Page 1



EMAIL BIBLE LESSONS

Welcome, we trust you will enjoy these lessons as much as we did composing them. We are glad to be able to serve the Lord and you in this way. Many are being saved and helped through these simple Bible lessons. We suggest that you try to do one lesson each week; this will keep your interest in them active. This particular course contains fourteen lessons on Studies in Ephesians and Colossians Bible Studies. Please save this lesson onto your computer, read the lesson carefully, full in the answers to the test questions at the end of each lesson and email the test page back to us at - email.bible.lessons@.We will then evaluate and return any corrections to you with your next lesson. On completion of the full course you will receive a beautifully presented certificate. Should you have difficulty opening or sending this file to us, please let us know by return email. We suggest that you print these lessons and put them in a binder for future studies.

May God richly bless you as you proceed

Your Instructor

Harold Smith (Your Instructor) and Shelly Allen (Assistant)

All Courses are copyright and may not be used as Courses without permission.

I gratefully acknowledge the permission from the publisher and author for the use of this material  Copyright © 1979 by R.E. Harlow ISBN 0-88873-011-X Everyday Publications Inc. 421 Nugget Ave. Unit 2  Scarborough Ont. M1S 4L8

LESSON 1 – STUDIES IN EPHESIANS AND COLOSSIANS

COLOSSIANS: CHRIST IN YOU

In the time of the Roman Empire, the city of Colossae was located in the province called Asia. In Rome, itself there was a prisoner named Paul. While in prison, Paul wrote a letter to Christians in Colossae and a believer called Tychicus carried it to them.

Why was Paul in prison? The Jews hated Paul because he preached the gospel of Jesus Christ and taught that men can be saved by faith apart from works. You can read about this in Acts Chapters 21 to 26.

In Acts 28, we learn that Paul was a prisoner in Rome for two years. During this time, he wrote four wonderful letters: Colossians, Philemon, Ephesians and Philippians. Paul had spent two years in the city of Ephesus, which was about 170 kilometres west of Colossae. During that time, many people believed and they went and told everybody in the province of Asia about the Lord Jesus, Acts 19:10 (KJV) And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.

People from the same province heard the gospel on the day of Pentecost, and at first, the Holy Spirit did not let Paul go there, Acts 2:9 (KJV) Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia; Acts 16:6 (KJV) Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia.

Paul had never been to Colossae and we do not know who started the church there. We do know that Epaphras was one of the believers in Colossae and that he was a great help in the assembly there, Colossians 1:7 (KJV) As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellow servant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ; Colossians 4:12 (KJV) Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.

We know a little about three other people in Colossae: Philemon, Archippus and Onesimus. Paul wrote the letter to Philemon about the same time as he wrote to the church at Colossae. He asked Philemon to receive his slave, Onesimus, who had run away to Rome and there became a Christian. Archippus was probably the son of Philemon and Apphia. Read Colossians 4:9,17 (KJV) 9 With Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall make known unto you all things which are done here, 17 And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it; Philemon 1:2,10,16 (KJV) 2 And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in thy house: 10 I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds: 16 Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?

Colossae was only about 16 kilometres east of the city of Laodicea. Paul had never been to Laodicea, but he asked that his letter to the Colossians should also be read to the church at Lacdicea, Colossians 2:1 (KJV) For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; Colossians 4:16 (KJV) And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea.

Paul wrote a letter to Laodicea but God has not preserved it for us. We do have his letter to the Ephesians and to Philemon and these three should be studied together. Philemon is a personal letter but contains some wonderful truth.

In this book about Colossians, we will note many verses, which are about the same as some verses in Ephesians.

The first two chapters of Colossians give us a great deal of teaching, and the last two show us how we should live as Christians. The first half of Ephesians is also doctrinal, and contains much teaching about the church. The second part is mostly practical, telling us how we should walk. However, there is some doctrine and some practical teaching in every chapter of both epistles. Other letters in the New Testament are the same: first doctrine, then the practical life. Many people today try to teach us that it does not matter what you believe. Just live a good life. But the Bible teaches that people act according to what they really believe and so doctrine is very important. You should read through all four chapters of this letter at one time. Do this every day for a week; it will help you to get some idea of what the epistle teaches. Then you should read the first chapter more carefully and write down in your notebook which verses you do not understand. In this book, we will study every verse: there are 95 verses in Colossians.

THE LETTER TO THE COLOSSIANS

1. Paul’s greeting, thanksgiving and prayer, 1.1-14

2. Christ over all, 1.15-23

3. Paul’s service, 1.24 - 2.5

4. False teaching at Colossae, 2.6-19

5. Life in Christ, 2.20 - 4.1

a. Dead and Risen, 2.20 - 3.7

b. Living the New Life with Others, 3.8-17

c. The New Life in the Home, 3.18-21

d. The New Life in Business, 3.22 - 4.1

6. Final exhortation, 4.2-6

7. Closing greetings, 4.7-18

 

The main teaching in Colossians is about the Lord Jesus Christ. This letter tells of His glory and proves that He is the Son of God. This teaching is seen very clearly in Chapter 1.15-23, but first there is a personal message from Paul to God’s people in Colossae.

LESSON 1: COLOSSIANS

PAUL’S GREETING, THANKSGIVING AND PRAYER,

Colossians 1:1-14 (KJV) 1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother, 2 To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, 4 Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints, 5 For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; 6 Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth: 7 As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ; 8 Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit. 9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; 12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

PAUL’S GREETING, VERSES 1 and 2

In verse 1, Paul called himself an apostle of Jesus Christ and this was according to God’s will. He used these words also in Ephesians 1:1 (KJV) Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus, but here in Colossians 1:1, he added the name of Timothy, his young helper. Paul called Timothy his brother, as in 2 Corinthians 1:1 (KJV) Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia; 1 Thessalonians 3:2 (KJV) And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellow labourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith; Philemon 1:1 (KJV) Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellow labourer, he also called him his fellow worker, Romans 16:21 (KJV) Timotheus my workfellow, and Lucius, and Jason, and Sosipater, my kinsmen, salute you; his son, 1 Corinthians 4:17 (KJV) For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church; 1 Timothy 1:2,18 (KJV) 2 Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord. 18 This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare; 2 Timothy 1:2 (KJV) To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord; and a servant of Jesus Christ, Philippians 1:1 (KJV) Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons. Timothy helped Paul in the work at Ephesus but we do not read that he was ever in Colossae.

In verse 2, Paul wrote this letter to God’s people whom he called holy and faithful brothers in Christ. They were brothers because God was their Father and they belonged to His family. They were saints because God had set them apart for Himself, and had made them holy. God made them saints and brothers because they had faith in Christ. Paul prayed that they might have God’s grace and peace. He used these words in Ephesians and in all his letters. (The Book of Hebrews is different.)

PAUL’S THANKSGIVING, VERSES 3-8

Paul showed why he thanked God for the Colossian believers, then he gave the name of the man who had brought him news about them.

In verse 3 - Paul prayed always for the believers at Colossae and he gave thanks to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. We will see what Paul prayed for, in verses 9 to 11, and more about Paul’s thanksgiving in verses 12 to 14.

In verse 4 - He had been praying for the believers ever since he heard of their faith in Christ. They proved their faith by their love for all other Christians.

In verse 5 - They also had hope that God would fulfil His promises. These three things, faith, hope and love, are seen in 1 Corinthians Chapter 13, and are the marks of a true Christian. Paul gave thanks to God because he heard these good things about the Colossians. They had faith in God’s Word and He gave them love for other Christians and hope for the future. Our hope is to be in heaven and the God of heaven can never fail. Christ is our hope, verse 27.

In verse 6 - The true gospel tells us about God’s love and promises. The Colossians had heard this message and Paul was writing to those who had believed it. The gospel was going out to the whole world and was producing fruit and increasing. People heard and believed and were saved. They began to live for God, worship Him, and tell others about the Lord Jesus. The gospel is the Truth, verse 5, and tells us the truth about God and His grace, verse 6. The gospel is the same today, and we must give it to people all over the world. This is a command from the Lord Jesus Christ, Mark 16:15 (KJV) And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

In verse 7 and 8 - Epaphras had given the gospel to the people of Colossae and taught them more about God. He himself may have believed when he heard Paul preach in Ephesus and then may have taken the message of the gospel to Colossae. He went to Rome while Paul was in prison and told him about the Colossian church. Paul called him his dear fellow worker and a faithful servant of the assembly. Epaphras told Paul about the Colossians’ love, which was produced by the Holy Spirit, Galatians 5:22 (KJV) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith. So in these verses we learn what Paul knew about the Colossians and who had told him.

PAUL’S PRAYER, VERSES 9 TO 14

Again, Paul assured the Colossian believers that he was always praying for them. Now he explained just what he hoped God would give them. He prayed for six things:

In verse 9 - He prayed that they might be filled with the perfect knowledge of God’s will. For this, they would need both wisdom and spiritual understanding, which only God’s Spirit can give.

In verse 10 - This knowledge would help them to live a life that would be worthy of the Lord and please Him in every way. Paul also prayed that they would bear spiritual fruit in every good work. The Lord Jesus taught that this was possible only if we abide in Him, John 15:4 (KJV) Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. This life will help us to know God better. So we start by being filled with the knowledge of His will, and if we do His will, we will know more about Him day by day. Paul prayed that the Christians would grow in their knowledge of God.

In verse 11 - But living this life is possible only if we are strong, so Paul prayed that the believers might have great strength. We are weak in ourselves, but God has all power and He is willing to give us all we need. God’s strength will help us to be patient in time of trouble and not quickly angered when people attack us. Through it all, we may know the joy of the Lord. These things also are the fruit of the Spirit, Galatians 5:22 (KJV) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith.

In verse 12 - Finally, Paul prayed that we might give thanks to the Father for all His goodness to us. Some people think they are praising God when they make noises, which no one can understand. In the Bible, God gives us many reasons why we should praise Him. In verses 12 to 14, the apostle gives five great reasons for praise.

(1) He has made us fit to share in the wonderful inheritance, which He has prepared for all His people. We will have our inheritance when we get to heaven where all is light, Revelation 22:5 (KJV) And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever. Give God thanks for this!

In verse 13 -

(2) We were controlled by the power of darkness, that is, by Satan, Ephesians 2:2 (KJV) Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience; Ephesians 5:8 (KJV) For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light, but God has delivered us.

(3) More still, He has brought us into the kingdom of His Son. God loves His Son, and He loves us. Therefore, He has put us under the control of His Son. The King will also protect His people

 

GOD’S LOVE TO CHRIST IN JOHN’S GOSPEL  

John 3:35 (KJV) The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.

The Father loves the Son John 5:20 (KJV) For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel. T

The Father loves the Son John 10:17 (KJV) Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again,

Therefore My Father loves me John 15:9 (KJV) As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.

As the Father hath loved me John 17:23 (KJV) I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

As you have loved me John 17:24 (KJV) Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.

You loved me before the foundation of this world  John 17:26 (KJV) And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them. The love with which you have loved me. Praise God for these things!

In verse 14 –

(4) We were sinners at one time and quite willing to be slaves of Satan. Now we have been redeemed from his power and set free to serve the Lord Jesus.

 

(5) God is holy and He cannot have sinners or rebels in His kingdom, unless first their sins are forgiven. God is able righteously to forgive our sins only because the Lord Jesus died for us. Now through Christ He has redeemed us, and forgiven our sins. It is necessary that Christ should die for us, and our redemption is through His blood shed on the cross, Ephesians 1:7 (KJV) In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.

Thank God if you are sure your redeemed and forgiven.

TEST - LESSON 1 - EPHESIANS AND COLOSSIANS BIBLE STUDY

TRUE OR FALSE

1. Paul was at Corinth when he wrote Colossians.

2. Paul spent two years at Ephesus.

3. Philemon is a personal letter but contains some wonderful truth.

4. Some believe that if you live a good life, you will be saved.

5. Paul was appointed an apostle by others.

FILL IN THE MISSING WORDS IN CAPITAL LETTERS

6. Paul wrote to people he called ….._ and ….._in Christ

7. Paul had heard of their …….. in Christ

8. …….. preached the gospel to the people at Colossae

9. Paul pray for …….. things for the Colossians

10. Before we were saved we were controlled by the of ………..________

PLEASE FILL IN YOUR DETAILS FOR YOUR CERTIFICATE AND CHART

YOUR DETAILS ARE SAFE WITH US – WE WILL NEVER SHARE ANY OF YOUR INFORMATION. WE USE THESE DETAILS FOR YOUR CHART AND CERTIFICATE ONLY.

First Name ……………………… Surname: ...................... Country: ...............................

Email Address: ....................................... Birth date and year: .............................................

study helper details:

Shelly - email.bible.lessons@

Questions & Comments:

Once you have completed this lesson, please attach it to an email addressed to us, and send it. We will then check it, send through any corrections and send you the next lesson. If there is something that you do not understand, please send us an email for an explanation. If you do not hear from us within two days of emailing us, please re-send it. Do you have a friend that would like to do these lessons? If so, email us their details and we will send them the list. Thank you.

................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download