The Strand Study Bible

Written From Rome During Paul’s First Roman Imprisonment

COLOSSIANS

1997

4:13 Zeal is an enthusiastic devotion to a cause or ideal. John MacArthur said of zeal :

It is wonderful to have a high regard for the truth, but zeal for the truth must be balanced by a love for people, or it can give way to judgmentalism, harshness, and a lack of compassion. 1 Epaphras, a co-laborer of Paul, had such an enthusiastic devotion (zeal) for the people of God that it caused him to labor fervently in prayer for them. Andrew Bonar (1810-1892), a minister of the Free Church of Scotland, said of zeal : Revivals begin with God’s own people; the Holy Spirit touches their heart anew, and gives them new fervor and compassion, and zeal, new light and life, and when He has thus come to you, He next goes forth to the valley of dry bones… Oh, what responsibility this lays on the Church of God! If you grieve Him away from yourselves, or hinder His visit, then the poor perishing world suffers sorely! 2 NOTE – This word ( zeal ) is the Greek word [KOο9 ( zelos) and means “ fervent, passionate. ” Zeal can either be used for good or for evil. Zeal is good when it concerns: *devotion to CHRIST ( SOS 6:1 and Isa 9:7 & 37:32 ) *desire for justice ( II Ki 19:31 and Isa 59:16-17 ) *keeping your word ( Ezk 5:13 ) *God’s will for your life (II Ki 10:15-17) *God’s Word (Psa 119:139) John R. Rice said of zeal concerning God’s Word: No one can be a good Christian who does not with holy zeal set out to know, delight in, and live by the Word of God. 3 *God’s work ( Psa 69:9/Jn 2:13-17 ) *good works (Titus 2:13-14) John Wesley said of zeal concerning good works: Do all the good you can, in all the ways you can, to all the souls you can, in every place you can, at all the times you can, with all the zeal you can, as long as ever you can. 4 *good things ( Gal 4:18 ) *godly sorrow (II Cor 7:10-11, Psa 51 and Ezk 6:9 ) *giving (II Cor 9:1-2,6-7) *prayer and concern for other believers (Colo 4:12-13) *repentance (Rev 3:19) On the other hand, zeal is evil when it concerns: *self-ambition (II Sam 21:1-2) *self-worship (Isa 63:15) *self-interest (Acts 21:20 & 22:3, Rom 10:1-2 and Gal 1:13-14 & 4:17) Sadly, many believers are more zealous of the law than they are of the Lawgiver. Paul warned the Corinthian Church in I Corinthians 14:12: If ye must be zealous about spiritual gifts ( Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts ), seek one that will benefit others instead of yourself ( seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church ). *self-righteousness (Phil 3:4-6) READ NEXT - Philemon 1

1 John MacArthur quote 2 Andrew Bonar (1810-1892)

3 John R. Rice quote 4 John Wesley quote

PROPHETICAL EVENTS IN COLOSSIANS

Prophecies

Fulfilled

The promise of a Kingdom where Christ will rule Colo 1:13 (c. AD 62)

To be fulfilled in the Millennium Rev 20:4,6 To be fulfilled at the Rapture Rev 4:1

The promise of Christ’s return (Rapture) Colo 3:4 (c. AD 62)