Colossians and Philemon: A 12-Week Study

Knowing the Bible

by Christopher A. Beetham, J.I. Packer (Editor), Dane C. Ortlund (Editor)

The Knowing the Bible series is a resource designed to help Bible readers better understand and apply God's Word. These 12-week study lead participants through books of the Bible and are made up of four basic components: (1) Reflection questions help readers engage the text at a deeper level; (2) "Gospel Glimpses" highlight the gospel of grace throughout the book; (3) "Whole-Bible Connections" show how any given passage connects to the Bible's overarching story of redemption, culminating in Christ; and (4) "Theological Soundings" identify how historic orthodox doctrines are taught or reinforced throughout Scripture. With contributions from an array of influential pastors and church leaders, these gospel-centered studies will help Christians see and cherish the message of God's grace on each and every page of the Bible.

The books of Colossians and Philemon complement each other as two New Testament texts that gloriously display the gospel and its implications for how God's people should live today. Written around the same time, both letters resonate with the apostle Paul's overriding passion to magnify Jesus Christ as the supreme manifestation of God's redemptive purposes.

96 pages, Paperback

First published June 30, 2015

About the author

Christopher A. Beetham (PhD, Wheaton College) is assistant professor of biblical studies at the Evangelical Theological College and assistant professor of New Testament at the Ethiopian Graduate School of Theology, both in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. He is the author of Echoes of Scripture in the Letter of Paul to the Colossians.

Reviews

[Eli · Rating 3 out of 5]

Excellent study for the most part. Very helpful questions for a group. Sadly the last few chapters drop the ball on slavery and Christian social engagement. Even so, there are still some helpful points in that regard. I strongly disagree with the author’s characterization of Paul’s request to Philemon to merely “be a nice master” rather than manumission. It is also stated that God wanted Onesimus to return as a slave because that was the “legal” and therefore right thing for him to do. I think this sort of conclusion is only possible when your theology comes from lineage of enslavers rather than the enslaved.

[Bailey Minnix · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gosh, I love Colossians. The way Paul writes to describe our relationship to Christ, how we are made by him and for him, is just so good

[Brianna Smith Taylor · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lots of great content, but I found the questions not well suited for my preferred study methods and as a group study, it did not prompt much discussion.

[Wade · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is the best Bible Study series that I have read. This specific study on Colossians is very solid. There is an intentional focus on the gospel and the whole of Scripture in each lesson.