Colossians- Introduction

WHO:
• Written by the apostle Paul.
• Timothy probably served as Paul’s secretary (amanuensis).
• Carried by Tychicus to the believers in Colosse possibly with the letters to the Ephesians and to Philemon.
• Epaphras, probably the founder of the church in Colosse.
• Onesimus, Aristarchus, Mark, Demas.
• Readers: The church in Colosse in the province of Asia, but also for us Gentiles today.
WHAT:
• Key verse: Colossians 2:9-10: For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.
• Key words:
o Beware
o Pray(er)
o Secret (mystery)
o Christ
o God
o Perfect (mature)
o Know
o Wisdom
WHEN:
• Because Paul mentions his imprisonment, this letter was probably written about 60 or 62 A.D. when Paul was under house arrest in Rome (Acts 28).
WHERE:
• From Paul while under house arrest in Rome.
• To the church in Colosse which was probably started by Epaphras who may have traveled to Ephesus to hear Paul teach.
• Colosse was about 100 miles east of Ephesus on the Lycus River and near Laodicea. Colosse had a large Jewish population.
WHY:
• To counter false teaching (probably from Judaizers and incipient Gnostics) that devalued Christ which was threatening the church at Colosse and to encourage these believers in their growth toward Christian maturity. Epaphras may have visited Paul in Rome to let him know about the deteriorating situation in Colosse.
• The Colossian church was starting to absorb both paganism and Jewish legalism – which the Roman Catholic eventually succeeded doing, resulting in such observances as Christmas to replace Saturnalia, the establishment of a priesthood, etc.
• They were on the verge of losing their understanding of the power by which Christian life is lived. Therefore, this letter is the great proclamation and explanation of the power of the Christian's life through Christ as the resource of the individual.
THEME:
• Christ is Lord over all of creation, including the invisible realm. He has secured redemption for his people, enabling them to participate with him in his death, resurrection and fullness.
• This epistle parallels the Epistle to the Ephesians and carries some of the same themes.
• Anything that detracts from the supremacy of Christ and the completeness of the believer in Him is deceiving error. In fact, all error does one of two things. It either tries to add something of its own to the unique position of the Savior, or it detracts from Him.

Before we get too deep into Paul's letter to the Colossians, we should simply read it over with very little discussion.