Colossians 2:1-3

1. Colossians 2:1-3 The Two Ministries What Doctrine was Paul was presenting Why Paul was intensely concerned about the Colossians’ health & welfare doctrinally HHBC.COLOSSIANS / Andrew Molloy

2. The Flow of Paul’s Teaching I: the Ministry of the Gospel: II. The Ministry of the Church/ Ministry of the Assembly ‘This was previously a mystery to all but I’ll explain it’ [Paul]…… Both Ron Merryman & J.B. Stoney make this important dichotomy • Col. 1:5-12: ‘we give thanks always for you since we heard of your faith and love toward the saints … etc., because of the hope you laid up for yourselves in hearing the Gospel’ [paraphrase] To: SAVED To: UN-SAVED Paul: ‘I need to move you along to this’ . . . . HHBC.COLOSSIANS / Andrew Molloy

3. The flow/theme of Paul’s Teaching on the Doctrine of the Church: • 1:18: Christ is Head of the Body, the Church . . . • 1:24: I suffer on behalf of His Body, which is the Church . . . • 1:25: of this Church I was made a minister for your benefit, TO FULLY CARRY OUT THE PREACHING of the Word of God . . • 1:26: which is the MYSTERY, once hidden, now revealed . . . • 1:27: and the riches contained in it: the Mystery is that Christ is in you, the hope of Glory . . . . • 1:28-29: and I must labor and strive to make you come to know that you are COMPLETE IN CHRIST . . . . The above is a summary/sketch IN A NUTSHELL of what Paul is laboring to drive into the Colossians’ (local assembly in Philemon’s house) heads…. HHBC.COLOSSIANS / Andrew Molloy

4. Why is Paul presenting Church/Body doctrine? To Review: Gnostic gurus were beguiling the Colossian Church with their new “doctrine”, one of the below or a mish-mash of some or all of the below: • Christ was a mere man, the ‘Fullness’ came to him at his baptism, but it left him at death, because Deity cannot die. • Christ was Deity, but not a human; his body was an apparition of a human body; He was solely a spirit being; • Christ was an angelic emanation close to man/flesh, who could lead to higher more spiritual/ less fleshly Higher Spirit Emanations higher than him. • Either: you must rely on Mosaic laws & regulations to buffet your body and flesh. Making man a contributor to church body life. • Or: since the body/flesh means nothing; only spirituality matters, you can do whatever you want; and you can take whatever liberties you please here on earth = licentiousness HHBC.COLOSSIANS / Andrew Molloy

5. Doctrine of: Church/Body truth I. INNOCULATES believers against error II. Doctrinedefined:organized, systematic teaching of truth. Always given in love. “Truthing in love”: EPH 4:15: “but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ,” III. Doctrine of the ‘Mysteries’ of the Church/ and Christ as Head of it/ believers comprised of being members of Christ’s Body on Earth = the cure to the “mush of plurality & relativism” [RICHISON] that the Gnostic false teachers brought. HHBC.COLOSSIANS / Andrew Molloy

6. What exactly is Church/Body Truth Paul was referring to in Col 1:24 – 2:3? Here it is in the next 3 slides – We will only summarize it here: [I include it here in this study of Col. 2:1-3 to republish these slides for your future, personal reference] HHBC.COLOSSIANS / Andrew Molloy

7. CHRIST COMING FOR HIS SAINTS GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT REV 20:11 CHRIST COMING WITH HIS SAINTS FINAL RESURRECTION ( TO ETERNAL DEATH ) TRIBULATION SAINTS REV 20:4-6 1 COR 15:23 OLD TESTAMENT SAINTS DAN 12:1-3 1 COR 15:23; THE CHURCH CHRIST THE FIRST FRUITS 1 COR 15:20-23 DEAD IN CHRIST 1 COR 4:16 THE 2 WITNESSES REV 11:3-14 UNBELIEVING DEAD FROM ALL AGES REV 20:5, 11-15 ALIVE IN CHRIST 1 COR 4:17 CHURCH AGE: ? In O.T. TRIBULATION AGE: Dan. 9; Mt. 24 MILLENNIAL AGE: ISA 2, 4, 9, 32; PAUL: is seeking to ORIENT them to what AGE they are in (a mystery) previously: The ‘MYSTERY’ AGE/PROGRAM Mystery age: alluded to in parable of Matt. 13: (a) Sower & Seed (b) Wheat & Tares (c) Pearl at Great Price (d) Great Treasure in the field PENTECOST HHBC.COLOSSIANS / Andrew Molloy

8. (Local Church) (Local Church) (Local Church) (Local Church) (Local Church) (Local Church) MEMBERS MEMBERS MEMBERS MEMBERS MEMBERS MEMBERS ( Elders = Under- Shepherds ) ( Elders = Under- Shepherds ) ( Elders = Under- Shepherds ) ( Elders = Under- Shepherds ) ( Elders = Under- Shepherds ) ( Elders = Under- Shepherds ) NEXT: you are all in the Body of Christ: this was a Mystery previously Adapted from Maj. Bible Themes: HHBC; • IS THE CHURCH • AN ORGANIZATION OR • AN ORGANISM ? THE WHOLE CHURCH AS AN ORGANISM • THE BIBLICAL MODEL VIEWS THE CHURCH AS AN ORGANISM • The church(“called out ones”) is the body of Christ - Rom 12:5; Eph 2:16 • Every believer is a member of Christ’s body - 1 Cor 12:27 • Jesus Christ is the head of the body - Eph 1:22; 5:23 • Each local church is a microcosm of the body of Christ THE BODY OF CHRIST THE CHURCH JESUS CHRIST = The HEAD (Chief Shepherd) SOURCE: MAJ. BIBLE THEMES/ 6 APRIL 2003 HHBC.COLOSSIANS / Andrew Molloy

9. THE LOCAL CHURCH AS AN ORGANISM THE MYSTERY = THE CHURCH: HER ORGANIZATION Christ: The Head • IS THE CHURCH • AN ORGANIZATION OR • AN ORGANISM ? Analogy of Human Body & Christ’s Body (The Church) 1 Cor 12:12-31; Rom 12:3-8 • Many members but they function as one body • Physically: Born with a body and its members • Spiritually: Born by the Holy Spirit into Christ’s body • as a member - 1 Cor12:13 • Members of the body differ - 1 Cor 12:15-18; Rom 12:4-6 • Their function & gifts are different • God designed it that way • Just as each member of the human body is content • with its function - so should we be - 1 Cor 12:14-24 • Total dependence between members- 1 Cor 12:21,22; Rom 12:5 • No exaltation of one member over another - 1 Cor 12:22-25 • Because of their function or gift • Otherwise divisions occur • God in His grace has gifted every member - 1Cor 12:7; 28-30 • God’s wonderful goal for the members - Eph 4:16 • To function in the body as they are gifted • Results in the edification of the body in love • The local church : • Needs to encourage the exercise of spiritual gifts • The dynamic is not the elders - but the Holy Spirit SOURCE: MAJ. BIBLE THEMES/ 6 APRIL 2003 HHBC.COLOSSIANS / Andrew Molloy

10. Note: Paul’s Teaching on the DOCTRINE of the Church/Body: • Paul to the Colossians in Ch. 4, vs 16 says: “When this letter is read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and you, for your part read my letter that is coming from Laodicea. • It is thought by some scholars/commentators that the Laodiceansgot a copy of Paul’s EPHESIANS letter; and his letter to the Ephesians details the function, nature & character of the church (the body of Christ): • My Opinion: Paul doesn’t go into a lot of detail on this because he know they’ll see this doctrine in the Ephesians Letter; he wants to detail the ‘IN CHRIST’ positional truths in Col. 2:4 to 3:4 NOTE ALL THE DOCTINE COMMUNICATED IN EPHESIANS & NOTE THE PARALELL THEME TO COLOSSIANS 1:18 – 2:4: HHBC.COLOSSIANS / Andrew Molloy

11. The doctrine of the Church in EPHESIANS, Part I: For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles— EPH. 3:2 – if indeed you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace which was given to me for you; 3: that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before in brief. 4: By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5: which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit; 6: to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel, 7: of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of God’s grace which was given to me according to the working of His power. 8: To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ, 9: and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things; 10: so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the churchto the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places. HHBC.COLOSSIANS / Andrew Molloy

12. The Doctrine of the Church in Ephesians Part II: And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, Eph 4:12: for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; 13: until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. 14: As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; 15: but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, 16: from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love. PAULS ULTIMATE GOAL IN THE SECTION COL. 1:13 TO 2:3: GET THEM PRIMED & READY FOR THE “IN CHRIST” TRUTHS: 2:3-3:4 HHBC.COLOSSIANS / Andrew Molloy

13. The Dreaded “D” Word D is for Doctrine • What was to be normative has become dreaded in evangelical churches today! Doctrine has become the dreaded “D” word! • Some see it as divisive; as though truth and error admit to little difference (doctrinal truth by nature is quite intolerant of error). • Others see it as dry and boring, as though God’s truth is unrelated to human experience. • Still others avoid doctrine like the plague, fearful that it minimizes love, as though love can be sentimentally divorced from truth. • Not so with the Apostle Paul! • [Source: Ron Merryman, ‘Doctrine in the Pastorals’] HHBC.COLOSSIANS / Andrew Molloy

14. With all this Context in MIND: Col. 2:1 • ‘Struggle’ I have: agonizomai – strenuous, demanding output as an athlete would put forth to reach victory. From same word as ‘Striving’ in the verse prior • Zeal, contending with enemies…. • Q: How has Paul agonized and contested on their behalf…? • “for all those at Laodicea and for all who have not personally seen my face….” This is REVIEW information from Chap. 1: Why hasn’t Paul personally seen these people? HHBC.COLOSSIANS / Andrew Molloy

15. Excellent summary of the flavor of this passage: • “Men who know little of the deep convictions that stirred the heart of the apostle Paul will have difficulty realizing the intensity of his feelings when the truth of God was questioned and the people of the Lord were in danger of being corrupted by false doctrine and turned aside from the simplicity that is in Christ. He wrote to the Colossians , “I would that you know what great conflict I have for you…” The verse can also be translated, “I would that you know what intense agony I have for you…” • Paul was not one who could play fast and loose with the revealed truth. His very soul was tortured when Christ was dishonored by those who professed His Name. He was not a self-complacent liberal theologian, carelessly tolerant of any teaching, no matter how pernicious, as long as it did not disrupt outward unity. [Dr. Grant C. Richison] HHBC.COLOSSIANS / Andrew Molloy

16. Col 2:2(a) “that their (& your) hearts may be encouraged…” • This is their first line of defense in combating the false doctrine. Orienting to God’s Word clings a believer to facts. The doctrine. • ‘heart’: Taking encouragement into the whole man- mind, will, spirit, emotion (heart) • Stop orientating yourself emotionally to false doctrine, and start thinking from the position and standing of truth! • Encouragement: parakaleō - ‘to call to one’s side’ ‘strengthened by one’s consulation’. HHBC.COLOSSIANS / Andrew Molloy

17. Col 2:2(b) “having been knit together in love…” • ‘having’ = a participle of means… knitting together is the means for the local assembly to be encouraged. • ‘KNIT TOGETHER IN LOVE’: Question: how does the knitting together in love occur? What is Paul’s means to a knitting together? Ephesians 4:15-16: but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, 16.from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love. 3. Principle: a local assembly that is knit together is a body that false teachers & doctrines CAN’T BREAK HHBC.COLOSSIANS / Andrew Molloy

18. Col 2:2(c) “attaining all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding…” The "riches of the full assurance of understanding" is sound judgment about the great truths of Christianity. God provides assets for our use in time. These go beyond our gifts, abilities, intelligence or talents. A person with "full assurance of understanding" no longer calls into question the Word of God. Doubt is no longer the central mode of operation. This believer embraces truth with high satisfaction. Certainty comes from understanding. The confident believer carries "full assurance of understanding." He is full of assurance. Because he has many certainties, this results in the wealth of assurances. "Full assurance" is the fixed persuasion that we comprehend the truth. This person has reached the elevation of confidence that he knows for sure what truth is. He does not misconstrue truth or attach meanings it does not bear. He knows the mind of God in the matter. [G.C. Richison] HHBC.COLOSSIANS / Andrew Molloy

19. Col 2:2(d) – 2:3 “resulting in a true knowledge of God’s mystery: Christ Himself, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” • ‘resulting’ eis = unto …. A directional preposition; having movement toward a goal in mind. • ‘attaining’ to the wealth: from 2:2(c) is also: eis • concept: the ‘untos’/eises’: of the knitting together its directional: to the riches of full assurance VIA UNDERSTANDING. The eises are movement; moving the thought along. The Minister ministers UNDERSTANDING to the local assembly. Understanding leads to full assurance. (Moving towards understanding’s full assurance) is another way to put it. Full Assurance to riches to Full Epignosis[full personalized knowledge] [Merryman] • All of the above: FOUND IN CHRIST HIMSELF. • Result: the believer & whole church body is FIXED; impossible to move HHBC.COLOSSIANS / Andrew Molloy