• A city in the Roman province of Asia (modern-day Turkey) and located at the base of 8,000-foot-high Mount Cadmus.
• A prosperous industrial center watered by a mountain cascade. Renowned for its textiles but suffering decline by the time of Christ and overshadowed by its competitive neighbor Laodicea.
• Fell into heresy when Christianity was blended with contrary doctrines from Judaism, Platonism, and various mystery cults, resulting in inappropriate religious practices such as the worship of angels.
• Home to Onesimus, a runaway slave who became a follower of Jesus (see the introduction to Philemon).
• Abandoned after a devastating earthquake in A.D. 61, when residents moved three miles south.
Go to the Place Profiles Index.
Aware that the Colossians were struggling to understand Christ’s superiority over other spiritual ideologies, Paul delivered a compelling description of their sovereign Lord. The bodily manifestation of the invisible God, the firstborn of creation, first in rank and privilege, Christ created and sustains everything seen and unseen. He possesses all authority, ruling over ecological systems, principalities, and powers.
In Philippians 2:5–8, Paul provided a very different description of Jesus the Servant, Lord over the personal and private, the One who speaks to our hearts, meets our daily needs, and impacts our lives from within. Yet His lordship means faith can never just be a private matter limited to personal holiness, spiritual disciplines, and individual growth. Jesus is both private and public, intimate friend and cosmic ruler.
With Christ as Creator and God of the universe, His followers need no other spiritual guidance than His. And the fact that Christ is at work on a grand scale suggests the kinds of activities that should occupy His followers: feeding the hungry, assisting the poor, working to develop communities. We should be leaders of institutional change, transforming societies and businesses, confronting public injustice, and advocating human rights.
More: Jacob Riis was a journalist and photographer who fought for social reform, believing it required not only economic efforts but also spiritual vision. His work led to many successes for New York City’s poor—the demolition of tenements, creation of parks, and decontamination of the city’s water supply, for example. See here for an article on the life of Jacob Riis.
Go to the Focus Index.
People often refer to Mother Nature when talking about the natural laws that maintain order and balance in our world. But Paul asserts that the world isn’t powered by an impersonal force or random chance. Christ is ultimately the One who holds all things together. Since the first day of creation, He has sustained the world and provided for His creatures (Neh. 9:6; Ps. 36:6; Heb. 1:3). We depend on Him for every breath we draw.
Christ’s ongoing work lends tremendous dignity to our own labor, especially since God placed humanity over creation as His managers. He values work that seeks to understand and oversee this world—the climatologist studying humans’ impact on the environment, the physicist unlocking the secrets of quantum mechanics, the city planner designing a neighborhood that will promote safety and a sense of community. Whenever we partner with Christ in upholding creation, we reflect His work as Creator, fulfilling our role as those who have been made in the image of God.
Go to the Focus Index.
Colossians not only exalts the nature and status of Christ but also proclaims his powerful accomplishments on the cross, where the Father chose to reconcile creation to Himself. Although we were once God’s enemies, alienated from him because of evil thoughts and actions, Christ’s death and resurrection make all who accept His forgiveness blameless before God. We are then put on a path to maturity and sacrificial service (Col. 1:24–29).
Go to the Insight Index.
Colosse was a city swirling with spiritual ideas. Hellenism preserved vestiges of Greek philosophies that extolled the use of reason to understand the mysteries of the spiritual realm, at the expense of faith. A rigid form of Judaism promoted ritual observances as a means to get right with God. Local pagan culture added in occultism and mystical rites. These religious influences often mixed together in a pick-and-choose blend known as syncretism, creating strange, often self-contradictory beliefs and practices. In Colosse, these involved the cultic worship of angels, especially the angel Michael, who was credited with sparing the town from disaster despite frequent earthquakes.
Syncretism threatened to disrupt and divide the Colossian church through arguments over hidden knowledge and holy days. Paul responded by warning the Colossians not to be deceived by “persuasive words” (Col. 2:4) or “philosophy and empty deceit” (2:8). He reminded the Colossians that Christ embodies all of God’s fullness, and through Him we receive everything we need for faith and life, including freedom from false wisdom, idolatry, and feigned humility (2:18–23). After all, Christ has triumphed over every spiritual power. He has won forgiveness for and raised to newness those who believe. The Colossians didn’t need the beliefs, rituals, or rules of other spiritual systems to experience God.
Christianity isn’t one truth among many; it is the only truth, and its truth is eternal. The gospel supersedes the claims and rituals of manmade religions. This exclusivity can sometimes invite criticism, but the Bible clearly warns against crafting a spirituality that suits our personal preferences rather than the values God loves and desires.
Go to the Focus Index.
The young church at Colosse was being infiltrated by people trying to impose their heretical beliefs on others. Paul challenged his readers to stand up for their own convictions and not allow others to coerce them through intimidation or condemnation. Paul didn’t want the Colossians’ spiritual well-being to be undone by deceivers who had lost connection with Jesus, just as we shouldn’t flinch from taking a stand for the truth of the Scriptures today.
More: Like some of the Christians at Colosse, Jesus faced judgment from misguided religious leaders. See “Jesus Confronts the Legalists” at Luke 6:1–11.
Go to the Insight Index.
When Paul says to focus on “things above” rather than “things on the earth,” we might assume that heavenly things matter and earthly things don’t. His words might seem to divide existence into the spiritual and the unspiritual, diminishing the value of how most people spend their days. The lives of pastors or missionaries, for example, might seem more valuable than the lives of people with other occupations. Or spending hours in prayer might seem more meaningful than the time we spend earning a living or engaging with family and friends.
Yet contrary to what some might believe when taking this passage at face value, it does not distinguish between the sacred and the secular. Rather, it contrasts the life that Christ offers (“things above”) with the spiritual death of a life spent apart from Him (“things on the earth”). This is made clear by the rest of Colossians 3, where “earthly things” include fornication, covetousness, and wrath (Col. 3:5, 8), and “things above” include tender mercies, kindness, and humility (3:12–15).
We might wonder what our own daily routines have to do with living the life Christ offers. But everyone has an equal opportunity to serve God, because the spiritual value of an action has to do not just with its content but with one’s conduct and character while performing it. If Christ is Lord over all of life, then He is also Lord over work. Whatever we do with our days, we can do it “in the name of the Lord Jesus” (3:17) with a concern for His approval and in a manner that honors Him. Even a slave and master are given this opportunity (3:22–25; 4:1), so there can be no doubt that Jesus’ concern for our work does not depend on how much or how little influence we believe ourselves to have.
When we labor for God, what we do counts for eternity. We can be confident of these facts:
• God Himself created a time-bound and temporary world (2 Pet. 3:10, 11). Yet He values His work, declaring it to be “very good” (Gen. 1:31; Ps. 119:68; Acts 14:17).
• God promises rewards to people in everyday jobs based on their attitude and conduct (Eph. 6:7–9; Col. 3:23—4:1).
• God cares not only about spiritual needs but about everyday needs as well (Matt. 25:37–40). He cares whether people have food, clothing, and shelter.
• God cares about all human beings (John 3:16; Rom. 5:8). When a job meets people’s needs, He values it because He values people.
More: Because God cares about the everyday needs of people as well as their spiritual needs, He gives people skills to meet needs of all kinds. See “People at Work” at Ps. 8:6.
Go to the Focus Index.
Wanting a bigger house, a newer car, a more prestigious job, or a more vibrant personality isn’t wrong in and of itself. What matters is the attitude that makes us want those things. Desire motivates us to be productive. As Proverbs 16:26 says, “The person who labors, labors for himself, for his hungry mouth drives him on.” Greed, on the other hand, is desire burning out of control. It’s the difference between a small circle of flame that cooks food on the stove and a raging inferno that threatens to destroy the entire house.
Greed is idolatry because it involves surrendering our will to a thing, making it our master, our god, the thing we serve above all else. Greed happens when we judge God to be inadequate and decide we need something more to satisfy our desires. Yet God insists, “You shall have no other gods before Me” (Ex. 20:3). Greed also implies a lack of trust in Him to keep His promises to supply our needs (Phil. 4:19). Therefore, greed is nothing less than an attack on God’s character. No wonder Paul warns so sternly against it.
More: From the Bible’s point of view, idolatry is letting anything or anyone stand in God’s place. This suggests that people practice many forms of idolatry today. See “Modern-Day Idols” at Is. 46:5–10. Jesus gives an unequivocal command against longing for things we don’t have. See “Guard Against Greed” at Luke 12:15.
Go to the Focus Index.
Colosse included people from a wide range of ethnic and cultural backgrounds:
• Greeks, whose cultural heritage dominated the Roman world,
• Jews, who prided themselves as God’s chosen people,
• Barbarians, who spoke no Greek and therefore lacked social standing,
• Scythians, a cruel, warlike people from the north, and
• Slaves, workers at the bottom of society.
Members of all of these groups became followers of Christ and joined the community of believers at Colosse. But their ethnic prejudices created problems, which Paul listed (Col. 3:8, 9). He gives these attitudes and behaviors blunt and unattractive names: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language, and lying. Paul challenged this culturally mixed group to shed these attitudes and behaviors like old clothes and put on Christ instead. He might have been alluding to a first-century baptismal creed that reminded converts that they were joining a new family in Christ (see “We Are Family” at Gal. 3:28).
God’s family has no place for prejudice. Membership in His family calls for new ways of relating to others, with kindness, humility, meekness, forbearance, and forgiveness (Col. 3:12–17). Whenever we act on these ideals, we take a step toward transforming our church and culture.
More: Paul often challenged new believers to set aside their old ways for a new life in Christ. For an expanded list of what our hearts should look like in this new life, see “New Creatures with New Character” at Gal. 5:22, 23.
Go to the Insight Index.
Codes of Conduct for the Christian Worker
There is no shortage of biblical instruction for living out our faith at work. Paul and other New Testament writers offer guidelines to both supervisors and their subordinates for honoring Christ in the workplace.
FOR EMPLOYERS AND MANAGERS
Finance
• Pay workers fairly (1 Cor. 9:7–14; Col. 4:1).
• Don’t fall in love with wealth (1 Tim. 6:6–10, 17, 18).
Work Relationships
• Aim for holiness in every business transaction (2 Cor. 7:1).
• Treat people kindly (Gal. 5:14, 15; Eph. 4:31, 32).
• Motivate employees with respect rather than threats (6:5–9).
• Evaluate yourself accurately (Rom. 12:3).
Communication
• Verify accusations (Matt. 18:15–35; 1 Tim. 5:19).
• Communicate graciously and truthfully (Col. 4:6).
Responsibility
• Fulfill your legal obligations (Rom. 13:6–8).
• Welcome accountability (1 Cor. 3:9–15).
• Care for the poor and weak (Rom. 12:13; Gal. 2:10).
• Maintain good work so that unexpected needs may be met (Titus 3:14).
• Practice contentment (Phil. 4:12).
• Care for your family and those who rely on you (1 Tim. 5:8).
Management
• Look to the long-term implications of your decisions (2 Pet. 3:8–13).
• Patiently help each employee strive for the best (1 Thess. 5:14, 15).
• Stay open to others’ opinions (2 Cor. 5:16, 17; Philem. 10–14).
FOR EMPLOYEES AND WORKERS
Tasks
• Don’t exit a situation rashly (1 Cor. 7:17–24).
• Put stress and trouble into perspective
Supervisors
• Respect authority (Rom. 13:1–8; 1 Thess. 5:12).
• Work wholeheartedly (Eph. 6:5–8).
• Give employers obedient, hard work (Col. 3:22–25; 1 Thess. 4:11, 12).
• Honor bosses whether or not they follow Christ (1 Tim. 6:1, 2).
Coworkers
• Develop an accurate self-understanding (Rom. 12:3).
• Acknowledge differences and accept the contributions of others (1 Cor. 12:1–8).
• Help others but carry your own load (Gal. 6:1–5).
• Learn to speak appropriately and sensitively (Col. 4:6).
• Treat others with respect (1 Tim. 5:1–3).
• Develop a reputation for good relationships (Titus 3:1, 2).
Responsibility
• Give all of yourself to God (Rom. 12:1).
• Develop the art of discernment in order to live responsibly (Eph. 5:15–18).
• Work as if working for God (1 Cor. 3:13; Col. 3:17).
• Don’t let responsibilities overwhelm you (Phil. 4:6).
• Take responsibility for yourself (1 Thess. 4:11, 12; 2 Thess. 3:8, 9).
Finances
• Live frugally and do not steal (Eph. 4:28).
• Care for your family and those who rely on you (1 Tim. 5:8).
More: Booker T. Washington was a man of faith who believed in the power of personal and professional integrity to sway hearts and minds. During the Civil Rights era, he said that the best way for African Americans to secure equal rights would be to demonstrate “industry, thrift, intelligence, and property.” See here for an article on the life of Booker T. Washington. James Cash Penney was a Christian businessman who exhibited model integrity in the workplace. See here for an article on his life.
Go to the Focus Index.
A significant percentage of people in the Roman empire were slaves. In the city of Rome, possibly half of the population lived in servitude. So it’s likely that many early Christians were slaves. While some slaves were skilled artisans or educated workers, most did menial work or hard labor. All had limited rights, and their owners could legally beat or kill them without fear of punishment—the very epitome of a dead-end job. Yet slaves and their work mattered to God. In writing to these workers, Paul redefined their occupational status. They were more than slaves. They were the Lord’s employees.
No matter what we do or who we work for, Christ is our real boss. He gives us work as a gift. He created us in His image to be workers, designing us with skills and abilities to accomplish His purposes. He has also sovereignly placed us in occupations where He wants us to do His work. Even if the world accords a job little respect, it still has value and dignity to Christ.
Yet even though Christ is our ultimate boss, He works through human supervisors. Colossians 3 teaches that people in authority are actually human representatives of Christ. They may not act very Christlike. But in working for them, we ultimately work for Christ. So we should ask ourselves: Do we follow their instructions? Do we shirk responsibility when they’re not around? Are we more interested in impressing them to gain approval and advancement than in getting the job done? How would our work ethic change if we saw Christ as our supervisor?
Christ asks us to put all of ourselves into our work. If we serve Him in our jobs, we have more reason than anyone to work with integrity and enthusiasm even when the work itself is unchallenging or unpleasant. Christ asks us to labor with dignity, always giving our very best, knowing we work for Him. He notices and rewards our good, faithful work.
More: Slaves appear throughout the Bible. Read more about these important people in “Slaves” at Rom. 6:16. Find out about how being a coworker with God gives work dignity and value in “God the Creator” at Gen. 1:1–31 and “People at Work” at Ps. 8:6. Christ cares not only about what we do but how we do it. See “Your Workstyle” at Titus 2:9–11.
Go to the Focus Index.
The Gift of an Ethnic Heritage
Cultural traditions provide people with shared experiences and values that bind them together. As Paul concludes his letter to the Colossians, he mentions three men who shared his Jewish heritage: Aristarchus; Mark, the cousin of Barnabas; and Jesus who was called Justus. Paul says that these were the only Jews still working with him.
Even though Paul was the “apostle to the Gentiles” (Rom. 11:13), he still cherished his Jewish roots. No Gentile could fully appreciate what it meant to grow up within Judaism’s traditions. But Aristarchus, Mark, and Justus could. No wonder Paul calls them “a comfort” to him (Col. 4:11).
God never asks us to reject our roots. We can embrace our cultural and ethnic heritage as a rich gift from Him no matter how our surrounding culture regards it. To be sure, we should not use our ethnicity to shut out other people (Gal. 3:28; Col. 3:11). But we also need not hide the background from which God has called us. We need never deny the person God has created us to be.
More: We can embrace our cultural heritage by considering how God has used it to shape us. See “Researching Your Religious Roots” at Heb. 13:24. Several books of the Bible deal with the themes of cultural roots and spiritual heritage. See “Genealogies: Records of God’s Grace” at 1 Chr. 1:29 and “Our Hebrew Heritage” at Heb. 1:1–3. Hudson Taylor led successful missionary work in China after he realized that if he demonstrated respect for the cultural heritage of the Chinese people, they would become much more willing to accept him into their community. See here for an article on the life of Hudson Taylor.
Go to the Focus Index.
Kingdom Workers
The fact that Luke was a doctor is known from a single line in the Book of Colossians, in which Paul refers to him as “the beloved physician” (Col. 4:14). Luke was with Paul as he wrote the letter to the Colossians, and the apostle counted him as a “fellow laborer” (Philem. 24).
More facts about Luke can be discovered through his authorship of the books of Luke and Acts. The Gospel of Luke begins with his stated intention to write “an orderly account” of Jesus’ life (Luke 1:3). Others had written narratives about Jesus, and after having thoroughly researched many eyewitness reports, Luke presented his own account to a person named Theophilus, “that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed” (1:4).
Luke was committed to accuracy in telling the story of Jesus, yet his take on the life, death, and resurrection of his Lord is anything but clinical. He records that Jesus came to “preach the gospel to the poor,” “heal the brokenhearted,” and “set at liberty those who are oppressed” (4:18). Jesus incurs the wrath of religious opponents for eating with sinners (5:29–32), allows women to follow him and support him financially (8:1–4), and praises a hated Samaritan for his acts of mercy (10:29–37). Jesus tells unique parables about seeking a lost sheep, a lost coin, and a lost son (15:1–32). He heals ten lepers cast out from society (17:11–19), and bonds with a traitorous tax collector named Zacchaeus (19:1–10). Because of Luke, we see that Jesus truly came “to seek and to save that which was lost” (19:10). Our understanding of our Savior would be far less comprehensive if not for Luke’s detailed portrait of Christ’s unwavering love for the hurting.
The Book of Acts is Luke’s continuation of his history of Jesus, in which the attention shifts to the people and events of the early church. Three times in that narrative the perspective shifts to first person plural (“we”), showing that Luke was probably present for those events, traveling with Paul on parts of his second, third, and last missionary journeys (Acts 16:10–17; 20:5—21:18; 27:1—28:16). If Luke followed Paul’s example, he probably engaged in ministry but made his living through his secular occupation as a medical doctor (see “Paul’s Tentmaking” at Acts 18:1–3). What we see in Luke is a kingdom worker who employed his skills to promote God’s purposes, whether as a writer, researcher, evangelist, physician, or friend. Among the many roles that Luke performed, one purpose was constant: all was for the glory of God.
Drawing a paycheck for doing ministry isn’t the measure of whether we count as a worker for God. What matters is whether we embody in our actions the values and beliefs of His kingdom. Some of us might make a living by pastoring a church or serving on a mission field, but kingdom workers are also doctors, carpenters, tax collectors, fishermen, teachers, musicians, homemakers—the list goes on and on. Whenever we further Christ’s message, we can be sure we are at work for His kingdom.
Go to the Life Studies Index.