Col 2:8-12 What is the basic falsehood and deception behind the “elementary principles of the world” and that underlies all of the philosophies and traditions of men? Hint: contrast Col 2:10a and Jer 33:2-3 with the summarizing statement of the first tenet of the Humanist Manifesto (II): “While there is much that we do not…
Col 2:1-3 What was the struggle Paul had for the Gentile Christians in Colossae, Laodicea, and other places he had never visited? Why would their knowing of his struggle on their behalf encourage or comfort their hearts (Col 2:2)? When a church is confronted by false teaching does everyone immediately see it as false? What…
Col 1:21-23 How does Paul describe the former state of the Christians to whom he was writing? Do you think he is writing to predominantly Jewish or Gentile believers? See Col 1:27, 2:16-17, and note that the NASB “alienated” in Col 1:21 is the same word translated as “excluded” in Eph 2:12 and 4:18, the…
Note: One can see in the false teaching confronting the Colossians the seeds of Gnosticism that were already being sown and beginning to germinate in Paul’s day. Gnosticism was a widespread philosophy held in various forms by a host of cultic groups in the second century. The common belief of Gnosticism was that God…
Col 1:1-2 Compare this greeting with that in the first two verses of Ephesians (Eph 1:1-2), noticing the similarity and difference; considering the two letters are so similar and appear to have been written at the same time, why do you suppose Paul included Timothy in the greeting to the letter to the Colossians but…
Paul’s conversion (Acts 9:1-7): c. 33 a.d. (possibly as early as 30 a.d.) Paul in Damascus (Acts 9:8-25), Arabia (Gal 1:17), Jerusalem (Gal 1:18-19, Acts 9:26-29): c. 33-36 a.d. (or possibly 30-33 a.d.), and Tarsus (Acts 9:30, Gal 1:21): c. 36-43 a.d. (or possibly 33-43 a.d.) Barnabas to Antioch (Acts 11:19-24): c. 41 a.d. Paul…
Eph 6:10-13 How does Paul’s final admonition in Eph 6:10 contrast with people’s fleshly notions? Why is it so important to make the Lord our strength and not man nor the things of the world? See Ps 33:16-17, Is 30:1-5, 31:1-3, Jer 17:5-8. Why are the fleshly things of this world ultimately of no value…
Eph 6:1-4 Note: in Eph 6:1, “right” is the word that is usually translated righteous; what does this verse teach us about the way children practice righteousness? Note on the practice of righteousness: Just as Jesus could not have been righteous without being subject to the Father, neither can husbands be righteous if they are…
Eph 5:21-24 Considering the context that follows, what does Paul mean in Eph 5:21 to “be subject to one another in the fear of Christ”? Is the statement specific to husbands and wives—that both husbands and wives are to be subject to one another—or is it more general, with the verses that follow giving a…
Eph 5:15-17 What have Paul’s words in this epistle taught us about the importance of our Christian walk as opposed to our Christian beliefs? See Eph 2:10, 4:1,17, 5:2,8,15. What does he call those who are not careful about their Christian walk? See Eph 5:15,17. In what parable did Jesus speak of the same thing? …