INTRODUCTION, 1. 1-14.
i. Address, I-2a.
ii. Greeting, 2b.
iii. Thanksgiving, 3-8.
iv.Prayer, 9-14.
1. PRE-EMINENT GLORY OF THE CHRIST, 1.15 to 2. 5;
DOCTRINAL SECTION.
i. Majesty of His Person, 1. 15-19. Two-fold Headship – of Creation and of the Church.
a. Relation to God, 15a.
b. Relation to Creation, 15b-17.
c. Relation to the Church, 18.
d. Relation to God, 19.
ii. Magnitude of His Work, 1. 20-23. Twofold Reconciliation -of the Creation and of the Church.
a. Relation to Creation, 20.
b. Relation to the Church, 21-23.
iii. Manifestation of His Secret, 1. 24-2. 5. Two-fold Ministry – to the Creation and to the Church. Paul preaches the Gospel and perfects the saints.
a. Mystery of the Church, 24-26; the Body of Christ, cf.
Ephesians.
b. Mystery of the Christian, 27-29; the Indwelling of Christ.
c. Mystery of the Christ, 2. 1-5; the Person of Christ.
2. POSITIONALGREATNESSOFTHECHURCH,
2. 6 to 3. 4; POLEMICAL SECTION.
COMPLETEIN CHRIST
i. Exhortation, 2. 6-7. Walk consequent upon the above truth. ii. Admonition, 2. 8.Danger exposed and Error corrected -‘Elements of the World’.
iii. Exposition, 2. 9-15. central truth declared.Fulness -
Facts and features of the new life. iv. Admonition, 2. 16-23. Danger exposed and Error corrected -
‘Elements of the World’, 20. v. Exhortation, 3. 1-4. Attitude consequent upon the above truth.
3.PRACTICAL GUIDANCEFOR THE CHRISTIAN, 3. 5 to 4. 6; ETHICAL SECTION.
i. General Principles of Christian Living, 3. 5-17.
a. Divestment of the Old Man, 5-11,
b. Investment of the New Man, 12-17.
ii. Special Precepts for Certain Lives, 3. 18 to 4. 6.
a. Precepts for the Home, 3, 18 to 4. 1. Wives and Husbands;
submission and love, 18-19; Children and Parents; obedience and patience, 20-21; Servants and Masters; sincerity and justice, 3. 22 to 4. I.
b.Prayer for the Work, 4. 2-4.
c.Propriety in the World, 4. 5-6.
CONCLUSION, 4. 7-18. (Commendation of the Two Messengers, 7-9).
Salutations from the Faithful Brethren, 10-14. Instructions concerning the Laodicean Church, 15-16. Injunction to the Ministering Archippus, 17. Authentication in the Apostle’s Hand-writing – Salutation, Appeal and Benediction, 18.
