Paul and His Letter to the Colossians

Name: Paul and His Letter to the Colossians
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Prof. N.T. Wright explains the meaning of this wonderful letter written to the Colossian believers in Christ.

Created byN.T. Wright, David P. Seemuth, Jennifer Loop

Last updated 12/2019

English

What you'll learn

Understand the background surrounding this wonderful but small letter of the Apostle Paul to the Colossians.
Describe the exalted picture of Jesus Christ as the Apostle Paul describes in this epistle.
Recognize the beauty of the poetic phrases found in this epistle.
Embrace the manner of life to which believers in Christ should pursue.
Develop a broader understanding of what it means to be a King Jesus follower in a countercultural way.
See how certain controversies are handled by the Apostle Paul.

Course content

8 sections • 66 lectures • 4h 54m total length

Introduction to the Course by Dr. David P. Seemuth1:06
Dr. David Seemuth gives a brief introduction to the course and to Prof. N.T. Wright.
Prof. N.T. Wright Introduces Paul's Letter to the Colossians2:40
Explore Paul's letter to the Colossians with N. T. Wright, highlighting who Jesus is, the fullness of Christ, freedom in him, and living godly lives in a hostile world.

Colossians 1:1-2 KNT0:21
Reading of Colossians 1:1-2 by Prof. Wright0:28
Paul, an apostle of King Jesus by God's purpose, and Timothy his brother, greet God's holy people in Colossi, the king's faithful family. Grace and peace from God our Father.
Session 1: Opening Greetings13:50
Paul, writing from prison, greets a young Colossian church, proclaims Jesus as the one true wisdom and lord, and urges steadfast faith, thanksgiving, and peace from God.
Comprehension Assessment: Col 1:1-2 Opening Greetings
Colossians 1:3-8 KNT0:47
Reading of Colossians 1:3-8 by Prof. N.T. Wright1:00
We thank God the Father of our Lord King Jesus as we pray for you, praising your faith, love, and the gospel bearing fruit and hope safe in heavenly places.
Session 2: Thanksgiving for the Gospel’s Work10:13
Thanking God for the gospel at work in Colossi, Paul highlights a love-filled, transnational community united by faith, hope, and the word bearing fruit in the heavenly inheritance.
Comprehension Assessment: Col 1:3-8 Thanksgiving for the Gospel's Work
Colossians 1:9-14 KNT0:53
Reading of Colossians 1:9-14 by Prof. N.T. Wright1:12
Pray for wisdom, spiritual understanding, and knowledge to live worthily of the Lord and bear fruit in every good work. Grow in the knowledge of God with joy and thanksgiving.
Session 3: Prayer for Wisdom and Gratitude13:35
Comprehension Assessment: Col 1:9-14 Prayer for Wisdom and Gratitude
Practice Exercises: Processing Ideas and Probing Questions1:37

Colossians 1:15-20 KNT (Used throughout Sessions 4-6)0:50
Reading of Colossians 1:15-20 by Prof. N.T. Wright1:06
See how he is the image of the invisible God, the head of the church, holds all things together, and reconciles all through the cross.
Session 4: The Image of God13:41
Analyze Colossians 1:15–20 as a poetic claim that Jesus is the image of God and the firstborn over creation and the church, with the cross uniting creation and redemption.
Comprehension Assessment: Col 1:15-20 The Image of God
Session 5: The Wisdom of God13:07
Paul reads Colossians 1:15–20 through wisdom as God's second self, linking Jesus to the image of God, creation, and reconciliation. He presents Jesus as the temple where heaven meets earth.
Comprehension Assessment: Col 1:15-20 The Wisdom of God
Session 6: The Fullness of God14:19
Comprehension Assessment: Col 1:15-20 The Fullness of God
Practice Exercises: Processing Ideas and Probing Questions0:48

Colossians 1:21-23 KNT0:39
Reading of Colossians 1:21-23 by Prof. N.T. Wright0:53
Paul shows you were once excluded and enemies in thought and deed, reconciled through Christ’s death to be blameless, if you remain firm in the hope of the gospel.
Session 7: Reconciled and Firm in Faith11:53
Discover Paul's cosmic map of God's purposes from creation to new creation, reconciling all things in Christ and welcoming outsiders into his presence.
Comprehension Assessment: Col 1:21-23 Reconciled and Firm in Faith
Colossians 1:24-29 KNT0:56
Reading of Colossians 1:24-29 by Prof. N.T. Wright1:23
Session 8: The King, Living Within You17:48
Paul frames his imprisonment as part of his mission to reveal the mystery of Christ in you, the hope of glory, and to train the church in wisdom for maturity.
Comprehension Assessment: Col 1:24-29 The King, Living Within You
Colossians 2:1-5 KNT0:46
Reading of Colossians 2:1-5 by Prof. N.T. Wright1:01
In Colossians 2:1-5, the lecture highlights encouragement in love, the wealth of understanding, and knowledge of God's mystery—the Messiah the King, and the hidden treasures of wisdom.
Session 9: The True Knowledge of God’s Mystery12:42
Comprehension Assessment: Col 2:1-7 The True Knowledge of God's Mystery
Practice Exercises: Processing Ideas and Probing Questions1:11

Colossians 2:6-10 KNT0:39
Reading of Colossians 2:6-10 by Prof. N.T. Wright0:58
Session 10: Already Complete in Christ12:46
Comprehension Assessment: Col 2:8-10 Already Complete in Christ
Colossians 2:11-15 KNT0:50
Reading of Colossians 2:11-15 by Prof. N.T. Wright1:11
Explain the king's circumcision, baptismal burial and resurrection with him through faith, forgiving offenses as God cancels the handwriting against us by nailing it to the cross, triumphing over rulers.
Session 11: Already Buried and Raised in Christ13:29
Comprehension Assessment: Col 2:11-15 Already Buried and Raised in Christ
Colossians 2:16-19 KNT0:44
Reading of Colossians 2:16-19 by Prof. N.T. Wright1:01
Colossians 2:16–19 warns against judging by food, drink, festivals, new moon, and sabbaths, as shadows of reality, and urges holding to the head rather than fake humility or angelic visions.
Session 12: Already Free from the Law’s Demands10:46
Comprehension Assessment: Col 2:16-19 Already Free from the Law's Demands
Colossians 2:20-23 KNT0:38
Reading of Colossians 2:20-23 by Prof. N.T. Wright0:53
Session 13: Already Died to the World with Christ7:30
Paul shows that dying and rising with the Messiah redefines holiness, moving believers from Jewish regulations to life in the new creation beyond the present evil age.
Comprehension Assessment: Col 2:20-23 Already Died to the World with Christ
Practice Exercises: Processing Ideas and Probing Questions1:08

Colossians 3:1-4 KNT0:32
Reading of Colossians 3:1-4 by Prof. N.T. Wright0:41
Session 14: Proper Priorities10:09
Comprehension Assessment: Col 3:1-4 Proper Priorities
Colossians 3:5-11 KNT0:52
Reading of Colossians 3:5-11 by Prof. N.T. Wright1:18
Session 15: Putting Off12:08
Comprehension Assessment: Col 3:5-11 Putting Off
Colossians 3:12-17 KNT0:54
Reading of Colossians 3:12-17 by Prof. N.T. Wright1:17
Examine Colossians 3:12-17's clothes of virtue—compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, forgiveness, and love—and the king's peace guiding life in the one body, with gratitude in Christ.
Session 16: Putting On14:06
Paul urges believers to put on new clothes of kindness, tender-heartedness, humility, meekness, and forgiveness, topped with love, as the mark of the new creation in Christ.
Comprehension Assessment: Col 3:12-17 Putting On
Practice Exercises: Processing Ideas and Probing Questions0:59

Colossians 3:18-4:1 KNT0:57
Reading of Colossians 3:18-4:1 by Prof. N.T. Wright1:21
Session 17: Individual Roles16:20
Paul exhorts wives, children, and slaves to live in a disciplined, loving household reflecting new creation; masters must act justly, while all serve the Lord.
Comprehension Assessment: Col 3:18-4:1 Individual Roles
Colossians 4:2-6 KNT0:37
Reading of Colossians 4:2-6 by Prof. N.T. Wright0:50
Session 18: The Fellowship of Prayer10:27
Comprehension Assessment: Col 4:2-6 The Fellowship of Prayer
Practice Exercises: Processing Ideas and Probing Questions1:00

Colossians 4:7-14 KNT1:07
Reading of Colossians 4:7-14 by Prof. N.T. Wright1:31
Paul sends Tychicus to report news and encourage your hearts, with greetings from fellow believers. He prays you stand firm, mature, and settled on God’s will.
Session 19: Greetings from Others with Paul13:18
Comprehension Assessment: Col 4:7-14 Greetings from others with Paul
Colossians 4:15-18 KNT0:33
Reading of Colossians 4:15-18 by Prof. N.T. Wright0:47
Session 20: Greetings from Paul8:28
Comprehension Assessment: Col 4:15-18 Greetings from Paul
Practice Exercises: Processing Ideas and Probing Questions0:53
Bonus Lecture0:33

Requirements

This course only requires a desire to learn about the New Testament.
The student is encouraged to have a recent translation of the Bible available.

Description

Colossians presents a picture of Christ who is "the firstborn over all creation" and has disarmed and triumphed over the powers and authorities. The letter also appeals to its readers to seek humble maturity, a maturity not possible apart from the person and work of Jesus Christ. Prof. Wright goes through this small but powerful letter to highlight the supremacy of Christ and then further describe how to live in the light of this glorious truth.

The course features exegetical observations by Prof. Wright that will illuminate the truths sometimes hidden by translation from Greek into English. Although Prof. Wright refers to the Kingdom New Testament translation of this epistle, the explanations are based on Prof. Wright's knowledge of Greek and Hebrew. In addition, the student will enjoy being introduced to some of the cultural distinctions made within the 1st Century Greco-Roman world. This allows us to make application of the principles contained in this epistle to the 21st Century context in which we live.

Who this course is for:

Students who are eager to understand one of the most powerful, yet relatively small, letters of the Apostle Paul.
Students who desire to understand the nature of who Jesus Christ is as described by the Apostle Paul.
Students who want to grasp the essence of the theology of the Apostle Paul.

Paul and His Letter to the Colossians

What you'll learn

Explore related topics

Course content

Introduction2 lectures • 4min

Themes of Wisdom and Thankfulness10 lectures • 44min

The Wisdom of Christ6 lectures • 44min

The Wisdom of The Gospel10 lectures • 49min

The Wisdom of the Christian Faith13 lectures • 53min

Wise Christian Living10 lectures • 43min

Wise Christian Families7 lectures • 32min

Final Greetings8 lectures • 27min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: