1:9-14)
• Christ is Supreme (1:15-23)
• Paul’s work for the church (1:24-28)

CHAPTER 2

• Paul’s spiritual concern for the Colossian believers (2:1-7)
• Warning to guard against false teachers (2:8-23)

CHAPTER 3

• Living the New Life in Christ (3:1-17)
• Instructions for Christian Households (3:18-25)

CHAPTER 4

• Paul’s instruction (4:1)
• An encouragement for Prayer (4:2-5)
• Paul’s Final Instructions and Greetings (4:7-18

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Colossians Chapter 1 Worksheet

Please Read Colossians Chapter 1 and answer the following questions

1. How did Paul introduce himself? 1:1
2. Why do you think Paul felt it was necessary for him to introduce himself in this manner?
3. What did Paul call the Colossian believers? 1:2
4. What did Paul specifically pray over the believers in Colossians 1:2?
5. Can you pray these words over your life? [May the Grace and Peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be upon me always].
6. Why is it important to pray for grace and peace for yourself and for others?
7. How did Paul and his associates give thanks to God for the believers in Colossae 1:3?
8. What did Paul hear about the believers in Colossae that inspired him to pray for them? 1:4
9. How were these believers able to have the love for all the saints? 1:5
10. How did they hear of the hope laid up for them in heaven? 1:5
11. How does hearing the truth of the gospel impacts a believer? 1:6
12. From whom did the Colossian believers learn of the truth of the gospel? 1:7
13. How does Paul describe Epaphras in Colossians 1:7?
14. What did Epaphras inform Paul about the believers in Colossae? 1:8
15. What does Colossians 1:4 and 1:8 say about the hearts of the believers in Colossae?
16. Read Colossians 1:9-12 and write what Paul prayed for the Colossian church. Note: Pray this prayer daily for yourself, and for others.
17. What did God deliver us from according to Colossians 1:13 and transferred us to what when we became Christians?
18. What two things does Colossians 1:14 say we received when we accepted Christ?
19. Read Colossians 1:15-18 and list what this passage tells us about Christ?
20. What does Colossians 1:19-20 tell us about God the Father in relation to Christ?
21. What caused enmity between God and humans? 1:21; and Romans 1:18-32
22. Why was it necessary for Christ to die physically for us to be reconciled back to God? (Read Romans 5:6-8; Hebrews 9:22)
23. Why did Christ reconcile humanity through his death according to Colossians 1:22?
24. What did Paul say about his mission in Colossians 1:23-25?
25. Read Colossians 1:26-27. What is the mystery that is now revealed to the saints?
26. What did Paul say was the reason for warning and teaching Christ, the hope of glory? 1:28
27. What gives Paul the strength and ability to preach Christ to the gentiles? 1:29

DEFINITIONS:

Saints: Set apart, devoted to God.

Alienation: Estranged

Enemies: The Gentiles were God’s enemies because they were hostile to God. Therefore, their actions were wicked.

Reconciliation: In Scripture, it is the means by which sinners are reconciled and brought into a state of favor with God, after natural estrangement or enmity; the atonement.

Unblameable and unreproveable: Not blamable; not culpable; innocent; Not deserving reproof; that cannot be justly censured

Redemption: In theology, the purchase of God’s favor by the death and sufferings of Christ; the ransom or deliverance of sinners from the bondage of sin and the penalties of God’s violated law by the atonement of Chris

Colossians Chapter 2 Worksheet

Read Colossians Chapter 2 and answer the following questions:

1. What does Paul want the believers in Colosse to know about him? 2:1
2. What is Paul’s purpose for the believers in the Colossian church? 2:2
3. What is the mystery? 2:2
4. What does Colossians 2:3 say is hidden in Christ?
5. Why did Paul tell them what is hidden in Christ? 2:4
6. What does Paul want to see in the Colossian believers? 2:5
7. After receiving Christ as Lord and Savior, what should a believer do to grow in faith? 2:6-7
8. Write the warning in Colossians 2:8 in your own words.
9. What proof does Paul give in Colossians 2:9-12 that all we need for salvation is Christ?
10. What is the circumcision done by Christ? 2:11
11. What was the purpose of circumcision to Jews? See Genesis 17:1-14
12. How does Romans 2:28-29 describe circumcision?
13. What does God do for the believers at salvation? 2:13-15
14. Who are “principalities and powers” mentioned in v.15? Read also, Ephesians 6:12
15. Read Colossians 2:16-18. What are the things we should not allow?
16. What should Christians “hold fast to?” 2:19
17. What does Colossians 2:20 mean to you? See a similar statement in Galatians 2:18-21.
18. What does Colossians 2:23 say about the man-made regulations mentioned in Colossians 2:21-22? And why are they of no value to the believer?

DEFINITIONS:

• Transgressions: The violation of law.
• Circumcision: The act of cutting foreskin.
• Principalities and Powers: Spiritual forces.

Colossians Chapter 3 Worksheet

Read Colossians Chapter 3 and answer the following questions:

1. What are we commanded to do in Colossians 3:1-2?
2. Why are we commanded to do these things? 3:1
3. How do we set our affection on things above? 3:2 (See
4. What does Colossians 3:3 say about the life of the believer?
5. What do you think the statement “…Christ, who is our life…” means? 3:4 (See, Colossians 3:3; Acts 17:28; Romans 6:1-8) and then read and write 1 John 5:12
6. What did Paul say about himself in Philippians 1:21?
7. What is the wrath of God coming against? 3:6
8. According to Colossians 3:9-10, what are we to put off and put on now that we are in Christ Jesus?
9. What makes all people the same regardless of their race or class? 3:11
10. How does Paul describe believers in Colossians 3:12?
11. Read Colossians 3:12-13 and list all the things Paul says we have to put on as believers?
12. Why is it important to put on charity or love? 3:14
13. Read Colossians 3:15-17 and list the commands given in these verses?
14. What is the command given to wives in Colossians 3:18?
15. What is the command given to husbands in Colossians 3:19?
16. What is the command given to children? 3:20
17. What happens to children when the parents are overbearing? 3:20
18. According to Deuteronomy 5:16, what does God promise children who honor their parents?
19. What are fathers admonished not to do and why? 3:21
20. What command is given to fathers in Ephesians 6:4
21. What does Colossians 3:22-24 say about an employee’s work ethic?

DEFINITIONS:

• Fornication: is consensual sexual intercourse between two people not married to each other.
• Uncleanness: Lustful impurity that is connected to living loosely.
• Inordinate affection: A state of mind that excites sexual impurity
• Evil concupiscence: Evil desire; lust after; It is a strong desire such as lust. An example would be a man’s unending desire for a particular woman.
• Covetousness: A strong or inordinate desire of obtaining and possessing some supposed good.
• Idolatry: The worship of idols. Images, or anything made by hands.
• Filthy communication: Foul speech

Colossians Chapter 4 Worksheet

Read Colossians Chapter 4 and answer the following question:

1. What is an employer’s obligation to workers? 4:1
2. What was Paul’s request in Colossians 4:3-4?
3. Does the prayer request apply to praying for today’s church leadership?
4. How are we instructed to communicate with non-believers? 4:5
5. What did Paul say about our speech when witnessing to non-believers? 4:6
6. Read Matthew 5:13. What does it say about us?
7. Read Colossians 4:7-8. What did Paul say about Tychicus?
8. What did Paul say about Onesimus in Colossians 4:9?
9. According to Philemon who was Onesimus? Read Philemon 10-18 and summarize Paul’s plea to Philemon on Onesimus’ behalf. [ Note: Philemon has one chapter].
10. According to Colossians 4:10-11, who was a fellow prisoner with Paul?
11. What did Paul say about Epaphras in Colossians 4:12-13?
12. Can you pray for yourself and others the prayer that Epaphras prayed for the church in Colosse? Prayer: That you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.
13. What did Paul say about Luke and Demas? 4:14
14. To whom did Paul send his greetings? 4:15
15. What was Paul’s request regarding the reading of the epistle? 4:16
16. What was the instruction given to Archippus? 4:17
17. How did Paul conclude this epistle? 4:18

COLOSSIANS READING SCHEDULE

☐ Chapter 1: 1-13
☐ Chapter 1: 15-23
☐ Chapter 1: 24-29

☐ Chapter 2: 1-7
☐ Chapter 2: 8-15
☐ Chapter 2: 16-23
☐ Chapter 3: 1-17
☐ Chapter 3: 18-25

☐ Chapter 4: 1-6
☐ Chapter 4: 7-18

KEY LESSONS IN COLOSSIANS

• God has made us suitable for partaking in the inheritance of the saints in the Light. (1:12) 
• God has delivered us from the power of darkness and has translated us into the kingdom of  His Son. (1:13)
• Christ has redeemed us through his blood, and our sins have been forgiven. (1:14)
• Christ is the head of the body, which is the church. (1:18)
• We are to teach Christ. (1:28)
• All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Christ. (2:3)
• All the fullness of the Godhead bodily dwells in Christ. (2:9)
• We are complete in Him. (2:10)
• We have risen with Christ. (3:1)
• We are to set our affection on things above. (3:2)
• We are to let the word of Christ dwell in our hearts richly in all wisdom. (3:16)
• “Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people” NLT, (3:23)
• “Live wisely among those who are not believers and make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone.” NLT (4:5-6)

PRAYER IN THE BOOK OF COLOSSIANS TO PRAY FOR YOURSELF AND FOR OTHERS:

Colossians 1:9-14 New Living Translation (NLT)

⁹ So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. ¹⁰ Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.

¹¹ We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy,^{[ 12} always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. ¹³ For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, ¹⁴ who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.

PRAYER: I ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and spiritual wisdom and understanding. Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord. Your life will produce every kind of good fruit. I also pray that God will strengthen you with His glorious power. Thus, you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father.  He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to His people, who live in the light. For He has rescued you from the kingdom of darkness and transferred you into the Kingdom of His Son who purchased your freedom and forgave your sins, NLT.

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