To God’s holy people in Colossae, the faithful brothers and sisters in Christ:
Summary: Assuming Paul had never been to Colossae, we are left to wonder how Paul came to write this letter.
From what I’ve read, Paul never set foot in Colossae. As a result, he finds himself writing to people he has never met.
This situation prompts us to consider several questions:
Why did Paul write?
What was the Holy Spirit’s role in this letter?
What did Paul know about Colossae?
Perhaps the most interesting question for me is the role of the Holy Spirit.
Paul did not do many things on his own. When he did, it was before he met Jesus, and he was busy chasing down Christians. After meeting Jesus, things changed. You might say that Jesus took charge of Paul’s schedule.* Given Paul’s close working relationship with Jesus, it seems likely that his letter to the Colossians was prompted by Jesus rather than just a social impulse.
Why?
If Paul wrote the letter because Jesus wanted him to, why did Jesus want the letter written?
The obvious answer is that the church at Colossae needed to hear Paul’s words. While that answer may seem satisfying, I don’t think it is the only answer.
Judging from the fact that Paul’s letter survived to be included in the New Testament, I have to conclude that Jesus was thinking beyond just the church members who received this letter. He was thinking about you and me.
I have no doubt that as we dive into our meditations on Paul’s words in this letter, God’s Spirit will lead us into his treasure house of wisdom and knowledge (2 Corinthians 4:7, Colossians 2:2-4).
As we play among the gemstones of God’s wealth, Paul’s words will help us align our thinking with our Lord Jesus. As we do that, we will find ourselves gazing into the endless depth of God’s mind.
Our last question is “What did Paul know about Colossae?”
The historical record suggests that Paul did not travel there himself. So in the physical sense, Paul did not know anything about the place where the Colossians lived. Instead, Paul discovered Colossae through the stories he heard from those who had been there.
One of the people who brought those stories to Paul was a man known as Epaphras (Col. 1:7). According to Paul’s letter, Epaphras was instrumental in bringing the Gospel to Colossae. Epaphras knew everything about the church there. What Epaphras knew, Paul knew.
Application: Just as Paul knew the people at Colossae through Epaphras, we can know Jesus through Paul’s words.
Food for Thought: What makes the people in Colossae “holy people?”
*Acts 16:9-10, 16:6-7, 22:17-21, 23:11
They are holy, or separated or set apart for God’s purposes through faith in Christ. Faith in Christ makes us holy because Christ is holy. 1 Peter 3: 15 begins with, “in your hearts, set apart Christ as Lord.” When we set apart Christ as Lord we set aside our will to accomplish His. We set aside our lives for His use. That is what makes us holy and that only happens through faith in Christ and the Holy Spirit working in our lives.
2 Timothy 2: 20 – 21: Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable,d he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.
Nicely said, Rich!
I like being reminded of the different uses for God’s vessels. I can only imagine where bloggers fall on that list! 🙂
What makes the people in Colossae “holy people?”
Colossians 1:2 To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace and peace to you from God our Father.
Pauls letter is addressed to the saints and faithful brothers in Christ, they have been made holy to God by the power of the Holy Spirit, through Jesus Christ.
Amen, Ron!!
Praise God for his amazing grace!
I did a little research on this question, and found that Paul uses the term “holy people” or “saints” (in other translations) as a term for those who are saved believers. Those that have accepted Christ as their redeemer and have made Him Lord of their life.
He uses this term in other letters: Romans 1:7 & 8:27 for example.
I think what is interesting is that Paul also uses this term for those that he himself had thrown into prison (before his conversion) in Acts 26:10. It makes me wonder if Paul’s use of this term is indicative of His own conversion and obedience to Christ, that he holds those that share in faith in Christ in the highest regards.
Thanks, Chris!
You make an interesting point about Paul’s use of the word for the victims of his former self. Thank you!