Colossians 3:12-17 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. (v. 14) It sounds simple enough and it is certainly good instruction for those of us who call ourselves Christians. But almost every time that I find a “love one another” verse, I am drawn back to 2003 and …
Author Archives: Fred
August 25 / Colossians 3:1-11
Colossians 3:1-11 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. (v. 3) Our lives are “hidden”. Hidden from whom? I have a picture of myself standing behind Jesus. When God the Father looks toward me, he sees Jesus. Moreover, when Satan looks toward me, he also sees Jesus! Unfortunately, in …
August 24 / Colossians 2:16-23
Colossians 2:16-23 Paul writes a lot in today’s reading about “regulations”: Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. (v. 16) In this first quote it sounds like Paul is talking about the Judaizers – Jews …
August 23 / Colossians 2:6-15
Colossians 2:6-15 For in Him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily… (v. 9) This verse is a direct response to the Gnostics who taught that Jesus was not truly God and man, with various interpretations on what that meant and who He really was in body and spirit. And you, who were dead in …
August 22 / Colossians 2:1-5
Colossians 2:1-5 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face… (v. 1) I had a strange thought here, hearkening back to John 17:20, one verse in Jesus’ “high priestly prayer”: I do not …
August 21 / Colossians 1:21-29
Colossians 1:21-29 Paul mentions a “mystery” twice in today’s reading (verses 26 and 27): …the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope …
August 20 / Colossians 1:9-20
Colossians 1:9-20 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities — all things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and …
August 19 / Colossians 1:1-8
Colossians 1:1-8 Colossians!! The same questions we had last week as to where Paul was imprisoned when he wrote Philippians and Philemon also apply to Colossians, so I won’t comment on that item. Paul makes a nice, almost hidden triad using the simple word “as” in verses 6 and 7, with the words “which” and …
August 18 / Philemon 1:17-25
Philemon 1:17-25 More on my post from yesterday on Paul’s “demand” of Philemon. That “demand” is reinforced twice in today’s reading. First, as to any debt that Onesimus may have owed to Philemon: …I will repay it—to say nothing of your owing me even your own self. (v. 19b) Second, two verses later: Confident of …
August 17 / Philemon 1:8-16
Philemon 1:8-16 I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I became in my imprisonment. (v. 10) and I am sending him back to you… (v. 12a) Yesterday I began the discussion of where Paul was in prison when he wrote Philippians, arguing that he might have written Philemon (and Colossians, as we …