The book of Colossians is a powerful pastoral letter, Paul had never met the people of Colossae, but had good reports from others. Paul was in prison but this did not stop him writing or praying.
In the introduction to this book, we again see Paul’s pastoral heart, his concern for his flock.
Colossians 1 vs. 1-8 – Paul’s Thanks To God For The People in Colossae
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To God’s holy people
In Colossae, the faithful brothers and sisters in Christ: Grace and peace to you from God our Father
Paul writes to the people for Colossae whilst in prison, he hasn’t meet them but calls them holy people
He has had reports from others as to their faith, their resilience, and their belief in God as their Father
They were being challenged by other views and doctrines, Paul is keen to help them stay holy people
To be holy is to keep pure, to stay focussed on Jesus, and to be steadfast in belief of God as their Father
We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith
In Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up
Paul and Timothy are greatly encouraged by what they have heard about the people in Colossae and their faith
Paul is quick to focus on his three keys to a church being strong, being: faith, hope, and love, to keep these held up
To be a people that have a love for other Christians, prepared to help others and to outwork a practical faith
Which is based on the hope they have, the belief in Christ as Saviour, and as one who will return and be lifted up
At whose name every knee will bow, and every tongue confess that he is Lord, it is the essence of our faith
A faith founded on love, not a gushy love, but a sacrificial love, one prepared to lay down his life, to be lifted up
For you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel that has come to you.
In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world
Paul reinforces to the people of Colossae that the have heard the true message of the gospel, it has come to you
He is urging them to keep firm to their belief, a belief spreading through the whole world
Paul is saying to them you are not alone in your belief in the gospel, it is gaining acceptance, people just like you
In different towns and cities are hearing the true message, it is going through the world
Just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace.
You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf,
A tree is known by its fruit, you Paul says has grown through faith and understanding of God’s grace
Also your fruitfulness is a direct result of your learning the true gospel from Epaphras on our behalf
Epaphras is held up by Paul as being a faithful minister, one who is able to teach, they learnt of God’s grace
And the true message of God from him, he was one who instructed, built up their faith and not by half
Because of his faithfulness they have absorbed and are living faithfully and truly understood God’s grace
And who also told us of your love in the Spirit, for this reason,
Since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you
Paul again acknowledges what he has heard of their love in and out of season
That they love one another is due to the work of the Spirit that is in you
Epaphras not only taught faith, but showed how to live faith in an out of season
He showed what it was to lead a life lead by the Spirit, to more than a few
Paul and Timothy knew interceded for the People of Colossae, they had reason
They understood the challenges they faced, so they prayed with this in view
Mark Maffey February 2011© (NIV) http://maffster.blogtown.co.nz/