Reading for March 31st

 Read Colossians 1.3-14. In 1.3-14: Prayers and God's redemption. Two prayers (vv. 3-8; 9-12) reveal the basis of the community's growth in faith: God rescued the believers from the power of darkness and moved them into the kingdom of his beloved (1.28; 2.6; 3.10; 4.12) emphasize the fruitfulness of the gospel (v. 5) in increasing the knowledge of God's will (vv. 9-10) and in building the body of Christ (2.19). Epaphras (v. 7) taught hope linked to Christ, unlike the "heresy" which down plays Christ (see 2.18-19). In verse 5: Hope, no longer the firm expectation of God's promise but an object already available, laid up or stored up, though it awaits revelation. In verse 6: Bearing fruit and growing describes the gospel of God's grace. In verse 7: Epaphras, 4.12; Philem 23. In verses 9-12: A shift past reception of the gospel to a fuller comprehension of God's will. In verse 9: Knowledge ... spiritual wisdom and understanding. All three have practical implications. Wisdom (a favorite term; see 2.3, 23; 4.5) and understanding or insight are linked in the Hebrew Scripture or their Greek translation (see Deut 1.13, 15; 1 Kings 16.18; Isa 3.3) In verse 10; Lead or conduct, see 2.6; 3.7-17; 4.5. In verse 12: In heritance, share or allotment. In verses 13-14: This basic statement of belief recites what God has done. Comments or Questions..