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Colossians 1:24 - 2:7
Paul labors for the Gospel to present every man complete in Christ

Observe
Read Passage
Key Words/Phrases?
labor, struggle, suffer, etc...
gospel, mystery, etc...
note the presence of 'information words' again
preaching, teaching, wisdom, wealth...of understanding, true knowledge, wisdom and knowledge, etc
(preaching and teaching involve the declaration of knowledge)

Outline
Paul labors for the Gospel to present every man complete in Christ - 1:24-1:27
(again) - 1:28,1:29
(again, but this time he specifies that he labors for the Colossians) - 2:1-2:3
(again, but this time he specifies that he labors for the Colossians...and he says he's concerned about them being deluded by persuasive arguments) - 2:4-2:7


 
Interpret
note: "to fill up what was lacking in christ's afflictions"
what does this mean?
options :
lacking == incomplete. christ's body the church partipates in christ's suffering, which will be incomplete until his return.
something else.
frankly, i don't know.

 
paul essential repeats the same thought from different angles in this section
(just make sure everyone understands this)
he talks of his labor/struggle/suffering
paul suffers for "the colossians" and "the body" 1:24 (my sufferings for your sake, on behalf of his body)
paul labors to present every man complete in christ (1:28,29)
paul struggles on behalf of the colossians, those at laodicea, and those who haven't seen his face.

 
he does this for the gospel
"preaching of the word of God"
"the mystery which has been hidden"
"the riches of the glory of this mystery"
christ in you, the hope of glory
a true knowledge of God's mystery, Christ himself

 
so that men might be 'complete in christ'
- maturity has been a constant theme (TODO)
- v7 'deluded with persuasive arguments' is a specific obstacle

 
why is this section in this letter?
general : paul is trying to communicate why he cares about the Colossians (because he cares about people being 'complete in christ').
specific : paul doesn't want them to be deluded with persuasive arguments (which would interfere with their being 'complete in christ').

 
what does that tell us about why the letter was written?
general : paul is trying to communicate why he cares about the Colossians (because he cares about people being 'complete in christ').
specific : paul doesn't want them to be deluded with persuasive arguments (which would interfere with their being 'complete in christ').

 
what values is paul concerned about?
"making people complete in christ"
"not being deluded with persuasive argument"
 
follow the thread of knowledge from the start
Paul is concerned that they are going to have an incorrect view of truth
from the start, he's spoken of understanding, wisdom, knowledge, etc...
the entire letter has kept that theme of knowledge alive.
now he reveals that he's concerned that the Colossians might be mislead in their knowledge (it's keeping Paul up at night).
summary : presenting "every man complete in christ"

 
why? what makes paul willing to suffer/labor/struggle for this?
because we care about it more than we care about the 'cost'.

 
Summary :
Paul communicates the same idea 4 times in this section.

 
Apply
Knowledge is critical! Why don't we believe that?
What are we willing to struggle/suffer/labor for?