Observation Assignment

· THIS is an INDIVIDUAL NOT GROUP PROJECT.

· You may not divide the project into pieces and work as a team.

· Work that is notably similar to another students will be considered fraudulent.

· The professor utilizes SafeAssignTM to check for academic fraud. SafeAssignTM will compare submitted assignments to other submitted papers and items on the internet.

**WARNING**

Colossians 1:3-14 is used as an example but is NOT the assigned passage for this semester.

Check the course syllabus for the assigned passage.

1. Make a variety of observations from the list at the end of Chapter 4. I have included a copy of the page at the end of this document.

2. Comment on the significance of the observation

3. Stay in the 1st-Century by not using 21st-Century pronouns such as “we”, “us”, and “I”.

Colossians 1:3-14 (ESV)

3  We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you , (Note to underline what specific part(s) of the verse about which you are commenting.)

· Verb: Paul and his companions were praying for the church in Colossae. (Notice that this is about then and there. 1st Century)

4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints,

· Cause and Effect: (Note the type of observation you are making.) There is a cause, faith, and an effect from verse three, Paul giving thanks in prayer. Paul thanks God because he’s heard about the faith of the Colossians. If he had not heard of their faith then he would not have been thankful.

5 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel,

· Pronoun: Paul uses the word “you” to refer to the Church in Colossae.

6  which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth,

· Specific to General Statement: Paul writes in verse five that the “hope” of “heaven” heard in “the gospel” was for the church in Colossae (specific) and also for the whole world (general).

7 just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant . He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf

· Emotional Terms: Paul holds Epaphras in high regard for his ministry. Using the terms “dear fellow servant” has the effect of causing an emotional response from the reader.

8 and has made known to us your love in the Spirit.

· Action/Role of People: Epaphras has “made known” the love of the church in Colossae for Paul and his companions.

9 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding ,

· Purpose/Result Statement: The purpose for Paul and his companions to pray is so that the believers in Colossae will know God’s will and have much wisdom and understanding.

10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God ;

· List: Paul provides a list of four items that he prays will be the result of the Colossians being filled with the knowledge of God’s will and having the wisdom and understanding of the Spirit.

11 being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy;

· Pronoun: The pronoun “his” can be traced back to the previous verse when Paul writes about the knowledge of God. So the pronoun “his” refers to God.

12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.

· Actions/Roles of God : Paul demonstrates that it is God the Father who qualifies the believer to share in the inheritance of the saints. It is not a person’s own righteousness that qualifies them.

13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,

· Conjunction: God has not only delivered the believers in Colossae from darkness, or evil, but he has also brought them into the kingdom of Jesus.

14  in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins .

· Means: Paul is stating to the believers in Colossae that the means to be redeemed and forgiven is through the Son of God, Jesus Christ.