Paul’s Epistle to the Colossians
During
Paul’s
three-year
ministry
in
Ephesus,
Epaphras
had
been
converted
and
took
the
gospel
to
Colosse.
However,
this
new
church
came
under
attack
from
heretical
teaching,
which
seemed
to
emanate
mainly
from
Judaism
and
gnosticism.
Paul’s
purpose
of
writing
this
letter
was
to
refute
these
heresies
by
emphasising
the
complete
adequacy
of
Christ
in
contrast
to
the
inadequacy
of
human
philosophy. It was written while under house arrest in Rome in A.D. 60, perhaps a little after his letter to the Ephesians.
Greetings, thanksgiving and prayer; The supremacy of Christ
[Col 1]
Paul
greets
the
church
and
gives
thanks
to
God
for
their
faith,
love
and
hope
that
are
the
result
of
Epaphras
having
taken
the
gospel
to
them.
He
prays
constantly
that
they
might
continue
to
grow
in
their
faith,
bearing
fruit
and
increasing
in
knowledge,
exhorting
them
to
give thanks to the Father for His redemptive work in them through the blood of Christ.
Paul
expresses
the
supremacy
of
Christ
as
the
firstborn
before
all
creation,
the
head
of
the
body,
the
church,
through
whom
all
things
are
reconciled
to
the
Father,
now
including
the
saints
at
Colosse.
Having
been
reconciled,
they
need
to
continue
in
the
faith,
grounded
and
settled,
not
moving
away
from
the
hope
of
the
gospel
of
which
Paul
became
a
minister,
empowered
to
reveal
the
‘mystery’ hidden until the present times, that all nations can share in the riches and glory of redemption through Christ Jesus
.
Warnings against heresies
[Col 2]
Knowing
the
adverse
influences
around
them,
Paul
expresses
his
concern
for
their
spiritual
welfare,
telling
them
he
is
with
them
in
spirit
and
urging
them
to
be
steadfast
in
their
faith.
They
are
told
to
beware
of
the
philosophies
and
deceit
that
are
of
this
world
and
not
of
Christ,
in
whom
is
the
fullness
of
God.
Paul
reminds
them
that
their
old
selves
have
been
buried
with
Christ
through
baptism
and
raised
again,
all
their
sins
having
been
forgiven,
to
be
as
one
with
Christ
whose
death
and
resurrection
defeated
the
hold
of
sin
over
them.
Paul
now
warns
them
against
some
specific
heresies
to
which
they
are
exposed
that
relate
to
Judaism
and
gnosticism,
questioning how, if they have become as one with Christ, they could now be subject to the doctrines of men.
The way of life in Christ
[Col 3-4:1]
Paul
teaches
them
the
way
they
ought
to
live,
setting
their
minds
on
things
above
and
not
on
things
of
this
world.
They
must
no
longer
have
anything
to
do
with
corrupt
passions,
covetousness,
anger,
shameful
speech
and
dishonesty.
Rather,
they
are
to
have
hearts
of
compassion,
kindness,
humility
and,
above
all,
love.
All
that
they
do
should
be
done
in
peace,
being
steeped
in
God’s
word
and
always
giving
thanks
and
praise
to
Him.
Paul
specifically
mentions
here
the
relationships
between
husbands
and
wives,
children
and
parents,
and servants and masters.
Encouragement and final greetings
[Col 4:2-18]
In
these
closing
words,
Paul
encourages
them
to
continue
in
prayer
and
witnessing,
and
sends
greetings
from
numerous
brothers,
including
Onesimus,
who
is
the
subject
of
his
letter
to
Philemon,
and
Luke.
He
also
requests
this
letter
be
exchanged
with
one
sent
to
Laodicea, then ends with a personal greeting.
Hierarchical Précis