Anchored Day 2 Saints, Apostles, & Brothers: Digging Deeper

1) Why does Paul call out that he is an apostle “by God’s will” and notes that Timothy is “our” brother? (verse 1)
Paul was writing to Gentile believers he had never met; he had only “heard of their faith” through Epaphras. (verse 4, 7-8) Through Epaphras, the brothers and sisters in Colossae would have known who Paul was and of his missional heart for the Bride of Christ, His Church. They knew their own pastor, Epaphras, was a believer because of Paul’s willingness to extend the gospel and disciple him. To receive a letter of encouragement and instruction from Paul would have carried significant weight because of his reputation alone, but Paul doesn’t put any stock into man-made reputation. Instead, Paul puts the full weight of his authority and ability to speak truth over them as a church body on the effective call and will of God the Father, working in community with God the Son, Jesus Christ. Then, distancing himself even further from what could be seen as his “self-made-platform”, Paul identifies Timothy as the collective “our” brother in the Church. What Paul is preparing to write and teach isn’t about himself or puffing up his reach as a pastor with authority, it’s about the community of Christ as brothers and sisters, all saints together.

2) Is there a significance to Paul’s greeting, “grace and peace to you from God our Father”? (verse 2)
Lest we forget, every word of Scripture was written on the breath of the Holy Spirit. He used human writing styles, human words, and human author’s unique stories and experiences, but the words and message are fully the Lord God’s. (2 Timothy 3:16-17) Every word of Scripture is significant, which is why we take such time and energy to study it well. (2 Timothy 2:15) This isn’t simply a Pauline greeting we casually pass back and forth like, “Hey, how are you?” “Good! We are doing great! How are you?” “Good thanks!” This greeting is rooted deep in the anchor of the gospel. Grace. God’s richest gift to mankind demonstrated through the offering of Jesus’ sacrifice for our sin. When we accept this gift of undeserved grace, unable to be earned by our attempt at being good, we have peace with God. Grace and Peace. Because of His grace, we have peace. Peace with God and peace we can extend to others. Paul’s greeting is not an ordinary hello, it’s rooted in the depth of the gospel, because only there in the anchor of lavish grace, do we have hope for relationship, for life, for community, and for peace.

3) Why would Paul include a reference to his prayers for this particular church in his greeting, especially since he hadn’t met them? (verse 3)
Again, nothing preserved in Scripture is accidental or unimportant. All of it holds treasure to reap as we seek to know and understand God better. “We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you.” This single sentence reveals much! It was commonplace for Paul to pray and when he did, it wasn’t a show or religious rite, but a conversation centered around a deeply intimate relationship with God as Father. God wasn’t a foreign entity Paul worked to appease and then occasionally beg Him for something. Prayer allowed a vibrant, continuous relationship to grow between Father God and beloved child. Paul’s prayers, while deep and intimate, were woven through with gratitude. When Paul prayed for the church, gratitude bubbled up for their partnership in the gospel. He was grateful for the opportunity to share the mission with other believers. (verse 4) Whether he personally knew them or not, what mattered most was that these brothers and sisters, fellow saints, were co-laborers for the gospel. Going farther in the letter, Paul has “big rock” items to teach them as he corrects their beliefs, but despite the issues ahead, Paul begins with gratitude for these, his brethren in Christ.