Colossians

Introduction

The letter to the Colossians was written by the apostle Paul during his first Roman imprisonment, around AD 60-62, the same imprisonment that produced Ephesians and Philemon. It is addressed to the church in Colossae, a small city in the Lycus Valley of Phrygia in Asia Minor (modern Turkey). Paul had never personally visited Colossae (Colossians 2:1); the church was founded by Epaphras, a native of the city and one of Paul's co-workers, who had evangelized not only Colossae but also the neighboring cities of Laodicea and Hierapolis (Colossians 1:7, Colossians 4:12-13). The letter was carried by Tychicus, who also bore the letter to the Ephesians, along with Onesimus, the runaway slave who is the subject of Paul's letter to Philemon (Colossians 4:7-9).

Colossians was written to combat what scholars have called the "Colossian heresy" -- a syncretistic false teaching that threatened the church by combining elements of Jewish legalism (dietary rules, Sabbath observance, circumcision), ascetic practices, the worship of angels, and mystical philosophy (Colossians 2:8, Colossians 2:16-18, Colossians 2:20-23). Paul's response is not merely to refute the error point by point but to set forth the supreme sufficiency of Christ. In what is perhaps the most exalted Christological passage in the New Testament (Colossians 1:15-20), Paul declares that Christ is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation, the one in whom all the fullness of God dwells, and the head of the church. Because believers have been made complete in Christ, they need no supplement from human philosophy, legalistic regulations, or mystical experiences. The letter is closely related to Ephesians -- the two share extensive parallel language and themes -- yet Colossians is distinguished by its sharper polemical edge against false teaching and its concentrated focus on the person and work of Christ.

Structure

Greeting (1:1-2)

Paul and Timothy greet the saints and faithful brothers and sisters in Christ at Colossae with grace and peace from God the Father.

Thanksgiving and Prayer (1:3-14)

Paul thanks God for the Colossians' faith, love, and hope, which sprang from the gospel brought to them by Epaphras, and prays that they would be filled with the knowledge of God's will, bearing fruit in every good work and being strengthened with all power.

The Supremacy of Christ (1:15-23)

The great Christ hymn declares that Christ is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation, the creator and sustainer of all things, the head of the church, and the firstborn from the dead -- the one in whom all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell and through whom all things are reconciled.

Paul's Ministry of the Mystery (1:24-2:5)

Paul describes his suffering on behalf of the church and his commission to make known the mystery hidden for ages: Christ in you, the hope of glory. He labors so that believers in Colossae and Laodicea might be encouraged and united in love.

Freedom from False Teaching (2:6-23)

Paul warns the Colossians against being taken captive by hollow philosophy, human tradition, and elemental spiritual forces. In Christ the fullness of deity dwells bodily, and believers have been made complete in him, circumcised with a spiritual circumcision, buried and raised with him, and freed from the written code of regulations. Therefore no one should judge them regarding food, drink, festivals, or Sabbaths, nor should they submit to rules about what not to handle, taste, or touch.

The New Life in Christ (3:1-17)

Since believers have been raised with Christ, they are to set their minds on things above, put to death the earthly nature, put off the old self with its vices, and put on the new self with its virtues -- compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness, and above all, love. The word of Christ is to dwell in them richly.

Household Code (3:18-4:1)

Paul addresses the relationships within the Christian household: wives and husbands, children and parents, and slaves and masters, calling each to live out their roles in a manner worthy of the Lord.

Final Instructions and Greetings (4:2-18)

Paul urges the Colossians to devote themselves to prayer, to conduct themselves wisely toward outsiders, and sends greetings from his companions -- including Aristarchus, Mark, Justus, Epaphras, Luke, and Demas. He instructs that this letter be read also in the church at Laodicea and that they read the letter from Laodicea in return.

Chapter Summaries

1. 1Paul gives thanks for the Colossians' faith and love, prays for their spiritual growth, and exalts Christ as the image of the invisible God and the one in whom all the fullness of God dwells, through whom all things were created and reconciled, before describing his own ministry of making known the mystery of Christ among the Gentiles.
2. 2Paul warns the Colossians against being deceived by hollow philosophy, human tradition, and religious legalism, declaring that in Christ the fullness of deity dwells bodily and that believers have been made complete in him, set free from the written code and the elemental forces of the world.
3. 3Paul calls believers to set their minds on things above, to put to death their earthly nature and put on the new self clothed with compassion, kindness, humility, and love, and then addresses the household relationships of wives and husbands, children and parents, and slaves and masters.
4. 4Paul urges prayer and wise conduct toward outsiders, sends greetings from his companions, gives instructions about the exchange of letters with Laodicea, and closes with a personal word from his own hand asking them to remember his chains.