Colossians

Authenticity and Authorship

Even though conservative theologians still hold to the Pauline authorship and authenticity of this letter, there are those who would try to undermine this. Let’s take a look at the evidence which points to authorship by the Apostle Paul:

♦     This letter is self attributed to the Apostle Paul (and also Timothy) three times in the letter: “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother” (1:1); “This salutation by my own hand----Paul” (4:18; cf. 1:23).

♦     The letter holds to the general format which Paul used in writing the majority of his epistles in the N.T. (Greeting & Introduction, Body, Personal Greetings and Conclusion).

♦     The similarities between Ephesians and Colossians point to Pauline authorship.

♦     The close connection between Colossians and Philemon, with the people that are named in the two letters point to the fact that they were written and sent at the same time. Compare the listing of names in Philemon 1:23-24 with Colossians 4:10-14 (Epaphras, Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke) as well as the reference to Onesimus in Philemon 1:10 and Colossians 4:9.

Background

Along with Ephesians, Philippians, and Philemon, this letter has been dubbed as one of Paul’s Prison Epistles, because it was written while Paul was in prison as he clearly states in this letter, asking them to “Remember my chains” (4:18 - cf. 1:24 and 4:3). This letter was most likely written around 61 A.D. Many have speculated as to where this was written from, since Paul was imprisoned in Caesarea, Ephesus and Rome. Rome seems to fit the situation and context the best since we know that while he was in Rome he was free to preach and lived in quarters which were much less confined than those in Caesarea. In Acts we read of Paul’s Roman confinement: “Then Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house, and received all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him” (Acts 28:30-31; cf. Philippians 1:12-21, 4:22).

Destination

As Paul writes in 1:2 this letter was sent to the brethren dwelling in the small city of Colossae: “To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are in Colosse.” It was also for the nearby towns of Laodicea and Hierapolis: “For I bear him witness that he has a great zeal for you, and those who are in Laodicea, and those in Hierapolis.... Greet the brethren who are in Laodicea, and Nymphas and the church that is in his house. Now when this epistle is read among you, see that it is read also in the church of the Laodiceans, and that you likewise read the epistle from Laodicea” (4:13, 15-16).

Like his letter to the Romans, this is one of the only letters which Paul wrote to a congregation that he may not have personally visited as he mentions saying “For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh” (2:1 cf. 1:6-7). Yet the Apostle Paul did have a close relationship with this congregation. It was probably during Paul’s three year stay in Ephesus that congregations were founded in these cities, as we read in Acts 19:10: “all that dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.” The three cities of Colossae, Laodicea and Hierapolis were within a 10 mile radius of each other and were located about 100 miles east of Ephesus.

This was probably a mixed group, made up of both Jews and Gentiles. Paul warns against a legalistic use of Jewish customs “So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ” (2:16-17), and also warns against the persuasive arguments of the Gentile world “Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words.... Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ” (2:4,8).

This congregation was most likely founded by Epaphras, who was a Phrygian Gentile who had most likely heard Paul while he was in Ephesus, or came into contact with Timothy who was also with Paul as Paul says in 1:5-8: “because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel, which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth; as you also learned from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf, who also declared to us your love in the Spirit.”

Occasion

Epaphras had come to the Apostle Paul for help. Although the Christians in Colossae were still holding to the truths which they had been taught, there was something which was threatening their faith. He had taken note of false teachers who had infiltrated the congregation at Colossae with a teaching that was similar to that seen in the Galatian congregations. They were promoting a teaching which had ties to Jewish legalism, and keeping the Laws of the Old Testament, such as circumcision (2:11) as well as keeping festival days and abstaining from certain foods (2:16-21). In this case, the false teaching was threatening to take credit from the person of Christ and His work.

What made this false teaching so dangerous was the fact that it claimed to supplement the teaching of Paul, and which claimed to be more complete. In actuality this false teaching was undermining the sufficiency of Christ’s work. Instead of believing on Christ 100%, they were being taught that they had to do something themselves to complete their own salvation.

Instead of refuting this false teaching point by point, the Apostle Paul focuses on the sufficiency of the work of Christ. The Holy Spirit through Paul shows that truth is the best way to deal with error, and in this situation what was needed was the truth about the person of Christ. The better Christians know and understand the person and the work of Christ, the better equipped they will be to recognize the errors of false teachers. Because Paul’s purpose was to increase knowledge concerning the person and work of Christ, this is one of the most complete treatments on the person of Christ in the Bible.

In this letter Paul offers these wonderful reminders of who Christ is and what He has done:

➜     “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.... For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.” (1:15-17, 19-20).

➜     “For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily” (2:9).

➜     “When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory” (3:4).

Outline

Theme: Jesus is the All-Sufficient Savior

I.   Greeting and Thanksgiving (1:1-14)

II.   Christ is Sufficient for our Salvation (1:15-2:23)

             A. The Person of Christ

             B. Paul’s Ministry and Concern for them

             C. The Sufficiency of Christ

             D. Refutation of False Teaching

III.   Christ is Sufficient for our Lives (3:1-4:6)

             A. Walking in Christ

             B. Practical Exhortations

IV.  Conclusion and Personal Greetings (4:7-18)

Note: This study was prepared for the Bible Class at Zion Lutheran Church, Lawrenceville, GA by Pastor Nathanael Mayhew.

If you would like more information about this study,
please contact Pastor Mayhew