Paul's Letter to the Colossians
Introduction: The Apostle Paul was writing from prison in Rome. This prison was actually a house where Paul was kept under close guard at all times. He was probably chained to a Roman soldier but given certain privileges that were not offered to most prisoners. Although Paul had been a Pharisee by training before becoming a follower of Christ, he was also a Roman citizen. Roman citizens were given special privileges which must have given him some favor with the Roman authorities while he was confined. These privileges included allowing Timothy, who was with Paul in Rome during his imprisonment, to assist him in writing this letter. While Paul was under house arrest, Timothy served him in order to help meet his needs. This included acting as Paul's collaborating writer.
Date Written: It was probably written c. A.D. 62, while Paul was in prison in Rome (Acts 27–28). This was about the same time he wrote Ephesians and Philemon. All three letters were sent with Tychicus and Onesimus.
Author: Paul and co-authored with Timothy.
Purpose: Paul had never actually been to Colossae but knew of the church that was there which had been established by one of Paul's converts Epaphras (Ch 1:7). The church at Colossae was likely established during Paul’s third missionary journey as he ministered for three years in Ephesus. It appears that Paul did not personally plant the church there, but instead a Colossian named Epaphras traveled to Ephesus, responded to Paul’s gospel message, and returned to share the good news in Colossae. The success of a church in Colossae would have encouraged Paul. This was a sign that the gospel was spreading among the Gentiles, beyond his own direct influence, and into many other regions as well. Even though he had never been to the church in Colossae, he had a compassion for the people there and wanted to be an encouragement to them in spreading the Gospel of Christ.
Paul penned this letter to the Colossian church after he had received a report from Ephaphras that they were struggling with a christological heresy. These false teachers were denying the divinity and authority of Jesus; and were teaching that He was not actually God. Epaphras had come to Rome in part to serve Paul during his imprisonment (Philemon 1:23) but also to confide in him regarding the dangerous teachings the Colossians were hearing. So Paul sent this letter, along with the letters to Philemon and to the Ephesians, with Tychicus, accompanied by Onesimus (Colossians 4:7; Philemon 1:10–12). Tychicus was a coworker of Paul who would have been able to help the Colossian believers understand and apply the apostle’s teachings in the letter.
Date Written: It was probably written c. A.D. 62, while Paul was in prison in Rome (Acts 27–28). This was about the same time he wrote Ephesians and Philemon. All three letters were sent with Tychicus and Onesimus.
Author: Paul and co-authored with Timothy.
Purpose: Paul had never actually been to Colossae but knew of the church that was there which had been established by one of Paul's converts Epaphras (Ch 1:7). The church at Colossae was likely established during Paul’s third missionary journey as he ministered for three years in Ephesus. It appears that Paul did not personally plant the church there, but instead a Colossian named Epaphras traveled to Ephesus, responded to Paul’s gospel message, and returned to share the good news in Colossae. The success of a church in Colossae would have encouraged Paul. This was a sign that the gospel was spreading among the Gentiles, beyond his own direct influence, and into many other regions as well. Even though he had never been to the church in Colossae, he had a compassion for the people there and wanted to be an encouragement to them in spreading the Gospel of Christ.
Paul penned this letter to the Colossian church after he had received a report from Ephaphras that they were struggling with a christological heresy. These false teachers were denying the divinity and authority of Jesus; and were teaching that He was not actually God. Epaphras had come to Rome in part to serve Paul during his imprisonment (Philemon 1:23) but also to confide in him regarding the dangerous teachings the Colossians were hearing. So Paul sent this letter, along with the letters to Philemon and to the Ephesians, with Tychicus, accompanied by Onesimus (Colossians 4:7; Philemon 1:10–12). Tychicus was a coworker of Paul who would have been able to help the Colossian believers understand and apply the apostle’s teachings in the letter.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------