Here are some common questions people have about the book of Colossians and what the Bible teaches us through this letter from Paul:
Who wrote Colossians?
Colossians 1:1 identifies the author as the apostle Paul. Throughout the letter, Paul refers to himself either as “Paul” or “I”, indicating he is writing under his own name. The early church universally accepted Paul’s authorship of this letter.
When was Colossians written?
Most scholars believe Colossians was written around AD 60-62 while Paul was imprisoned in Rome (Colossians 4:3, 4:10). This would place it among Paul’s other “prison epistles” including Ephesians, Philippians, and Philemon.
Who was the letter written to?
Colossians 1:2 indicates this letter was written to “the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae.” Colossae was a small town located in modern day Turkey. Paul wrote to the believers in this city, both Jews and Gentiles, to encourage their faith and warn against false teachings.
What was the purpose of Colossians?
Paul had several purposes for writing this letter:
- To encourage the Colossian believers to remain faithful to Christ and not turn to false philosophies (Col 2:8)
- To remind them of Christ’s preeminence over all creation and his sufficiency for salvation (Col 1:15-20)
- To warn against legalism and man-made religious rules (Col 2:16, 20-23)
- To instruct them how to live out their faith in practical ways (Col 3-4)
What are some key themes in Colossians?
- The supremacy and sufficiency of Christ – Christ is fully God and the creator of all things. In him “all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell” (Col 1:19). He is completely sufficient for salvation and Christian living (Col 2:10).
- Guarding against false teaching – The Colossians were facing pressure from false philosophies that added man-made rules and worship of angels. Paul repeatedly warns them not to be taken captive by hollow deceits (Col 2:8).
- Instructions for Christian living – Paul gives many practical commands about how to live as followers of Jesus, like forgiving one another (Col 3:13), being thankful (Col 3:15), and speaking with grace (Col 4:6).
What are some key verses in Colossians?
Some of the most significant verses in Colossians include:
- “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.” (Colossians 1:15)
- “For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell.” (Colossians 1:19)
- “For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form.” (Colossians 2:9)
- “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” (Colossians 3:2)
- “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.” (Colossians 3:23)
How are Colossians and Ephesians related?
There are many similarities between Colossians and Paul’s letter to the Ephesians:
- Both were likely written at the same time during Paul’s imprisonment.
- They share common themes like Christ’s preeminence, the believer’s unity in Christ, and instructions for Christian households.
- Over 30 verses are nearly identical between the two letters.
However, Ephesians focuses more on the cosmic significance of Christ’s work, while Colossians has more polemics against false teaching.
What false teaching was threatening the Colossian church?
Paul doesn’t explicitly name the false teaching, but based on his response, scholars have concluded it included elements of:
- Jewish legalism – rigid rules aboutcircumcision, food laws, and Sabbath (Col 2:16-17)
- Asceticism – harsh treatment of the body and neglecting its needs (Col 2:23)
- Angel worship – including angels in worship and attributing power to them (Col 2:18)
- Early Gnosticism – secret knowledge, denying Christ’s humanity (Col 2:3, 9)
Paul counters these human ideas by emphasizing that knowledge and fullness are found in Christ alone.
What are some key words in Colossians?
Here are some words that are distinctive to Colossians and help communicate its themes:
- Fullness (pleroma) – used to describe the full deity dwelling in Christ (Col 1:19, 2:9)
- Mystery – God’s hidden plan now revealed through Christ (Col 1:26-27, 2:2-3)
- Knowledge (gnosis) – contrasting true knowledge found in Christ with human philosophy (Col 2:3)
- Elemental spirits (stoicheia) – ruled over by Christ, not objects of worship (Col 2:8, 20)
How does Colossians present Christ?
Colossians has one of the highest views of Christ in all the Bible, presenting him as:
- The image of the invisible God (Col 1:15)
- The firstborn over all creation (Col 1:15)
- The creator of all things (Col 1:16)
- The head of the church (Col 1:18)
- The firstborn from the dead (Col 1:18)
- The fullness of God dwelling in bodily form (Col 1:19, 2:9)
- The one in whom all things hold together (Col 1:17)
- The one who reconciles all things to God (Col 1:20)
This exalted view was meant to combat the false teachings and point people to find all sufficiency in Christ alone.
What are some key chapters?
Some of the most important chapters include:
- Colossians 1 – Paul’s opening prayer and hymn praising Christ’s preeminence as creator and Savior of all.
- Colossians 2 – Warnings against false philosophies and emphasis on the sufficiency of Christ.
- Colossians 3 – Practical instructions for living out the Christian faith through one’s relationships, work ethic, speech, etc.
What caused Paul to write to the Colossians?
Though Paul had not visited Colossae himself (Col 2:1), he heard from Epaphras, the founder of the church there, that the congregation was struggling with deep theological error and needed reminding of Christ’s supremacy (Col 1:7-8). Paul wrote this letter while in prison to combat the false teaching they were facing.
How is Colossians applicable today?
While we don’t face the exact same heresies, Colossians speaks to many issues relevant today:
- It reminds us that Christ alone is sufficient and central to faith, not religious rituals or mystical experiences.
- It warns against being taken captive by worldly philosophies rather than Christ.
- It teaches us how faith in Christ transforms all aspects of life including work, family, and relationships.
- It calls us to set our minds on Christ and things above rather than earthly pursuits.
As in Paul’s day, Colossians calls believers to stay rooted in the supremacy and sufficiency of Christ for all of life.
What are some other key teachings in Colossians?
In addition to exalting Christ, Colossians contains many other important teachings:
- All Christians are unified in Christ as one body (Col 3:11)
- Believers should bear with one another in love and forgiveness (Col 3:13)
- Prayer should be steadfast, watchful, and thankful (Col 4:2)
- Everyone including slaves and masters are accountable before Christ (Col 3:22 – 4:1)
- Christians should make the most of every opportunity to share Christ (Col 4:5-6)
How does Colossians portray the gospel?
Colossians gives a cosmic perspective on the gospel. Through Christ, God was pleased to reconcile all things to Himself, making peace by the blood of His cross (Col 1:20). This gospel is bearing fruit and spreading all over the world (Col 1:6), as God works through His people.
What are some interesting facts about Colossians?
- Colossae was destroyed by an earthquake around 60 A.D. shortly after this letter was written.
- Tychicus carried both the letters to the Colossians and Ephesians on Paul’s behalf (Col 4:7-8, Eph 6:21-22).
- Colossians contains one of only two direct references to the Trinity in the Bible (Col 2:2-3, Matt 28:19).
- Colossians includes over 30 verses directly parallel to Ephesians, but was likely written first.
In summary, Colossians provides rich theological truth about Christ’s preeminence and sufficiency, combats dangerous false teachings, and offers very practical instruction in living out the Christian faith. Studying this letter today still equips believers to walk in greater maturity and fullness in Christ.
