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Q4. (Colossians 4:17) Why do you think Archippus was singled out in verse 17? If you could invent a story of his role in the Colossian church, how would you describe Archippus? In what ways does he remind you of yourself? It appears that Archippus is also a prisoner with. Being a fellow also implies that he has been working for Christ as was Paul. It also seems as if Archippus was at one time known to the Colossians as he wishes to send his greetings. He might have been working with Epaphras who seems to have founded the church. Also Paul would want to establish a further connection with the Colossians by being able to pass on greetings for their friend.

Q3. (Colossians 4:5-6) What instructions does Paul give us in sharing our faith with non-believers? Why, do you think, we sometimes let opportunities slip by? How will our conversation being "full of grace" help us represent Christ well? ​Following up on his prayer to have doors open to him and to be able to speak freely about the Lord Paul now directs his readers to take every opportunity to proselyte for the lord and to make the most of that opportunity. Opportunities are often missed because we are shy to speak. what follows from the shyness appears to be an embarrassment of the Lord on our part. We are afraid to be ridiculed by those around us. But we should be like Peter "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect...." (1 Peter 3:15) Remember that we are promised to find the right words when we are persecuted. So often Christians are seen as : defensive, condescending, hard, legalistic,Manipulative, negative, pushy, uncaring. If we and our conversation is filled with, love, grace, hope and caring than this attitudes will help open people to the Gospel. we must radiate love and hope so people will see us as differemt, holy, set apart from the crowd.

Q2. (Colossians 4:3-4) What prayer request does Paul ask of the Colossian believers? What does it mean to pray for an open door. Why does he ask for prayer in communicating the gospel? Paul is asking for prayers that he will find doors open to his ministry- to proclaim the Gospel of Christ the Lord. He is not necessarily praying for personal preaching but for a personal relation to develop so he, Paul will have an opening to evangelize. Recently at community school I was enrolled in a Christian class. At break I met an old friend who seemed agitated. he said he was in a class that was not going well and didn't know what to do . I suggested that he come in and join our class and he did. Maybe God will speak to him as the class continues with Christian leaders. This is the workings of prayer and the Holy Spirit. To pray for an open door is to pray for an opportunity to reach out and help someone in the name of the LOrd. Prayers supports us, encourages and opens the doors to the Spirit. Isn't he an old hand at this? Yet every person is different Why does he need help? We, even Paul (especially?) Paul are human and always need God's help.

Q1. (Colossians 4:2) What guidelines does Paul give us to form our praying habits? If you put these into practice fully, how would they affect your prayer life? What problems would they help correct? Paul gives three guide lines for good prayer time: a )persistence - prayer is not a one time thing but really it needs to be a daylong process. We need to make firstly a habit of prayer, of taking the same time every day to have time with Christ to pray for those close to you, for the church leaders, for world leaders, for the weak in the world who are unable to help themselves and finally for self. Secondly we need to pray often, all the time , in every aspect of life we should invite the Lord into our lives to guide us, to teach us and to deliver us from evil. As we pray we should be alert, we should not fall of to sleep for that is impolite but I am sure the Lord will forgive and it is very possible that if we ask the Holy spirit she will teach us to pray as we sleep. For our prayers are only groanings for we no not what to pray without the Holy spirit. For Paul writes : In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans." (Romans 8: 26) and c) we should always be thankful to God when we pray and when we live. For he is the God of Grace He provides us with everything that we need. If from time to time we want more than quite likely that is more than we need. But we are always to remember, even in great suffering, that by the Grace of God we pass from death unto life with Jesus the Lord for we have been redeemed by the gracious blood of the Lord. Praise be to God!!!!!!!!

Q4. (Colossians 3:25-4:1) What instructions does Paul give masters or employers, in our culture? What would happen in the workplace if employers sought to live by this rule? ​Now we look at the other side of the situation. The employer. Paul is suggesting that a employer should look at the employees as if they were his intimate family. They should not be mistreated like some employers do :" employers think of themselves in terms of buying a person's time, as if it were a commodity, with no strings attached. Don't give them enough hours, so that you have to pay benefits, is a way of life. But hours are not a commodity; they represent people -- people whom God loves and people who pray to him. When we employ people we also take on a responsibility to help provide for their needs." Paul suggests that employees should be treated 'uustice and right". This is a Hebrew tradition." The Bible calls for just and right throughout the Old Testament. "Thus saith the Lord, Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed.(Isaiah 56.1)

Q3. (Colossians 3:22-24) If you apply Paul's instructions to slaves to the role of being an employee, what is the role of sincerity as an employee? How do we live this out when working under a poor boss? In what sense are we actually working for the Lord? What would happen in the workplace, if we actually began to live by these attitudes of heart? When an employee gets taken on by an employer there develops a relationship between the two that is akin of slave and master or or a person and his Lord. Paul gives us suggestions as to how we should do our work and how we should attempt to relate to the employer. First Paul says the quality of our work should be excellent. The worker should always put forth the best foot and to do exactly what is to be done and to do it with all your heart. While you are at work your time is the employer's and you should act according- giving your best at all times. Don't just give a days work for your wages- work harder to please the boss. And not just when he is around. Second, our work is holy for in a sense we are working as if the Lord was our master. The notes say "Your life, lived out before Christ your King, is holy in and of itself. Christ is your employer, your master -- no matter what kind of work you do (or did) to earn a living. This is no small thing." Thirdly, our attitude towards God shows in our attitude our employer! This is a tough love when you have a terrible boss. This was especially true as a slave had no right to quit. The slave could only carry on as best he could. To grin and bear it. To do the work to the best of one's ability regardless of the conditions. Dr Ralph notes "Your life, lived out before Christ your King, is holy in and of itself. Christ is your employer, your master -- no matter what kind of work you do (or did) to earn a living. This is no small thing." In a sense Jesus is our employer for Paul often suggests that we are slaves to the Lord and in the analogy to employee and employer used by DR. Ralph than God is our employee. For Paul to have used the analogy of slave and master the general concept of a master must have been favourable otherwise the hearers would have been put of and tune out of the message. Things would be great at the work place with a change in attitude by the workers. Productivity would be up, there would be little or no time off, there would be no labor battles- all would be well. But in order for this to happen we also need a change in some employers. "Often, employers think of themselves in terms of buying a person's time, as if it were a commodity, with no strings attached. Don't give them enough hours, so that you have to pay benefits, is a way of life. But hours are not a commodity; they represent people -- people whom God loves and people who pray to him. When we employ people we also take on a responsibility to help provide for their needs. Making a living is not just our employees' problem; as employers it is our responsibility as well. This casts a whole new light on the subject."(notes) More in next section.

Q2. (Colossians 3:20-21) In what way does obedience prepare a child for everyday life in the future? For spiritual life in the future? What can fathers do to keep from discouraging their children? Children must learn self control and the way to self control is obedience. Parents can ensure their children's self control by enforcing good and fair rules upon their children. These roles must be enforced uniformly from one day to the next and from child to child. If this practice is followed the children's lives will be enhanced. Both in the world and in relation to the spiritual world of the Lord. In our relationship with God there seems to be an obedience factor as well. Also our spirit lives need to be in self control. In 1 Corinthians Paul gives instructions for behavior in church. Father's and mother's can guide their children with love, care and with an eye to the Lord's guidance.

Q1. (Colossians 3:18-19) Why do you think Paul chose these directions to give to wives and husbands considering all the things he could have said? Why is true submission difficult for wives? Why is unselfish love difficult for husbands? What prompts harshness in a husband is the cause inner or outer? I Suppose that there were being some problems in Colossae with an issue between husbands and wives that Paul had been told about. Possibly the freedom that was preached by Paul and others that people had in their faith in Christ. After all Paul did teach " There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus" This teaching seemed to set people, women especially.on fire and they would tend to act with reckless abandon. Woman are human and Paul preaches freedom . In Paul's day this freedom was new and women probably had trouble handling the new situation. Women today, young women have had considerable for a generation and a half. (since WWII) They have been their own woman all their life and now have no notion of being submissive. Unselfish love is hard for most people as we usually think of our selves first. We must learn the love of Christ and apply his motive- love the lord your God and your neighbour as yourself.

Q4. (Colossians 3:12-14) Why are Christian virtues so important to Christ? Why are they so important to the church? Why are they so important to non-Christians? Why are they so important in our homes? As Christ the Lord, being God, is unwilling to look upon human vices, it is important that we as his followers, his disciples have the same virtues as does Christ for he lives in us as the Holy Spirit and as such is offended by the vices we exhibit. As well there is the matter of setting forth to the world what a Christian should be so that people will ask us 'What is your hope" and we will respond "Our hope is in the Lord Jesus."(based upon 1 Peter 3.15) ​These virtues are important to the church not only as an example but as well compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience are virtues and characteristics that build up the churches and our homes.(notes) The result of Christian virtue s capped by love is peace.

Q3. (Colossians 3:8) Why are sins of the tongue so easy to slip into? In what ways do they damage us and others? How can we break free of sins of the tongue? Part of the answer to this question is given by Job 33.3 "now I have opened my mouth, my tongue hath spoken in my mouth" So often we just do that-open our mouths and we begin to speak. It is almost reflex. This much more true when we are excited or angry. To a degree filthy language is habit and is absorbed from the surrounding culture. To break free we need to foll the advice of the notes " When we slip into our old vocabulary, we stop, ask forgiveness of God and any who may have heard us, and then substitute a more appropriate expression. After a dozen or several dozen repetitions of this process, our vocabulary gets much cleaner."

Q2. (Colossians 3:5) Why is sexual l u s t so difficult for people, especially males? Though we cannot deny that we are sexual beings, how can we keep sexual desire from controlling us and causing us to sin? ​The sexual drive is so strong because without this drive people would not have had large families to guarantee the survival of the race. One might note that the size of families has reduced since contraceptives have been introduced and humans are able to control the size of the family. Sex is a gift from God but it can also be a curse. From the time of helen of Troy to the present, fights, feuds and have been fought over sex. Sexual desire can be controlled according to today's scripture by dying in Christ and being hidden with Christ in God.

Q1. (Colossians 3:1-2) What does it mean to set your heart/mind on the things above? Does this mean that we are too heavenly minded to be any earthly good? If not, what does it mean? What happens when we dont take control and direct our thinking and meditating? To set your mind on things above is to be conscious of the spiritual nature of our relationship with the Lord. we must pray that we will hear the word of the Lord as he speaks to us and we must discern the words of God from the words of the world. In this day and age this is hard to do! The world beats in upon us- it blares at us. the worlds images are vivid and often carnal, the world calls us to be happy and have a good time. In many ways we are asked to live a life of pleasures of the body and to avoid pain and suffering. We are encouraged by the world to be selfish and greedy-not to help others for they should be able to help themselves. We are told by the world to tear down our small barns and build bigger ones so that we can hoard more of the world's treasures. In the kingdom of God we are encouraged to share and to help each other-to look after our neighbour who happens to be everyone else in the world. No it does not mean that we are too heavenly minded to be any earthly good! Paul worked very hard to support himself but he was also very conscious of the things of the Kingdom of God. we can be the same. If we do not concern ourselves with the things of the kingdom than we become influenced by the world and do the things that we do not want to do.(Romans 7.15)

Q4. (Colossians 2:20-23) Why are legalism and asceticism unable to restrain the sinful nature? What alternative to legalism does Paul offer in Colossians 2? Legalism and asceticism are unable to restrain the sinful nature of people because as Paul writes "Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules." (notes) We are not of this world- We are in the spiritual Kingdom of God with Jesus. As such the rules of legalism and asceticism do not apply to the spiritual role. In this kingdom, in the in between times, the rules of God are written upon our hearts by the Holy spirit and we respond to them and live to them because of our loving personal relationship with God the Father, His son Jesus and the Holy Spirit. The alternate that Paul teaches is paraphrased by Luther "Through faith in Christ we are justified , and not through the works of the law.

Q3. (Colossians 2:13-15) How did forgiveness free us from the Law? What is the significance of nailing the Law to the cross? What does this symbolize? How did the cross bring triumph over evil spiritual forces? The law enables us to recognize our sin. If we recognize our sin and if we recognize that we are sinners than we can accept the forgiveness that God offers in Christ than God blots out our sin, erases it cancels it and removes it so as to leave no trace, remove, destroy, obliterate the sin. John Calvin in his commentary compares it to hand writing on a paper. God wipes it out with his forgiveness. By erasing the handwriting of sin the sinner is liberated onto Christ. Nailing the hand writing on the cross is to remind us of the manner that Jesus the Messiah that Jesus erased the hand writing on the sheet. It is by the cross of Christ that victory has been bought over death, sin and Satan. The Messiah has come and his Spirit has been poured out, the Law is no longer our guide; the Holy Spirit is now our guide. (notes)

Q2. (Colossians 2:9-10) What does verse 9 teach about Christ full divinity? In what sense are we complete or come to fullness in Christ? What does this mean? Why do we sometimes fail to understand this fullness? In verse 9 Paul teaches that Christ is fully God! Because God is in Christ, completely and fully than Jesus is perfect as God is perfect. As John Calvin writes in his commentary on Colossians "God has manifested himself fully in Christ." (kindle edition, location 668)The term lives implies dwell and is used in the Bible as a permanent dwelling. Paul's words are " "And ye are complete in him...." (KJV) So God is completely and fully in Jesus who " is head over every power and authority." (2:10)Hence this power of Jesus which resides in Him because of the fullness of His divinity. This Jesus as the Holy Spirit resides in us and we must be complete in Jesus as this fullness lives in us -as the Holy Spirit guides us in our sanctification. We fail to abide this fullness because the cares of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful, (Mark 4.9)

Q1. (Colossians 2:8) Philosophy refers to a prevailing belief system. How can a belief system be empty and false? Have you ever personally experienced being captivated by a belief system only to find it deceptive and hollow? ​All belief systems are based upon assumptions. Stoicism is based upon the belief in an indifference to pleasure or pain. Gnosticism believes that the soul can transcend material existence by means of esoteric knowledge. The scientific world believes in the power of experiment. If the basis of the system is invalid than the belief system is invalid. If a belief system be empty and false than the system is empty and false. Yes, I was captivated with the stem of logic and experiment of the scientific world. It is empty and hollow! Compare all of the above to: For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority." (2:9-10)

Q4. (Colossians 2:2-3) In what sense are �all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge� hidden in Christ? What does that mean? Paul is not speaking of the wisdom and knowledge of the world, not even of the scientific knowledge of the today. He is referring to The Lord who "... will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure."(Isaiah 33.6). Paul wrote " We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began."(1 Cor 2.6-7) So we are not speaking of the wisdom of the world but the wisdom of God which is hidden in Jesus. Paul had to confront the 'wisdom' of the Greeks. In Athens they got the better of him. But Paul was not discouraged. Today we as Christians are challenged by the wisdom of the Scientific age-not unlike the Greeks. But we also must strive to remember that the font of wisdom is hidden in Jesus. Without knowing Jesus all knowledge is useless. It leads down the garden path." For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness” (1 cor 3.19)

Q3. (Colossians 1:28-2:1) What is the purpose of Paul�s labors according to verse 28? What does �perfect in Christ� mean? How does Paul accomplish this goal? In what way is he �struggling� for them? It is Paul's purpose to present every one perfect before God in Jesus. However we are not perfect in this world but as we are justified and sanctified before God in Jesus. The Holy spirit through the blood of Christ enables us to stand before God justified as righteous than the Holy Spirit begins the process of sanctification which gradually and slowly through works of piety brings us closer and closer to the image of Christ. We never quite get there but it is a work in process and if we die before the process is complete as we no doubt will than Jesus cloaks us in a robe of righteousness which allows us to stand before the Lord unstained. Doctor refers to the same process as a maturing. Regardless the process is brought about by the Holy Spirit. Paul, filled with the Spirit, aids the Holy Spirit bu proclaiming or preaching, admonishing or warning and by teaching. we also can also help to bring about the result of perfection by also proclaiming or preaching, admonishing or warning and by teaching. Paul toils and struggles to bring about the perfection of the saints. He worked hard for their souls. How hard do we work to bring about the saving of souls.

Q3. (Colossians 1:28-2:1) What is the purpose of Paul�s labors according to verse 28? What does �perfect in Christ� mean? How does Paul accomplish this goal? In what way is he �struggling� for them? Paul's purpose is to present everyone before God as perfect in Christ. We cannot be perfect for all have sinned but through the process of justification and sanctification we are made perfect before God.

What is the mystery that Paul talks about? The mystery about which Paul speaks is the Gospel. This mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." (1:27) 'Christ in us is actually the Holy Spirit which poured forth in abundance at Pentecost and is still active in the world today supporting us, instructing us and encouraging us. Gordon D Fee writes that the Holy Spirit is: a) a person of the God head Jesus in our midst c) the personal presence of God d)the one who does the sanctifying work in us e) the agent of revelation f) is source of preaching g)searches all things and h) knows the mind of God. (Paul. the Spirit and the People of God) In what sense was, "Christ in you, the hope of glory," hidden prior to this? Christ in You is the indwelling Holy Spirit and had been to a large degree hidden prior to jesus the Messiah. The Holy Spirit by name is mentioned only twice in the Old Testament (Psalm 51.11 and Isaiah 63.10). Than there was the outpouring at Pentecost and we are the results of the spirit's work. Glory here is used in the sense of our hope which is in Christ who has promised to intercede for us with the Father and cloaks us in His righteousness so that we can stand before God in our newly attired cloak of righteousness. Oh! the mystery is all to good to be true.

Q1. (Colossians 1:24) How could Paul�s sufferings in prison complete what is lacking in Christ�s afflictions? Is Paul referring to Christ�s sufferings on the cross? Or is he seeing suffering in some kind of cosmic sense? If so, in what sense are your sufferings for Christ of value to the church? Christ's actions on the cross, his sufferings and His death were complete in every respect. Paul must be speaking here in the context of the now/but not yet eschatology. There is a sense in our Christian religion of the now/ but yet aspect. In this age between the resurection and the Parousia we have the completeness of Christ's action-but there is more to come. Hence Christ's sufferings effect us in our eschatology, certainly. But there is a sense of incompleteness in that the Parousia is about to come. Ralph writes ' There will come a day when the last martyr is killed, the last suffering is done, and the afflictions of the Messiah will be complete '. Until than we like Paul must suffer as Christ suffered for our suffering supports the church of Christ. As Paul's example in suffering inspires us to endure as well so our suffering inspires others as well. When we see a brother or sister struggle against , say cancer, in faith we are moved and inspired to move forward in our own walk with Jesus. John Wesley wrote "That which is behind of the sufferings of Christ — That which remains to be suffered by his members. These are termed the sufferings of Christ, 1. Because the suffering of any member is the suffering of the whole; and of the head especially, which supplies strength, spirits, sense, and motion to all. 2. Because they are for his sake, for the testimony of his truth. And these also are necessary for the church; not to reconcile it to God, or satisfy for sin, (for that Christ did perfectly,) but for example to others, perfecting of the saints, and increasing their reward."

Q3. (Colossians 1:22) How can we be presented holy,without blemish, and free from accusation since we are not perfect? How is this possible? we can be presented holy,without blemish, and free from accusation because of the righteousness. Because Jesus is God His righteousness is infinite And like love when you give it away there is always more then there is sufficient to be shared with us. It is as if we are cloaked with a cloak of righteousness that hides all our sins and in a sense absorbs and cleanses them. It is God's wonderful plan for us!

Q2. (Colossians 1:20-22) By what means did Jesus accomplish this reconciliation? What does the blood of his cross have to do with it? What is the purpose of this reconciliation? (verse 22) To whom are we presented? (verse 22 Jesus accomplished our reconciliation with the Lord by his death on the cross. Jesus an innocent person excepted upon himself the sins of the world, suffered our consequences for the sins and rose from the death in three days. Because Jesus , completely innocent accepted these punishments than he is able to share with us His cloak of righteous so that we can come before God as if we were righteousness. By some mystic way we are transfigured by the blood of the cross of Jesus from this vile body to a resurrected body clothed in righteousness. It is really just like a mapping of a set of objects in field to those another field where they take upon different character. When the white light from the sun passes through a prism it is changed into the colors of the rainbow.

Q1. (Colossians 1:20-22). What does reconcile mean? What was our state before reconciliation? (verse 21) "Reconcile" is apokatallassō is a Greek word found only in Christian writings. It would thus seem that it has a very special Christian meaning. It is formed from apo-, "finishing and completion"+ katallassō, "the exchange of hostility for a friendly relationship, reconcile"--"to reconcile completely. So if people are to be reconciled to God it would imply that we are changed from a situation where we were "Alienated" from the Lord to a situation where we reconvilated ,-put right with the Lord. . we would move from a position of enemy of the Lord or hostile. to a supporter of the Lord. We are brought back to a right relationship with the LORD.

Q4. (Colossians 1:18) How should the assertion that Jesus is the head of the body, the church affect the way we conceive of the church? Is he talking about the universal church or a local congregation, or both? If we believe that Jesus is the head of the church, how should that affect the way we conduct our life and ministry as the church? In what ways does the visible church represent the head? How well do we as the body follow his leadership? Christ being one with God enables us, as Christ being head of the church (1 Cor 11.3), to place our trust in the church. paul is referring, for our day when there are so many denominations, to both. We should devote all of our hearts minds and spirits to the church for Christ is its head. The church is not the head- Christ is the head of the church. Well, I would say that at many times and places the church has missed the point and failed to recognize Christ as head of the church. There have been so many schisms in the church caused mainly by pig headed folk who wre unable to see beyond their own little sty. Christ looks at the big picture, and calls all into the fold-rich and poor, male and female, Jews and Christians and Moslems, slave and free. All are to be gathered in to the fold. Like This Quote MultiQuote