In our last class for the year, we take a listen to the Letter to Philemon. Although it is the shortest of Paul’s letters, the Letter to Philemon packs real power as a masterpiece of grace based persuasion. Paul seeks to encourage the reconciliation of Onesimus and Philemon through their fellowship in Christ.

We complete our discussion of Colossians by looking at Paul’s “household codes” and his final admonitions and greetings.

Now that Paul has addressed the false teaching that threatens the church, he now turns to the positive side of things. How should we live if we are to be faithful to Christ, representing Him in all things? We have put off the “old self” and now we put on the “new self” being renewed…

Paul gives examples of the types of the things the false teachers are teaching. As he had said earlier, these are all empty, deceitful, based in human traditions, and influenced by the elemental spirits. These teachings do not hold fast to the Head who is Christ. On the other hand, Paul encourages the Colossians to…

We get to the heart of the letter as Paul begins to address the false teaching that is threatening the church. This teaching is empty, deceptive, based in human traditions, and demonically influenced. We also discuss “the circumcision of Christ” and what has happened to us “IN Christ.”

Paul makes clear a couple of the “mysteries” – secrets – that the Lord had kept hidden in previous times: 1) Christ Jesus Himself and 2) Christ in Us, the Hope of Glory. We also begin to discuss the non Christ-focused teaching that is threatening the Colossians.

We discuss Worldview elements as a review. We also discuss what Paul means when he says, “I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions…. ” – one of the more difficult statements in his letters.

We focus on the “Christ Hymn” in Colossians 1:15-20. This passage is a real “high point” in New Testament theology. Here, Paul records his best, highest theology of Jesus – The Beloved Son – who is FIRST in all things.

We begin to work our way through the sections of the letter. In this section we focus on the Hope we hear about in the Gospel and also Paul’s prayer for the Church.

We read through the Letter to the Colossians together. We also discuss the “why” of the letter – WHY did Paul write to the church at this time. The is easy to discern: the church was being threatened by false teaching that could lead them away from Christ.