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Colossians 1:1
1 Paul [Paulos], an apostle [apostolos] of Jesus [Iesous] Christ [Christos] by [dia] the will [thelema] of God [theos], and [kai] Timotheus [Timotheos] our brother [adelphos], KJV-Interlinear
1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, NASB
I’ll repeat some of the introduction to Paul, that we made in our study of Titus.
Paul identifies himself as the writer of this letter. Paul was once known by his Hebrew name, Saul. Paul is his gentile (Roman) name.
He is commonly referred to as the messenger, the missionary of the gospel and scripture, to the gentiles.
The timeline of Pauls life is not specifically known, but most agree that his conversion to Christianity came in the mid 30’s A.D., perhaps around 35 A.D., when Jesus Himself confronted him while he was traveling along the road.
Prior to his Christian life, Paul was known as Saul, as he pursued the persecution of Christians in the name of good in behalf of the Levitical Priesthood.
Once he came face to face to Christ, Saul’s life changed in a very dramatic way. And he subsequently became the most prominent writer of the New Testament scriptures, and the one to whom even the other apostles looked to for answers for understanding of the more complex Biblical principles.
Paul has identified himself, elsewhere, as a slave, a voluntary slave as it were, of Christ. Having placed himself, and his entire life, at Christ’s disposal.
Pauls faith did not come in the flash of light he witnessed along the road, but by the same means as faith comes to every new believer. He listened and studied, and learned doctrine all over again. Placing his former views and understandings aside, and during the three years following his conversion to Christianity, Paul studied intensely in a crash course of doctrinal study.
Paul identifies himself as the one (among others) whom Jesus had selected, an Apostle, and he clearly states that this same Jesus, is the Christ, the Messiah, the Savior promised by the scriptures. And that as an Apostle, he was one of several direct witnesses of Jesus, although his witness of Jesus, came long after the Ascension of Christ, while he, Paul, was traveling along the road, and was struck blind by a flash of light.
Far too often people have a tendency to retain their former beliefs and try to incorporate them into their current studies. This only promotes conflict, and difficulty in learning truth.
Faith comes through believing, and knowledge comes through study, and godliness comes through growth in ones spiritual life. It was the same for Adam, for Paul, and is the same for you. They did not have any advantages with God, any more so than you have now.
Every person who has the breath of life in them, has the opportunity to advance in their spiritual life just as far as they want to advance.
There is only one person who can prevent ones advance, and that is ones self.
Paul identifies his purpose, by the ‘will of God.’ For it is of God that we are all here on this earth in the first place. Were it not for Gods sovereign decision to create each one of us individually, then we would not exist at all.
None of us had any say in our birth, prior to our birth, so we are here with life, courtesy of the grace (favor) of God. And even though your life may not be a really great one, your destiny has all of the potential of being phenomenal, as well as your current life. Why? Because you have in your own little hands, the power and resources to make your life great. And that power comes to you freely, through Bible doctrine.
All you have to do is get your act together, with respect to your daily study, and with your daily application of Gods mandates, to your life.
Unfortunately most folks won’t do this, but some will. If you finally decide to get your act together, then you will be in a very small group of folks from all of human history, that advances to spiritual maturity, and all of the greater grace blessings (which most folks will never receive), that go along with it.
‘And Timothy,’ is a member of Pauls closest group of friends, who help him in his ministry.
Timothy means, dear to God.
