Episode 82: Beginning, middle, and end

Paul’s final words to the Colossians are “Grace be with you” (Col 4:18), echoing the words with which he greeted them at the beginning, “Grace and peace to you” (1:2). Just as we should understand his opening greeting as meaning much more than “Hi” or “Dear Colossians,” so too should we take his final words as meaning much more than “goodbye.” Paul’s prayer is that the lives of the Colossians would be saturated with God’s grace and peace, and that should be our prayer for ourselves and each other.

What is Chunks: Paul's Letter to the Colossians?

The church in the city of Colossae had recently been founded by one of the apostle Paul's colleagues; he had never met them personally. But he had heard of their faith and of some of the challenges that threatened to undermine that faith, including what seems to be the presence of false teachers who were leading them astray. Paul therefore writes to them from prison, lovingly encouraging them to realize the treasure they already have in the gospel. In so doing, he paints a magnificent and cosmic portrait of the Christ in whom they've already believed, and in whom they've been given a new and transformed nature. His words should help remind believers of every time and place that the Christ we worship is supreme. (Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture passages will be read from the New International Version.)