Teaching & Academics
Humanities
The Bible
Paul and His Letter to the Colossians
4.8 (229 ratings)
Course Ratings are calculated from individual students’ ratings and a variety of other signals, like age of rating and reliability, to ensure that they reflect course quality fairly and accurately.
908 students enrolled

Paul and His Letter to the Colossians

Prof. N.T. Wright explains the meaning of this wonderful letter written to the Colossian believers in Christ.
4.8 (229 ratings)
Course Ratings are calculated from individual students’ ratings and a variety of other signals, like age of rating and reliability, to ensure that they reflect course quality fairly and accurately.
908 students enrolled
Created by N.T. Wright, David P. Seemuth, Jennifer Loop
Last updated 12/2019
English
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Paul and His Letter to the Colossians
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This course includes
  • 4.5 hours on-demand video
  • 26 articles
  • 1 downloadable resource
  • Full lifetime access
  • Access on mobile and TV
  • Certificate of Completion
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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.
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.
Course content
Expand all 66 lectures 04:55:04
+ – Themes of Wisdom and Thankfulness
10 lectures 43:57
Colossians 1:1-2 KNT
00:21
Reading of Colossians 1:1-2 by Prof. Wright
Preview 00:28
Session 1: Opening Greetings
Preview 13:50
Comprehension Assessment: Col 1:1-2 Opening Greetings
10 questions
Colossians 1:3-8 KNT
00:47
Reading of Colossians 1:3-8 by Prof. N.T. Wright
01:00
Session 2: Thanksgiving for the Gospel’s Work
10:13
Comprehension Assessment: Col 1:3-8 Thanksgiving for the Gospel's Work
10 questions
Colossians 1:9-14 KNT
00:53
Reading of Colossians 1:9-14 by Prof. N.T. Wright
01:12
Session 3: Prayer for Wisdom and Gratitude
13:35
Comprehension Assessment: Col 1:9-14 Prayer for Wisdom and Gratitude
10 questions
Practice Exercises: Processing Ideas and Probing Questions
01:37
+ – The Wisdom of Christ
6 lectures 43:51
Colossians 1:15-20 KNT (Used throughout Sessions 4-6)
00:50
Reading of Colossians 1:15-20 by Prof. N.T. Wright
01:06
Session 4: The Image of God
13:41
Comprehension Assessment: Col 1:15-20 The Image of God
9 questions
Session 5: The Wisdom of God
13:07
Comprehension Assessment: Col 1:15-20 The Wisdom of God
10 questions
Session 6: The Fullness of God
14:19
Comprehension Assessment: Col 1:15-20 The Fullness of God
10 questions
Practice Exercises: Processing Ideas and Probing Questions
00:48
+ – The Wisdom of The Gospel
10 lectures 49:14
Colossians 1:21-23 KNT
00:39
Reading of Colossians 1:21-23 by Prof. N.T. Wright
00:53
Session 7: Reconciled and Firm in Faith
11:53
Comprehension Assessment: Col 1:21-23 Reconciled and Firm in Faith
10 questions
Colossians 1:24-29 KNT
00:56
Reading of Colossians 1:24-29 by Prof. N.T. Wright
01:23
Session 8: The King, Living Within You
17:48
Comprehension Assessment: Col 1:24-29 The King, Living Within You
10 questions
Colossians 2:1-5 KNT
00:46
Reading of Colossians 2:1-5 by Prof. N.T. Wright
01:01
Session 9: The True Knowledge of God’s Mystery
12:42
Comprehension Assessment: Col 2:1-7 The True Knowledge of God's Mystery
10 questions
Practice Exercises: Processing Ideas and Probing Questions
01:11
+ – The Wisdom of the Christian Faith
13 lectures 52:34
Colossians 2:6-10 KNT
00:39
Reading of Colossians 2:6-10 by Prof. N.T. Wright
00:58
Session 10: Already Complete in Christ
12:46
Comprehension Assessment: Col 2:8-10 Already Complete in Christ
10 questions
Colossians 2:11-15 KNT
00:50
Reading of Colossians 2:11-15 by Prof. N.T. Wright
01:11
Session 11: Already Buried and Raised in Christ
13:29
Comprehension Assessment: Col 2:11-15 Already Buried and Raised in Christ
10 questions
Colossians 2:16-19 KNT
00:44
Reading of Colossians 2:16-19 by Prof. N.T. Wright
01:01
Session 12: Already Free from the Law’s Demands
10:46
Comprehension Assessment: Col 2:16-19 Already Free from the Law's Demands
10 questions
Colossians 2:20-23 KNT
00:38
Reading of Colossians 2:20-23 by Prof. N.T. Wright
00:53
Session 13: Already Died to the World with Christ
07:30
Comprehension Assessment: Col 2:20-23 Already Died to the World with Christ
5 questions
Practice Exercises: Processing Ideas and Probing Questions
01:08
+ – Wise Christian Living
10 lectures 42:56
Colossians 3:1-4 KNT
00:32
Reading of Colossians 3:1-4 by Prof. N.T. Wright
00:41
Session 14: Proper Priorities
10:09
Comprehension Assessment: Col 3:1-4 Proper Priorities
10 questions
Colossians 3:5-11 KNT
00:52
Reading of Colossians 3:5-11 by Prof. N.T. Wright
01:18
Session 15: Putting Off
12:08
Comprehension Assessment: Col 3:5-11 Putting Off
10 questions
Colossians 3:12-17 KNT
00:54
Reading of Colossians 3:12-17 by Prof. N.T. Wright
01:17
Session 16: Putting On
14:06
Comprehension Assessment: Col 3:12-17 Putting On
10 questions
Practice Exercises: Processing Ideas and Probing Questions
00:59
+ – Wise Christian Families
7 lectures 31:33
Colossians 3:18-4:1 KNT
00:57
Reading of Colossians 3:18-4:1 by Prof. N.T. Wright
01:21
Session 17: Individual Roles
16:20
Comprehension Assessment: Col 3:18-4:1 Individual Roles
10 questions
Colossians 4:2-6 KNT
00:37
Reading of Colossians 4:2-6 by Prof. N.T. Wright
00:50
Session 18: The Fellowship of Prayer
10:27
Comprehension Assessment: Col 4:2-6 The Fellowship of Prayer
10 questions
Practice Exercises: Processing Ideas and Probing Questions
01:00
+ – Final Greetings
8 lectures 27:11
Colossians 4:7-14 KNT
01:07
Reading of Colossians 4:7-14 by Prof. N.T. Wright
01:31
Session 19: Greetings from Others with Paul
13:18
Comprehension Assessment: Col 4:7-14 Greetings from others with Paul
10 questions
Colossians 4:15-18 KNT
00:33
Reading of Colossians 4:15-18 by Prof. N.T. Wright
00:47
Session 20: Greetings from Paul
08:28
Comprehension Assessment: Col 4:15-18 Greetings from Paul
7 questions
Practice Exercises: Processing Ideas and Probing Questions
00:53
Bonus Lecture
00:33