Christ Is Supreme: Colossians and Philemon
Detailed Table of Contents

Preface 3
 

Reprint Guidelines

4

 

Online Bible Study Forum

5

 

Table of Contents

6

 

References and Abbreviations

11

Introduction to Colossians

13

 

The City of Colossae

13

 

The Peoples of Colossae

14

 

History of the Church

15

 

Occasion of the Letter

15

 

Authorship

15

 

Place and Date of Origin

16

 

The Nature of the "Colossian Heresy"

17

 

Who Are the False Teachers?

18

 

Purpose of the Letter

19

1. A Prayer for the Colossian Believers (Colossians 1:1-14)

20

 

The Situation

20

 

Paul and Timothy, the Senders (1:1)

21

 

To the Colossian Believers (1:2)

21

 

Thanksgiving for the Colossians Faith and Love (1:3-6)

22

 

The Gospel is Multiplying (1:5b-6)

23

 

God's Grace (1:6b)

25

 

Epaphras, the Faithful Minister (1:7-8)

26

 

Paul's Prayer for the Colossian Believers (1:9-12a)

27

 

Knowing God (1:9-10)

28

 

Bearing Fruit (1:10b)

28

 

Dominion of Darkness, Kingdom of Light (1:12-13)

30

 

The Father's Salvation (1:12-14)

32

2. The Supremacy of Christ (Colossians 1:15-19)

36

 

Hymn to Christ (1:15-20)

37

 

Christian Hymns in New Testament Letters

37

 

1. Image of the Invisible God (1:15a)

38

 

2. Firstborn Over All Creation (1:15b-16)

39

 

3. Before All Things (1:17a)

42

 

4. In Him All Things Hold Together (1:17b)

43

 

5. Head of the Body, the Church (1:18a)

44

 

6. The Beginning (1:18b)

45

 

7. Firstborn from Among the Dead (1:18c)

45

 

Preeminence (1:18d)

46

 

Fullness of God Dwells in Him (1:19)

46

3. Christ the Reconciler (Colossians 1:20-23)

48

 

Reconcile All Things to God (1:20a)

48

 

Making Peace through His Blood (1:20b)

49

 

Alienation Contrasted with Reconciliation (1:21-22)

49

 

If You Continue (1:23)

51

 

The Hope of the Gospel (1:23)

53

4. Paul's Labors for the Church (Colossians 1:24-2:5)

56

 

A Servant of the Gospel and the Church (1:23, 25)

56

 

Suffering for You (1:24)

57

 

Paul's Commission (1:25)

60

 

The Mystery of Christ in You Gentiles (1:25-27)

60

 

Christ in You, the Hope of Glory (1:27b)

61

 

Present Everyone Perfect in Christ (1:28-29)

63

 

Struggling in Prayer (2:1)

64

 

Complete Understanding (2:2-3)

65

 

Let No One Deceive You (2:4-5)

67

5. Freedom from Legalism (Colossians 2:6-23)

70

 

Characteristics of our Relationship with Christ (2:6-7)

70

 

Deceptive Philosophy (2:8)

71

 

The Fullness of Deity in Bodily Form (2:9-10)

73

 

God in the Flesh

74

 

Complete in Him! (2:10)

76

 

Spiritual Circumcision (2:11-12)

77

 

Made Alive in Christ (2:13-14)

78

 

The Written Code is Cancelled (2:14)

78

 

Disarming the Evil Spiritual Powers (2:15)

80

 

Discarding the Shadow for the Reality (2:16-17)

82

 

Mystical Jewish Practices (2:16-18)

83

 

Connection with the Head (2:19)

84

 

The Emptiness of Human Regulations (2:20-23)

85

6. Guidelines for Holy Living (Colossians 3:1-17)

88

 

Set Your Mind on Things Above (3:1-2)

88

 

You Have Died (3:3-4)

90

 

Your Life Is Hid (3:3-4)

90

 

Put to Death Your Old Practices (3:5-8)

91

 

Sinful Behaviors (3:5-8)

92

 

Put to Death Sexual Sins (3:5-6)

92

 

Put Off the Sins of Anger and the Tongue (3:8)

94

 

Don't Lie (3:9)

97

 

The New Self, Being Renewed (3:9-10)

97

 

One in Christ (3:11)

99

 

Cloth Yourselves with Virtue (3:12)

99

 

Forgive Each Other (3:13)

101

 

Love (3:14)

101

 

Peace and Thankfulness (3:15)

102

 

Teaching, Exhorting, and Singing (3:16)

103

 

Songs, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs (3:16b)

104

 

Do Everything in the Name of Jesus (3:17)

104

7. Christian Households (Colossians 3:18-4:1)

107

 

Wives, Submit to Your Husbands (3:18)

108

 

Husbands, Love Your Wives (3:19)

109

 

Children, Obey Your Parents (3:20)

110

 

Fathers, Don't Provoke Your Children (3:21)

110

 

Slaves and Employees

111

 

Slaves, Obey Your Masters (3:22)

112

 

As Working for the Lord, Not Men (3:23-25)

113

 

God Is Our Employer or Master

113

 

Masters, Be Fair to Your Slaves (3:25-4:1)

116

 

Churches, Be Fair to Your Church Employees

118

8. Final Instructions and Greetings (Colossians 4:2-18)

119

 

Devote Yourselves to Prayer (4:2)

119

 

Paul Requests Prayer for His Ministry Team (4:3-4)

120

 

Prayer for Success of the Mission (4:3-4)

120

 

Prayer for an Open Door (4:3)

121

 

Prayer for Clarity of Speech (4:4)

122

 

Wisdom Toward Outsiders (4:5-6)

122

 

Guidelines for Conversations with Non-Christians (4:6)

123

 

Tychicus and Onesimus (4:7-8)

125

 

Onesimus (4:9)

126

 

Aristarchus, Mark and Jesus Justus (4:10-11)

126

 

Epaphras (4:12-13)

127

 

Luke and Demas (4:14)

128

 

Greetings to the Church at Laodicea (4:15-16)

129

 

Command to Archippus (4:17)

129

 

Remember My Chains (4:18)

130

9. Paul's Letter to Philemon

132

 

Introduction to Philemon

132

 

Greetings (verses 1-3)

133

 

Encouragement to Philemon (verses 4-7)

133

 

Paul's Prayer for Philemon (verse 6)

134

 

Paul's Appeal on Behalf of Onesimus (verses 8-13)

135

 

Respect for Philemon's Will (verses 14)

137

 

A New Relationship (verses 15-16)

137

 

The Appeal: Welcome Him (verses 17-21)

138

 

A Gospel Partner (verse 17)

139

 

Prepare a Guest Room (verse 22)

139

 

Personal Greetings (verse 23-24)

140

 

What Happened to Onesimus?

140

 

What Do We Learn from this Letter?

141

 

Grace (verse 25)

142

Appendix 1. Participant Handouts

144

Appendix 2. Songs and Hymns from Colossians

156

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