Introduction to Colossians

Authorship: Paul

• Autographic subscription (4:18)
• Co-sender: Timothy (1:1)
• Letter carrier: Tychicus (4:7)

Date: AD 61–62

Place of writing: House arrest in Rome

• “The mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison” (4:3)
• “Aristarchus my fellow prisoner” (4:10)
• “Remember my chains” (4:18)

Addressees: The church at Colossae

• In Asia Minor, near Laodicea (2:1; 4:16)
• The church was founded by Epaphras, one of Paul’s co-workers (1:7)

Purpose of Colossians

To combat the false teaching that had entered the church of Colossae

1. Elements of the false teaching at Colosse

   1. Paul calls it “philosophy and empty deceit” (2:8)
   2. Circumcision (2:11)
   3. Dietary restrictions—“food and drink” (2:16)
   4. Festivals, new moons, Sabbaths (2:16-17)
   5. Asceticism, harsh treatment of body (probably fasting) (2:18, 23)
   6. Worship of angels (2:18)
   7. Ecstatic visions (2:18)
   8. The elementary principles (or spirits) of the world (2:8, 20)
   9. Man-made regulations: “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” (2:21)

2. Possible theories to explain:

   1. Pagan religions, mystery cults, astrology, magic
   2. Judaizers pushing circumcision (as in Galatians and Philippians)
   3. Jewish merkabah-hekhaloth mysticism
   4. Various combinations of the above

3. Paul’s answer to the false teaching (2:6–3:4)

   1. He exalts the sufficiency of Christ and our union with him (2:9-13)
   2. He expounds the cross, the victory of Christ over the powers (2:14-15)
   3. He shows that striving for ecstatic visions puffs up (2:18; cp. 2 Cor 12:1-10)
   4. He shows that we have died to the law (including man-made laws) (2:20)
   5. He exposes the inadequacy of self-imposed religion (2:23)

Outline of Colossians

1. 1:1-14: Letter Opening

2. 1:15–4:6: Letter Body

   1. 1:15-23: The Supremacy of Christ
   2. 1:24–2:7: Paul’s Labor for the Church
   3. 2:8-23: Freedom from Human Regulations through Life with Christ
   4. 3:1–4:6: Rules for Holy Living

3. 4:7-18: Letter Closing

Key Contributions

1. Christology

   1. “He is the image of the invisible God” (1:15)
   2. “By him [agency] all things were created” (1:16; cp. John 1:3; 1 Cor 8:6; Heb 1:2)
   3. “In him all things hold together” (1:17; cp. Heb 1:3)
   4. “In whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (2:3; cp. 1 Cor 1:24)
   5. “In him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily” (2:9; cp. 1:19)

2. Redemption accomplished

   1. “by the blood of the cross” (1:20)
   2. “in his body of flesh by his death” (1:21)
   3. “the circumcision of Christ” (2:11)
   4. “nailing it to the cross, disarming the rulers” (2:14-15)

3. Redemption applied

   1. Regeneration (2:12-13; 3:1)
   2. Justification (1:12-14; 2:14)
   3. Reconciliation (1:19-22)—the result of regeneration and justification
   4. Sanctification (1:10; 2:19; 3:9-10)
   5. Glorification—already/not-yet:
      1. “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (1:5, 27)
      2. “Christ who is your life” (3:3-4)

4. Our sufficiency is in Christ (2:6-23)

   1. As you received Christ, so walk in him (2:6-7)
   2. All you need is in Christ crucified and risen (2:8-15)
   3. The shadows vs. the substance (2:16-17)
   4. Don’t get seduced by mystical spirituality (2:18-19)
   5. Christian liberty—free from the commandments of men (2:20-23)

5. The indicative and the imperative (3:1-5)

6. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly (3:16)