NEW TESTAMENT > LETTERS > COLOSSIANS

COLOSSIANS

This letter was written by Paul and Timothy to the church in Colossae. Although Paul did not start this church or know the Colossians, Paul deeply cares about followers of Jesus and spreading the gospel message. After hearing an encouraging report from his friend Epaphras, who recently visited the church in Colossae, Paul writes to the believers to encourage them and challenge them to live their lives as a response to Jesus. Paul wrote this letter while imprisoned, possibly during his time in Rome. Despite having limited freedoms, Paul continues to advance the gospel through his writing. Throughout the letter, Paul emphasizes the supremacy of Christ and cautions against false teachings, urging the Colossians to remain rooted in their faith in Jesus.  

Paul wrote the letter of Philemon around the same time. Philemon was a Colossian whom Paul addressed personally, asking him to forgive Onesimus, a runaway servant who had come to faith after meeting Paul. Although Colossians and Philemon are addressed to different audiences, Philemon shows a specific example of following Jesus in the way Paul urged the Colossians to respond. 

    • Jesus as the image of God

    • Jesus’ power and authority

    • Spiritual maturity

    • Paul

    • Timothy

    • Onesimus: the slave of Philemon who wronged Philemon and fled. He met Paul in prison in Rome, where Paul converted him to Christianity and then sent him back to Philemon.

    • Author: Paul and Timothy

    • Date: 60–62 C.E.

    • Intended Audience: The Christians of Colossae, Gentile and Jewish believers

COLOSSIANS 1

LET YOUR LIVES BE A RESPONSE TO YOUR FAITH IN JESUS 

Paul, along with his disciple Timothy, wrote a letter to the church in Colossae. Paul opens the letter by thanking God for the faithfulness of the believers in Colossae for bringing the news of Jesus to them. Paul shares that the news of Jesus was spreading throughout the world and leading to fruitful, faithful lives.

Letting the Colossians know that he has been praying for them, Paul states his desire for them to be filled with spiritual wisdom and understanding. Paul encourages the Christians in Colossae to live in a manner worthy of the gospel, in ways that are pleasing to God and produce good work. Paul is not insinuating that the people of Colossae are living faithful lives to earn their salvation, but to demonstrate how they have been changed by the news of Jesus. Giving them some examples of this type of lifestyle, Paul suggests that they are strengthened by God’s power, increasing their endurance, patience, joy, and gratitude. Because of their faith, they are given the authority to share the news of their redemption and forgiveness through Christ.

Paul describes Jesus as the image of the invisible God. Jesus was not a man who became a god, but God who became man. Jesus has been present with God since the beginning and all things were created through Him. Jesus is Creator, Sustainer, and Ruler of all things. Paul calls Jesus the “firstborn,” which highlighted the cultural implications of being the leader of the family and the heir to the greatest inheritance.

Paul states that in Jesus, the fullness of God was pleased to dwell. To early believers, this pointed back to the Tabernacle and the Temple where God’s presence previously resided. Paul explains that the mysteries of God are revealed in Jesus, who was God in the flesh. Through His sacrifice on the cross, Jesus brought peace and reconciled all things to Himself.

Sharing his experience of suffering, Paul states that hardships are his way of participating in the suffering Jesus experienced. Because Jesus faced many challenges and rejections, Paul understands that he will have this same experience as a follower of Jesus. Paul suffered for the sake of the church and for making God’s Word known.

Colossians 1:15 - He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.

COLOSSIANS 2

LEARN MORE ABOUT JESUS, HE IS ALL THAT MATTERS

Although Paul has not met the people of Colossae, he deeply cares for them and wants them to be encouraged to follow Jesus. Paul states that despite not physically being with them, he is with them in spirit and rejoicing over their firmness in faith. Wanting them to avoid following false teaching, Paul urges them to deepen their understanding of Christ so that they are not led astray.

Because they have accepted Jesus as their Savior, the Colossians are able to be rooted and established in the righteousness of Jesus. Knowing the people of Colossae would be pressured to turn away from their faith, Paul teaches them not to be swayed by legalism or compromised by idolatry. Because Jesus canceled their debts and nailed sin to the cross, the old ways of the believers have died with Christ, and they have been made alive again in Jesus. Through His defeat of death, Jesus triumphed over all other rulers, authorities, and powers, putting everything else to shame.

Speaking to some of the cultural differences of the time, Paul teaches the believers not to pass judgment on others in regards to food laws or Sabbath. Although some Jewish-Christians still practiced these traditions, the non-Jewish believers never practiced these traditions. Because Christ is the only necessary means of salvation, Paul encourages them not to let anyone disqualify them from the faith based on ritual or customs. Simply put, Paul believes all of the laws and rituals were secondary to the death and resurrection of Christ.

COLOSSIANS 3

PUT ON THE NEW SELF + EMBRACE THE QUALITIES OF CHRIST

In response to the resurrection of Jesus, Paul encourages the believers to also put on their new selves and be raised with Christ. Desiring their attention to be focused on God, Paul tells the followers of Jesus to set their minds on things above, not the things of the earth. Paul lists some of the earthly ways to put to death, including sexual immorality, impurity, evil desires, and idolatry. Paul also tells them to put away anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk.

Instead, they are to put on compassionate hearts of kindness, humility, meekness, patience, and forgiveness. Above all else, believers are to adorn love, which brings everything together in perfect harmony. Paul calls believers to let the peace of God rule in their hearts, serving as the guiding force for their lives.

Paul instructs the believers that they will be able to do these things if the Word of Christ dwells within them, teaching them to be wise and thankful. Paul teaches them that whatever they do, in action or in words, to do in the name of Jesus.

Paul provides rules for Christian households, teaching husbands to love their wives and not be harsh with them. When husbands are following the example of Christ, their wives are able to follow their lead. Paul also teaches husbands to not provoke or discourage their children. He encourages working for the glory of God, not the approval of humanity. In the end, God will provide a better reward and inheritance than any earthly earning could provide. In a time where women, children, and workers were often seen as property, Paul’s instructions are honoring to everyone and radically progressive.

Colossians 3:15 - And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.

COLOSSIANS 4

PAUL’S INSTRUCTIONS FOR PRAYER + FINAL GREETINGS 

Paul instructs the Colossians to devote themselves to prayer, asking God to continue spreading the news of Jesus and providing opportunities for Paul. For the advancement of the gospel, Paul says not to waste any opportunity and make the most of time with non-believers.

Finishing the letter, Paul offers final greetings to specific individuals in Colossae. Paul includes Tychicus, who is the messenger and reader of this letter. Paul also mentions Onesimus, who is central to the letter of Philemon, written to a leader in the church of Colossae. Paul continues his greetings and mentions many other notable leaders of the faith, including the gospel writers Mark and Luke.

Paul asks the people of Colossae to remember his chains, acknowledging his suffering for the furtherment of the gospel and development of the church. Paul wishes well for the Colossians and continues in his ministry.