Monday 13 October 2014
- Bible Book:
- Colossians
“In our prayers for you we always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. You have heard of this hope before in the word of the truth, the gospel that has come to you.” (vv. 3-5)
Background
How do you write a letter to people you've never met, but whohave a problem to which you are expected to provide a wise answer?Do you come down with the heavy hand of authority, or patronisethem as ignorant and blind them with your superior knowledge? Or doyou take the line that Paul does in his letters, of praise for whatthey have achieved and thanking God for their faithfulness?
Paul had not been personally involved in the foundation of theColossian church. He was now so busy that he had to send out a bandof evangelists to reach the places he couldn't visit himself.Epaphras was the man sent to Colosse and he had taught the peopleabout Christ and left a band of local Christians to continue thework. Colosse was in the Roman province of Asia, about 100 milesfrom Ephesus and set in a wide valley close to the cities ofHieropalis and Laodicaea. All three cities had been wealthy tradingtowns, but Colosse was now the poor relation to the others.
Although the population was mainly Gentile (non Jewish), therewas also a large Jewish community. Some had been sent there asexiles many years before, and had been joined by others whorecognised the rich opportunities for trading in the area. So thisnew church was a mixture of nationalities and former beliefs and itappears that this was the root of the problems that wereoccurring.
Yet Paul begins his letter in a positive vein, like any goodteacher, or critic. His primary purpose is to build up the church,not to destroy it, so his words are of their faith in Jesus Christand their love for the saints. These saints were not of thestained-glass window variety, but ordinary people of God. So Paulcommends the church's devotion to God and care for the communityand assures them of his prayers. And he begins to set out the truthof the gospel to counteract the problem for which he must providethe answer.
To Ponder
- Not so many people write letters in this digital age. How wouldyou approach someone to offer advice?
- Have you been hurt by harsh criticism and how did you deal withit?
- What encouragement have you received from church leaders, orother Christians?