A brief study on the book of Colossians Part of Bible study Explaining the purpose of the book of Colossians. Learning helper for Bible students and enthusiasts. For more ebooks and notes on Bible study, please visit the following link. https://biblestudyhelpdesk.blogspot.com Thank you

2. Colossae
Paul in prison
Acts 28:30-31
Col. 4:3,18
A.D. 60-63
Writes
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
Philemon

3. Colossae

7. The letter says that Paul is its
author (1,1;1,23, 4,18). But the real
author could have been someone
within the Pauline tradition Many
modern scholars favor a non-
Pauline authorship of this letter for
the following reason:

8. • The language and style differ from
that of other Pauline letters.
• The distinct theological difference
argues against Pauline authorship
• A dissimilar Christology (1, 15-20; 29,10)
emerges.
• A different ecclesiological concept is
presented: Jesus as the head of the
body, the Church.

9. • Paul’s letters (1Cor 12; 12-27; Rom 12 4-5) use
the simile of the body but do not speak of the
head. There is a progress in thought in the
Colossians simile of the body.
• As regards Colossians eschatology, typical Pauline
ideas Like parousia, resurrection of the dead and
judgment of the world, etc. do not occur here.
Similarly, future eschatology has re4ceded in this
letter.
• The post-Pauline author took over the hymn in
1,15-20 and other traditional material to combat
heresy in the sub apostolic age. The letter bears
the mark of early Catholicism of the sub apostolic
age. The actual author of this letter might have
used two of Paul’s prison letter (Philippians and

10. Introduction
 Who?
• Paul, the author (1:1,23; 4:18)
• Colossians, the recipients (1:1,21,27)
• Epaphras, the minister (1:7-8)
• Tychicus, the letter carrier (4:7-8)

11. Emphases
 The Absolute Supremacy and all-sufficiency of Christ
 Christ both forgives sin and removes one from the
terror of “the powers”
 Religious rules and regulations count for nothing
 But ethical life that bears God’s own image counts
for everything
 Christ-like living affects relationships of all kinds

12. Historical Background
 Tri-cities: Hierapolis, Laodicea, Colossae
 See 2.1 and 4.13-16
 Important city on the main road across Asia Minor from
Ephesus to the Euphrates River
 Laodicea was a medical, judicial, financial and banking
center of the region (overshadowing Colossae). Both
were economically prosperous (wool) and culturally
diverse.
 5th-4th c BC: large, prosperous, populous
 See Revelation 3.14-22

13.  Both cities were damaged by earthquakes.
 Laodicea was destroyed by an earthquake about 60 AD,
but rebuilt using their own resources with no assistance
from Rome.
 There are Jewish settlers in this area for about 300 years
before Paul writes Colossians
 2000 Jewish families relocated in 2nd c BC
 One estimate puts about 9,000 Jewish males over the age
of 20 in Laodicea about 60 BC.
 Jews were allowed to practice their religion without
hindrance (observing Sabbath, etc)
 By Paul’s day Colossae waned in importance

14. The Church in Colossae
 The origin of the community of faith in Colossae
is unknown
 Paul did not establish the church in Col (2.1)
 See Acts 2.10 for Phrygians at Pentecost
 Paul spends considerable time in Ephesus and
Asia (Acts 19.10) 110 miles away

15. Structure of Colossians
Author 1.1
Recipients 1.2a
Greeting 1.2b
Prayer/thanksgiving 1.3-8 or 14
Body 1.9-4.6
Farewell/final greeting 4.7-18

17. Specific advice for reading
Colossians
 Some false teaching
 Jewish flavour (circumcision, Jewish religious calendar, written
code standing)
 Superstitions about angelic or spiritual powers
 Philosophy
 Supremacy of Christ
 Situation in the church
 Encourage (1:3-12; 2:2)
 Warnings (1:23; 2:4)
 Onesimus (4:9)

18. Supremacy of Christ
 Image of God (1:15-18a)
First born of all creation/ Agent
of creation
 First principle of reality(1:18b-20)
First born from the dead

19. Christ is the image of the invisible God. He is the first-born of all creation
For in him were created all things in
heaven and on earth,
The visible and invisible, whether thrones
or dominions or rulers or powers
All things have created through him and
for him.
He is before all things and in him all
things hold together;
He is the head of the body the Church
He is the beginning, the first born from
the dead,
In order that he might come to hold first
place in all things.
For God was pleased to have all his
fullness dwell in him,
And through him to reconcile to himself
all things, whether things on the earth or
things in heaven, by making peace
through the blood, shed on the cross.
The Christological Hymn (1, 15-20)

20. Christ is the head of the
church
 When one is a member of church, one has no
need to fear any other spiritual being, whether
angelic, astral, or demonic. Since Christ is head
over all of them, to follow Christ is to be
delivered from any power such beings might
exercise
 Christ has because of his resurrection from the
dead. Hi is thus not only agent of creation and
preservation but also the principle reality in the
re-creation of reality at the turn of ages.

21. Group Discussion
 What is full maturity in Christ?
(Colossians 1:28) What does this look
like when embodied in a person?
(Reference 3:1-17)
 In light of our current day and age, how
can the Church raise Christians who are
fully mature in Christ? What are the
Church's responsibilities?

22. Peace be with you!
John 20:19
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