Song of Songs - Introduction

Song of Songs - Introduction

Having done Ecclesiastes, this is another difficult book., one that we might wonder why is it even in the Bible at all. Like Sther, God doesn’t even get a mention in the book, moreover it is semi-erotic. “Song of Songs” means the greatest of songs. The opening of the song seems to imply that Solomon was the author of the book, and this may well be true, though the matter is open to debate. It is possible that the book was written in the ninth century BC, though some argue for a later date.

Authorship is not settled, interpretation of the book is even more thwart. It can be viewed as an allegory of the love between God and Israel, or God and the church, or God and believers. The problem is that allegorical approaches are prone to the interpreter imposing any interpretation they like on the text, rather than seeing what the text actually says. It can also be seen as a celebration of erotic love between a man and a wife. There is certainly something to be said for  the latter. The relationship between God and His people is often expressed in terms of that between a man and his wife, for instance the church is called the bride of Christ.

I think the best approach is to (i) treat it as a poem celebrating love, and (ii) to see it as an allegory of God’s love for His people. A husband and wife are meant to delight in each other, and we are to delight in the Lord, and He delights in us.

Bibliography

Amongst others the following two sources are particularly helpful:

(i) The Song of Songs episode on David Pawson’s “Unlocking the Bible” podcast series is very helpful;

(ii) TOTC Song of Sons (Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries(2015)

Colossians 4:12-18 - Final Greetings

4:12-15

Epaphras was the one who first took the gospel to Colossae (1:7). He was always praying for them, praying that they would “stand firm in the will of God, mature and fully assured”. Being fully assured should be normal for Christians. Paul speaks highly of Epahras Luke is also mentioned. He sometimes travelled with Paul, and that is probably why he was able to write Acts. We then get mention of a house church.

4:16-18

The letter was not just for the Colossians but was also for the church in Laodicea as well, they needed the same lessons. Archippus is encouraged to ensure that he completes the ministry he has received from the Lord. wMost of the letter would have been written by a secretary, but he uses his own hand here to add a personal touch.

Colossians 4:7-11 - Greetings

4:7-9

Tychicus was sent to the Colossians by Paul, the purpose being to let them know about the circumstances of Paul and his co-workers, and so to encourage them. The enemy will use false information and half truths to try and discourage or otherwise cause trouble. When in difficult circumstances there can be a tendency to be reluctant to let people know what is really going on, but this approach can cause its own problems. Along with Tychicus, Paul was sending Onesimus. Onesimus figures largely in the Philemon letter, he was also well known to the colossians.

4:10,11

Greetings also came from Aristarchus, a fellow prisoner, and Mark.Earlier there had been a severe falling out between Paul and Mark (Acts 15:36-39),but their differences had since been resolved. Difficult things can arise in the church, but they can be overcome. The Colossians were to welcome him. Jesus (NOT thee Jesus!) also sent greetings. Aristarchus and Jesus were Jews, and Paul speaks positively about them

Colossians 4:1-6 - Seasoned with salt

4:1

I don’t know why the chapter division was put where it was, for this verse clearly belongs with the previous section.Having advised slaves, masters are now addressed directly. They are reminded that they are answerable to God. We need to beware of thinking that because in earthly terms we are seemingly in a powerful position, all of us are ultimately answerable to God. So masters were to treat their slaves properly. 

4:2-4

We now get more general instructions. We are to “devote ourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful”. I.e. we are to actively and determinedly devote ourselves to prayer, we are to be intentional. We are to be watchful, being aware of what is going on, we are also to be thankful, knowing that God hears us. Paul then asks for  prayer for himself and his co-workers, to pray that the gospel message will be spread and will prosper. One might think that such a great evangelist as Paul didn’t need any such help, but such a view would be mistaken. He wanted help so that he might proclaim the message clearly.

4:5,6

Having asked for prayer for himself and his co-workers he gives more general instruction. They were to be “wise in the way they acted towards outsiders, making  the most of every opportunity.” We are to use our brains.Our conversation is to be full of grace. We are not to bash people over the head, but to preach the gospel of grace. Our talk is to be “seasoned with salt”. So, in a sense, we are to be “winsome”, again we are to use common sense in how we interact with people.

Colossians 3:18-25 - as for the Lord

3:18-25

The instructions now become specific, affecting family life. Notice that “in the Lord” (or something similar) occurs with all of them, we are to do everything “in the name of the Lord”. So wives are to submit themselves to their husbands. Husbands are to love their wives and not to be harsh with them. These two commands need to be taken together, and both go against the societal norms of the time.

Children are to obey their parents, “for this pleases the Lord”. Where do we want to get our reward from, from ourselves, or from the Lord? Conversely Fathers are not to embitter their children. 

Slaves are to obey their masters, and not just when being watched, i.e. it is a way of life, not just to gain favour. Rather it is to be done out of “reverence for the Lord”. We are to do our work as if working for the Lord. We are serving the Lord. Belonging to Christ should change our whole outlook on life. We must remember that there is no favouritism with the Lord.

Colossians 3:15-17 - Let the peace of Christ rule

3:15-17

We are to let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts. If we are living out of fear or guilt we tend to lash out, to be defensive. What is the peace of Christ? Going by what Paul has said earlier, it includes knowing we are completely forgiven, and that he is in control of everything. We are to let “the message of Christ dwell among you richly”, we are to meditate on it, let its truth and implications truly soak into our being, to affect how we think and feel. We are to teach and admonish one another with all wisdom. We do this through teaching, but also through psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. We are to do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, He is to permeate everything we do and think.

Colossians 3:10-14 Put on the new self

3:10,11

We are to take off the old self and put on the new self. Note the implication that there is a new self to put on. When we are saved we are born again, there is a real change that takes place within us. Now all this is the work of God, but we still have responsibilities. Man was created in the image of God, but sin marred that image. In Christ the image is being renewed. And it makes no difference whether we are Jews or Gentiles,barbarians or scythians, slave or free. Our human status matters not.Everything depends on Christ, for He is all and is in all.

3:12-14

We are not given more details on what it means to put on the new self. We do this not as a burdensome religious duty, but as “God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved”, we are set apart for God’s purposes. So we are to clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness,gentleness and patience, these characteristics are part of the fruit of the Spirit. We are to bear with each other, forgiving one another, for the Lord forgave us. And over all we are to put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Colossians 3:1-9 - Change!

3:1-4

So we are completely forgiven, and rules based approaches do not help. However, that most definitely does not mean that it doesn’t matter how we live. We have been raised with Christ, we have been saved to new life. So we are to “set out hearts on things above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God”. The gospel is not an excuse for living how we like and getting away with it. Sin is actually not good for us. So we are to focus on Christ. We are to set our minds on things above, not on earthly things. Setting our minds on earthly things can be a precursor to sin, e.g setting our minds on money, sex or power. How does setting our mind on Christ help? Well when Christ appears we will appear with Him in glory. We have a far greater future ahead of us than anything the earth can offer, a far more wonderful and glorious future.

3:5,6

So we should seek to get rid of things that are not part of Christ, get rid of them rather than indulge them. Here Paul lists sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed. Greed is said to be a form of idolatry, for it means we give supreme importance to something other than God. “Because of these, the wrath of God is coming”. So why would we want to continue to have anything to do with them? Note that the cross does not mean that the wrath of God is done away with. Rather it is like the Israelites coming out of Egypt. The blood protected them from the angel of death, but the angel of death still came.

3:7-9

“You used to walk in these ways”. This was how they once lived, but the gospel is about new life, not a continuation of the old life. So we should get rid of such things, and Paul gives another list, “anger, rage, malice, slander and filthy language”. Lying then gets a special mention, it is seen as especially emblematic of our old way of life, The devil was a liar from the very beginning. We have taken off our old self with its practices. Note the implication that we can indeed change..

Colossians 3:1-4 Set your minds on things above

3:1-4

So we are completely forgiven, and rules based approaches do not help. However, that most definitely does not mean that it doesn’t matter how we live. We have been raised with Christ, we have been saved to new life. So we are to “set out hearts on things above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God”. The gospel is not an excuse for living how we like and getting away with it. Sin is actually not good for us. So we are to focus on Christ. We are to set our minds on things above, not on earthly things. Setting our minds on earthly things can be a precursor to sin, e.g setting our minds on money, sex or power. How does setting our mind on Christ help? Well when Christ appears we will appear with Him in glory. We have a have a far greater future ahead of us than anything the earth can offer, a far more wonderful and glorious future.

Colossians 2:20-23 - Elemental spiritual forces

2:20

Here we get another mention of the “elemental spiritual forces”. These are forces that persuaded man to rely on purely human methods, whether they be human wisdom, or human methods of trying to control our bodies.

2:21

Paul then names some of the methods they use “Do not taste, do not touch”. These are all things that rely on man’s own abilities, they are built on the lie that we can manage without God..

2:22

Paul then states clearly that these rules “are based on merely human commands and teachings”, on things that are destined to perish.

2:23

Such rules and teachings have the appearance of wisdom, their false humility and harsh treatment of the body making them appear as if they would have some power to control sin, but in reality "they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence”, they are ineffective. 

Colossians 2:16-19 - false humility

2:16,17

One tactic false teachers use is to bring in various rules, claiming that they will help us to obey God. They are totally ineffective. However, the primary reason Paul cites for telling them not to allow “anyone to judge you” is what he has just said about the work of the cross. Part of the reason for the attractiveness of such rules is that the Law had many regulations, but the Law was a shadow of the things to come, this is a point majored on in Hebrews. The reality is found in Christ.

2:18,19

People who delight in rules etc delight in false humility, they may also over emphasise angels. Angels do exist, but if someone is forever going on about seeing angels then they are almost certainly on the wrong track, we should be most wary of them. They claim to be spiritual, but their mind is actually unspiritual.They are not focusing on Christ, who is the head of the church.

Colossians 2:13-15 The charge against us has been cancelled!

2:13,14

The attacks of the false teachers may have troubled the minds of the Colossians, Paul reminds them that God made us alive with Christ, while we “were dead in our sins”, i.e. when there was nothing to commend us to the Lord. In this entirely unattractive state God “forgave us all or sins”. He cancelled  the legal charge against us. We could look at the Law and come to the right conclusion that we are in big trouble. We were legally indebted, but God has cancelled the charge. Now it was God’s law that stood against us, He has the right to cancel it. How did He do this? By nailing the charge to the cross. The charge of guilt against us is now completely without foundation.

2:15

God has disarmed the powers and authorities. He made a public spectacle of them on the cross. The cross was a public event, open for all to see. Accusation is one of the weapons that Satan uses, but we should be aware that this weapon is now absolutely useless. God just looks at the cross and declares that we have now been cleared.

Colossians 2:9-12 - All the fullness of the deity

2:9,10

“For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form”, so no other teaching can possibly have anything to offer. For everything of God is to be found in Christ. Moreover, “in Christ you have been brought to fullness”. There is nothing that any other teaching can offer. Everything is in Christ,and everything  we need or could want is in Christ. “He is the head over every power and authority”. Nothing can threaten us, for Christ is over every power and authority.

2:11

As well as the gnostic type threats and temptations, the Judaising element  said they needed to be circumcised. But in Christ  we were “circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands”. This circumcision was more complete, for our whole self was put off, for it is our whole self that was ruled by the flesh. Something more drastic than physical circumcision was needed.

2:12

And in Christ that something more drastic was performed. Through baptism we were buried with Him, we were united with Him in His death. And we were raised  with Him "through the working of God, who raised HIm from the dead.” We have everything in Christ.

Colossians 2:6-8 - Do not be taken captive

2:6,7

The Colossians had received Christ, but were now having their faith attacked. They are urged to continue with Christ. This is not just a matter of mental assent, but of living their lives. They were to be “rooted and built up”. We do not stop learning, but are to be strengthened and deepened in our faith. And we are to be “overflowing with thankfulness”. We are to be grateful and appreciative of our faith and of its benefits.

2:8

False teachers’ ideas are “hollow and deceptive”, they have no real substance and their ideas deceive. However, these ideas do have power, power to take us captive, the gospel has power  to give life. The ideas depend on human tradition, and "elemental spiritual forces” of this world, but not on Christ. What are “elemental spiritual forces”? The Greek word means “primary and fundamental principles”. The root of man’s rebellion is saying “we don’t need you God”, and “we will decide what is right and what is wrong”. These false teachings are based on a human approach to life. Anything that is worthwhile needs to be based on Christ.

Colossians 2:1-5 - Contending for them in prayer

2:1-5

Many of them in Colossae did not know Paul, even so Paul prayed for them and worked for them., along with those in Laodicea. Paul’s goal was “that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love”. Paul’s words about the full riches of complete understanding, and know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, is a counter to the false teachings. False teachings are an attempt to bring a substitute for Christ, but there is no substitute, and in Christ there are riches greater than anything the false teachings claim to offer. In Christ “are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge”. The false teachers may have had “fine sounding arguments” but they were all lies, we should not be deceived. Although Paul was absent from them, he was present in spirit, praying for them. Prayer is effective and has a real effect.

Colossians 1:25-29 - The mystery disclosed

1:25-27

Paul was a servant of the gospel, “by the commission God gave him”. Paul’s task was to present the word of God in its fullness. “Mystery” was a word beloved of gnostic type teachings, but the gospel presents the greatest mystery of all. The mystery was how could God’s goodness be given to  a sinful people. The answer is in Christ, and this has now been revealed. It had been disclosed to the Lord’s people. It was not the Gnostic who had possession of any “hidden knowledge”, but God’s people who believed the gospel. The gospel is the “hope of glory”.

1:28,29

So Paul, and his co-workers, proclaimed Christ. It is a person that we proclaim, They admonished and taught “with all wisdom”. In order to present everyone fully mature in Christ. So Paul worked towards this end with everything he had.

Colossianss 1:21-24 - Reconciled with God

1:21-23

False teachings try to make out that we are lacking something, and it is true that once we were alienated from God, we were enemies of God in our minds. All this was a result of sin. But now this has all changed. We have been reconciled “by Christ’s physical body, by His death on the cross. So through Christ we are now “without blemish and free from accusation”. In order to continue to benefit from this we need to  continue in the faith. We need to be firmly grounded in the faith. This is the gospel that Paul preached, and it has been proclaimed to every creature  under heaven, there is no other way in which we can be made right with God.

1:24

The false teachers may have made much of the fact that Paul suffered so much, and was continually being  thrown in prison. But the gospel is founded on suffering. Christ’s suffering earned our salvation. Paul is not saying that there was anything lacking in that, but the continued growth of the kingdom and advancement of the gospel depends upon God’s people being ready to suffer. So Paul is happy to suffer in order to build up the church. 

Colossians 1:15-20 - The greatness of Christ

1:15,16

The major theme of the letter is the supremacy and all sufficiency of Christ. He is the “image of the invisible God, and the first born over all creation.” Everything of God is contained within Christ. In Christ we have it all, nothing else can offer anything worthwhile that we do not already have in Christ. In saying he is the firstborn Paul is in no way saying that Christ was created, rather he is stressing the supremacy of Christ over all creation. All things were created in Him, whether things in heaven or on earth, visible or invisible, absolutely everything, whether thrones or powers. All are subservient to Him. They were all created through Him and for Him.

1:17,18

Indeed in Him all things hold together. All of creation is utterly dependent upon Christ in every way, He is also the head of the church. He is also the beginning and the firstborn among the dead. Christ’s resurrection will be our resurrection, and His resurrection is the proof and guarantee that we will be raised. Christ is utterly  supreme.

1:19,20

God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Christ, there is nothing lacking or missing. False teachings will often use fear or guilt to try and unsettle us. But we need have no fear, for in Christ God reconciled all things to Himself, including us. He did this by making peace through the cross.

Colossians 1:12-14 - Rescued from the dominion of darkness

1:12

Patience and endurance may sound rather dull, but Paul also wants them to be giving joyful thanks to the Father, for we have been qualified to “share in the inheritance of God’s holy people in the kingdom of light” .We have been qualified to receive a glorious inheritance. This counteracted some of the false teaching attacks on them. They were qualified, false teachings would try to tell them that they were not qualified, that they needed something more.

1:13,14

How were they qualified? God had rescued them from the dominion of darkness, and brought them into the kingdom of the Son who God loves.  Through Christ we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. It is true that of ourselves we are not worth, but in Christ we are forgiven, our sins are no longer held against us.

Colossians 1:9-11 - To be filled with the knowledge of God

1:9

The fact that the Colossians were doing well did not stop Paul and his co-workers praying for them, indeed they had not stopped praying for them. We are then told what they prayed for. It is instructive to look at what Paul prayed for, and consider our own prayers for ourselves and for others. They naked God to fill them with knowledge of His will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives. We should know God well.

1:10

The purpose was not to fill them with knowledge for the sake of it, but so that they could live lives that were pleasing to God, bearing fruit in every good work, and to grow in the knowledge of God. We all need to know God better.

1:11

It is  also so that they would be strengthened with all power according to His glorious  might. Then notice what all this produces “great endurance and patience”. Paul is not prating for an easy life for them, but that they may be more Chrislike. Endurance and patience are powerful weapons.

Colossians 1:6-8- A faithful minister

1:6

It was not just with the Colossians that the gospel was having this effect, the gospel was bearing fruit in the same way throughout the world. The gospel is a universal message, intended for all people at all times. In order for it to bear fruit it needs to be heard, and the grace of God needs to be understood. It is a gospel of grace, not one on earned merit..

1:7,8

We now learn that they heard the message from Epaphras. Paul was an apostle, but he did not work alone. Epaphras preached the gospel and founded the church, Paul describes him as a “fellow servant” and a "faithful minister of Christs”, he was part of the work of Paul. He also reported back to Paul how well the church was doing.

Colossians 1:3-5 - Faith and love

1:3

Although Paul had not founded the church in Colossae, he still had an affection for them. He prayed for them and thanked God for them. We also get the third mention of Christ. Paul was an apostle of Christ, he calls them “the faithful brothers and sisters in Christ, , now he calls God “the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ”, everything if Christ centred.

1:4 ,5

Paul now says why he gives thanks for them. It is because of their faith in Chris, and their love for all God’s people.Faith in Christ and love for God’s people should be characteristics of any healthy church.  THis faith and love arise from the hope stored up for us in heaven. Heaven is real, it is not an imaginary place. The “true message of the gospel” talks about this hope. This is in contrast to false gospels which tend to lead to guilt, fear and division.

Colossians 1:1,2 - by the will of God

1:1

Paul was not afraid to mention his apostleship. Indeed in letters like Galatians and Corinthians he makes a big thing of it. He knew his calling, and the job that God had given him. He was an apostle “by the will of God”. But he did not separate himself for the letter also comes from “Timothy our brother”. Timothy was special to Paul (see the pastoral epistles), he should also have been respected and loved by the church as a whole.

1:2

Having said who the letter is from, we now come to the recipients, “God’s holy people in Colossae”. They were set apart for God’s purposes, he then calls them “the faithful brothers and sisters in Christ”. So they receive “grace and peace” "from God our Father”. Everything is focused on the Lord. It is all God-centred.

Colossians - Introduction

Introduction

Colossians is one of the “prison epistles” (Ephesians, Colossians, Philippians and Philemon), probably written in about AD 62, while Paul was a prisoner in Rome. Colossae was in Asia Minor, now Turkey, and lay on a major trading route. It had been a major city, but had since fallen in stature, and in Paul’s time was a second rate market town. Paul had not founded the church there, instead Epaphras had been converted during Paul’s ministry in Ephesus and had carried the gospel to Colossae.The letter was written partly to counter heretical teachings. The false teachings are never outlined explicitly, so we have to deduce what they were from the content of the letter. The letter puts the primary focus on Christ, in some ways the content is similar to that of Ephesians. My study bible suggests that the elements of the false teachings were:

1. Ceremonialism, with strict rules concerning food, drink and circumcision

2. Asceticism, teaching that this was the way to control fleshly desires

3. Excessive interest in angels

4. Denigrating the importance of Christ

5. Emphasis on secret knowledge

6. Reliance on human wisdom

In short, there seems to have been influence from early forms of gnosticism, and philosophical Judaism,

While writing these notes I am reading through Spurgeon’s commentary on Colossians.

Ecclesiastes 12 - Make the most of life

12:1-7

This chapter begins by urging us to “Remember your Creator in the days of your youth”. A theme of Ecclesiastes is that we should make the most of the time we are in, for we do not know when it will come to end, but we do know that it will indeed come to an end. Of course each of us will one day come to an end. We might think that the writer of Ecclesiastes  is a bit of a misery guts, with his dwelling on death, but I think he actually wants us to live life to the full, and appreciating our finitude is a key to this. In the last year some of us will have lost people, in the coming some of us will lose people. When that happens we cannot actively love them anymore. Of course, we can still remember them fondly and be thankful for them, but we can no longer do anything for them. We must love people while we can, we must make the most of the times we are in.

But why does the writer begin this section by urging us to remember our creator? If we are to make the best of now, then we need to act in obedience to the Lord.

12:8

“Meaningless, meaningless!” says the teacher. Here is a place where Ortlund’s view that the NIV translation is wrong comes to the fore. The writer is not saying lif is meaningless, but life and the seasons of life are fleeting, here for a time, then they are gone. So we should make the most of them.

12:9-14

Here we have a statement of the Teacher’s purpose. The Teacher was wise, he was prepared to consider the harsh realities of life and death, to face up to them, so that he could “impart knowledge to the people. He wrote what was “upright and true”. “Fear God and keep His commandments”, is his key teaching,