by Lane Rogers

The Conversion of Saul

The Books of Colossians and Philemon

At the moment we are limited on time as to how much effort we can spend on these outlines. As we actually start through this class later I will expand on these outlines. Consider this the framework for more to come. This Original Outline was created by Bob Martin

Paul as the Author _

A. The Book of Colossians
1. It is a letter written by the apostle Paul to the congregation of Christians who lived in the city of Colossae.
2. Paul had a dual citizenship.
a. Paul writes the Gentiles about a problem that was both Jewish and pagan.
b. Written between 62-64 A.D. when the congregation was plagued with a pagan, gnostic and Judaizing influence.

B. Christianity Began in the Cradle of Judaism
1. Judaism was not a world religion but Christianity was
(For compete classes on Judaism visit/Here.
2. Judaism was confined to a tiny country called Palestine.
a) Borders were 150 miles long and 50 miles wide.
b) Population was about 4-1/2 million.

C. The Jews Were Hated and Despised all Over the World
1. Cicero referred to Judaism as, “A barbarous superstition.” 2. Tacitus called the Jews “The vilest of people.” That was their reputation deserved or not.
3.In their exclusive attitude they were certain that they and they alone were God’s choice of all the peoples of the earth and the rest of the population was nothing but fuel for the fires of hell.

D. Paul’s Qualifications
1. Paul was a Jew. In 2^nd Corinthians 11:22; Philippians 3:5 we are told that Paul was proud of his heritage.
a. From the tribe of Benjamin from which the first kings had come.
b. He spoke the Hebrew language in a time when almost no Jews, outside of Judea did.
c. He was a Pharisee which means he was of the strictest and most zealous of the Jewish sects.
d. He advance in his own religion above those of his age.
e. He was schooled at the feet of Gamaliel, the most noted religious teacher of the day.
2. Paul was born in the free city of Tarsus of Asia Minor.
a. The most famous university in the world was in the city of Tarsus.
b. Paul was trained in Greek Philosophy (well trained as evidence in Acts 17-20).
c. He was a Roman citizen by birth, because Tarsus was a free city.
d. Paul used that citizenship whenever it helped him.
e. He also used his Jewishness when it helped him.
3. Paul is exceptionally qualified. He could deal with any Jewish/Gentile problem that arose in any congregation.

A Note from Brother Martin

One of the most important questions one can ask about any book of the Bible is “Why was this book written?” Once we arrive at an
understanding as to WHY Paul wrote these books then we are able to approach an understanding of these epistles. When begin to think as Paul thought when he wrote to the brethren in Colossae and when he wrote to his brother and friend Philemon. We need to try and understand the city and the culture in order to try and understand Paul’s letters.

Map of Ancient Asia Minor (Asia Minor, the ancient name for the peninsula in the extreme west of Asia that is now called Anatolia and forms the greater part of Turkey. It is a largely fertile country which was inhabited from earliest times by a variety of tribes from Asia and Europe. In the second millennium BC it was the centre of the Hittite empire. Greek tradition said that as a consequence of the Dorian Invasion into mainland Greece many of the dispossessed emigrated to the coast of Asia Minor and there planted the Greek language and customs (see AEOLIS, and IONIA). Lydia and Phrygia developed in the interior. Asia Minor was conquered by Cyrus II of Persia in 546 BC and by Alexander the Great in 333. The peninsula came under Roman rule in the second and first centuries BC and remained part of the Roman and Byzantine empires until the 11th century AD. )

A. Look at Map

B. Colossae Was Part of the Tri-City Area

1. The entire area is today known as Turkey. (Bithynia, Galatia, Pamphylia, Pisida and Cilica.)

2. Colossae was a large commercial center before Paul’s time.

3. Colossae was located on a tributary of the Meander River__the Lycus River. In the Lycus River Valley there lies the Tri-City area.

a. The first was Laodicea. Mentioned in Revelation 3:14-22 and Colossians 4:13.

1.) From 190 B.C. it was the center of industry. It was famous for textiles.

2) The trade routes from the north/south and east/west passed through Laodicea. It was the home of the rice.

3) The Roman Government had a huge concentration there.

b. The Second city was Hierapolis.

1) Famous for health spas and healing mineral baths made possible by volcanic activity.

2) It became a resort for the rich and famous.

c. The third city was Colossae.

1) Not a large city but very scenic.

2) The rich and powerful built their homes there.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

A. The People of Colossae

1. The Phrygians. __Known for philosophical dabbling and inventing new religions.

2. The Jews__

a. Josephus tells us that Antiochus III (223_187 B.C.) transported 2,000 Jews from Babylon to Colossae.

b. By 67 A.D. the district census numbered 11,000. Jewish males.

c. They became like the Phrygians and forgot their God.

B. Paul in the City of Ephesus

1. Twenty-five years after the resurrection of Jesus.

a. From Antioch he began, what became known as his 3^rd missionary journey.

b. He walked through the streets of Laodecia, Hierapolis and Colossae without spending much if any time. He journeyed on the city of Ephesus where he remained for almost two and 1/2years.

2. Paul in the city of Ephesus.

a. Paul supported himself as a tent maker.

b. He also taught in the school of Tyrannus (Acts 19).

c. Paul performed many mighty and unusual miracles as he openly preached the gospel of Christ.

d. Those miracles were enough to get “everyone’s “ attention for hundreds of miles around. In fact, Acts 19:10 says....”all who dwelt in Asia heard the world of the Lord Jesus, both Jew and Gentile.” That included Laodicea, Hiarapolis and Colossae.

C. Epapharas and Philemon.

1. Paul teaches in Ephesus.

While proclaiming the gospel in the school of Tyrannus (Acts 19:9-10). At least two men came from Colossae and heard Paul preach the gospel. Those men were Epapharas and Philemon.

a. Philemon is very rich with a large home. Philemon is not wealthy but generous.

b. Philemon, his wife Apphia and their son Archippus open up their home and it becomes the meeting place for the church at Colossae.

c. Epapharas becomes the evangelist and Philemon’s home became the place to meet and hear the gospel proclaimed.

2. The Living seed is planted.

a. The faith of those in Colossae was strong and vibrant.

b. The faith bound them together in love for one another.

c. That kind of secure belief was unusual in that part of the world.

D. Warning of Apostasy (Acts 20:17-32).

1. Paul’s third missionary journey.

a. The Holy Spirit informs Paul that he must go to Rome in chains.

b. He calls for the church leaders at Ephesus to meet him at Miletus.

c. Paul tells these elders from Ephesus that a terrible apostasy, a radical departure from New Testament Christianity will occur.

d. It will come from an unexpected source. It will come not from wolves outside the flock but from the SHEPHERDS of the flock, the elders themselves. “I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you not sparing the flock. Also, from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things draw away the disciples” (Acts 20:28-29).

Just a note to remind that this outline was originally not mine but one used in a class at Sunset School of Preaching. I say this because I don’t agree that the apostasy Paul speaks of in Acts 20 is about pagan temples as mentioned below but rather a falling away of the elder-ship in the church which lead to the Roman Catholic Church. The books of Thessalonians are the fulfillment of Acts chapter 20. I will re-work this outline as time permits.

E. Colossae’s Problem __________

1. The heresy has already begun.

2. The heresy explained. The church was influenced by :

a. heathen temples.

b. Pagan gods with temples erected to their worship.

c. Rampant immorality connected to the pagan worship.

d. People deeply immersed in immorality and the ways of darkness.

3. Old habits die hard.

a. These Colossians are new Christians.

b. They do not have many teachers.

c. Even Epapharas, their teacher is a young Christian.

4. It seemed harmless and innocent. False teachers and their teachings never appear to be what they really are.

5. Their Phrygian nature.

a. True to their Phrygian nature, their religious doctrines are all mixed up.

b. There is a little Christianity, a little paganism and some Judaism (and a lot of gnostic teachings).

c. Like the Pharisees, they were binding rules on the people.

6. Special Revelations__________

a. They introduced special messages and revelations from angels, new doctrines never taught by Jesus and His apostles.

b. They sought to impose special knowledge about the basic elements of the universe in relation to achieving salvation.

SUMMARY

This was the problem that faced Epapharas and addressed by Paul in this very important letter. Epapharas decides to go to Rome to ask Paul what to do about all of this mess. Rome is around 1300 miles away. The only way to get to Rome from Colossae is by a combination of riding a donkey, walking or booking passage on a ship. And while all of this was going on Onesius the slave runs off and Philemon is left to handle all the mess. This is the subject of another short epistle

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