Introduction to Colossians
Colossians 1:1-2
Although the apostle Paul penned the book of Colossians nearly 2,000 years ago, its message rings as true today as when he wrote it. Why? Because it emphasizes the doctrine of the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. Many scholars believe there is no better study of Christ than this short epistle to the Colossians. And yet, in its day, the Colossian church was considered one of the least important to which Paul wrote.
Paul knew from experience that he needed to give the church direction on how to guard against false teachers. If false teachers gained a foothold in Colossae, they could work their way into the congregation’s leadership and plant heretical teaching. If their teaching was left uncorrected, the fellowship would suffer theological bondage, resulting in its spiritual downfall. Paul had seen this pattern in the churches in Corinth (2 Cor. 11:4) and Galatia (Gal. 1:6).
The apostle had ministered for three years in the church at Ephesus and warned his disciples and church leaders that once he was gone, false teachers would attempt to deceive the believers: “For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves” (Acts 20:29–30).
It is not surprising that when a church stands solidly on doctrinal truth, anchored in Scripture, Satan often comes as an angel of light, using false teachers to twist biblical truth by planting lies and false doctrine within the congregation. Is there a remedy?
Yes! Jesus Christ. Regarding Jesus, Paul wrote, “He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence” (Col. 1:17–18). As we progress through the epistle to the Colossians, we will study Christ’s preeminence and sufficiency, discovering that Jesus is the anchor every church and every believer needs today, as was the case when Paul penned this warning.
The Setting
Colossae was located in Phrygia, a Roman province in Asia Minor (now known as Turkey). It lay on the south bank of the Lycus River, about 100 miles east of the great commercial center of Ephesus where Paul spent three years ministering.
In the 5th century BC, the historian Herodotus called Colossae “a great city in Phrygia”; and early in the following century, the historian Xenophon described it as a large and wealthy city. Colossae’s popularity stemmed from its location, as it sat on the main road from Ephesus to the Euphrates River, linking western and eastern Asia.
Over time, Colossae diminished in importance because of the growth of Laodicea and Hierapolis, two neighboring cities. Laodicea was located 12 miles west of Colossae, and Hierapolis lay 6 miles north of Laodicea. The three cities were situated on a major trading route running east and west, which made them wealthy.
Paul knew of Colossae and Laodicea’s close communities and asked that his letter be shared and read between the two cities (4:13, 16). The Colossian church was most likely one of the least significant churches that Paul addressed in his epistles. In fact, there is no evidence that Paul ever visited this church but only heard of its faith in Jesus Christ, most likely through Epaphras, whom Paul called “our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ” (1:7).
In Paul’s day, Colossae’s population consisted of Greeks and Jewish colonists. As Laodicea grew, Colossae diminished in importance.
Christianity had been introduced to Colossae and many other cities in the Lycus Valley during Paul’s ministry in Ephesus. Missionaries from Ephesus were sent out to evangelize the surrounding area. Scholars believe Epaphras took the gospel to surrounding cities, which would have included Colossae, his hometown.
So aggressive was the evangelization in this area that “all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks” (Acts 19:10). In other words, Paul preached and taught God’s Word in Ephesus; and his trained coworkers evangelized nearby areas and established churches.
The Specifics
The following details offer insight into the Colossian epistle:
Author. Paul penned the letter (Col. 1:1). Tychicus delivered Paul’s epistles to the churches in Ephesus and Colossae (Eph. 6:21; Col. 4:7–9). Early Christian scholars, such as Irenaeus, Clement of Alexandria, Tertullian, Origen, and Eusebius, all affirmed that Paul wrote Colossians. Paul wrote to the church that met in Philemon’s house (Phile. 2).
Date. Based on biblical and extrabiblical evidence, most commentators agree Paul wrote Colossians during his first Roman imprisonment (Acts 28:16, 30). He also wrote Ephesians, Philippians, and Philemon while incarcerated in Rome; and these letters became known as the Prison Epistles. Since the book of Acts ends around AD 60–62, Paul likely wrote Colossians during this time. Paul also wrote his epistle to Philemon around the same time. Both books include the names of Timothy, Epaphras, Mark, Luke the physician, Archippus, Demas, and Onesimus the slave.
Purpose. Paul had several purposes for writing to the Colossians:
→ Epaphras brought Paul disturbing news that false teaching had sprung up in the Colossian church. Although the false teaching had not taken a foothold, it threatened to disrupt the fellowship. Paul wanted to deal with the issue before it divided the church.
→ Paul did not specifically state the threatening heresy, but it included a combination of Jewish legalism and the Gentile traditions of men based on worldly philosophies. Scholars called it Gnostic Judaism, later known as Gnosticism. The false teachings diminished what Jesus had taught about God the Father and Himself.
→ Paul also wrote the Colossian epistle to confirm Christ’s supremacy over every area of a Christian’s life.
→ Paul wanted to teach believers how to conduct themselves in their personal lives, homes, families, workplaces, and relationships.
→ Paul aimed to cultivate spiritual growth and maturity in Christians.
→ Paul set forth Jesus’ Lordship and sufficiency to meet all believers’ needs.
Key Verses. Colossians 1:15–20; 2:8; 3:12–13; 4:5–6.
The Salutation
The letter begins, “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are in Colosse: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (1:1–2).
In his salutation, standard in his day, Paul mentioned Timothy out of courtesy, being with him in Rome. The Colossians knew Timothy well. Paul clearly stated that he authored this letter to the Colossians and presented his position of authority or status as an apostle from Christ. Three times the author identified himself as Paul (vv. 1, 23; 4:18). Thus, Christ gave Paul, as an apostle, the authority and commission to write the Colossian epistle.
Paul called his recipients “saints and faithful brethren” in the Colossian church. The word saint identified them as true believers in Christ; it was not meant to acknowledge any special work they accomplished. The phrase faithful brethren recognized his recipients as faithful in their loyalty to Christ and brethren with whom he shared spiritual unity.
Paul’s greeting included “grace and peace.” Notice, grace always precedes peace; for without God’s grace, we cannot possess His peace. God’s grace cannot be earned or bought. Here, the word grace does not refer to saving grace because the addressees are already believers in Christ. Rather, it refers to the favor and blessings the Lord bestows daily on believers.
Peace refers to the inner peace believers possess, as they trust Him daily for all their needs. The source of all grace and peace is “God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (1:2). The original Greek text indicates that Jesus is equal to God the Father in His essence and being (cf. Jn. 10:30; 1. Th. 1:1; Ti. 1:4). Thus, both God the Father and Jesus Christ the Son bestow grace and peace on the redeemed.
Colossians is one of the greatest epistles in the New Testament because it teaches Jesus’ preeminence. Its sublime message regarding Christ gives this epistle great doctrinal and practical importance today. It is my prayer that God will speak to your heart as we study the book of Colossians.
