Book of Colossians

There are more similarities between the Book of Colossians and Ephesians than between any other two New Testament Epistles.

With varying degrees of similarity, 75 of the 155 verses of Ephesians are found in Colossians. While that is the case the Epistle to the Colossians is a more focused book in regard to the subject of the pre-eminence of Jesus Christ. This topic is the main theme in the book.

Who wrote the Epistle?

The Apostle Paul wrote this epistle from Rome as he did Philippians, Ephesians and Philemon.

When was it written?

Colossians was written between 61-63 A.D. and delivered to Colossae by a man named Tychicus and the converted slave Onesimus (Col. 4:7-9; Eph. 6:21; Philemon 10-12).

The Occasion of the Epistle

1. The church at Colossae was very likely started on Paul's third missionary journey during his ministry in Ephesus. (Acts 19:10)

2. Colossae was 100 miles inland from Ephesus located in the fertile Lychus Valley. Paul's friend Epaphras likely planted the church there as indicated in Col. 1:7.

3. At the writing of the letter to Colossae Paul in under house-arrest in Rome. He has likely heard word from the church there and is responding to what he has heard.

4. It could well be that Epaphras has brought that word because we find him mentioned in closing (4:12).

5. The word that Paul has received has indicated that there is a heresy taking root in Colossae. The false teaching is the beginning of what later became Gnosticism.

6. This seminal Gnosticism denied the daily suffering of Christ and therefore Paul emphasizes there tw0 in this letter.

The Purpose of Colossians

1. To emphasize the deity and supremacy of Christ in the face of the Colossian heresy.

2. To encourage the Colossian believer and to lead and motivate them to spiritual maturity (2:6,7; 1:28).

Content and Message

I. Paul's thanksgiving and prayers for the Colossians (1:1-14)

II. The Supremacy and Sufficiency of Christ for the Church (1:15-2:3)

III. The Freedom Christ gives (2:4-23)

IV. Exhortation for submission to Christ and Holy living (3:1-4:6)

V. Final Greetings (4:7-18)

Return to New Testament from the Book of Colossians