Posts Tagged ‘Colossians’
What is meant by “handwriting of ordinances”?
Question: What is meant by the “handwriting of ordinances” that Paul says was against “us” (including himself along with his audience)? Was the church at Colosse Jewish, Gentile or both? Answer: Colosse is located in the area that we now know as Turkey. The city was located in a valley about 100 miles east of…
Read MoreSeeking the Things Above
Seeking the Things Above (Part 1)Seeking the Things Above (Part 2) by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Colossians 3:1-4 I. So often we focus on winning souls for Christ that we lose sight that conversion is not the goal but the first step in a life long process of change – Colossians 2:6-7 A. To stay with…
Read MoreDoes Colossian 2:9 mean that Jesus is the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit?
Question: Does Colossian 2:9 mean that Jesus is the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit? Answer: “For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form” (Colossians 2:9). “Fullness” (from the Greek word pleroma) means a complete or full expression. Thus, in Galatians 4:4 the fullness of time doesn’t mean all time but the moment…
Read MoreThe Old Law was not from human philosophy, so Colossians 2:16-17 can’t be talking about the Old Law
Question: Hello, I saw your article on Colossians 2:16 and had a follow-up question that I have been struggling with after hearing a rebuttal from a Sabbatharian website. They said Colossians 2:14-16 is commonly used to say Christians are not bound to keep Saturday Sabbaths or obey various Old Testament commands given to Israel; however,…
Read MoreWhy did Paul refer to the saints and faithful brethren in Colossians 1:2?
Question: In Colossians 1:2, Paul speaks to the ‘saints and the faithful’. Why does he make a distinction between the two? Answer: “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God…
Read MoreShould it be “faith” or “the faith” in Ephesians 2:8 and Colossians 2:12?
Question: Greetings brother Hamilton, I am perplexed as to what the later part of Colossians 2:12 means, “Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye have risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.” Does this part of the scripture mean our subjective faith in…
Read MoreDoesn’t Colossians 2:12 clearly show that baptism is a work of God?
Question: Doesn’t the following verse very plainly show that baptism is not a work of man, but rendering obedience to God’s will? “buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead” (Colossians 2:12). God is not the author…
Read MoreThe Prison Letters
Text: Colossians 4:7-18 I. Near the end of Paul’s third journey, he visited churches to gather funds to relieve the famine stricken brethren in Judea. – I Corinthians 16:1-9 A. Several of the churches sent representatives to travel with Paul – II Corinthians 8:16-24 B. Several of these men are named in Acts 20:1-4. Take special note…
Read MoreWhat happened to the letter to Laodicea mentioned in Colossians 4:16?
Question: What happened to the letter to Laodicea mentioned in Colossians 4:16? Answer: Near the end of Paul’s third journey, Paul visited churches and gathered funds for the relief of brethren in Judea suffering from a famine (I Corinthians 16:1-9). Several of the churches sent representatives to travel with Paul, not because they did not trust…
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