Read
“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father.” Colossians 1:1-2
Explain
As a young boy, my great uncle Dicky would take me rockhounding for arrowheads. We would walk along the creek and scour the rocks for hidden treasure. Full of youth and vigor, I would run from one end of the creek to another without close investigation. I never found a single arrowhead. Meanwhile, my uncle would meander from rock to rock, peering into the rubble, slowly examining every patch of dirt along the stream. He never left empty-handed.
I have found this to be true for introductions and genealogies. We read through them fast and without examination to get to the good stuff. When we race through the introduction, we will never find the treasure they hold. But when we peer deeper, they are full of wisdom and insight for the rest of the book. This is true for the opening lines of the book of Colossians.
First, Paul is the author.
Paul was a heavy name to open a letter. Though Paul had never been to Colossae, he would have been known in their congregation as an Apostle of the Lord. Receiving a letter signed by an Apostle would have been like receiving a letter from an... Apostle. It was a big deal. Jesus Christ personally commissioned Paul as an Apostle to the nations. In many ways, he was the Apostle to the Gentiles and their grandfather in the faith.
Many scholars doubt Paul’s authorship in this letter, citing that his theology of Christ is too developed to belong to Paul. But that’s the beauty of this book. Paul does not answer all of the objections of Gnosticism and false teaching. Instead, he actively lifts the person and glory of Christ as the fountain of all truth. If you see and know the real Christ, you will not be drawn away by plausible arguments and counterfeit gospels (2:4).
Second, Paul has authority over us.
Paul was an apostle “by the will of God.” His apostleship was not his own but was a stewardship given to him by the King. After all, who would want Paul’s apostleship? It came with a promise of suffering (Acts 9:16, Col 1:25). Paul had never met the Colossians, yet he understood that apostleship gave him authority over their church. This authority is carried down to us today. Paul was not a hollow apostle. Let us listen to his words.
Third, the church is a family.
Paul lists Timothy and the Colossians as “brothers,” in Greek, Anthropos. This word is masculine but is frequently applied to the relationships of a family, which includes the whole family. This is a beautiful truth. Notice that our relationship as brothers is not dependent upon our physical relationship with each other; it is dependent upon our adopted relationship with God. We are saints and siblings in Christ.
Fourth, Jews and Gentiles are one in Christ.
“Grace to you and peace from God our Father.”
Different cultures have different greetings. In this sentence, Paul marries the Gentile and Jewish greetings as one. This would have been profound for his readers. The Greek greeting was Charin, related to the word Charis: grace. Paul then adds the traditional Jewish greeting to the letter: peace. Paul embodied this truth. He was a devout Jew and simultaneously the apostle to the Gentiles. This simple greeting is a radical picture of the reconciliation that Jews and Gentiles have through the cross of Christ. As we have been reconciled to God, we have also been reconciled to each other.
Apply
Read Slow.
The scriptures are full of inexhaustible treasures. Sometimes, we march through the scriptures to get to the end. Instead, consider strolling and enjoying the sights, sounds, and smells of the stream of God’s word (Psalm 1:3). You might be surprised that greetings and benedictions are teeming with grace and gospel.
Submit to the authority of the Bible.
As Paul had the authority to instruct the Colossians, we stand under the same instruction. His words are the revelation of God, given for us to know God and to flourish under His instruction. Without a compass, every ship is prone to be tossed about and beaten by the waves. But a ship becomes steadfast when the heading is set and the hull is full. Let us set our eyes on the word and load up with its weight and treasure.
Make the church your family.
Reconciliation to God is only half of the gospel. God reconciles sinners to himself and each other. The local church is the arena of the Christian life. If you claim a family and never go to the gatherings, are you really a part of the family? The family needs you, and you need them. We cannot choose our families, but we can choose to love our family. Therefore, knit your life together with your brothers and sisters in Christ. It will be messy, but you will not regret it.