Greetings (Colossians 1:1-2)

It is generally accepted that Paul wrote this letter during his first Roman imprisonment, around the same time that he wrote Ephesians and Philippians. This letter to the church in Colosse was accompanied by another letter, the personal note Paul wrote to Philemon, in whose house the church in Colosse met. His form of greeting is similar to how letters began at that time, with the name of the sender mentioned first, then the recipients, and then an expression of good wishes. Nevertheless we can see that Paul has spiritualised the form and turned it into a benediction.

The events leading up to the composition of this letter are not clear. Epaphras, the individual who brought the gospel to Colosse, is now in prison with Paul. We are not told why he was imprisoned or when he was arrested. Perhaps he had travelled to Rome to discuss with Paul some problems in the Colossian church and had been taken into custody. Or it is possible that his visit there had something to do with the flight of Onesimus, one of Philemon’s slaves, from Colosse to Rome. It is reasonable to assume that Epaphras’ account of life in the congregation lies behind the details dealt with by Paul in the letter. We will consider these details later, but for now we will focus on some aspects of his greeting.

1. Know your identity

It is clear from Paul’s greeting that he knew his own role under God, that he understood the common bond shared by him, Timothy and the Colossians (our brother), and that he knew how to describe his readers. His succinct use of language reminds us of the importance of knowing how to identify Paul, Timothy, the Colossians and ourselves.

Who was Paul?

Many answers could be given to this question, but Paul’s own self-description is full of relevance for us today, unlike some other descriptions that could be given. For example, writers often refer to Paul’s genius, but there were plenty geniuses throughout history and we don’t today pay much heed to most of their opinions. Others refer to his remarkable conversion to Christ on the road to Damascus, but there have been many graphic conversions throughout church history and we don’t lay much stress on their opinions either. So if it is not his genius or his conversion that makes him significant for us, what else about him would make him so? The answer to that question is that Paul was an apostle of Jesus Christ.

Who or what is an apostle? The word basically has two levels of meaning. One meaning is that of a messenger who passes on a message; the other meaning is that the messenger received a personal call from the risen Christ to serve him in a specific way that functioned at the commencement of the New Testament church. Both ideas are used in the New Testament, and here in Colossians 1:1-2 the term has the second meaning. Paul received his call at the same time that he was converted by Jesus (Acts 9:15).

Paul had a role of great authority in the Christian church and what he taught was binding on people, such as the Colossians, whom he had never met, and his teachings still govern the people of God today. So although this letter deals with local issues in Colosse it also teaches us about essential aspects of the Christian faith. Obviously some matters in his letters were of local importance and dealt with issues that no longer exist. Nevertheless, most of what he wrote is relevant to the church throughout history, and even areas which seem limited to the original circumstances usually have principles that are binding everywhere.

It is worth noting that Paul did not think that his circumstances prevented him functioning as an apostle. From one point of view, his influence was limited because of his confinement in Rome. He was not free at that time to travel around declaring his Master’s message in different places as he had done previously. Yet an apparent reduction in space did not mean a reduction in how to use his time. Although restrained in his movements, he was totally committed to using whatever opportunities he had to obey the task entrusted to him by Jesus.

Paul also traced his involvement in the church as an apostle to the sovereign will of God. This awareness would have given him a sense of confidence that was not based on himself. He knew that his calling had divine approval, and this helped him when he faced various obstacles. Indeed he seems to have assumed that God would arrange providence and open doors for service, even when in prison for his sake.

Who was Timothy?

It is obvious that he was Paul’s co-worker, yet the feature that Paul stresses is that Timothy was his, and their, brother. While any suggestion as to why Paul mentioned this feature will be only a guess, it is worth observing that even Timothy suffered from a lack of confidence at times. This diffidence was connected to his natural temperament. He would have been encouraged at a reminder of his spiritual status as a child of God. Naturally he was not equal with other people, spiritually he was an equal member with all other Christians in God’s family because of faith in Jesus Christ.

The fact that Timothy was the companion of Paul is a reminder that sometimes God uses individuals with a weak physical state as well as a weak emotional outlook at times. It is true that such things can be a hindrance, yet God does not refuse to use people with such personal difficulties. We should also observe that God’s will was for a strong man like Paul to work alongside a weak man like Timothy. Partnership in the gospel does not require similarity of personal strengths.

Who were the Colossians?

Paul mentions two details: they were holy and they were faithful brothers. What does he mean by these descriptions?

The term saints means holy or separated ones. There are two ways by which this description can be explained, one by an outward sign and the other by an inner reality. Another way of explaining it is by profession or by possession. The outward sign of profession is baptism and this ritual does depict the washing away of sins; the inward sign of possession is the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. I suspect that Paul hoped that each of the Colossians would both profess and possess.

We are prone to minimise the significance of baptism. Yet we should not do so, because it was the door of entrance to the visible church. In baptism, we are identifying ourselves with the people of God – it is the sign that we belong to the community of Jesus. Of course, it is possible to only go through the outward ritual and not possess the indwelling of the Spirit. Baptism is a permanent challenge to live in dependence on God.

The other detail that Paul mentions about the Colossians is that they are faithful brothers. Again Paul mentions the great privilege of adoption as he speaks directly to his readers. He addresses them as faithful. No doubt he means those who are loyal to God. But how do they show their loyalty to God? The main way is by how they interact with one another. Faithfulness to God is always revealed in how we regard the church of God.

It is possible to use the word ‘believing’ instead of ‘faithful’. If we use ‘believing’, it does not imply that faithfulness is not intended. Instead ‘believing’ indicates how we can continue to be faithful and loyal. Everything a Christian does, everything a church does, must be done by faith in Christ. There will dependence on Christ and devotion to Christ.

2. Know your location

Paul says that his readers are in Christ at Colosse, so we can say that they have a spiritual location (in Christ) and a physical location (in Colosse). They live in both worlds simultaneously.

Physically, they were in Colosse, a small town living in the shadow of its neighbouring cities. Yet it was a place of worldly influences that could distract the members of the Colossian church. The main influence there was a form of syncretism, the result of the merging of several religious ideas, including worship of angels and ascetism. There was a strong Jewish community there, and some of its ideas had contributed to the religious mixture that threatened the church. The members could not forget or ignore what was going on around them, but they would have been under pressure to conform.

The remedy for this danger was to discover what they had in their spiritual location. Paul summarises this location as ‘in Christ’ – this was the location of all their spiritual blessings. Wherever they were in Colosse, whatever they were doing there or whoever they were with, they were united to Christ at each moment. We can imagine a whole host of circumstances in which they could find themselves. At each moment they were to say to one to themselves, ‘I am in Christ, united to him.’

3. Know your resources

Paul’s greeting is very brief but full of meaning: ‘Grace to you and peace from God our Father.’ Again he is stressing the privileges of adoption. When we think of grace, we can see that it is fatherly grace, fresh grace, forgiving grace, and full grace. As a Father, he is full of pity; as a fountain, his grace is always fresh and free; as a forgiver, his grace is always full. What a wonderful encouragement to say to the Colossians as they looked ahead!

Paul also reminds them about the peace of the Father. Peace is reconciliation with God (pardon), harmony with one another (people), contentment with one’s situation (providence), submission to God’s will (practice) and anticipation of a perfect world (prospects). Peace must always be accompanied by grace – any other kind of peace is not what God gives to his people.

Application

In Colossians, God not only spoke to them, he also speaks to us. Although a letter initially to some first-century Christians, God also had us in mind when Paul composed the letter. The introduction also indicates that the best way to hear/read the Scriptures is when we have received grace and peace from the Father.

Second, we must always remember who we are. Our identity is defined by our baptism – it symbolises cleansing from sin and entrance into the community of Jesus. Baptism is like enlistment papers, identifying us as loyal members of Christ’s family.

Third, we must always remember where we are – in Inverness and in Christ. Inverness defines our physical world where we serve Jesus and live for him; ‘in Christ’ defines our spiritual world where we experience his empowering and guidance.

Fourth, remember what we will be given by the Father each day – grace and peace in abundance.