Ian & Jocelyn Barker

It is seen by Paul that “hope” (1:5) is a fountain that produces faith and love. This hope is not an emotion or a wave of wishful thinking, but a “confident expectation” of what is to come. We are told that their hope is “laid up…in heaven.” The object of this hope is yet to be experienced, but has been made known to them in part. Comparing 1:27 and 3:4, it seems right to conclude that the hope they wait for is their final salvation, which is the resurrection of the body (1 Cor. 15:19, 44-49). Along with the hope of their resurrection, they hope in the full manifestation of the glorious and exalted Christ (1:15-18; 3:1-4; cf. Phil. 3:20; Tit. 2:13). |inline

Having greeted them in the name of the Lord, he informs them that they “give thanks” to God for them (1:3). He does not just thank God for them, but always prays for them (1:3). Thanksgiving and prayer are connected to each other because thankfulness provokes a request for continued blessing and protection, while prayer causes thankfulness to come forth from the heart in remembrance of the good that the Lord has already accomplished. |inline

Paul begins by saying that he is “an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God” (1:1). He writes to them as one who is “an official representative of the Anointed Savior”, which gives him authority over the saints in Colossae. This authority is not derived from his own wisdom or oratorical skills, but is given to him by God (cf. 1 Cor. 1:1; 2 Cor. 1:1; Eph. 1:1; 2 Tim. 1:1). |inline

I’m going to start a series on Colossians. I’m currently writing on Colossians 1:1-23 for my 4th year APP project. I will hopefully finish that today, and then move on to 1/2 Thessalonians. For my blog, I will post what I have written for the project and then continue when I get to verse 24. Hope you enjoy!