New Testament Bible Study by John Stanko

Colossians Study Five: 4:1-18

Dear Student of the Word,

I finished this last installment of our Colossians study one week ago, but I forgot to send it out.  So please accept my apologies along with wishes for a Merry Christmas and happy holiday season.  You won't hear from me for about a month as I take a break before starting the study of John's gospel. 

As Paul closed his letter, I closed this study by writing these words for the last day's devotional:

4:16 – Paul expected his letter to be read in the churches of the region.  That is the kind of authority he felt he had in the Gentile church world, or at least that he had in Colosse.  Paul must have also sent a letter to those in Laodicea, which the Spirit for His own reasons chose not to preserve for us to read today.  That is fine with me, for I trust that the same Spirit who inspired the Word is also the One who has preserved the Word for us in its present format.  I am not at all concerned about the translations, the supposed errors and lost portions of Scripture.  I trust the Lord of the Scriptures to give me all that I need to have and know today. 

It was important for the early church to receive these infusions from Paul, the apostolic leader of the day.  It is important today for you to be reading and receiving fresh insights and inspiration from the Spirit as well.  What are you currently reading outside of the Bible? What are you listening to?  I hope it isn’t that crazy stuff about the end times that is circulating, fables and myths that supposedly have their foundation in Scripture.  I am talking about things that can build your faith and teach you more about God and His ways.  What websites or web logs do you visit regularly?  Who are your favorite teachers?  I hope not those who spew forth a load of garbage about current events, claiming to have insight into where those current events are predicted in the Bible. 

When you read this letter from Paul, it is full of words that exalt the Lord Jesus Christ, encourage the saints and give practical advice on how to apply godly principles to every day living.  I fail to see how some moderns who talk about Israel, Iran, the Antichrist and world conspiracies are doing what Paul did.  Truthfully, they are not.  They are stirring up fear and confusion among God’s people, making the kingdom of God seem like a novel as it unfolds.  God’s work isn’t centered around the Antichrist, but the Christ.  We are not to be concerned about this war or that rumor of war, but of spreading the gospel to all men and nations.  Please don’t tell me you are spending your time and money on fairy tales with biblical terminology from supposedly reputable men and ministries, who reap millions of dollars from their fictional labors!

v. 17 – What a powerful admonition this verse holds.  Archippus (the ninth person mentioned in this closing) was warned by Paul to finish the work he had received from the Lord.  This means 1) Archippus knew what the work was; 2) Archippus was considering not finishing it; and 3) that the Lord knew this and revealed it to Paul. Archippus must have had it in his power to finish that work for Paul ordered him to “see to it” that it was done and complete.  What work do you need to complete in the Lord?   Do you know what your work or assignment is?  What hindrances are there from you finishing that work?  How can you address and overcome these obstacles?

v. 18 – Paul must have dictated the letter and closed by signing it in his own handwriting.  He asked the readers to remember his chains, perhaps a request for prayer and also a reminder about the seriousness and urgency of their Kingdom work, which had many opponents.  I am intrigued by people who can be so laid back when the stakes are people’s lives and their eternal destination.  Paul had no such laid-back attitude.  He was in prison for what he believed, yet that did not stop the work.  What is stopping your work that you need to press through to regain your momentum?  Your work from God is important!  Seize the moment and do your thing!

Paul closed with a simple prayer:  Grace be with you.  As we finish this study, that is my wish and prayer for you.  I pray God’s grace on you as you work, labor, live and learn.  May the grace of our Lord Jesus help you be as purposeful as Paul and may God expand your influence to ends of the world or at least to the ends of your world. Amen. 

As always, I welcome your comments to this week's study. You can write them or find the studies to Corinthians, First Timothy, and Matthew's and Mark's gospels on the site where this week's entry is posted. You can also go there to sign up to receive each week's study.

Plus my website archives contains a complete collection of all my verse-by-verse Bible studies from Matthew, Mark, Luke, Acts, Romans, 1&2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, 1&2 Thessalonians, 1&2 Timothy, Hebrews, James, 1&2 Peter, Hebrews and Revelation, along with the unpublished Faith Files.

Download Colossians Study 5

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SPECIAL HELP:  As 2008 comes to a close, please consider a special gift to my work in and through PurposeQuest International.  You may contribute using PayPal through my website or send a check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 91099, Pittsburgh, PA  15221.  Thank you.

FAITH FILES eBOOK:  My latest book, The Faith Files, is now available as an ebook that you can download.  What's more, the service allows you to pay in Canadian dollars, US dollars, UK pounds, Australian dollars and, get this, Indian rupees!  Just go to the ebook website, enter your payment information and download the book.  You can then print it or have it on your computer for your devotional pleasure. 

Colossians Study Four: 3:5-25

Dear Student of the Word,

I am pressing on with this study so that I can finish with the final installment next week and then take some time off from writing over the Christmas holidays.  If you feel a bit overwhelmed by how much I have been sending you, relax.  You will have plenty of time before we start our study in John to finish reading this study from Colossians.

Paul's custom in his letters was to cover theology in the first half and practical matters in the second half.  This letter was no exception as Paul took the opportunity to write about the Christian family, and my comments on his teaching are as follows:

3:18 – A wife is to be submissive to her husband as is fitting in the Lord.  Does this mean that she must obey him in every instance?  Absolutely not!  What if a husband wanted her to do something illegal or immoral?  Would she obey?  Absolutely not!  Yet she would submit to the repercussions for not obeying.   Should a wife submit to an abusive husband who does her physical harm?  Absolutely not! 

I know of wives who earn their own money but their husbands “forbid” them from giving to the church.  Should they obey?  Absolutely not!  Should they submit to the husband’s displeasure or even anger over her “disobedience”?  Absolutely!  When I think of submission in the sense I am describing, I go to the story in Acts 4:24-31.  Those in authority forbid the apostles from preaching, but they did not obey.  There were more than willing, however, to submit to their punishment for obeying God rather than man.  Does this make sense to you?

It is my contention that we have put a burden on godly women that God did not intend and have caused spiritual women to suffer and be unfruitful in their purpose as they submit to dull and unspiritual husbands. 

v. 19 – I think we have been much quicker to require women to submit than we have to require men not to be harsh with their wives.  Jesus is the husband of His bride, the Church.  Just think of how Jesus treats the Church and you have a guide for how husbands should treat their wives.  I have been guilty of harshness toward my wife on many occasions and my tendency goes all the way back to the Garden. 

“Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you” (Genesis 3:16).

Woman’s fallen state leads her to want a man to dominate her; man’s fallen state leads him to fulfill that wish and dominate women.  That is the source of much tension in marriages and it plays out in society as well. 

v. 20 – Now the Bible is clear that children are to obey in everything, yet at some point the children must grow up and establish their own households.  I do a lot of work in Africa where it is part of many cultures for parents to maintain some measure of control over children no matter how old the children are.  I don’t believe this verse was referring to that practice.  At some point, a man leaves and cleaves as Scripture doesn’t just recommend but commands!

For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh (Genesis 2:24).

v. 21 – A husband’s harshness that he exerts over his wife can carry over to his relationship with the children.  A father is to discipline his children but not in a manner that makes them bitter and resentful.  It is always with a view toward seeing that the child has a godly attitude or behavior and not just to have the child please the whims of his or her father.  There are many who could never please their fathers and this has led to discouragement, which the child even carries into adulthood.  Fatherhood is a powerful force in a child’s life.  Used properly a father can be a tremendous blessing; applied improperly, fatherhood can inflict wounds and scars that remain for a long time. 

What is your role in life at this point – husband, wife or child?  How are you doing in that role according to the directives of these four verses?  Are you submitting, loving and/or obeying?  Where can you ask God’s help for improvement?

As always, I welcome your comments to this week's study. You can write them or find the studies to Corinthians, First Timothy, and Matthew's and Mark's gospels on the site where this week's entry is posted. You can also go there to sign up to receive each week's study.

Plus my website archives contains a complete collection of all my verse-by-verse Bible studies from Matthew, Mark, Luke, Acts, Romans, 1&2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, 1&2 Thessalonians, 1&2 Timothy, Hebrews, James, 1&2 Peter, Hebrews and Revelation, along with the unpublished Faith Files.

Download Colossians Study 4

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SPECIAL HELP:  I am here in Kenya working with an organization who cannot afford to pay my way.  Any financial assistance you can give me as I work would be greatly appreciated.  You may contribute using PayPal through my website or send a check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 91099, Pittsburgh, PA  15221.  Thank you.

FAITH FILES eBOOK:  My latest book, The Faith Files, is now available as an ebook that you can download.  What's more, the service allows you to pay in Canadian dollars, US dollars, UK pounds, Australian dollars and, get this, Indian rupees!  Just go to the ebook website, enter your payment information and download the book.  You can then print it or have it on your computer for your devotional pleasure. 

Colossians Study Three: 2:13-3:4

Dear Student of the Word,

I am off to Kenya in a few minutes, so I thought I would send you the third study from Colossians.  I know the holidays are busy times, but I hope not too busy for you to do some Bible study!  We study this week the statements that Paul made concerning the supremacy of Christ over every religious doctrine and practice. This week I wrote:

2:22 – Paul had great insight!  Of course, he did, for he was inspired by the Spirit to write these words.  At the end of the day (or the end of our lives), the only thing that will remain is my relationship with Jesus.  My church affiliation will pass, my pet doctrines and preferences will pass, my titles will pass, my religious practices won’t matter much and my personal preferences will fade in the light of His presence.  So if those things will pass, why would I invest any time and energy in them now?

When I was a pastor, I saw that a funeral always served to put things in perspective.  It was then that we saw exactly how meaningless much to which we attached meaning really had.  Do you think there our denominations will mean anything in the presence of Jesus?  Does He have a ledger that shows how much money you gave you to your church?  Will He have a ribbon to give you to reward you for what you wore or didn’t wear, what you watched or didn’t watch, what you attended or didn’t attend? 

You will be judged on one thing and one thing only:  whether or not your name is in the book of life.  And you get your name in the book of life by putting your faith and hope in Jesus!  There is no other way to gain eternal life but by faith in Him.  If you want to dress a certain way, or not wear jewelry, or not eat meat on a certain day, that’s fine.  Just know that you will do those things because you want to and not because they have any spiritual value in and of themselves.

v. 23 – I have read that Muslim women must dress modestly, yet that does not constrain lust in Muslim men!  While this has the sound of wisdom – “women must dress modestly” – it does nothing to deal with heart issues of sensual indulgence.  Praying three or five times a day facing east sounds spiritual, but one can have hate in his or her heart while doing so, whether a so-called Christian or Muslim.  A pilgrimage to a holy site sounds like a spiritual thing to do, but it is meaningless since that site will pass away.

There are Hindus who walk through the streets, beating themselves with sticks and whips to subdue the flesh.  This has the semblance of humility, but it is false humility.  I went to a South American city and saw where people climbed up a long hillside on their knees to worship at an idol-filled church and there are many who make it their lifelong dream to do that, and some who do it every year.  There are some who participate in Lenten fasts and special services.  Yet all of it – that’s right, all of it – is foolishness and contributes nothing to the worship of God, nor does it lead the practitioners to Christ. 

Can you think of any other such practices that you have observed, perhaps even in your own church?   In your own culture?  What is your response to those practices?  Do you participate?  Why or why not?

As always, I welcome your comments to this week's study. You can write them or find the studies to Corinthians, First Timothy, and Matthew's and Mark's gospels on the site where this week's entry is posted. You can also go there to sign up to receive each week's study.

Plus my website archives contains a complete collection of all my verse-by-verse Bible studies from Matthew, Mark, Luke, Acts, Romans, 1&2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, 1&2 Thessalonians, 1&2 Timothy, Hebrews, James, 1&2 Peter, Hebrews and Revelation, along with the unpublished Faith Files.

Download Colossians Study 3

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SPECIAL HELP:  I am off to Kenya next week to work with an organization who cannot afford to pay my way.  Any financial assistance you can give me as I go would be greatly appreciated.  You may contribute using PayPal through my website or send a check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 91099, Pittsburgh, PA  15221.  Thank you.

FAITH FILES eBOOK:  As I announced two weeks ago, my latest book, The Faith Files, is now available as an ebook that you can download.  What's more, the service allows you to pay in Canadian dollars, US dollars, UK pounds, Australian dollars and, get this, Indian rupees!  Just go to the ebook website, enter your payment information and download the book.  You can then print it or have it on your computer for your devotional pleasure. 

Colossians Study Two: 1:21-2:12

Dear Student of the Word,

Attached is the second installment of our five-part study of Paul's letter to the Colossians.  In this letter, Paul addressed the philosophies and arguments circulating at the time that opposed the supremacy and deity of Christ.  Paul was never content, however, simply to deal with theological issues in his letters and always addressed practical faith matters as well. 

This week I commented on some of those practical matters:

2:4 – What kind of arguments was Paul guarding against?  Based on the context, they had to be arguments that tried to make Jesus anything less than Paul described him to be.  There must have been heretical positions circulating that tried to explain away Jesus’ divinity.  What’s more, these arguments must have been “high-sounding” and very convincing, while also being deceptive and filled with error.  This is why it is important to be well-grounded in the doctrines of the faith so that you are not susceptible to such arguments.  I have had door-to-door evangelists from sects and cults visit my home and try to engage me in debate with some clever twists on biblical doctrine.  These would also qualify as find-sounding but deceptive and could capture those who don’t understand what they believe and why.

v. 5 – Paul had not been physically present in Colosse, but he carried the church in his heart and was present in spirit.  Paul wanted this church to succeed and success was defined in terms of their doctrinal discipline and faith.  The Colossians brought great delight to Paul because of their spiritual health, although one must assume that the Colossians had their share of struggles as they dealt with the false doctrines that were assaulting them.  I have often said that if your enemy can’t keep us from the truth, he will attempt to pervert that truth by creating ambiguity or fanaticism. 

When enemies are at war, part of the warfare plan involves disrupting communications.  That is certainly a common tactic of our enemy.  Have you been experiencing any communication battles lately?  You can be sure that it is evidence of the war that we are in and confirmation that we have an intelligent ruthless enemy who opposes us and hates our Lord.

v. 6 – Paul urged the Colossians to continue to live out their faith in a manner consistent with their introduction to the gospel.  Paul’s directives were simple in order for that to occur.  First, they had to be rooted and built up in Christ.  When I read that, I think of Psalm 1:

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers (Psalm 1:1-3).

They had not only to be rooted in Him, but then bear fruit in Him as well.  How is your root structure in Christ?  And are you being built up in Him?  How do you know?  What evidence of being built up in Him can you produce?

Then, they had to be strengthened in the faith they were taught.  They were not free to wander from that faith or exercise it according to what they felt was proper.  They had to be true to the apostolic foundation that was laid, presumably by Epaphras.  Faith serves to strengthen you as your roots deepen and your fruit increases.  Is your faith growing and is it consequently strengthening your life and work?  What evidence can you point out to justify your answer?

Finally, Paul instructed the Colossians to be thankful.  I have found myself waking up for the last six months and thanking God for many things as soon as I open my eyes.  I have also been faithfully journaling my thanks to God for His work and faithfulness to my family and me.  Are you thankful?  What evidence do you have that you are more thankful today than ever before in your life?  Perhaps it’s time to offer an offering of thanksgiving, perhaps a gift to poor, as an expression of your thanks to God?

As always, I welcome your comments to this week's study. You can write them or find the studies to Corinthians, First Timothy, and Matthew's and Mark's gospels on the site where this week's entry is posted. You can also go there to sign up to receive each week's study.

Plus my website archives contains a complete collection of all my verse-by-verse Bible studies from Matthew, Mark, Luke, Acts, Romans, 1&2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, 1&2 Thessalonians, 1&2 Timothy, Hebrews, James, 1&2 Peter, Hebrews and Revelation, along with the unpublished Faith Files.

SPECIAL HELP:  I am off to Kenya next week to work with an organization who cannot afford to pay my way.  Any financial assistance you can give me as I go would be greatly appreciated.  You may contribute using PayPal through my website or send a check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 91099, Pittsburgh, PA  15221.  Thank you.

FAITH FILES eBOOK:  As I announced two weeks ago, my latest book, The Faith Files, is now available as an ebook that you can download.  What's more, the service allows you to pay in Canadian dollars, US dollars, UK pounds, Australian dollars and, get this, Indian rupees!  Just go to the ebook website, enter your payment information and download the book.  You can then print it or have it on your computer for your devotional pleasure. 

Download Colossians Study 2

Colossians Study One: 1:1-20

Dear Student of the Word,

It's time to start studying another book!  This time I have chosen Paul's letter to the Colossians, which is short and should allow us to finish in five weeks.  We start out this week in Colossians 1, as you would expect, and immediately Paul began writing about the Lord Jesus and ways to please God.  Here is a sample of what I wrote this week.  Remember, we study no more than four verses every day and questions to help you apply those verses are always in bold, so you can review them more quickly and easily.  You can download the rest of the daily study at the end of this entry.

1:10 – In the following verses, I believe Paul indicated what a life worthy of and pleasing to the Lord would entail.  Paul’s prayers had purpose – to see God’s people effective in a life of purpose and holiness.  The first characteristic of pleasing the Lord is to bear fruit in every good work.  What does fruit involve?  Some believe it is internal traits of holiness, such as love, joy, peace and patience. Others believe it is tangible acts of compassion and care, such as visiting hospitals and compassion ministries.  I believe it isn’t either/or, but rather both.  We are to bear fruit that represents holy living along with good deeds that men can see. 

The second trait that pleases God is growing the knowledge of God.  Are you growing in your knowledge of God and of some of the basic doctrines of the Christian faith?  How are you accomplishing this?  By reading?  Studying?  Classes?  Church programs?  And how do you know that you are growing in the knowledge of God?  What measure can you use that is relevant and not self-deceiving? 

v. 11 – The third practice is being strengthened with all power.  What is the result of this power?  Is it to raise the dead and see miracles of healing?  While there would be nothing wrong with those activities, the result of the power that Paul referred to here is great endurance and patience.  Yet I don’t believe that this patience is to be exercised where doing God’s will is concerned, for you are to aggressively seek and then do God’s will. This patience is in regards to your own personal comfort, reputation and relationships when they don't go as you would want. 

We recently had a funeral in our family and everyone came home for the event.  At times it was hard being together, although we love one another and enjoyed our time.  Everyone had to overlook slights, ignore things said (or not said) and put aside their personal wishes and desires for the good of the family.  My wife woke up one morning and said, “God reminded me that it’s about the cross; the cross is the only way we can all relate to one another.”  Remember what Jesus said:

Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it” (Mark 8:34-35).

v. 12 – The fourth trait that pleases God is joyfully giving thanks to the Father.  God has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in His kingdom. He provides for us and protects us.  We have an inheritance in heaven with all the saints.  If you know that and don’t give thanks to God on a regular basis, then you don’t fully understand what God has done for you!  Thank You, Lord!  If you don’t have joy in abundance, then perhaps you need to meditate on God’s goodness for a bit. 

So there you have the four practices that please God: bear fruit in every good work, growing the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power and joyfully giving thanks to the Father.  Where do you stand with these four traits?  Where can you improve?

As always, I welcome your comments to this week's study. You can write them or find the studies to Corinthians, First Timothy, and Matthew's and Mark's gospels on the site where this week's entry is posted. You can also go there to sign up to receive each week's study.

Plus my website archives contains a complete collection of all my verse-by-verse Bible studies from Matthew, Mark, Luke, Acts, Romans, 1&2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, 1&2 Thessalonians, 1&2 Timothy, Hebrews, James, 1&2 Peter, Hebrews and Revelation, along with the unpublished Faith Files.

Download colossians_study_1.doc