The Colossian Heresy

(Originally written January 23, 2006 in Book 20)

Paul's Prison Epistles

Acts: Paul was imprisoned twice:
1) Caesarea
2) Rome - house arrest some say Paul was imprisoned also in Ephesus

Philemon: Plea for a runaway slave

Philemon was a wealthy Christian slave owner who lived in Colossae (100 miles East of Ephesus)

The church met in Philemon's home (Philemon 1:2)

Onesimus was a profitable slave who stole money from Philemon and ran off to rome.

The name Onesimus means profitable and useful.

He ran into Paul and converted under Paul's ministry in Rome.

Philemon is an excellent example of how the gospel will undermine unjust social structures in the world. (Galatians 3:28)

Colossians: Christ as the head of the church

(Colossians is parallel to Ephesians)

Situation: an un-bliblical philosophy distorting Christian faith
Purpose: Paul writes to refute the Colossian heresy
What did it consist of?

Colossians Heresy:
-Ceremonialism: held to strict rules about food and drink, religious festivals and circumcision
Colossians 2:16-17, 2:11, 3:11
-Asceticism: "Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch", Colossians 2:21, 2:23
-Angel worship, Colossians 2:18
-Deprecation of Christ, Paul has to stress the supremacy of Christ, Colossians 1:15-20, 2:2-3,9
-Secret knowledge: Gnostics boasted of this, Colossians 2:2-3, 18
-Reliance on human wisdom and tradition, Colossians 2:4,8
-The heresy is a mix of extreme Judaism and early gnosticism

Acts 28: Colossians/Ephesians
Church = Universal Church vs. Local churches (house churches)


Themes:
1. Complete adequacy of Christ over against emptiness of mere human philosophy.
2. Practical implications of supremacy of Christ for every day living.

Structures:

Chapters 1-2: Doctrine, Christ is "the head"
Chapters 3-4: Practical, Follow Christ, "the head"

Philippians

A friendly missionary thank you letter

-Church at Philippi - Paul panted it on his second missionary journey
-Lydia, a wealthy God-fearing gentile
-slave girl with a spirit of divination
-Paul and Silas were stripped and flogged and imprisoned, where they sung songs all night
-Paul's Roman citizenship vindicated him
-Church met in Lydia's house

Perhaps Paul's favorite church.
-Regularly assisted Paul financially

Dominant Emotional tone: Joy
-The word Joy appears 16 times in various forms

What prompted Paul to write: Philippians had sent Epaphroditus with their gift to Paul

Being filled with the Spirit

1) Understand God's will
-Devotional
2) Be filled with the Spirit (v.18)
-a decision of the will (not something forced on you)
-controlled and empowered
3) Step out and obey