Colossians - Introduction

Introduction

Colossians is one of the “prison epistles” (Ephesians, Colossians, Philippians and Philemon), probably written in about AD 62, while Paul was a prisoner in Rome. Colossae was in Asia Minor, now Turkey, and lay on a major trading route. It had been a major city, but had since fallen in stature, and in Paul’s time was a second rate market town. Paul had not founded the church there, instead Epaphras had been converted during Paul’s ministry in Ephesus and had carried the gospel to Colossae.The letter was written partly to counter heretical teachings. The false teachings are never outlined explicitly, so we have to deduce what they were from the content of the letter. The letter puts the primary focus on Christ, in some ways the content is similar to that of Ephesians. My study bible suggests that the elements of the false teachings were:

1. Ceremonialism, with strict rules concerning food, drink and circumcision

2. Asceticism, teaching that this was the way to control fleshly desires

3. Excessive interest in angels

4. Denigrating the importance of Christ

5. Emphasis on secret knowledge

6. Reliance on human wisdom

In short, there seems to have been influence from early forms of gnosticism, and philosophical Judaism,

While writing these notes I am reading through Spurgeon’s commentary on Colossians.