Colossians - Introduction

Introduction

Paul’s letter to the Colossians is a fantastic letter. It was probably written before Ephesians, and was directed at a particular church experiencing particular circumstances. Ephesians has many similar themes, but develops and generalises them. The authorship of Colossians was never doubted in the early church, and we have references to it from about the mid first century onwards. Naturally, there have been some who doubt its Pauline authorship, but their arguments do not stand up, and as usual they have no idea who did write it. One of the arguments against it is that it is addressing Gnosticism which was not fully developed in the first century. However, there is no evidence in the letter that it is actually addressing full-blown Gnosticism, but rather early Gnostic type ideas, among other things. Then there are the usual linguistic arguments which hold about as much water as a sieve.

The date of writing is either in the 50’s AD, or around 60 AD. The latter date is consistent with the view that the prison letters were written during his Rome imprisonment. The earlier date goes with the view that it was written from prison in either Ephesus or Caesarea.

Colossae had been a leading city in Asian Minor, but by the first century had become more of a market town, having much reduced importance. Epaphras had been converted during Paul’s time in Ephesus and had taken the gospel to Colossae (Col 1:7).

One of the most important parts of Colossians is the high Christology found in 1:15-23. There are also counter arguments to heretical teaching. We can never be absolutely sure of the precise nature of these false teachings, instead we have to infer their nature from the things that Paul says. So it seems that the false ideas were demoting the nature of Christ, promoted asceticism, focused on angels, and had strict rules, with some Jewish elements in there as well. Secret knowledge and human wisdom were around as well, ie early gnostic ideas. As well as countering these ideas, the latter half of the book gives practical advice for Christian living.

Bibliography

AG Patzia - New International Bible Commentary: Ephesians, Colossians and Philemon, Paternoster Press 1990.

HM Carson - TNTC: Colossians and Philemon, IVP, 1983

Zondervan TNIV Study Bible, Zondervan

NKJV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible, Zondervan