Colossians 1 NLT

Outline

• Introduction (1:1-14)
  • Greetings (1:1-2)
  • Thanksgiving (1:3-8)
  • Prayer (1:9-14)
• The Supremacy of Christ (1:15-23)
• Paul's Labor for the Church (1:24;2:7)
  • His Ministry for the Sake of the Church (1:24-29)
  • His Concern for the Spiritual Welfare of His Readers (2:1-7)
• Freedom from Human Regulations through Life with Christ (2:8-23)
  • Warning to Guard against the False Teachers (2:8-15)
  • Pleas to Reject the False Teachers (2:16-19)
  • An Analysis of the Heresy (2:20-23)
• Rules for Holy Living (3:1;4:6)
  • The Old Self and the New Self (3:1-17)
  • Rules for Christian Households (3:18;4:1)
  • Further Instructions (4:2-6)
• Final Greetings and Benediction (4:7-18)

Colossians 1 NLT

1 This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and from our brother Timothy. 

2 We are writing to God’s holy people in the city of Colosse, who are faithful brothers and sisters in Christ. May God our Father give you grace and peace. 

3 We always pray for you, and we give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

4 For we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and your love for all of God’s people, 

5 which come from your confident hope of what God has reserved for you in heaven. You have had this expectation ever since you first heard the truth of the Good News. 

6 This same Good News that came to you is going out all over the world. It is bearing fruit everywhere by changing lives, just as it changed your lives from the day you first heard and understood the truth about God’s wonderful grace. 

7 You learned about the Good News from Epaphras, our beloved co-worker. He is Christ’s faithful servant, and he is helping us on your behalf. 

8 He has told us about the love for others that the Holy Spirit has given you. 

9 So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. 

10 Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better. 

11 We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, 

12 always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. 

13 For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, 

14 who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.

15 Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, 

16 for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see— such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him. 

17 He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together. 

18 Christ is also the head of the church, which is his body. He is the beginning, supreme over all who rise from the dead. So he is first in everything. 

19 For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, 

20 and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross. 

21 This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. 

22 Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault. 

23 But you must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News. The Good News has been preached all over the world, and I, Paul, have been appointed as God’s servant to proclaim it. 

24 I am glad when I suffer for you in my body, for I am participating in the sufferings of Christ that continue for his body, the church. 

25 God has given me the responsibility of serving his church by proclaiming his entire message to you. 

26 This message was kept secret for centuries and generations past, but now it has been revealed to God’s people. 

27 For God wanted them to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory. 

28 So we tell others about Christ, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all the wisdom God has given us. We want to present them to God, perfect in their relationship to Christ. 

29 That’s why I work and struggle so hard, depending on Christ’s mighty power that works within me.

Colossians 2 NLT

1 I want you to know how much I have agonized for you and for the church at Laodicea, and for many other believers who have never met me personally. 

2 I want them to be encouraged and knit together by strong ties of love. I want them to have complete confidence that they understand God’s mysterious plan, which is Christ himself. 

3 In him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 

4 I am telling you this so no one will deceive you with well-crafted arguments. 

5 For though I am far away from you, my heart is with you. And I rejoice that you are living as you should and that your faith in Christ is strong. 

6 And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. 

7 Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness. 

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Summary of the Book of Colossians

Summary of the Book of Colossians

This summary of the book of Colossians provides information about the title, author(s), date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the Book of Colossians.

Author, Date and Place of Writing

That Colossians is a genuine letter of Paul (1:1) is usually not disputed. In the early church, all who speak on the subject of authorship ascribe it to Paul. In the 19th century, however, some thought that the heresy refuted in ch. 2 was second-century Gnosticism. But a careful analysis of ch. 2 shows that the heresy referred to there is noticeably less developed than the Gnosticism of leading Gnostic teachers of the second and third centuries. Also, the seeds of what later became the full-blown Gnosticism of the second century were present in the first century and already making inroads into the churches. Consequently, it is not necessary to date Colossians in the second century at a time too late for Paul to have written the letter.

Instead, it is to be dated during Paul's first imprisonment in Rome, where he spent at least two years under house arrest (see Ac 28:16-31). Some have argued that Paul wrote Colossians from Ephesus or Caesarea, but most of the evidence favors Rome as the place where Paul penned all the Prison Letters (Ephesians, Colossians, Philippians and Philemon). Colossians should be dated c. a.d. 60, in the same year as Ephesians and Philemon.

Colosse: The Town and the Church

Several hundred years before Paul's day, Colosse had been a leading city in Asia Minor (present-day Turkey). It was located on the Lycus River and on the great east-west trade route leading from Ephesus on the Aegean Sea to the Euphrates River (see map, p. 2288). By the first century a.d. Colosse was diminished to a second-rate market town, which had been surpassed long before in power and importance by the neighboring towns of Laodicea and Hierapolis (see 4:13).

What gave Colosse NT importance, however, was the fact that, during Paul's three-year ministry in Ephesus, Epaphras had been converted and had carried the gospel to Colosse (cf. 1:7-8; Ac 19:10). The young church that resulted then became the target of heretical attack, which led to Epaphras's visit to Paul in Rome and ultimately to the penning of the Colossian letter.

Perhaps as a result of the efforts of Epaphras or other converts of Paul, Christian churches had also been established in Laodicea and Hierapolis. Some of them were house churches (see 4:15; Phm 2). Most likely all of them were primarily Gentile.

The Colossian Heresy

Paul never explicitly describes the false teaching he opposes in the Colossian letter. The nature of the heresy must be inferred from statements he made in opposition to the false teachers. An analysis of his refutation suggests that the heresy was diverse in nature. Some of the elements of its teachings were:

1. Ceremonialism. It held to strict rules about the kinds of permissible food and drink, religious festivals (2:16-17) and circumcision (2:11; 3:11).
2. Asceticism. "Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!" (2:21; cf. 2:23).
3. Angel worship. See 2:18.
4. Depreciation of Christ. This is implied in Paul's emphasis on the supremacy of Christ (1:15-20; 2:2-3,9).
5. Secret knowledge. The Gnostics boasted of this (see 2:18 and Paul's emphasis in 2:2-3 on Christ, "in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom").
6. Reliance on human wisdom and tradition. See 2:4,8.

These elements seem to fall into two categories, Jewish and Gnostic. It is likely, therefore, that the Colossian heresy was a mixture of an extreme form of Judaism and an early stage of Gnosticism (see Introduction to 1 John: Gnosticism; see also note on 2:23).

Purpose and Theme

Paul's purpose is to refute the Colossian heresy. To accomplish this goal, he exalts Christ as the very image of God (1:15), the Creator (1:16), the preexistent sustainer of all things (1:17), the head of the church (1:18), the first to be resurrected (1:18), the fullness of deity in bodily form (1:19; 2:9) and the reconciler (1:20-22). Thus Christ is completely adequate. We "have been given fullness in Christ" (2:10). On the other hand, the Colossian heresy was altogether inadequate. It was a hollow and deceptive philosophy (2:8), lacking any ability to restrain the old sinful nature (2:23).

The theme of Colossians is the complete adequacy of Christ as contrasted with the emptiness of mere human philosophy.

Outline

• Introduction (1:1-14)
  • Greetings (1:1-2)
  • Thanksgiving (1:3-8)
  • Prayer (1:9-14)
• The Supremacy of Christ (1:15-23)
• Paul's Labor for the Church (1:24;2:7)
  • His Ministry for the Sake of the Church (1:24-29)
  • His Concern for the Spiritual Welfare of His Readers (2:1-7)
• Freedom from Human Regulations through Life with Christ (2:8-23)
  • Warning to Guard against the False Teachers (2:8-15)
  • Pleas to Reject the False Teachers (2:16-19)
  • An Analysis of the Heresy (2:20-23)
• Rules for Holy Living (3:1;4:6)
  • The Old Self and the New Self (3:1-17)
  • Rules for Christian Households (3:18;4:1)
  • Further Instructions (4:2-6)
• Final Greetings and Benediction (4:7-18)

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From the NIV Study Bible, Introductions to the Books of the Bible, Colossians
Copyright 2002 © Zondervan. All rights reserved. Used with permission.

Philippians 4:2-23 NLT

Outline

• Greetings (1:1-2)
• Thanksgiving and Prayer for the Philippians (1:3-11)
• Paul's Personal Circumstances (1:12-26)
• Exhortations (1:27;2:18)
  • Living a Life Worthy of the Gospel (1:27-30)
  • Following the Servant Attitude of Christ (2:1-18)
• Paul's Associates in the Gospel (2:19-30)
  • Timothy (2:19-24)
  • Epaphroditus (2:25-30)
• Warnings against Judaizers and Antinomians (3:1;4:1)
  • Against Judaizers or Legalists (3:1-16)
  • Against Antinomians or Libertines (3:17;4:1)
• Final Exhortations, Thanks and Conclusion (4:2-23)
• Exhortations concerning Various Aspects of the Christian Life (4:2-9)
• Concluding Testimony and Repeated Thanks (4:10-20)
• Final Greetings and Benediction (4:21-23)

Philippians 4 NLT

2 Now I appeal to Euodia and Syntyche. Please, because you belong to the Lord, settle your disagreement. 

3 And I ask you, my true partner, to help these two women, for they worked hard with me in telling others the Good News. They worked along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are written in the Book of Life. 

4 Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! 

5 Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. 

6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 

7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. 

8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. 

9 Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you. 

10 How I praise the Lord that you are concerned about me again. I know you have always been concerned for me, but you didn’t have the chance to help me. 

11 Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. 

12 I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. 

13 For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. 

14 Even so, you have done well to share with me in my present difficulty. 

15 As you know, you Philippians were the only ones who gave me financial help when I first brought you the Good News and then traveled on from Macedonia. No other church did this. 

16 Even when I was in Thessalonica you sent help more than once. 

17 I don’t say this because I want a gift from you. Rather, I want you to receive a reward for your kindness. 

18 At the moment I have all I need—and more! I am generously supplied with the gifts you sent me with Epaphroditus. They are a sweet-smelling sacrifice that is acceptable and pleasing to God. 

19 And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. 

20 Now all glory to God our Father forever and ever! Amen. 

21 Give my greetings to each of God’s holy people—all who belong to Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me send you their greetings. 

22 And all the rest of God’s people send you greetings, too, especially those in Caesar’s household. 

23May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

Philippians 3 -4:1 NLT

Outline

• Greetings (1:1-2)
• Thanksgiving and Prayer for the Philippians (1:3-11)
• Paul's Personal Circumstances (1:12-26)
• Exhortations (1:27;2:18)
  • Living a Life Worthy of the Gospel (1:27-30)
  • Following the Servant Attitude of Christ (2:1-18)
• Paul's Associates in the Gospel (2:19-30)
  • Timothy (2:19-24)
  • Epaphroditus (2:25-30)
• Warnings against Judaizers and Antinomians (3:1;4:1)
  • Against Judaizers or Legalists (3:1-16)
  • Against Antinomians or Libertines (3:17;4:1)
• Final Exhortations, Thanks and Conclusion (4:2-23)
• Exhortations concerning Various Aspects of the Christian Life (4:2-9)
• Concluding Testimony and Repeated Thanks (4:10-20)
• Final Greetings and Benediction (4:21-23)

Philippians 3 NLT

1 Whatever happens, my dear brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord. I never get tired of telling you these things, and I do it to safeguard your faith. 

2 Watch out for those dogs, those people who do evil, those mutilators who say you must be circumcised to be saved. 

3 For we who worship by the Spirit of God are the ones who are truly circumcised. We rely on what Christ Jesus has done for us. We put no confidence in human effort, 

4 though I could have confidence in my own effort if anyone could. Indeed, if others have reason for confidence in their own efforts, I have even more! 

5 I was circumcised when I was eight days old. I am a pure-blooded citizen of Israel and a member of the tribe of Benjamin—a real Hebrew if there ever was one! I was a member of the Pharisees, who demand the strictest obedience to the Jewish law. 

6 I was so zealous that I harshly persecuted the church. And as for righteousness, I obeyed the law without fault. 

7 I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done.

8 Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ 

9 and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith.

10 I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, 

11 so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead! 

12 I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me.

13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 

14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. 

15 Let all who are spiritually mature agree on these things. If you disagree on some point, I believe God will make it plain to you. 

16 But we must hold on to the progress we have already made. 

17Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example. 

18 For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ. 

19 They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth. 

20 But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. 

21 He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control.

Philippians 4 NLT

1 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stay true to the Lord. I love you and long to see you, dear friends, for you are my joy and the crown I receive for my work.