These personal greetings from Paul as he finishes his letter to the Colossians make reality out of this old text. To hear the names of his fellow workers, and some of the details of their situation, and Paul's advice to them ... it's like stepping into their lives and seeing God's hand at work in … Continue reading Colossians 4. →

There are so many good exhortations from Paul in this chapter -- both what not to do and what to do. From them, I'll just highlight this section: 15 Let the peace of Christ be in control in your heart (for you were in fact called as one body 0to this peace), and be thankful. 16 Let the word … Continue reading Colossians 3. →

In verses 20-23 we get a pretty clear picture of the deceitful philosophies Paul is referring to in verse 8: "8 Be careful not to allow anyone to captivate you through an empty, deceitful philosophy that is according to human traditions and the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ." That picture is of an ascetic … Continue reading Colossians 2. →

This first chapter of Paul's letter to the Christians in Colossae contains this great statement about Christ that the NET translation titles "The Supremacy of Christ". I just want to repeat it here. 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation,16 for all things in heaven and on earth were created in … Continue reading Colossians 1. →