Colossians 4:14-18 - Chris Osburn 2/12/20

So thankful to see everybody who made it out tonight and I pray

that the things that we have to study tonight will be beneficial

to the congregation here and edifying and we will be

finishing up our study in the book of Colossians tonight. and,

I'm assuming we will probably just move right into

Thessalonians after this. So looking forward to that.

We're going to be considering verses 14 through 18 of chapter

for tonight and Colossians and I want to go ahead and read

beginning in verse 12 of chapter 4 and we'll read to the end of

the chapter there. It says beginning in verse 12,

epaphras epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ

greets. You always laboring fervently

for you in prayers that you You that you may stand perfect and

complete and all the will of God for.

I bear him witness that he has a great Zeal for you and those who

are in laodicea and those in hieropolis Luke beloved Luke,

the Beloved Physician and Demas greet.

You greet the Brethren who are in laodicea and Memphis and the

church that is in his house. Now when this epistle is read

among you see that it is read also in the Church of the

laodiceans. And that you likewise read the

epistle from laodicea and SATA, archippus take heed to the

ministry, which you have received in the Lord that you

may fulfill it this salutation by my own hand, Paul.

Remember my chains Grace be with you.

Amen. That barring any mistakes.

That reads the verses that we're going to have under

consideration tonight. That brings us to the first

question which deals with verse 14.

And that question is at the time of this writing Dimas was no

doubt of faithful servant what happened to him later and why

And verse 14. It said there it says Luke the

Beloved Physician and Demas greet you.

So Dimas is actually mentioned three times in the New Testament

He's mentioned here in the 14th verse of chapter 4 of

Colossians. He's also mentioned in Philemon

124 where he was referred to as a fellow worker and also in

second Timothy 4 verse 10, where it says for Demas has forsaken

2 Timothy 4:10

me, having loved this present world and has departed to

thessalonica. the word forsaken, their in 2nd Timothy 4:10 is a

very strong word and it actually also means desertion And you

know, Dimas from what, from what we know in second, Timothy had

turned his back on the work of Christ, he had abandoned his the

ministry, and the responsibilities and his

friends. So Dimas actually deserted those

who were fellow workers of Christ with him.

And there's no reason given why he loved the present world or or

why he left other than loving the present world.

There's no reason given to us other than opposed to, you know,

either he loved the present world and the direct opposition

to that is that he opposes future eternal life in heaven.

You know, the love of the world. Overtook him.

That's all. We know.

That's all we can assume. And and honestly that is reason

enough for anyone to leave the ministry of Jesus and that is if

we have a love of the world and there's not have to be, there

doesn't have to be specific details.

There doesn't have to be specific moments that lead,

someone away from loving and following Jesus.

You know, we kind of break that down into the Simplicity of the

Gospel gospel whether to choose Christ or to choose a love of

the world. You know, that that conscious

thought that we have in our Our mind makes decisions a lot

easier to make sometimes. We just break it down into those

two categories. We can make a simple decision

whether we're going to follow Christ or going to follow what

the world is Desiring is to do. But we must also be careful, you

know, because we can sometimes see from Dimas is life.

We can you know we could be a devoted follower or something.

Could be a devoted follower working for Christ working for

the spread of the gospel and going through all the Motions

checking the boxes of what a Christian should look like.

But in the heart at the heart is not right, which it seems like

Dimas is wasn't You know the love of the world is greater

than the love of Christ. You know we could turn away from

Christ pretty quickly. There's not there's been some

assumptions on why Dimas left other than what we can read.

Some believe it was a fear persecution that he was going to

face from being a disciple of Christ.

And if we're not fully giving our entire life to God and

loving Jesus, more than things of this world, we can eventually

be pulled away with the desires of the world.

I also want to mention Luke here.

Luke is mentioned as the Beloved Physician, and this is of

course, as the same Loop that we know that wrote the book of Acts

and the Gospel of Luke, so it's the same person here.

So, Demas was once faithful servant of Christ.

But at some point fell to the love and the desires of the

world. Brings us to our next question

here. Question number two who was

Nimbus and what is meant by the phrase the church that is in his

house and verse 15, says greet the Brethren who are in laodicea

and Memphis and the church that is in his house.

From what we read here, Memphis was a fellow Christian in Lyon

in laodicea as Paul mentioned, this is the only place in the

scriptures were an emphasis is mentioned and and he is

mentioned for something very, very simple.

The Simplicity we can we can serve Christ and so simple ways

sometimes. And Memphis do that here by just

allowing the church to assemble in his house.

The congregation the assembled body, there's always more that

we can be doing but Memphis was mentioned specifically by the

Apostle Paul for that simple reason.

And that was credit enough. That was enough for Paul, to

make sure that he was mentioned in the word of God.

That's pretty great. Memphis was helping the spread

of the Gospel by Simply Having the Assembly of Christ, the body

of Christ, or the general assembly in his house.

Just like we are doing here tonight and we do on Sundays,

the general assembly of the Church, of course, is a place

that is The specific place is a place that is that is designated

by the members of the church or the male Brethren of the church

where the assembly is going to meet.

Now that of course we've talked about it before, that is the

church is not the building. The church is the assembly, the

people, the congregation that is what it is, and some older

translations. This was very interesting to me.

Some older translations of this verse here.

Give Memphis a feminine identity.

Whether Nimbus was a man or woman, we don't know, but I

honestly think it really didn't matter if Memphis was a man or a

woman. The assembly met where they had

a building or where they had a place to meet, whether it be in

a woman's house or man's house, it doesn't matter.

So the fact that people want to hang their hat on, Memphis was a

woman doesn't hold a lot of weight, it doesn't really

matter. So it just matters.

All that matters is that the Assembly of the body of Christ

was weaving together in a designated place?

That brings us to our next verse which is verse 16.

And the question is, what was the epistle from laodicea?

In verse 16 says there. Now when this epistle is read

among you see that it is read also in the Church of the

laodiceans and that you likewise read the epistle from laodicea.

So what is the epistle from laodicea?

I'm going to read this. So I don't mess it up and

there's a couple names in here that I made mispronounced.

So I just bear with me here says here.

Several ancient texts purporting.

To be the missing quote-unquote Epistle of the decisions have

been known to have existed most of which are now lost.

These were generally considered both at the time and by the

modern scholarship to be attempts to supply a forge copy

of a lost document. The exception is a Latin quote

unquote Epistle of the laodiceans which is Only a short

compilation of verses from other Pauline Epistles.

Principally, Philippians and on which scholarly opinion is

divided as to whether it is not, it is the Lost Marconi a'ight

forgery or alternatively, an orthodox replacement of the

Marconi 8 text. In either case, it is generally

considered a clumsy forgery and an attempt to seek to fill the

gaps suggested by Colossians 4:16.

Colossians 4:16

Some ancient sources sources such as hepatitis and some

Modern Scholars. Consider that the epistle from

laodicea was never a lost epistle but simply Paul reusing

one of his other letters. The most common candidate in

this contemporary epistle to the Ephesians.

Just as he asks for the copying and forwarding of letter to the

Colossians to laodicea and Marconi here is was a gnostic.

Asian believe in that. God the father was different

deity than God the Creator. So these are people who tried to

find something more that was written word of God that we have

already and doing some research. I actually found what is

believed to be quote unquote. The epistle laodicea and

actually want to read that. And as we read it, I want to, I

want you to I want you to think and we're going to be reminded

really of some other scripture that we already know.

And when he says this person that I got this from basically a

clumsy for jury, will see why. So I'm going to read this to

you. It's only I think 18 verses are

so or 19 so let's go ahead and read this quote unquote epistle

from laodicea. It says they're Paul an apostle

not for men. Neither by man, but by Jesus

Christ to Brethren which are at laodicea Grace be to you and

peace from God, the father and our Lord Jesus Christ.

I think in every prayer, mine that you may continue and

Preserve in Good Works looking for that, which is Promised in

the day of judgment, do not be troubled by the vein.

Speeches of anyone who perverts the truth that they may draw you

aside from the truth of the Gospel, which I have preached.

And now may God grant that my comments May attain to a perfect

knowledge of the truth of the Gospel.

Will be bent, be beneficent and doing good works, which

accompany salvation. And now my bonds, which I suffer

in Christ are manifest in which I rejoice and I'm glad for I

know that this shall turn my salvation forever, which shall

be through your prayer and the supply of the Holy Spirit,

whether I live or die to me, I shall to me to me to live, shall

be a Life of Christ to die will be joy, and our God, and our

Lord will grant His Mercy that you may have the same love and

be like-minded. Wherefore my beloved, as you

have heard the coming of the Lord.

So think and act reverently and it shall be to you life eternal

for it is God who is working in to you and do all things without

sin and what is best? My beloved rejoice in the Lord

Jesus Christ and avoid all Filthy lucre.

Let all your requests be made known to God and Be steady in

the doctrine of Christ, and whatever things are sound, and

true, and good report and chase ends.

Just and lovely these things. Do those things which you have

heard and received think on these things and peace shall be

with you all the saints. Salute, you let the grace of the

Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, amen.

Cause us epistle to be read to the Colossians and the epistle,

the Colossians, to be read among you. so sometimes, you know,

Things are just fake sometimes, just by reading it, you can

understand a things are fake. And the way we know that is by

understanding the truth first, Knowing what the word of God

says first. And when I read this first time,

I read this, I'm going man that does not sound like any kind

kind of thing that Paul would just spit out in those simple

short phrases that he did. There's usually a story or a

particular group of people that specifics that Paul deals with.

And when I read this, there was just no there was no depth to

what I was reading. and this is not of course we want to make

sure that we understand that this is not the word of God that

is quote unquote, the Epistle of the laodiceans This is some

false doctrines and false attempt to produce.

What is mentioned here in Colossians 4?

So, we need to understand, we need to just know, and they're

saying, we've been given all that we need in the word of God.

We've been told that and that's all we need.

The verse here that were considering in Colossians is

evidence and direction to that inspired word of God.

The letter that Paul to the Colossians was not solely for

the Colossians alone. It is intended to be read and

followed by all congregations of all time throughout the entire

world. And once it had been rented, the

Colossians, then they were to send it on to other

congregations in the area. Just as the letter was in

laodicea that was believed to be passed to the Colossians.

So, whatever letter that is, that Paul is talking about that,

that that Paul told him to get from the laodiceans.

It could be the same thing. He is doing here, he's telling

the Colossians. Once you read this, go ahead and

send it over to the laodicean so they can read the same thing

too. So that's kind of believed and

it makes complete sense that if even if it was the Epistle of

the Ephesians, that was sent to laodicea.

Latest hands could have the same directions to send that letter

onto the colossian congregation. So it just proves the fact that

all scripture and all letters, all Epistles are for every

congregation through all time. For all of us to read and

understand applies to everybody throughout the entire life that

we are given here. So, I hope I made that clear.

I was pretty difficult for me to go through and, and understand

and to try to explain exactly what it was.

So I hope I did some justice and I want to show this map here,

it's pretty small on here, but one of the show kind of where

the three cities that are mentioned here.

Colossi hieropolis and laodicea they're all very close together

when you consider it I'm not sure what the mileage or or it

may be my guess is maybe 30 to 40 Maybe.

Maybe 75 miles radius within each other.

So it's been very easy for them to take one letter an epistle

from Paul and transfer it over. Once they got done reading it,

take it over to the next Cara. Gatien another town.

Question number four, which deals with verse 17, who is our

cheapest? And what is meant by the phrase?

Take heed to the ministry that deals with Verse 18, I'm sorry.

We're 17 and say to our cheapest, take you to the

ministry, which you have received in the Lord that you

may fulfill it. So, Arch piss is mentioned here.

And he is also mentioned in Philemon.

Verse 2, right alongside of Philemon, he is mentioned as a

fellow Soldier one who is working for the spread of the

gospel and we can deduce from just those mentions that he was

a disciple of Jesus working as a member of the church in

colossae. Now.

Catholicism believes that archippus was actually put in

charge of these three congregations within this area.

Colossi hieropolis and laodicea. And this is a place in

scripture. Also, work, Catholicism is taken

assumptions. And put them into religious

practices. And they have actually made

archippus a saint singing archippus and they actually have

a day of the year where it's a day of feasting for saying

archippus and that is all based on assumptions that they have

made and there is nothing in there in the scriptures that we

can read that archippus was put over charge of three.

Three different congregations within it in a, in a closed

area. we know that that is a stretch because the Bible simply

does not state or support such an idea, is that So when it says

take you to the ministry, which you have received the Lord that

you may fulfill it. Paul was telling the members

that colossi to specifically tell our cheapest that exact

phrase and the word ministry. Here means service our service

to Jesus or service to spreading the gospel.

And if archippus was a Phyllis Soldier as mentioned in

Philemon, why would Paul direct this kind of phrase to a fellow

Soldier? So there are multiple thoughts

as to why Paul would have said this.

There's four reasons why that I found Number one, Archer pissed.

New, the ministry. He was faithful, but maybe

needed some encouragement to keep going Arch.

Number two, Archbishop new. The ministry was once faithful,

but slacking, or stopped his ministry.

Number three, archippus new the ministry, but did nothing about

it. And a number for our cheapest,

did not know his ministry and it had to be prompted by Paul to

keep going. In Philemon, and the book of

Colossians are mostly thought to be written about the same time

during Paul's, imprisonment, in Rome, most even think that it

was even the same year. He wrote those two Epistles and

sent them out. So I can't imagine that Paul

would write one letter to Philemon praising archippus.

And then immediately writing another letter to the Church of

colossi telling Our cheapest to get his act together, if they're

both written the same time. I don't understand why pie would

probably do that. So I think it would be safe for

us to say that this this statement by Paul was to be an

encouragement to our cheapest, and all of us need that

encouragement as well. But if Paul wasn't trying to

encourage our participants to continue in the faith or to get

his act together or take care of some of these other assumptions

that were made. I think any of those lumps

assumptions would be appropriate as well.

So, for example, if our cheapest was or or knew the ministry was

faithful, but needed encouragement, that phrase is

appropriate If Archbishop knew the ministry and was once

faithful, but it's lacked or stopped.

That phrase is appropriate. If archippus knew the ministry,

but nothing about it that phrase that Paul said is appropriate.

Also, if Arch, pissed did not know the ministry and had to be

prompted by Paul that statement is appropriate as well.

But I think we can all figure out.

The fact is that Paul was giving inspired direction to our

purpose to take heed to the service, which he had received

in the Lord. Paul was I think encouraging

archippus during this time, Hope I got that right to.

There's a lot just in these few verses that I was not expecting

and it's just, it's amazing sometimes So it takes us the

verse 18. What is meant by the phrase?

The salutation by my hand, built Verse 18, says this salutation

by my own hand. Paul, remember my change Grace

be with you, amen. This is basically Paul putting a

stamp of approval on his letter to the to the church at

colossae. See some think that Paul

actually had a scribe that would write out the letter and then

Paul would review it. And basically this is Paul

signature at the end of this epistle, colossi or Colossians,

it would affirm or approve the writings and saying that this is

his own writing. This.

Is the inspired word of God that I am approving to be sent to

Colossians. You could think of it as a

signature that Paul would place on a document.

Authenticating it to the church in colossae.

He not only did that here but he also did it in Corinthians First

Corinthians, 16 and 21 and Galatians 6 and 11.

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