AUTHORSHIP
- The apostle Paul (1:1). Apostle – “one sent” by Christ (see Acts 9:15).
- He wrote “by the will of God” (1:1; see also v. 25; see also 1 Cor. 14:37; 2 Pt. 1:20-21)
- Timothy was with him (1:1).
- Paul most likely wrote this book during his first Roman imprisonment (around A.D. 60-62 – see Acts 28:16-31).
- The letter was sent via Tychicus and Onesimus (4:7-9; compare Eph. 6:21; Phil. 10-12).
RECIPIENTS
- The church at Colossae (1:2), referred to as: “the saints and faithful brothers” (v. 2).
- Saint – One who is set apart by God through the means of His word (see Jn. 17:17).
- The church consists of brothers (and sisters) who are joined together spiritually in Christ, having a common spiritual Father (1:2; see Gal. 3:26-28).
- This letter was to be read in the assembly of the church (4:16).
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CHURCH AT COLOSSAE
- Epaphras was involved in teaching the Colossians and establishing the church (see 1:7).
- Paul had never met with the church at Colossae (2:1).
- There is nothing recorded about the establishment of the church in Acts.
THE CITY OF COLOSSAE
- Location and land features: Laodicea, Hierapolis and Colossae were in close proximity to one another. Ephesus was over a hundred miles to the east of Colossae in Asia Minor (modern day Turkey). Colossae was located at the Lycus Valley, where two streams united. It was also near Mount Cadmus (with an elevation of over 8000 feet). This area was (and continues to be) plagued with earthquakes.
Size: Colossae was a smaller town by the time of Paul’s writing. This may have been why Paul did not work there. (The twelve had to be very strategic with their time and work.)
- Residents and religion: The residents (as well as the church), were a mix of Jews and Gentiles. Colossae was known as having a conglomeration of religious thought.
KEY TEXT
1:15-20 – He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
- Compare with Phil. 2:5-11 and John 1:1-14.
THEME OF THE BOOK: The Preeminence of Christ (His fullness of deity leads to us being filled in Him).
OUTLINE OF COLOSSIANS (From Nelson’s Complete Book of Bible Maps & Charts, pp. 398-399)
PART ONE: THE SUPREMACY OF CHRIST AND THE CHURCH (1:1-2:23)
- INTRODUCTION 1:1-14
- Paul’s Greeting to the Colossians 1:1-2
- Paul’s Thanksgiving for the Colossians 1:3-8
- Paul’s Prayer for the Colossians 1:9-14
- THE PREEMINENCE OF CHRIST 1:15-2:3
- Christ is Preeminent in Creation 1:15-18
- Christ is Preeminent in Redemption 1:19-23
- Christ is Preeminent in the Church 1:24-2:3
III. THE FREEDOM IN CHRIST 2:4-23
- Freedom from Enticing Words 2:4-7
- Freedom from Vain Philosophy 2:8-10
- Freedom from the Judgement of Men 2:11-17
- Freedom from Improper Worship 2:18-19
- Freedom from the Doctrine of Men 2:20-23
PART TWO: THE SUBMISSION TO CHRIST IN THE CHURCH (3:1-4:18)
- THE POSITION OF THE BELIEVER 3:1-4
- THE PRACTICE OF THE BELIEVER 3:5-4:6
- Put off the Old Man 3:5-11
- Put on the New Man 3:12-17
- Personal Commands for Holiness 3:18-4:6
III. CONCLUSION 4:7-18
- Commendations of Tychicus 4:7-9
- Greetings from Paul’s Friends 4:10-14
- Introduction Regarding this Letter 4:15-18
- Following Paul’s typical model, the book begins with doctrine and gives way to practical Christian living based on that doctrine.
Daren Schroeder
