Detailed Outline of Colossians
Completeness in Christ Guards Against the Counterfeits of Mysticism, Legalism, and Traditionalism
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Exhortation: Completeness in Christ is a gift of God that should shape all of life (Col 3:1-25; Col 4:1-6)
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The root of your life: Your thinking and desires should reflect your completeness in Christ (Col 3:1-4)
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Continually pursue the glory and worship of God in Christ (Col 3:1)
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Because of your life union with Christ
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Because it is commanded by God’s Word
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Because Christ is your exalted Lord, Savior and Intercessor
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Continually purpose to meditate on the glory of God in Christ, and the vindication to come—not earthly “religion”, earthly circumstances, or earthly desires (Col 3:2-4)
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Because it is commanded by God’s Word (Col 3:2)
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Because Christ is the source and summation of your life (Col 3:3-4a)
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Because of the final vindication and glory to come at the revelation of our Lord and Savior—the Christ (Col 3:4)
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The fruit of your life in general character: Your character should reflect your completeness in Christ (Col 3:5-17)
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Put off your old way of life (Col 3:5-11)
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Slay [put to death] the things that formerly controlled your physical pursuits (Col 3:5-7)
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The command to put to death the things that formerly controlled you physically (Col 3:5a)
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The description of what formerly controlled you (Col 3:5)
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Immorality
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Impurity
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Passion
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Evil desire
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Greed, which is idolatry
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The reasons they must be executed (Col 3:6-7)
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The wrath of God (Col 3:6a)
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Your new character (Col 3:6b-7)
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Strip away [put off/throw] the things that formerly controlled your attitudes and speech (Col 3:8-11)
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The command to put off the things that formerly controlled your attitudes and speech (Col 3:8a)
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The description of what formerly controlled you (Col 3:8-9a)
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Anger
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Wrath
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Malice
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Slander
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Abusive Speech
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Lying [Stop lying—is parallel grammatically with points a and b in this outline (“put to death”; “put aside”), but thematically fits into this list of vices] (Col 3:9a)
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The reasons they must be put off/thrown away (Col 3:9b-11)
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You laid aside the old self (Col 3:9a)
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You have put on the new self (Col 3:10a)
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You are being renewed into the image of Christ (Col 3:10b)
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You are part of the body, which is Christ’s body—and He is supreme (Col 3:11)
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Put on the new life [Christlikeness] (Col 3:12-17)
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Remember who you are in Christ (Col 3:12a)
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A new man, part of the body of Christ
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Elect of God
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Holy
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Beloved
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Remember your responsibility to pursue Christlikeness (Col 3:12b)
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Remember the character of those who are chosen of God (Col 3:12c-14)
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Compassion
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Kindness
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Humility
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Gentleness
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Patience
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Bearing with one another
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Forgiving each other
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Love
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The supreme characteristic
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The perfect bond of unity
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Remember/Realize how to pursue Christlikeness (Col 3:15-17)
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Be covered, consoled and constrained by the peace of Christ (Col 3:15)
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The command concerning peace
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The source of peace
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The rule of peace
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The unity of peace
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Be continually thankful (Col 3:15c)
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Be controlled by the indwelling word of Christ (Col 3:16; cf. Eph 5:18-20)
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The command
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The consequences include teaching
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The consequences include admonishing
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The consequences include singing
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Be consumed with the fame and reputation of Jesus Christ (Col 3:17)
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In the name of the Lord Jesus
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In word
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In deed
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With thankfulness
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The fruit of your life in specific social relationships: Your relationships should reflect your completeness in Christ (Col 3:18-25; Col 4:1)
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Relationships within the family [the family ruled by the peace of Christ (Col 3:15); controlled by the Word of Christ (Col 3:16); and doing all in the name of Christ (Col 3:17)] (Col 3:18-21)
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Wives—continually submit to your husbands (Col 3:18)
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The command—continually rank yourself under your husband’s authority
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The manner—as is fitting in the Lord
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Husbands—continually love your wives and do not treat them harshly (Col 3:19)
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The 1st command—continually love your wives
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The 2nd command—be not embittered against them
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Children—continually obey your parents (Col 3:20)
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The command—continually obey your parents
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The scope of obedience—in all things
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The reason for obedience—for this is well pleasing to the Lord
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Fathers—do not exasperate your children (Col 3:21)
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The command—do not exasperate your children
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The reason—so that they will not lose heart
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Relationships within the work environment [the work environment ruled by the peace of Christ (Col 3:15); controlled by the Word of Christ (Col 3:16); and doing all in the name of Christ (Col 3:17)] (Col 3:22-25; Col 4:1)
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Slaves/Employees—continually obey your earthly masters and work hard for the Lord (Col 3:22-25)
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The 1st command—continually obey your masters on earth (Col 3:22)
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The scope of obedience—in all things
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The manner of obedience—with sincerity of heart
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The motive of obedience—reverence for Christ
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The 2nd command—continually work hard (Col 3:23-25)
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The scope of service—whatever you do (Col 3:23a)
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The manner of service—heartily (Col 3:23b)
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The motive of service—as for the Lord (Col 3:23c)
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The encouragement of service—heavenly reward and service to Christ (Col 3:24)
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The consequences of poor service (Col 3:25)
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Masters/Employers—continually grant justice and fairness to your slaves (Col 4:1)
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The command—continually grant justice and fairness to your slaves
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The motive—knowing that you too have a Master in heaven
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The fruit of your life in prayer and evangelism: Your prayer life and witness should reflect your completeness in Christ (Col 4:2-6)
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Continually occupy yourself with prayer (Col 4:2-4)
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The command—continually devote yourself to prayer (Col 4:2a)
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The manner of prayer (Col 4:2b)
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Keeping alert in it
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With thanksgiving
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The content of prayer (Col 4:2-4)
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Implied by the preceding and following contexts (Col 4:2-3; cf. Col 3:17-25; Col 4:1, 5-6)
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Explicitly stated—For God’s spokesmen and the progress of the gospel (Col 4:3-4)
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Continually look for ways to witness for Christ by the way you live and what you say (Col 4:5-6)
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Your life should reveal Christ and His character to non-believers (Col 4:5)
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The command to reveal Christ’s character through your daily conduct—continually walk with wisdom
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The human audience—outsiders
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The urgency
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Your lips should reveal Christ and His character to non-believers (Col 4:6)
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Your speech should always exhibit grace
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Your speech should be both tasteful, and yet useful as a preservative—seasoned with salt
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Your speech should be sensitive to the need of the moment
Refutation: Completeness in Christ Cannot Be Obtained by Human Wisdom, Religious Tradition, Mystical Experience, or Human Effort—It Is a Gift of Grace Received by Faith (Col 2:6-23)
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