Home > Work > Colossians and Philemon: New Testament Commentary (MacArthur New Testament Commentary Serie)
1 " The Bible is supremely the book about the Lord Jesus Christ. The Old Testament records the preparation for His coming. The gospels present Him as God in human flesh, come into the world to save sinners. In Acts, the message of salvation in Christ begins to be spread throughout the world. The epistles detail the theology of Christ’s work and personification of Christ in His Body, the church. Finally, Revelation presents "
― John F. MacArthur Jr. , Colossians and Philemon: New Testament Commentary (MacArthur New Testament Commentary Serie)
2 " Walk is used in the Bible to refer to one’s pattern of daily conduct. A mind controlled by knowledge, wisdom, and understanding produces a life worthy of the Lord. "
3 " Christ on the throne, reigning as King of kings and Lord of lords. Every part of Scripture testifies about Jesus Christ. Luke 24:27 says, “Beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, [Jesus] explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.” In John 5:39, Jesus said of the Scriptures, “It is these that bear witness of Me.” Philip preached Christ to the Ethiopian eunuch by using the book of Isaiah (Acts 8:35). But of all the Bible’s teaching about Jesus Christ, none is more significant than Colossians 1:15-19. This dramatic and powerful passage removes any needless doubt or confusion over Jesus "
4 " true identity. It is vital to a proper understanding of the Christian faith. "
5 " In verses 10-11, Paul lists five purposes that are fulfilled in such spiritual knowledge. "
6 " much of the heresy threatening the Colossian church centered on the Person of Christ. The heretics, denying His humanity, viewed Christ as one of many lesser descending spirit beings that emanated from God. They taught a form of philosophic dualism, postulating that spirit was good and matter was evil. Hence, a good emanation like Christ could never take on a body composed of evil matter. The idea that God Himself could become man was absurd to them. Thus, they also denied His deity. "
7 " Fruitfulness also results from knowledge. Fruit is the by-product of righteousness. It is the mark of every redeemed individual. "
8 " A third result of knowledge is spiritual growth. Spiritual growth is progressing in the knowledge of God. "
9 " In the first three chapters of Colossians, Paul confronts the Colossian heresy head on. He rejects their denial of Christ’s humanity, pointing out that it is in Him that “all the fulness of Deity dwells in bodily form” (2:9). Paul also rejects their worship of angels (2:18), and their ceremonialism (2:16-17). He emphatically denies that any secret knowledge is required for salvation, "
10 " A fourth result of knowledge is spiritual strength. Dunamoumenoi (“strengthened”) is a present participle, signifying continuous action. God is not like a booster rocket giving believers an initial boost of power and then leaving them to fly on their own. "
11 " pointing out that in Christ “are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (2:3; cf. 1:27; 3:1-4). By far the most serious aspect of the Colossian heresy was its rejection of Christ’s deity. Before getting to the other issues, Paul makes an emphatic defense of that crucial doctrine. "
12 " Paul gives one last result of true spiritual knowledge: joyous endurance of trials. Knowledge of God’s promises and purposes revealed in Scripture gives the strength to endure trials and suffering. "
13 " In Colossians 1:15-19, Paul reveals our Lord’s true identity by viewing Him in relation to four things: God, the universe, the unseen world, and the church. "
14 " Paul’s prayer is a model or pattern for all believers to follow. Like his prayers here and elsewhere, our prayers should include praise as well as petitions. To the Philippians Paul wrote, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Phil. 4:6). In 1 Timothy 2:1 he urged that “entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men.” Later he told the Colossians to “devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving” (Col. 4:2). Paul constantly gave thanks in his prayers "
15 " There are many metaphors used in Scripture to describe the church. It is called a family, a kingdom, a vineyard, a flock, a building, and a bride. But the most profound metaphor, one having no Old Testament equivalent, is that of a Body. The church is a Body, and Christ is the head of the Body. "
16 " As already noted, the heretics viewed Jesus as one among a series of lesser spirits descending in sequential inferiority from God. Paul refutes that with two powerful descriptions of who Jesus really is. First, Paul describes Him as the image of the invisible God. Eikōn (image) means “image” or “likeness.” From it we get our English word icon, referring "
17 " Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name” (Heb. 13:15). "
18 " A second cause for thanksgiving is our spiritual liberation. Delivered is from ruomai, which means “to draw to oneself,” or “to rescue.” God drew us out of Satan’s kingdom to Himself. "
19 " 20 of Caesar’s portrait on a coin, and in Revelation 13:14 of the statue of Antichrist. "
20 " The Fall marred the original image of God in man. Before the Fall, Adam and Eve were innocent, free of sin, and incapable of dying. They forfeited those qualities when they sinned. When someone puts faith in Christ, however, that person is promised that the image of God will be restored in him or her. “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son” (Rom. 8:29; cf. 2 Cor. 3:18; Col. 3:10). God will make believers sinless like Christ when they enter the final phase of their eternal life. "
