2/27/14 – 2nd Thessalonians Chapter 2

Chapter 2

9 – “Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonder…” – bsn – Power and signs and… wonders are not necessarily evidence of God’s acts. Satan has the power to perform deceptive supernatural acts. We must examine the source of the act and the content of the message being promoted in order to avoid deception.

16-17 – Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.

 

 

eph 6:10 “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.”

***I use the Holman KJV study bible, some notes after verses are from the study notes in this bible alone or preceding my comments**

 

2/24/14 – 2 Thessalonians Intro-Chapter 1

Intro/Facts

-Written by Paul

-Paul wrote in part to encourage the Thessalonian believers to stand firm for the truth in the midst of persecution and to assure them that God would judge those who were afflicting them (1:6-9; 2:13-15).

-Apparently the Thess. people thought they were already in the day of the Lord (2:2) Paul assured them that they were not, since certain end time events had not yet taken place and no one was currently restraining the “man of sin” from appearing (2:6-7) this appears to be the primary impetus for the letter. The fact that some people stopped working may suggest that their incorrect view was leading to lethargy and laziness (3:10-11).

-Second Thess. continues and further amplidies some of the same themes as 1 Thess: persecution, sanctification, and end-time events associated with the second coming of Christ. one important difference is that 2 Thess. describes the “man of sin” who will be revealed in the end times and what restrains him from being revealed (2:1-12).

 

Chapter 1

4 – “So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure…”

6-7 – “Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels.” – bsn – God will reward His people with rest and repay those who opposed Him at the return of Christ. Until then the believer must trust that God in His time will handle current situations that are unjust. Angels are often presented as participating in executing God’s awesome judgments and thus are described as mighty.

8 – “In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not god and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.” – bsn – Those who know not God are unbelieving Gentiles (1 Thess. 4:5). Those who know not God are unbelieving Gentiles (1 Thess. 4:5). Those who obey not the gospel are the Jews who had an opportunity to hear the gospel through Jesus or through the ministry of the apostles but rejected it.

9 – “Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power.” – bsn – The penalty of everlasting destruction is described as being away from the presence of the Lord. The word “destruction” does not imply ceasing to exhist or annihilations but separation from god in a miserable state. This is why it is called everlasting. God will throw all His enemies into the lake of fire to be eternally judged (Rev. 20:11-15)

eph 6:10 “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.”

***I use the Holman KJV study bible, some notes after verses are from the study notes in this bible alone or preceding my comments**

2/22/14 – 1st Thessalonians Chapter 5

Chapter 5

1-2 – “But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.” – bsn – Times and seasons mentioned together refer to the end times (acts 1:7). The day of the Lord often signifies a time of God’s wrath and judgment poured out in an uncommon way. Here it refers specifically to the end-time period of God’s judgment on the unbelieving world known as the great tribulation (Mal 4:5; Acts 2:20; 2 Thess. 2:2; 2 Peter 3:10). It will come unexpectedly (1 Thess 5:4; 2 Pet. 3:10).

3 -” For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.” – bsn – Peace and safety are often cited as currently needed in the world and especially in the modern state of Israel. Just before the day of the Lord when people think they have this peace, sudden destruction will come upon them. The comparison of this destruction to the labor pains of a pregnant woman speaks of the increasing intensity of God’s judgment and the certainty of its coming (Matt. 24:8).

4-8 -“But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.” – bsn – Physical sleeping and drunkenness normally occurs at night in the darkness, so Paul issued an encouragement for Christians as children of light to watch, being alert and morally ready. One’s readiness is described with the analogy of a solder who prepares himself for war. This Greek word for sleep (v 6,7,10) is different than that in 4:13-15. Here it refers to moral lethargy. Some interpreters take “sleep” in verse 10 as a euphemism for death, but a good case can be made that it refers to moral lethargy as well. Thus Paul is saying in verse 10 that whether believers are alert or not for the day of the Lord, we will still “live together” with the Lord.

9 – “For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,” – bsn – Paul reminded the Thessalonians that as Christians their destiny was not God’s wrath but salvation. The day of the Lord will be a great outpouring of God’s wrath from the very start (Rev 6:17), and Christians will be kept out of this worldwide hour of testing. (Rev. 3:10).

11 – “Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.” – I think this is something BIG that Christians leave out of our role and we don’t really want any part of. It’s a hard thing to do to try to correct others out of love, or to bring to their attention something they should be working on according to scripture. We don’t want to seem like we’re “judging” them or thinking we’re God or more righteous than them or anything like that, but we don’t want them to suffer for something they aren’t sure needs improvement. Personally, I would MUCH rather someone tell me that they think I should be more focused on improving something than on something else, or equally focused. We really don’t always see the flaws in ourselves as we do in others. I think this is a very strong tool that is probably pretty dusty in the shed for a lot of us. We also need to make ourselves more open to edifying, we shouldn’t see something someone comes to us out of love with as anything but wanting to help us if we sincerely think that’s what they’re doing, once brought to our attention, we should take it straight to prayer and give it to God to handle the rest.

15 – “See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.” – bsn – Paul’s instruction reflects back on Jesus’ teaching not to follow a retaliatory “eye for an eye” ethic but to give a blessing instead (Matt. 5:38-42). – I think we all still kind of have a small hint at least of this mentality, we feel we need to protect ourselves and stand up for ourselves so people don’t take advantage of us, but we forget we are the children of God, who is bigger than all, who can and will come to our rescue if we are obedient to Him. We need to do our best not to retaliate, but inform those that hurt us of this and that we have the power to forgive them through Jesus Christ.

16-22: This is beautiful and definitely verses to live by!

16- Rejoice always,

17- pray without ceasing, (bsn – this does not mean continuous uninterrupted prayer but frequent and regular prayers for a consistent prayer life)

18- in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

19- Do not quench the Spirit. (One can quench not the Spirit by not submitting to His leading, or by committing other sins that would grieve Him. In this context Paul may have had in mind listening to or allowing for prophesies that were not Spirit-given (v 20-21).

20- Do not despise prophecies.

21- Test all things; hold fast what is good. (bsn 20-21 – Prove all things probably refers to the content of the prophesying that had to be evaluated with God’s truth as expressed by that OT, Jesus, and the apostles (1 John 4:1-3)).

22- Abstain from every form of evil.

 

eph 6:10 “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.”

***I use the Holman KJV study bible, some notes after verses are from the study notes in this bible alone or preceding my comments**

2/21/14 – 1st Thessalonians Chapter 4

Chapter 4

3 – “For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:” – bsn – Sanctification could also be translated “holiness.” Here it refers to the consecration of the believer to God in holy and proper behavior in regard to sexual purity. God’s will is clear. The passage does not say to abstain from sex practiced in the context of marriage. Fornication is sex that deviates from God’s standards. this would include premarital sex, incest, homosexuality, bestiality and adultery.

4 – “That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;” – The phrase possess his vessel probably refers to the idea of controlling the lustful sexual desires of one’s own body that might lead a Christian to sin. An alternate but less likely view is that refers to obtaining a wife.

6-8 – “That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.” – To go beyond is to transgress. In any matter points back to the discussion of sexual purity in verses 3-5. To commit a sexual sin is to sin against and defraud a fellow Christian. A sexual transgression is fraud in the sense that it is  a form of theft. you take something that does not belong to you. It defrauds both the partner of the illicit relationship as well as a spouse or future spouse who alone has rights in sexual matters. Paul gace two reasons for Christians to abstain from sexual immorality. First is that the Lord will judge the offense. Second is that sexual impurity violates God’s call to holiness. A person should not mix human sexual impurity with God’s holy nature in the holy Spirit, who dwells within the Christian (1 Cor. 6:6-19).

9-12 – “But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.  And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more; And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.” – bsn – The reference to brotherly love seems to govern the content of these verses in encouraging fellow Christians to lead a quiet life, mind one’s own business, and work with one’s hands. To do otherwise places a burden of dependence on the community of faith and gives a poor testimony to outsiders (5:14; 2 Thess. 3:7-12). Paul demonstrated this work ethic by providing for his own needs. (1 Thess. 2:9)

13 – “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.” – bsn – The term asleep in this context is a euphemism to Christians who have died. This is particularly appropriate. Just as a sleeping person expects to rise up in the morning, Christians who have died will experience a bodily resurrection and will rise up once again (v. 16, John 11:11). Until this happens for deceased believers, to be out of the body is to be ay home with the Lord (2 Cor. 5:8). Apparently the cause of the Thessalonians’ grief was related to the misunderstanding that dead Christians would miss the events and subsequent blessings associated with the lord’s coming. Paul corrected this misunderstanding by teaching that the dead in Christ will rise first (1 Thess. 4:16). In contrast to unbelievers who grieve over a fellow believer can do so with hope because of the future glorious resurrection.

14 – “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.” – bsn – Jesus’ resurrection revealed what it will be like for Christians. We can partially understand the nature of our bodily resurrection by reading about His (Like 24:36-43)

15-17 – “For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord” – bsn – the word that Paul received relates to what has been called the the rapture. It refers to the event when believers who are alive at the Lord’s coming are caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. The term “rapture” is derived from rapturo, the Latin translation of the Greek term. The Greek term means “to snatch or take away suddenly.” Paul referred to this event as a mystery (some truth previously hidden but now known) in 1 Cor. 14:51-52 and said it will happen in the twinkling of an eye. We which are alive implies that Paul thought the rapture could occur at any moment, even during his lifetime. Prevent in this context means “precede.” The archangel or chief angel is probably a reference to Michael. (Dan. 10:13; Jude 9).

eph 6:10 “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.”

***I use the Holman KJV study bible, some notes after verses are from the study notes in this bible alone or preceding my comments**

2/19/14 – 1st Thessalonians Chapter 3

Chapter 3

3-4 – “The no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto, For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know, – bsn – Christians should not be shaken by persecution, because Paul stated we are appointed thereunto in God’s plan. If people persecuted Jesus, His followers will be persecuted as well. In Paul’s case the persecution kept him moving from city to city. As a result many cities were able to hear the gospel from Paul’s mouth. This would not have happened had Paul been warmly received among the Jews. Hence God allowed persecution to swerve as a means of accomplishing his will.

7-8 – “Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith: For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord.”

10-13 – “Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith? Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you. And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.” – bsn – Paul wanted to see the Thessalonians in person in order to help them mature. Verses 11-13 contain a prayer expressing just that desire. The prayer’s request for love and holiness is specifically addressed in reverse order in the following two paragraphs (4:1-8, 9-12)

2/18/14 – 1st Thessalonians Chapter 2

Chapter 2

15 – “Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets and have persecuted us. and they please not God, and are contrary to all men.” – bsn – Who refers to the Jews of verse 14. This is the only place in Paul’s writings where he identified those who were responsible for Jesus’ death. Prophets who also suffered persecution at the hands of their countrymen (Acts 7:52). The pattern is clear – rejection of the message first, then persecution of the messenger. – I feel like this is the urgency the world is missing right now, rejection of EVERYTHING Christians believe in is happening every day right now, the only thing left after they completely strip everything from us is persecution.

16 – “Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.” – Some jews objected to offering the message of the gospel to Gentiles. To fill up their sins implies that God will tolerate only a certain number of sins before His Judgment falls. – I’m wondering what this means (About the filling up of sins) does he mean the world collectively, or does he mean each of us has a limit before his judgment falls. I’m guessing (based on my gut instinct, could be wrong) that it’s the world collectively based on the words “judgment falls” it seems like they are talking about his judgment falling across the whole world?

eph 6:10 “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.”

***I use the Holman KJV study bible, some notes after verses are from the study notes in this bible alone or preceding my comments**

2/17/14 – 1st Thessalonians Intro-Chapter 1

Intro/Facts

-Written by Paul

-Paul spent a very short time in the city of Thessalonica, but was able to establish a church during his stay. There may have been little time for instruction of the new converts, so it is not surprising that Paul wrote a letter to address some questions.

-Thessalonica was filled with pagan worshipers of idols and devotee of the full pantheon of Greek and Roman gods, and was well known for its emperor worship. The city was loyal to Caesar, and he had granted its citizens many privileges.

– When Paul got sent away from Thessalonica, he wanted to see the Thessalonians again. When he could endure the separation no longer, he sent Timothy to encourage the Thessalonian believers. Timothy came back with and encouraging report about the Thessalonian church. Paul wrote to the m from Corinth in response to timothy’s report. Based on the archaeological evidence of a dated inscription mentioning Gallio, proconsul of Achaia, by name (Acts 18:12) and correlating this with Paul’s visit to Corinth when Gallio was there, 1 Thessalonians can be reliably dated at A.D. 50 or 51. This would make this the earliest of Paul’s letters with the probable exception of the book of Galations.

-Paul wrote to encourage their faith, to remind them that sanctification was God’s will for them, and to correct misunderstandings about end-time events.

-4 Major themes: 1. Paul’s conduct of his ministry (impartation of the word of God, and the sharing of his life.) 2. Persecution (The Thessalonian church was founded in the midst of persecution. Paul had to leave the city for that reason, and the church continued to suffer after he left. Paul encouraged the believers there not to be shaken by these afflictions because Christians are certain to suffer)  3. Sanctification (Salvation isn’t finished once a person believes in Christ and receives forgiveness of sins.) 4. The second coming of Christ.

Contribution to the Bible – First Thessalonians contributes to our understanding of the second coming of Christ. Paul wrote to correct some misunderstandings of this doctrine and in the process he showed us that Christ’s return gives us true hope. 1 Thes. and 1 Cor. are the only books that explicitly mention that Christians who are alive at Christ’s return will be changed and will meet Christ in the air without dying.

Chapter 1

3 – “Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father.” – bsn – Paul commended the people of Thes. for their faith, love, hope, and patience.

4 – “Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.” – bsn – While the Thes. were commended for their work, Paul reminded them that God was the One who had brought about their election and they were beloved by Him. (Election carries the idea of God’s choice or selection)

5-6 – “For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction with joy of the Holy Ghost.” – bsn – The gospel is more than a message of words. It is a message that comes in power and in the Holy Ghost. The basic meaning of gospel is “good news.” Paul often further specified that it was not just any good news but that which came from God. Even though the church at Thes. was founded in the midst of much affliction, the message was warmly received with joy that came from the Holy Spirit. That God was working there was also evident since Paul and Silas were able to stay only for a short time before they were forced to leave and yet the church started and flourished anyway.

10 – “And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.” – bsn – While the Thes. were enduring persecution, they were also waiting for the coming Son. The wrath to come was not a persecution that Paul and the Thes. were experiencing or would experience from the unbelieving world, but a future time of God’s wrath against the unbelieving world. Christians will be rescued from this. Paul introduced the fact that Jesus’ resurrection expressed the hope of the resurrection for Christians who had died.

eph 6:10 “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.”

***I use the Holman KJV study bible, some notes after verses are from the study notes in this bible alone or preceding my comments**

2/16/14 – Colossians 4

Chapter 4

1 – “Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal knowing that ye also have a master in heaven.”

6 – “Let your speech be away with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.”

 

eph 6:10 “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.”

***I use the Holman KJV study bible, some notes after verses are from the study notes in this bible alone or preceding my comments**

2/12/14 – Colossians 3

Chapter 3

1-2 –  “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” – bsn – If ye then resumes the implications of belivers’ identification with Christ behun in 2:20. It signals a shift in the epistle from doctrinal instructions (ch 1 and 2) to practical application. The objects of believers’ efforts and thoughts are heavenly places where Christ dwells. These commands contrast true spiritual living with the false spirituality promoted by earthly “philosophy.”

5 – “Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:” – bsn – The command “mortify” (put to death) refers to the practical outworking of seeking and thinking about heavenly things. Paul offered a fivefold catalog of earthly vices.  These vices are listed moving from specific outward behavior to general inward inclinations and thoughts. Concupiscence is sexual lust.

8-10 – “But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:” – bsn – All these vices relate to behaviors that disrupt interpersonal relationships. Put off evokes the familiar Pauline metaphor of changing clothes, which pertains to an actual observable change of behavior. The new self replaces the old but is also continuously being renewed to reflect the image of God. The reference to the new man applies to individuals but also carries corporate connotations relating to the body of Christ.

12-14 – “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.” – bsn – After commanding believers to “put off” worldly behaviors, Paul offered a series of positive commands to put on or to clothe yourselves with behavior fitted for god’s people. The adjectives elect, holy, and beloved were all applied to israel, Jesus, and the church. The 5 virtues are just the opposite of the vices listed in verses 5 and 8. The words forbearing and forgiving express the habitual manner in which believers exhibit the stated virtues. Both verbs pertain to interpersonal relationships in the body of Christ. Even as Christ forgave echoes Jesus’ injunction to forgive because believers are forgiven. The final and most important new article of clothing for God’s people is charity (love), which binds believers together in oneness.

17 – “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” – bsn – (3:17-4:1) Paul in this section showed how doing everything in the name of the Lord applies to every member of a household. Early Christians adopted  and modified this format for describing appropriate behavior of members in a Christian household.

18-25:

18 – “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.” – bsn – Paul always used the verb submit in the context of authority relationships. This submission is NOT subservience but voluntary submission. This disposition is based on the wife’s relationship with Christ and her role within the family rather than on any false notion of inferiority. 

19 – “Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.” – bsn – Love refers to selfless sacrificial concern and care for the welfare of another person. To be bitter pertains to ahrsh treatment and could be translated as “cause bitter feelings.” Husbands must always care for their wives and never deal harshly with them.  

20 – “Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.” – bsn – The word obey lacks the voluntary sense found in the command to be submissive. Children must be obedient to their parents. this is how they please the Lord. This obedience does not include immoral behavior or idolatrous demands from a parent, because this is not behavior pleasing unto the Lord.

21 – “Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.” – bsn – Although the greek plural pateres could include both parents, fathers in particular are warned not to provoke their children. “Provoke” means to cause someone to harbor feelings of resentment.

22-25 –  “Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God; And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.” – bsn – Some interpreters believe slaves in the ancient world might have been habitually lazy since they did not profit personally from their labor. Paul offered an extensive rationale for obedience: 1. servants are ultimately serving the Lord rather than a human master; 2. their service will be gloriously rewarded in eternity; and 3. God does not discriminate when it comes to punishing bad behavior.

 

eph 6:10 “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.”

***I use the Holman KJV study bible, some notes after verses are from the study notes in this bible alone or preceding my comments**

2/10/14 – Colossians 2

Chapter 2

2 – “That their hears might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; In whom we are his all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” -bsn v3 – Christ is the only source required for wisdom and knowledge; the Colossians did not need to look to any other philosophy. Hid does not mean secretive but plays on the word treasures. Jewish writers often used this imagery to encourage seekers to dig deep when looking for truth.

4 – “And this I say, lest any man should be guile you with enticing words.” – bsn – For the first time in the epistle Paul directly stated his opposition to the false teachers. They used misleading or faulty reasoning, which is contrasted with the truth of the gospel.

6-7 – “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.” – bsn – Paul’s primary concern was that believers would grow in spiritual maturity. The basis of their conduct is Christ’s lordship and indwelling. The command to walk in Him, as in 1:10, is followed by expressions of what this involved: 1. being rooted (denoting firmness), 2. built up, 3. stablished (a legal term meaning confirmed) and 4. grateful.

8 – “Beware lest any mean spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” – bsn – Beware is a strong warning to watch out so believers are not taken captive and enslaved to false doctrines. Tradition has human origin (whether Jewish or Gentile) as opposed to the divine nature of the gospel. The rudiments (elemental forces) were most likely astral deities, spirits, and/or angels commonly associated with pagan worship, astrology, and magical practices.

10 – “And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:”

12 – “Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.” – bsn – Baptism relates to Christ’s death and burial, it is not the NT equivalent of OT circumcision. Believers’ baptism symbolizes union with Christ in death and complete separation from the former way of life. Likewise, believers are risen with Him through faith, according to God’s power.

13 – “And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses.” – Prior to their faith in Christ, the Colossians were spiritually dead in their sins and cut off from God’s people because they were Gentiles. However, in Christ, God made them alive and forgave all their sins.

14 – “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;” – bsn – The handwriting of ordinances (certificate of debt consisting of decrees) may refer to a written document or to the Mosaic Law. Paul typically viewed the law’s purpose as revealing the guilt of sinners. Some Jewish writings, likewise, speak of God keeping records of people’s sins as debts against them. God, however, has abolished those records through Christ’s substitutionally atonement that was accomplished when he died on the cross.

16 – “Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.” – bsn – The Colossian believers were apparently pressured by some in the church to observe Jewish dietary laws and holy days. Because God has completely reconciled believers to Himself, they are free from condemnation from practicing customs required for God’s covenant people in the past. Paul used the words shadow and body to contrast the incomplete nature of these former obligations with the fullness brought about by Christ. god instituted the dietary laws and holy days as a means to foreshadow the coming reconciliation in the Messiah. This is another way of saying that He is the fulfillment of the law.

eph 6:10 “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.”

***I use the Holman KJV study bible, some notes after verses are from the study notes in this bible alone or preceding my comments**