The Berean Post Podcast

"Grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."

If you have been keeping up with this blog, you will be aware that we have previously established the historical context of the Colossian church to provide background for this letter. We also delved into the biblical definitions of an apostle and a saint.

As we have learned, Paul begins his letter by affirming his authority to address Colossae’s church leaders and members, introducing himself as an apostle of Jesus Christ. He then identifies the recipients of his letter as saints, individuals consecrated by God through their devotion to Jesus Christ and the purifying influence of the Holy Spirit. As saints, they are holy and set apart to exemplify God's love through their good deeds.

But there’s more because Paul’s greeting also includes the phrase;

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

In my opinion, the Bible stands apart from all other religious books. There would be a stark contrast if one placed the Bible on one end of a table and all other religious texts on the other. My conviction stems from the fact that many of the events recorded in the Old and New Testaments have a solid historical basis. I want to concentrate on why I consider the New Testament a trustworthy account of Jesus' resurrection and the early church's life. Although it's accurate to say that affirming Jesus Christ as both Lord and Savior requires faith, it's not solely founded on personal interpretation, subjective reasoning, or individual experience. Faith is essential, but it's not irrational or blind faith. My conviction that Jesus Christ is both Lord and Savior is not solely based on my own viewpoint but on the historical account presented in the New Testament.

The apostle Paul begins his letter to the brothers and sisters at the church in Colossae by calling them saints. According to the biblical definition of a saint, Paul’s greeting should not come as a surprise. However, the biblical definition of a saint may not be immediately clear to the modern reader, as the word has gained different definitions over the years. Thus, when Paul begins his letter to the Colossians by addressing the church members as saints, it may leave some wondering about the definition of this term according to the Bible. Let’s explore this together.