Today, we continue our walk through the Book of Colossians by looking at Chapter 1:24 to Chapter 2:5, which is described as, ‘Paul’s Labor for the Church’1, or ‘Paul’s Desire for the Church’. 2
The Hebrew word for Church is ‘gahal’ which is translated ‘assembly’ or the ‘congregation of Yahweh’.
The Greek word is ‘ekklesia’ which translates ‘assembly’ or ‘called out ones’. 3
Stanley J. Grenz, in his book, ‘The Baptist Congregation’, says, ‘The church, then, is in the final analysis neither a building nor an organization, but people. Also, from New Testament to now, Church is seen, in the world community called the church, as people who confess the name of Jesus.’ 4
Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart suggest that as we read this section, we think about how it functions in a letter to a church that Paul has not founded or visited. His present imprisonment is to be understood as carrying on the sufferings of Christ for the sake of the (especially Gentile) church (1:24-27); his present role is to ‘strenuously contend’ (an athletic metaphor) for members of churches like theirs and Laodicea, who have not known him personally, so that they might be encouraged and not fall prey to false teaching. 5
So come with me to look at the passage for today and see what Paul has to say to the church in Colossae.
Colossians 1:24-2:5
24 Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church.
Paul mentions suffering in many of his letters:
Romans 5:3-5 NIV
3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;
4 perseverance, character; and character, hope.
5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
Philippians 3:10-11 NIV
10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,
11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.
Hebrews 10:32-35 NIV
32 Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you endured in a great conflict full of suffering.
33 Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated.
34 You suffered along with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions.
35 So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.
In this verse 24, he is letting the church in Colossae know how much he is willing to endure suffering to be more like Christ and to encourage those people to continue their walk with the Lord and each other.
25 I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness—
Paul affirms his stewardship of the Gospel. It was his responsibility to discharge this stewardship by exercising his special apostleship to the Gentiles, among whom the Colossians were included. 6
1 Thessalonians 2:4 NIV
4 On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts.
26 the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people.
Old Testament prophets were given messages for the people that had a part missing, which gave a ‘mystery’ to them that was finally revealed to Paul and others through the coming of Christ. The mystery was the ‘time’ when it would occur, and one side of who it would involve. 7
I think that Jesus himself was a mystery, since when He came to fulfil the prophecies about Him, the people did not know all that He would be and do, nor when He would come. We have that same mystery today in our expectation of Jesus’s return – not exactly sure when or how it will really come about.
27 To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Galatians 1:15-16 NIV
15 But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by his grace, was pleased
16 to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, my immediate response was not to consult any human being.
1 John 3:24 NIV
24 The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.
1 John 2:20 NIV
20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth.
28 He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ.
2 Timothy 3:17 NIV
17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Grenz says, ‘the repetition of “everyone” is emphatic. There is no part of Christian teaching that is to be reserved for a spiritual elite. All the truth of God is for all the people of God’. 8
29 To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.
Paul is telling the people to persevere in their walk with God, to tap into the power that Jesus gives them to keep going.
Hebrew 12:4 NIV
4 In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.
Colossians 2:1-5
1 I want you to know how hard I am contending for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally.
Paul is letting the people of Colossae know that even though he has never travelled there, he is still labouring on their behalf and sending encouragement. Paul uses the same idea when telling the people about Jesus.
1 Peter 1:8 NIV
8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy,
2 My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ,
1 Thessalonians 1:5 NIV
5 because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake.
Colossians 4:3 NIV
3 And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.
1 Peter 3:8 NIV
8 Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.
Paul strives to let the people who believe know that Jesus loves them and gives them power to share that love with all people.
Grenz stated, ‘The personal knowledge of Christ is the royal road to the appreciation of the divine wisdom.’ 9
3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Romans 11:33a NIV
33 Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
Jesus is the source of wisdom and knowledge and that is revealed to His believers!
4 I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments.
Evil words and false teachings (enticing words) were being used by some people in this young church. Paul had to reassure the Thessalonians and Corinthians of truth talk and discipline.
1 Thessalonians 2:5 NIV
5 You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness.
1 Corinthians 5:3 NIV
3 For my part, even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit. As one who is present with you in this way, I have already passed judgment in the name of our Lord Jesus on the one who has been doing this.
5 For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how disciplined you are and how firm your faith in Christ is.
Paul gives all the encouragement he can from a distance. His mention of being with them in spirit is to make his letter more personal, and I think to emphasize the connection that they have through the Holy Spirit.
This passage today is like a letter you would write to fellow believers for whom you were praying. Paul had a burning desire to reach, teach and empower all people, so he wrote many letters when he could not travel to them.
When is the last time you wrote a letter of encouragement, or texted or emailed, or just called someone to share the love that Jesus gives you for them? You never know when that simple note might be the turning point to save a life or soul. Allow God to lead you in reaching out to those He brings to mind.
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