Colossians • Quick Facts

INTRODUCTION

Colossians is one of the most Christ-centered books in the Bible.
The letter, like Ephesians, is half doctrinal (1-2) and half practical (3-4).
It is estimated that three-fifths of Colossians is reflected in Ephesians.
Colossians explains the inconsistency of living without Christ since we are rooted, alive, hidden and complete in Him.
The letter was written to the church at Colossae (1:2), but was also intended to be read at Laodicea (4:16).

LOCATION, PEOPLE AND ORIGIN OF THE CHURCH

During the Persian and Greek empires, Colossae was described as being populated, wealthy and large. However, when the road system was changed in Roman times, the city declined in social and commercial importance.
At the time of Paul’s writing, Colossae was a small, insignificant market town in the Roman province of Asia (an area included in modern Turkey).
It was located approximately 100 miles east of Ephesus. Its nearest neighbors were Laodicea (10 miles) and Hierapolis (13 miles). Both of these later cities are mentioned as having a community of believers (2:1, 4:13, 15-16)
The Colossian church has been described as "the least important which any epistle of Paul is addressed."
Apart from this letter and the companion letter to Philemon, Colossae exerted almost no influence on early church history. There are no accounts about Colossae contained in the book of Acts.
In all probability, the church was founded near the time of Paul’s third missionary journey, during his three-year stint in Ephesus (Ac. 19:10).
Paul himself did not found the church since he mentions them as those he has not seen in person (1:4, 2:1).
Epaphras (a native of Colossae) was likely led to the Lord under Paul’s ministry in Ephesus and credited for beginning the church (1:5-7), though he was with Paul at the time of writing (4:12-13). Apparently Archippus has been left in charge of the church (4:17).
By the 8th century Colossae was largely abandoned and destroyed by the 12th century.

Most agree today that Paul wrote Colossians (1:1, 4:18).
External support is strongly in favor of Pauline authorship (although it is not as strong as some of his other epistles). The epistle was quoted by many early church fathers (Justin, Irenaeus, Clement, Origen) and alluded to by others (Ignatius, Polycarp, Barnabas). Colossians was also included in the most ancient canons.
Internally the epistle has been challenged on the grounds of vocabulary (50+ words are not found elsewhere in Paul’s writings), style (cumbersome, wordy) and doctrine, but most of these arguments do hold ground under close scrutiny.

Paul wrote the four "Prison Epistles" under Roman (Phil. 1:13, 4:22) house arrest (Ac. 28:30, Eph. 3:1, 4:1, 6:20, Phil. 1:7, 13, Col. 4:10, 18, Phl. 1, 9, 23 ) approximately in AD 63 (his prison stay is estimated as lasting from AD 62-65).
Under his two-year house arrest (Ac. 28:30), Paul had freedom to proclaim the gospel and receive visitors.
Some argue that the prison experience referred to was not in Rome (Phil. 1:13, 4:22), but rather in Ephesus or Caesarea (Ac. 24:22-23), although most deny this hypothesis.
Paul received messages from people like Epaphras (Col. 1:7, 4:12, Phl. 23), who brought him news about the congregations in Colossae, Hierapolis and Laodicea.
Though there was much to rejoice about, Paul was concerned to learn that a heresy threatened the church in Colossae.
Tychicus, a native Ephesian, with Paul at the time, was used as a courier in light of his soon trip to Asia.
Paul wrote Colossians (to deal with the disturbing news he received from Epaphras) and Philemon (to return Onesimus to his master) to be sent with Tychicus (Col. 4:7, Phl 24), along with Onesimus, to Colossae.
Before Tychicus departed, Paul was also able to complete a third letter, Ephesians, to be sent with Tychicus (Eph. 6:21).
Ephesians was sent to Ephesus and all the churches throughout Asia province for general circulation.
Philippians was written later, not long before Paul’s release.

The epistle gives no direct account, yet from the many illusions to the heresy, we are able to sketch its leading features (see below). Paul counters the heresy with the preeminence of Christ (1:15-19). Most of these false-religious features will appear in full-blown Gnosticism and in the Greek and Oriental mystery religions.
Professed to be a philosophy (2:8).
Placed much emphasis on ritual circumcision, dietary laws and observation of holy days (2:11, 14, 16, 17).
Affirmed the worship of mysterious powers that created the world (2:15, 18, 19).
Promoted asceticism, teaching that the body was evil and must be treated as an enemy (2:20-23).
The advocates of this system claimed to be Christian teachers (c.f. 2:3-10).
The syncretistic religion combined:
Jewish element-legalism, ritualism, holy days.
Pagan element-Greek philosophy, Oriental mysticism, angelolatry, asceticism.
Christian element-false Christ.

A suggested theme could possibly be:
Proclamation of the absolute supremacy and sole-sufficiency of Christ (1:18, 2:9, 3:11). "Christ is all and in all".
The purpose of Paul’s writing Colossians is to:
(MAIN) Refute the false teaching that was threatening to devalue Christ by presenting a positive view of the true attributes and accomplishments of Christ.
Express his personal interest in the church.
Encourage the saints to continue to grow in the faith.