Free Bible Commentary
“Introduction to Colossians”
Categories: ColossiansThe city of Colosse was located in the district of Phrygia in the province of Asia (Minor – modern day Turkey), and it was in close proximity to the cities of Hierapolis and Laodicea, the latter of which Paul wanted this letter read to (4:13, 16). Once a large and prosperous city that flourished because of its wool garment industry, by the time of Paul’s writing in the first century, Colosse was in decline, especially in comparison to its sister cities of Hierapolis and Laodicea.
It is not known how the church began in Colosse but it is unlikely that Paul had a part in its inception because it appears that he was personally unknown to the churches in that area (2:1). Jews from Phrygia were present in Jerusalem at Pentecost when the church of Christ was established (Acts 2:10), so perhaps some of those played a part in converting some of the locals to Christ when they returned home. Epaphras worked diligently to spread the truth with Paul and he was from Colosse (4:12), and he actually preached the Gospel there (1:7), so he may have been instrumental in starting up the congregation.
It seems that the main reason Paul wrote this letter was to warn the brethren to “See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ. For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form” (2:8-9). There was an element among the brethren in the region that was teaching damning heresy that may have been a combination of early Gnosticism and old Judaism.
Twice in the letter Paul emphasized that all the fullness of deity dwelt in Christ in bodily form (1:19: 2:9), which is a direct refutation of the gnostic principle that flesh is inherently evil. The Apostle also warned the brethren against the keeping of Jewish holy days which were “a mere shadow” of the truth and substance that has since been revealed in Christ Jesus (2:16-17). Paul wanted these brethren to “be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that” they would be able to “walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God” (1:9-10).
Please read Colossians 1:1-8 for tomorrow.
Have a blessed day!
- Louie Taylor
