Passage: Colossians Study | Lesson 03
COLOSSIANS 1:24 - 2:5Danny Orh | January 18, 2015
Opening Question: What does it mean to be a church minister?
Take some time to read over the passage, underlining words or phrases that don't make sense to you.
Let's compare notes. This is what I underlined:
"rejoice in my sufferings for your sake"
Joy is independent of circumstances, Paul is currently in imprisonment, and the early church considered it a privilege to suffer for the name of Christ. Acts 5:41 says the apostles “went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name.” Suffering brings believers closer to Christ – “That I may known Him, and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings” – Phil. 3:10
Suffering in the cause of Christ yields the fruit of better understanding of what Jesus went through in His suffering. Suffering (for Christ) assures the believer that he belongs to Christ.
“If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you” – John 15:18
“Indeed all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” – 2 Tim 3:12
"in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions"
What does it mean to fill up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions? Does it mean that Christ's suffering was not enough?
"I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God"
Paul viewed his ministry as a stewardship from God, meaning that Paul sought no glory for himself. Instead, he wanted to be regarded as a servant of God. Paul's firm sense of his divine call is demonstrated in 1 Cor. 9:16-17, “If I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for I am under compulsion; for woe is me if I do not preach the gospel. For if I do this voluntarily, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have a stewardship entrusted to me.”
This stewardship, contrary to much popular teaching today, is not intended for our own edification, but to help us minister to others, since this stewardship was “bestowed on [Paul] for your benefit.”
"fully carry out the preaching of the word of God"
What does it mean to fully carry out the preaching of the word of God? Paul saw that to fulfill his ministry, he was to fully carry out the preaching of the word of God. ESV says “make the word of God fully known”. Paul dedicated his life to declaring the whole purpose of God, to make the gospel known throughout the world. As a minister of God, you must preach the Word. When does someone fully carry out God’s preaching? When does someone make the word of God fully known? You must keep preaching the word of God.
"the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations"
There is something that has been kept from people before that time, namely, the Old Testament era and people.
"has now been manifested to His saints"
The truth that was hidden to people before is now revealed to believers in the New Testament era.
"riches of the glory of this mystery" & "Christ in you, the hope of glory"
This mystery is Christ in us. The mystery is that Christ is the Messiah. The mystery is that Christ, the Messiah, did not reign in a new temple on earth, but is reigning in us. This Old Testament predicted the coming of the Messiah, but had a different idea in mind how that would develop. Christ in us is our hope of gory, and what that means is that His presence is the anchor of the promise of heaven. The hope of eternal glory dwells within us.
"admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom"
Admonition - Encouraging counsel in view of sin and coming punishment
Teaching – imparting truth
Wisdom – admonition and truth exercised with practical discernment
"present every man complete in Christ"
What does being “complete in Christ” mean? Being “complete in Christ” is to be like Christ, but how Christ-like are we? Paul’s view of ministry is that we would all be made more and more Christ-like. Not only that, but it is his ministry, his job, that is to admonish and teach every man with all wisdom, so that we may preset every man complete in Christ. Now that is a high standard.
"striving according to His power, which mightily works within me."
Paul is saying that he labors and strives because of what he said before. Paul is working hard and giving his maximum effort. But this effort is useless apart from God’s power in his life. God gave Paul the strength to work hard at his ministry
“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live , but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered Himself for me.” – Gal 2:20
"how great a struggle I have"
Paul loves the church so much that he struggles for the church to meet ministry goals.
"their hearts may be encouraged"
How do you encourage one’s heart? Is it about feeling and emotion? When the mind is filled with biblical truth, emotions will respond properly.
"knit together in love" & "attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding"
There is some sort of wealth that comes from full assurance, and without this assurance, believers cannot enjoy these blessings. But what are the blessings?
"true knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself,"
This is the wealth that comes from full assurance of understanding - Christ Himself! Christ is the true knowledge of God’s mystery.
"all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge"
In Christ Himself the hidden God was manifested to mankind. In that sense, He is God’s mystery.
From his letter, We see Paul’s heart for ministry and his Job Description for a minister:
- Able to rejoice in suffering
- Understands the ministry is a stewardship from God
- Fully carries out the preaching of the word of God
- Admonishes every man with all wisdom
- Teaches every man with all wisdom
- Presents every man complete in Christ
- Labors and strives to complete God’s work
- Demonstrates love for the church.
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