CHRIST: CREATOR, SUSTAINER, ALL IN ALL

INTRODUCTION TO COLOSSIANS

Author: The Apostle Paul is identified as the author of this letter to the church at Colossae in the text itself. This has also been confirmed by many scholars of the early church and by the fact that it closely correlates with the letter to Philemon which is universally recognized as being written by Paul. It was written during his first imprisonment in Rome, and along with Philippians, Ephesians, and Philemon is classified as a “Prison Epistle.”

Recipients: The letter is addressed to the church at Colossae but was to be circulated from there to the church at Laodicea, the church which later was called “lukewarm” by the Lord (Revelation 3:14-22). Colossae had been an important trade city until the trade route changed to move through Laodicea. It was near Ephesus, and the church was founded by Epaphras who apparently was saved during a trip to Ephesus. Although Colossae was a Roman city, there was a large Jewish colony there. So, the Colossian church was a mix of Jews and Gentiles, including a large number of Phrygians. The letter may have been written at about the same time as Ephesians and the letter to Philemon. Tychicus was delivering the letters and escorting the runaway slave Onesimus, now a brother in Christ, back to his master Philemon who lived in Colossae. Epaphras was a student of Paul and had made him aware of the problem of heresy in the church at Colossae. A correct view of Christ combats heresy. Understanding the person of Christ is the greatest counter to heresy. In chapters 1 and 2, Paul sets forth theological truths; and in chapters 3 and 4, he delineates the Christians’ correct response to these truths in godly living.

OUTLINE

• Chapter 1
  1. The person of Christ—deity, preeminence, and supremacy
  2. Reconciliation
  3. Paul’s work
• Chapter 2
  1. Warning against heresy
  2. Sufficiency of Christ
  3. Mistake of reverting to bondage
• Chapter 3
  1. Forgiveness
  2. Putting off and putting on
  3. Relationships
• Chapter 4
  1. Religious duties
  2. Commendations
  3. Greetings

ASSIGNMENT: Read though the entire books of Colossians (4 chapters) and Philemon (1 Chapter) in the next two days. This will give you a context for the study and help you become familiar with the key themes.

THEMES: We will highlight the themes by highlighting key words:

• The blessings that belong to believers in Christ. Throughout, we will emphasize the words in Christ, in him, in whom, in the Lord.
• The grace of God and salvation by grace alone.
• Riches of Christ
• Faith is the means by which the gift of salvation is made real in our lives
• The unity of the body of believers
• Submission of wives to husbands
• Sacrificial Love of husbands for wives
• Love from God, love toward God, and love of believers for one another
• Forgive, Forgiveness of the Lord to us, and us to others

You may print out the chart below or choose your own verses to memorize from the study.