PAUL'S LETTER TO THE COLOSSIANS

     Colosse was one of the leading cities of Phrygia, in Asia Minor.
Not long after this letter was written, Colosse, Laodicea and other
cities were at the same time overwhelmed by an earthquake, as
indicated by the language of Revelation in the letters to these seven
churches of Asia Minor. Located directly east of Ephesus, and north
of Laodicea. Colosse was one of the most important meeting places
between the East and the West.
     Most likely the church was established by Paul (Acts 16:6;
28:23). It would be hard to imagine the apostle going through a
region such as this and missing one of the leading cities. There is
also internal evidence that Paul had established the church there:
Paul recognized that they had been taught rightly (2:6,7; 1:6). Paul
speaks of dispensing the gospel in this area (1:21-23, 25). The
salutation shows that Paul was personally acquainted with the people
there. Some think that Epaphras was the founder of the Colossian
church.
     The book was most likely written about the same time of the
Ephesian letter. While in Rome, a prisoner (1:24; 4:18), A.D. 62, or
thereabout.
     Most likely sent by the hands of Tychicus and Onesimus (4:7-9),
the servant of Philemon.
     The same problems that confronted Ephesus likewise were before
Colosse. Thus, the letter has much of the same information as the
Ephesian letter; the same problems that confronted the seven churches
of Asia (Revelation).
        Ephesians -- Unity and grandeur of the church.
        Colossians -- Deity and all-sufficiency of the church.
     (1) Rev. 2:2 -- "those who claim to be apostles, but are liars."
         Rev. 2:9 -- "those who claim to be Jews, but are of Satan."
         Rev. 2:20 -- "Jezebel, calleth herself a Prophetess."
         Rev. 2:14 -- "doctrine of the Nicolaitans, Balaam...."
     (2) Acts 20:29-30 -- Dangers from within the flock, even the
         elders.
     (3) Within the epistle:
          (a) Influence of philosophy (2:4-8), fancy words and
              reasonings.
          (b) Influence of those who insisted on observance of rites
              and customs of Jewish religion (2:16).
          (c) Philosophy influenced by Gnosticism. Failure to
              recognize that the Godhead dwelt in Christ (2:9, 18).
              Things happened only in appearance, not in reality.
     (4) There is no mention to improper conduct of the members in
         Colosse, but they are warned against the sins common before
         obedience (3:5-9). They were constantly exposed to these
         sins.

The Design: To guard the church against the errors to which it was
     exposed from false philosophy, and false teachers in religion;
     to assert the superior claims of Christianity over all
     philosophy, and its independence of the peculiar rites and
     customs of the Jewish religion.


Note: Indication is that Paul likewise addressed a letter to the
     Laodiceans, and desired that they also read it (4:16).

Return to index
Home