Paul’s Epistle to the Colossians
November 30, 2025
Opening Prayer
Colossians 1:21-29 – A Description of the Ministry of Reconciliation
Colossians 1:21-23
And you, who once were alienated and hostile in
mind, doing evil deeds, 22 he has now
reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you
holy and blameless and above reproach before him, 23 if
indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting
from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been
proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul,
became a minister.
v. 21
How does Paul describe his readers before they believed the
Gospel?
v. 22
… he has now reconciled …
How does v. 22 say Jesus reconciled us?
-
Reconciled to whom?
What was the purpose of the reconciliation?
v. 23
As we read this verse, remember that there was a false
teaching (proto-Gnosticism?) that was competing for the hearts of the
Colossians.
What does the word “if” indicate in this passage?
Are there false teachings competing for our hearts today? If
so, what are they?
… continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not
shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard …
How does one remain stable, steadfast, and unshifting?
What is the “hope of the gospel”?
… proclaimed in all creation under heaven …
Perhaps this is hyperbole, as the gospel was being
proclaimed all around the known world (aka the Roman Empire). But perhaps there
is more here as, the stars declare the handiwork of the LORD (Ps. 19).
Why does proclamation/preaching matter?
… of which I, Paul, became a minister.
The word for minister is the word from which we get
“deacon.”
Paul is doubly a servant in this book – first to the gospel,
then to the church (v. 25).
Colossians 1:24-29
Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my
flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's
afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, 25 of
which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was
given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, 26 the
mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. 27 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 of
glory. 28 Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching
everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in
Christ. 29 For this I toil, struggling with
all his energy that he powerfully works within me.
v. 24
This passage is confusing. It sounds as though Paul is
saying that Jesus’ suffering was not enough. Thinking about how the Bible talks
about Christian suffering might be helpful.
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Matthew 16:24 – Jesus says to take up
your ____________ and follow him.
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Matthew 10:24-25 – “A disciple is not
above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25 It
is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his
master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much
more will they malign those of his household.
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2 Timothy 3:12 – Indeed, all who desire
to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be
persecuted,
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2 Corinthians 1:6-7 – If we are
afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is
for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same
sufferings that we suffer. 7 Our hope for you is
unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also
share in our comfort.
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Romans 6:2 – Do you not know that all of
us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his
death?
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Matthew 5:11-12 – Blessed are you when
others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you
falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad,
for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets
who were before you.
1.
Suffering for the faith is part of the Christian
life.
2.
We are connected to Christ’s suffering through
baptism (Romans 6:3, 8:17)
3.
When Christians suffer, Christ suffers. (Acts
9:4-5, 22:7-8, 26:14-15)
4.
Christians suffer for following Jesus and
teaching what He taught.
5.
Now the Colossians are in danger of being
unstable, unsteadfast, and shifting from the gospel.
6.
Paul is being stable, steadfast and not shifting
for the Colossians by calling them back to the gospel and is stepping in to
“what is lacking” because they are not resisting and suffering as they should.
One other point: The term translated “afflictions” in this
passage is never used in the Bible of Jesus’ redeeming work. The “things
lacking” are not missing from Jesus’ atonement for the sin of the world.
… for the sake of His body, the church …
v. 25
… I became a minister …
See v. 23
How is a servant/minister of the gospel related to being a
servant/minister of the church?
… according to the stewardship from God that was given to
me for you …
The word translated stewardship in this passage carries the
sense of a plan – God’s plan was for Paul to serve them by proclaiming His Word
to them.
This remains an essential task for pastors.
-
The Call Process – Does God call the pastor, or
does the congregation?
How is the pastor’s ministry “for you”?
v. 26
“The apostle uses [mystery] with reference to God’s plan of
salvation. This plan is a mystery because, although it was present during OT
times, it was hidden in shadows and types.”[1]
What is the mystery?
The secret of mysteries must be revealed. Who reveals the
mystery of the gospel?
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Christ
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The Holy Spirit
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Those who proclaim the mystery
v. 27
… the hope of glory.
Notice the language of Christ in us, as we have primarily
heard of us being in Christ.
What is glory?
What is the hope of glory in a Christian context?
v. 28
Proclaiming, Warning, Teaching
What (actually, who) is the focus of Paul’s proclamation?
What is the goal of Paul’s proclamation, warning, and
teaching?
What does that work look like today?
v. 29
… for which I also labor, struggling (agonizing) according
to his energy, which is working in me in power.
Christ salvation is won, done, complete – and there is
nothing left for us to do.
The life of faith is labor, agonizing, struggle – there is
much for us to do – but even that is done in God’s energy/working which He does
in us in power.
Wrapping Up
What is one insight/word of comfort/challenging idea that
you hope to hold onto from these verses?
How will the lessons learned from these verses impact your
faith life?
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