The Berean Post Podcast

In our previous blog posts, we have delved into Paul's letter to the Colossian church, focusing in detail on the first chapter. Today, we move forward to the core of Paul's message, which begins in chapter 2. Here, we witness the genuine heart of an apostle of Jesus Christ. Paul expresses his care for the brethren at both the Colossian and Laodicean churches, as they were located in close proximity to each other. Paul urged the leaders of the Colossian church to convey his concerns to the brethren in Laodicea. What a great conflict I have for youAn apostle is not just a church administrator, nor is he simply the CEO of a religious organization. He is more than a visionary or a gifted preacher or teacher. As we can see from the examples in this text and other passages in Paul's writings, an apostle is a loving father who cares deeply for his children. He does not act out of personal ego or seek to become a legend or superstar in the kingdom of Jesus Christ. Rather, he is convinced that the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ have had an unparalleled impact on the world and humanity. For this reason, Paul wanted to ensure that those under his care were firmly rooted and grounded in the truth, especially given the tumultuous times in which they lived and the many philosophical ideas that were contrary to the elementary teachings of Christ. Paul aimed for the Colossians to be established a deep understanding of who Jesus is. Paul saw himself as a spiritual father to those he ministered toThe apostle Paul carried a genuine burden for the people he ministered to. He did not view them to collect offerings or gain monetary benefits. Instead, he recognized them as a responsibility, not a revenue source. Despite being gifted with the privilege of seeing the resurrected Christ, being caught up to the third heaven, and receiving clarity and revelation, Paul did not boast in his accomplishments. In fact, he humbly referred to himself as the least of the apostles. His apostolic privilege also came with great responsibility, and Paul was fully aware. He understood that he would be held accountable both for his teachings and for the spiritual well-being of those who looked to him for guidance. It is this understanding of his commissioning and burden that led Paul to express his deep concern for the brethren in the Colossian church in this passage. The subsequent verses illustrate Paul's self-perception as a spiritual father rather than a religious organization executive.1 Corinthians 4:14-15 - "I do not write these things to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children. For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel."1 Thessalonians 2:11-12 - "For you know how, like a father with his children, we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory."Philippians 2:22 - "But you know Timothy's proven worth, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel."Philemon 10-12 - "I appeal to you for my child Onesimus, whose father I became in my imprisonment. (Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful to you and to me.)"Galatians 4:19 - "my little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you!"Aware that he would be held accountable for each soul in Colossae and Laodicea, Paul expresses a paternal concern by reminding the brethren to remain steadfast in what he taught them and not to be enticed by the popular philosophies of his time.

Throughout the first chapter of Colossians, Paul has expressed his thankfulness and prayers for the Colossian believers, commending them for their faith in Jesus Christ and the love they have shown to one another. He has also given them a deep understanding of the pre-eminence of Christ over all creation, how he is the image of the invisible God and the firstborn of all creation. Furthermore, Paul explains the great work of Christ's reconciliation and redemption, emphasizing the importance of continuing in the faith, and holding firm to the hope of the gospel.Now, turning to the subject of his preaching, Paul emphasizes the centrality of Jesus Christ in all that he proclaims. He limits his message to the subject of Jesus Christ's death, burial, and resurrection, which brings about salvation and the forgiveness of sins. In doing so, Paul is reminding the Colossian believers and all who read this letter, that the message of the gospel is not just another teaching or philosophy but is centered on the person and work of Jesus Christ.Him we preach!This passage highlights that Jesus Christ was the sole subject of Paul's preaching, as evidenced by the phrase "him we preach" in Colossians 1:28. Despite the prevalence of modern sermons on topics such as personal improvement, Paul's preaching was singularly focused on the person and work of Jesus Christ, specifically his death, burial, and resurrection. Paul made it clear that he was not ashamed of this singularity, and in 1 Corinthians 1:23-24, he stated that "we preach Christ crucified," which is a stumbling block to some but the power and wisdom of God to those who are called. Thus, Paul's preaching centered around the person and work of Jesus Christ, and any other subtopics were secondary and simply served as a dressing around his central theme. The idea of preaching Christ is a central theme in the writings of Paul, and there are several passages where he emphasizes the importance of preaching Christ alone. Here are a few examples:1 Corinthians 2:2: "For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified."Galatians 1:8-9: "But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed."Him we preach!Notice Paul says “we preach!” The centrality of Christ in preaching was not exclusive to Paul but was also the single focus of all the other apostles, as seen in the New Testament text. In Acts 4:2, we read that "they [the apostles] were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead." Similarly, in Acts 5:42, we read that "every day, in the temple and from house to house, they [the apostles] did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ." The apostles' preaching was centered on the person and work of Jesus Christ, emphasizing his death, burial, and resurrection as the means of salvation. This shows that Paul's preaching was not an isolated emphasis but reflected the overarching message of the gospel proclaimed by all the apostles.These questions are crucial for every Christian preacher and teacher to consider, as we seek to faithfully proclaim the gospel to our congregations and those around us. May we be like Paul and the other apostles, who proclaimed Christ and him alone, and may we be unashamed of the singularity of our preaching. Christ we preach!

At the beginning of this passage, Paul clarifies that God chose him to serve as a minister for the Colossians to fulfill God's word. Paul explains that he has been given a ministry hidden from previous generations. This is a revelation that's both fascinating and significant - Paul is essentially saying that God had a previously unknown mystery, but it has now been revealed.Paul employs the term "mystery" in his writing, yet its exact meaning may remain unclear to the reader. The Greek word used in the text is "mysterion," which serves as the origin of English words such as "mystery" and "mysterious." This term has taken on various meanings throughout history, including mystical and spiritual connotations. Nonetheless, the inquiry here is precisely what Paul intends by utilizing this term.Interestingly, Paul uses the word "mystery" 13 times in the New Testament. However, we can't assume he means the same thing every time he uses it. We need to examine biblical evidence to understand what he means by "mystery" in a particular context. For example, in 1 Corinthians 2:7-8 and Romans 16:25-26, Paul refers to the mystery of God's plan of salvation for everyone, which was hidden for ages but has now been revealed through prophetic writings. Ephesians 5:32 talks about the mystery of the relationship between Christ and the church. And in Romans 11:25, he mentions the mystery of Israel's hardening of the heart. By examining these passages and others, we can better understand what Paul meant by "mystery" in different contexts. The question is the meaning of "mystery" in the text under consideration. Contextually, both the Old and New Testaments suggest that Paul revealed that Gentiles now share the same promise as Jews, which would have been a significant revelation to the Jews.In examining this text, several points are worth considering. First, Paul acknowledges that he lived during a time of prophetic fulfillment. Secondly, He states that he was a vessel for that prophetic fulfillment.Through the prophets, God predicted that Gentiles would be included in His plan of salvation, and there would no longer be a division between Jews and Gentiles. This is supported by Old Testament texts such as Isaiah 11:10.“And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse, who shall stand as a banner to the people; For the Gentiles shall seek Him, And His resting place shall be glorious.” Isaiah 11:10,Thirdly, passages in the New Testament, such as Acts 15:7-9, record the fulfillment of this prophecy through Jesus Christ. Peter speaks of God's inclusion of Gentiles, making no distinction between them and Jews and purifying their hearts through faith.While Paul uses the word "mystery" to refer to various concepts in different contexts, in our text this morning, he refers to the unity of Jew and Gentile in Christ as a single mystery. Other New Testament passages record this prophecy's fulfillment through Jesus Christ. Consider Acts 15:7-9:And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them: “Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us, and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.The Colossian church was unique in that it was composed of Jews and Gentiles, despite the hostility between these groups during the first century, as evidenced by passages in the Gospels. By emphasizing this unity, Paul sought to prevent divisions or animosity within the Colossian church based on cultural or ethnic differences. This message is relevant to the Colossian church of Paul's day and believers today as we struggle with cultural and ethnic divides in our churches and communities.