BIBLE STUDY MANUALS: COLOSSIANS CHAPTER THREE

OBSERVATION STAGE

TABLE OF CONTENTS

The purpose of the observation stage is to maintain focus on the text at hand within the normative rules of language, context and by the book of Colossians. This will serve to avoid going on unnecessary tangents elsewhere; and more importantly, it will provide the framework for a proper and objective comparison with passages located elsewhere in Scripture.

Note that similar or the same subject matter describing an historic event which matter is essentially the same as the subject matter in another passage in Scripture does not necessarily prove that the passages in view portray the same event.

On the other hand, passages in Scripture which not only have similar or the same subject matter describing an event but which also have different subject matter from one another, may or may not have the same event in view depending upon a full examination of the context of each of the passages. Given the brevity of the bible - the limited time, space and resources such as paper, ink, etc. - not everything was capable of being included in each of the writings or even in all of the writings together. There are going to be similarities and differences. But a careful examination of Scripture will reveal that there is nevertheless a miraculous harmony and complete absence of contradiction.

Remember that something elsewhere may be true, but in the text at hand it may not be in view.

Note: references to Manuscript Evidence are largely quotations from New Testament Text and Translation Commentary, by Phillip W. Comfort, Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, IL, 2008.

****** EXCERPT FROM COLOSSIANS CHAPTER TWO ******

MOVE TO CHAPTER THREE

[(Col 2:18-23) Commentary On Col 2:18-23]:

WITH THE CONTEXT OF COL 2:11-14 IN MIND COL 2:15 GOES ON TO EXPLAIN THAT THE PRINCIPALITIES AND POWERS WHICH USURPED THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD WERE DISARMED AS A RESULT OF CHRIST'S SACRIFICE FOR ALL OF MANKIND'S SINS IN THE SENSE THAT GOD WOULD NO LONGER HOLD MEN WHO TRUSTED IN CHRIST ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR SINS, FREEING MAN FROM THE ABSOLUTE CONTROL OF THEIR SIN NATURES SO THAT THEY COULD CHOOSE TO LIVE RIGHTEOUSLY INSTEAD OF SINFULLY. HE MADE A PUBLIC SPECTACLE OF THEM, HAVING TRIUMPHED OVER THEM THROUGH THE WORK OF JESUS CHRIST ON THE CROSS. PAUL THEN CONCLUDED IN COL 2:16-17 TO BELIEVERS, "SO LET NO ONE JUDGE YOU IN FOOD OR IN DRINK, OR REGARDING A FESTIVAL OR A NEW MOON OR SABBATHS, WHICH ARE A SHADOW OF THINGS TO COME - WHICH OBSERVANCE WAS NOT EFFECTUAL FOR SALVATION UNTO ETERNAL LIFE. BUT THE REAL SUBSTANCE OF THEM IS OF CHRIST RELATIVE TO THE RECEPTION OF ETERNAL LIFE AND ETERNAL REWARDS.

WHEREUPON IN COL 2:18 PAUL CONCLUDED THAT THOSE WHO ATTEMPT TO JUDGE BELIEVERS ON LEGALISTIC TEMPORAL MATTERS WOULD HAVE THEM CHEATED OF THEIR REWARD NOT IN THE SENSE OF LOSING OUT ON SALVATION UNTO ETERNAL LIFE WHICH IS AN ETERNALLY SECURE GIFT THROUGH A MOMENT OF FAITH ALONE IN CHRIST ALONE AND NOT A REWARD; BUT IN THE SENSE OF LOSING OUT ON ETERNAL AND TEMPORAL REWARDS FOR PERSEVERING IN THE FAITH IN SALVATION BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH ALONE AND NOT BEING PERSUADED TO OBSERVE LEGALISMS AND PERFORM WORKS IN ORDER TO GAIN / MAINTAIN SALVATION UNTO ETERNAL LIFE

FOR IN COL 2:19 PAUL STIPULATED / COMMANDED BELIEVERS TO HOLD FAST TO THEIR HEAD WHO IS CHRIST, FROM WHOM ALL THE BODY OF BELIEVERS IS NOURISHED AND KNIT TOGETHER BY JOINTS AND LIGAMENTS IN THE SENSE THAT BELIEVERS ARE ALL CONNECTED TO THEIR LORD AS PARTS OF THE HUMAN BODY ARE CONNECTED TO THE HEAD THROUGH JOINTS AND LIGAMENTS. PAUL THEN WROTE THAT THE BELIEVERS WHO ARE PART OF THE BODY OF CHRIST GROW WITH THE INCREASE THAT IS FROM GOD AND NOT VIA THE UNBIBLICAL NOTIONS OF MEN SUCH AS THE GNOSTICS.

THEN IN COL 2:20-23, PAUL CONTINUES TO EXPLAIN THAT THE BELIEVER HAS DIED WITH CHRIST IN THE SENSE OF NO LONGER NEEDING TO FOLLOW THE ELEMENTARY PRINCIPLES OF THE TEMPORAL WORLD OF SINFUL MAN AS IF THESE TEMPORAL SINFUL THINGS ARE ALL THERE IS - IGNORING THE ETERNAL AND SPIRITUAL WORLD, AS IF LIVING IN THE WORLD IS ALL THERE IS - SUBMITTING ONESELF TO SUCH RULES AS DO NOT HANDLE, DO NOT TASTE, DO NOT TOUCH! WHICH ALL CONCERN TEMPORAL AND SINFUL THINGS WHICH PERISH WITH THE USING AND ARE UNRIGHTEOUS BECAUSE THEY ARE ACCORDING TO THE COMMANDMENTS AND DOCTRINES OF MEN - NOT OF GOD, NOT OF CHRIST. PAUL CLOSES WITH A STATEMENT THAT THESE SINFUL THINGS HAVE AN APPEARANCE OF WISDOM CONNECTED TO A SELF-MADE / MAN-MADE RELIGION, FALSE HUMILITY, AND A NEGLECT OF THE BODY AND SELF-ABASEMENT / DEPRECATING WHICH ARE OF NO VALUE AGAINST THE INDULGENCE OF THE FLESH

I) [(Col 3:1-25)]:

A) [Col 2:18-Col 3:4]:

1) [(Col 3:4) Manuscript Evidence For Col 3:4]:

2) [Commentary On Col 2:18-Col 3:4]:

PAUL HAS DECLARED IN CHAPTER TWO THAT BELIEVERS ARE NOT TO VALUE THE ELEMENTARY PRINCIPLES OF THE WORLD OF TEMPORAL THINGS, I.E., THE SINFUL DOCTRINES OF MEN. WHEREUPON IN CHAPTER THREE, PAUL DECLARED THAT SINCE BELIEVERS WERE RAISED UP WITH CHRIST IN THE SENSE OF BEING IDENTIFIED WITH AND BENEFITING FROM WHAT WAS ACCOMPLISHED BY OUR LORD'S DEATH, BURIAL AND RESURRECTION - ETERNAL LIFE AND ALL SPIRITUAL MATTERS THAT PERTAIN TO THAT; THEY ARE TO SEEK THOSE ETERNAL THINGS WHICH ARE ABOVE, WHERE CHRIST IS, SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD. FOR BELIEVERS HAVE DIED WITH CHRIST IN THE SENSE OF BENEFITTING FROM THAT DEATH UNTO FORGIVENESS OF SINS UNTO ETERNAL LIFE. SO THE BELIEVER'S LIFE IS HIDDEN WITH CHRIST IN GOD. WHEN CHRIST WHO IS OUR LIFE APPEARS - IS MANIFESTED - THEN THEY ALSO WILL APPEAR WITH HIM IN GLORY

a) [Compare Ro 6:8-11 ]:

b) [Compare Heb 2:14-15]:

B) [Col 3:5-9]:

1) [(Col 3:8) Manuscript Evidence For Col 3:8]:

2) [(Col 3:5-9) Commentary On Col 3:5-9]:

IN COL 3:5, BELIEVERS ARE EMPHATICALLY COMMANDED TO PUT TO DEATH THEIR MEMBERS WHICH ARE "ON THE EARTH" IN THE SENSE OF IMMEDIATELY DEACTIVATE THOSE MEMBERS OF THEIR BODY WHICH ARE EARTHLY AS OPPOSED TO HEAVENLY, I.E., OPERATING UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE SIN NATURE; COMMITTING SINS SUCH AS THOSE LISTED: FORNICATION, UNCLEANNESS, [LUSTFUL] PASSION, EVIL DESIRE, AND COVETOUSNESS, WHICH IS IDOLATRY. FOR PAUL EXPLAINS THAT IT IS BECAUSE OF THESE THINGS THAT THE WRATH OF GOD WILL COME UPON THE SONS OF DISOBEDIENCE - THOSE WHOSE LIVES ARE CHARACTERIZED BY DISOBEDIENCE, UNBELIEF AND EVER INCREASING UNGODLINESS / SINFULNESS. PAUL REMINDS THE BELIEVERS THAT IN SUCH UNGODLINESS THEY ONCE WALKED, WHEN THEY WERE LIVING AS UNBELIEVERS. AND SO PAUL ADDS MORE FOR THEM TO PUT OFF: ANGER, WRATH, MALICE, BLASPHEMY, FILTHY LANGUAGE OF OF THEIR MOUTHS; AND DO NOT LIE TO ONE ANOTHER, SINCE THEY HAVE PUT OFF THE OLD MAN - THE CONTROL OF THE OLD SIN NATURE WITH ITS EVIL DEEDS WHEN THEY BECAME BELIEVERS

****** COMPARE EXCERPT FROM ROMANS CHAPTER SIX ******

[Ro 6:6]:

(Ro 6:5-6:6a) THE BELIEVER'S UNDERSTANDING THAT HE HAS BECOME UNITED WITH JESUS CHRIST IN THE LIKENESS OF HIS DEATH AND THAT HE SHALL BE ALSO BE UNITED IN THE LIKENESS OF HIS RESURRECTION LEADS TO KNOWING THAT HIS OLD SELF WAS CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST

THE OLD SELF = LIT, 'THE OLD MAN' = THAT PART OF EVERY INDIVIDUAL (INCLUDING BELIEVERS) WHICH CONTROLS THE PRACTICE OF EVIL WHICH HAS BEEN CRUCIFIED = PUT TO DEATH, I.E., IT'S CONTROL IS DEACTIVATED BUT NOT ANNIHILATED AT THE MOMENT ONE BECOMES A BELIEVER

[Ro 6:6 cont.]:

THE RESULT OF OUR OLD SELF BEING CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST, I.E., PUT TO DEATH, IS THE BODY OF SIN BEING RENDERED POWERLESS SO THAT WE SHOULD NO LONGER BE SLAVES TO SIN

SINCE HIS SIN NATURE WAS RENDERED POWERLESS, THE BELIEVER SHOULD NO LONGER BE A SLAVE TO SIN BUT HE CAN CHOOSE TO CONTINUE IN SIN. HOWEVER THE QUESTION WAS PREVIOUSLY ASKED WHY?

[Ro 6:7]:

DEATH WITH CHRIST CANCELS THE BELIEVER'S ENFORCED SLAVERY TO SIN

****** END OF EXCERPT FROM ROMANS CHAPTER SIX ******

C) [Col 3:8-11]:

1) [(Col 3:11) Manuscript Evidence For Col 3:11]:

2) [Col 3:8-11) Commentary On Col 3:8-11]:

PAUL HAVING WRITTEN IN COL 3:8-9, 'BUT NOW YOU YOURSELVES ARE TO PUT OFF ALL THESE [SINS]: ANGER, WRATH, MALICE, BLASPHEMY, FILTHY LANGUAGE OUT OF YOUR MOUTH, DO NOT LIE TO ONE ANOTHER, SINCE YOU HAVE PUT OFF THE OLD MAN [I.E.,THE OLD SIN NATURE] WITH HIS EVIL DEEDS MOVES TO COL 3:10-11 WHEREIN THE BELIEVER'S NOW PUTTING ON THE NEW MAN IN THE SENSE OF THE NEW NATURE WHICH, BY HIS GRACE, GOD PROVIDED WITHIN THE BELIEVER AT THE MOMENT OF FAITH ALONE IN CHRIST ALONE VIA THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WHO IS THE AGENT WHO HAS PUT WITHIN THE BELIEVER THE NEW MAN; WHO IS RENEWED IN KNOWLEDGE ACCORDING TO THE IMAGE OF HIM WHO CREATED THE BELIEVER, GOD. THIS IS A RENEWAL IN WHICH THERE IS NO DISTINCTION BETWEEN GREEK AND JEW, CIRCUMCISED AND UNCIRCUMCISED, BARBARIAN, SCYTHIAN, SLAVE AND FREEMAN, BUT CHRIST IS ALL AND IN ALL.

a) [(Col 3:10) Compare with Ro 6:1-7]:

b) [(Col 3:10) Compare with 2 Cor 4:16]:

3) [(Col 3:9b, 10) Expositor's Commentary]:

D) [Col 3:12-17]:

1) [(Col 3:13) Manuscript Evidence For Col 3:13]:

2) [(Col 3:14) Manuscript Evidence For Col 3:14]:

3) [(Col 3:15) Manuscript Evidence For Col 3:15]:

4) [(Col 3:16a) Manuscript Evidence For Col 3:16a]:

5) [(Col 3:17a) Manuscript Evidence For Col 3:17a]:

6) [(Col 3:17b) Manuscript Evidence For Col 3:17b]:

7) [(Col 3:12-17) Commentary On Col 3:12-17]:

PAUL THEREFORE CONCLUDES IN COL 3:12-17 THAT BELIEVERS BEING THE ELECT OF GOD, I.E., THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN CHOSEN OF GOD TO BE IN CHRIST TO BE AN EXAMPLE OF HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS; THOSE WHO ARE BELOVED OF GOD ARE TO PUT ON, IN THE SENSE OF HOW THEY ARE TO ACT: WITH GENTLENESS, PATIENCE / LONGSUFFERING - BEARING / FOREBEARING WITH ONE ANOTHER, AND FORGIVING EACH OTHER. AND WHOEVER HAS A COMPLAINT AGAINST ANYONE; JUST AS THE LORD FORGAVE YOU, SO ALSO SHOULD YOU FORGIVE THEM. BUT ABOVE ALL THINGS PUT ON AGAPE / GODLY SELF-SACRIFICIAL LOVE WHICH IS THE BOND OF PERFECTION. AND LET THE PEACE OF CHRIST RULE IN YOUR HEARTS, TO WHICH INDEED YOU WERE CALLED IN ONE BODY, AND BE THANKFUL. AND LET THE WORD OF CHRIST RICHLY DWELL WITHIN YOU, WITH ALL WISDOM, TEACHING AND ADMONISHING ONE ANOTHER WITH PSALMS AND HYMNS AND SPIRITUAL SONGS, SINGING WITH THANKFULNESS IN YOUR HEARTS TO GOD. AND WHATEVER YOU DO IN WORD OR DEED, DO ALL IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS, GIVING THANKS TO GOD THE FATHER THROUGH HIM.