Reading the Letter to the Colossians

A modern writer calls Colossians ‘one of Paul’s most powerful and attractive’ letters. Like Ephesians, Philippians (and Philemon) Paul wrote it from prison, probably under house arrest in Rome, 61-63 AD. He refers to himself by name in 1:1, 23 and in 4:18 he says I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you. He refers to his chains (4:3) and in 4:10 calls Aristarchus his fellow-prisoner. He also writes (1:24) of filling up in his flesh what was still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions.

Known for the glossy black wool produced from flocks tended by shepherds in the nearby hill country, Colosse lay a hundred miles inland of Ephesus in Asia Minor (modern Turkey) on a rock ridge overlooking the Lycus River valley. Laodicea was eleven miles west, slightly to the north. Hierapolis was also nearby. Colosse was an important city in the Persian Wars of the fifth century BC but the other two grew in significance and Colosse declined. By the first century AD it was still a good-sized but rather decadent place.

Paul had not visited these cities. He says the Colossians are among those who had not seen his face (2:1). Uniquely the letter is to a church not founded by Paul himself. There is no record in Acts of its beginning though Luke says (19:10) that during the two years Paul preached in the lecture hall of Tyrannus in Ephesus, all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord. The Colossian church was probably founded in this period.

Maybe Timothy (mentioned with Paul as writer) or another fellow-worker went east and planted the church. More likely, people from Colosse, especially Epaphras, came to Ephesus and were converted then returned and started the churches in Colosse, Hierapolis and Laodicea. Paul says of the gospel (1:7, 8) You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow-servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf, and who also told us of your love in the Spirit. He is the one who had gone to Paul in Rome to discuss problems in Colosse. Also see 4:12, 13.

Other people we know of in these churches include Nympha (4:15), Archippus (4:17) and Philemon and Apphia (see Philemon). From the way Paul speaks it seems Colosse was a largely Gentile church.

The letter reflects concern over a heresy affecting the church. Being on trade routes to the east, the Colossians were influenced by oriental, mystical religions from that direction. We do not automatically leave all our old ways of thinking behind on conversion.

The exact nature of the Colossian heresy is unclear. It is a little like hearing one side of a telephone conversation. We hear what Paul says against it and how he positively counteracts it but we do not know what was being said on the other side. It seems to have included Jewish legalistic practice mixed with Gentile pagan doctrine. We know there were many Jews in the area and they tended to be heretical. To what extent they had penetrated the church is unclear. What is apparent is that the Colossians were heavily influenced by the spirit of their age. This is always a danger.

We can identify seven characteristics of the heresy. Such ideas are still around today in different forms.

1. Promising fulness It offered a spiritual fulness not otherwise attainable. Paul’s reference to fulness in Christ suggests perhaps this was their big thing. Yes, the Colossians are Christians but they needed more. This is typical of heresy. It just wants to add something. Beware!

2. Promising freedom Freedom was also a big thing. They knew how to find it. In fact, Paul points out, they were only seeking to impose a new sort of slavery.

3. Gnostic This word has been used a lot lately thanks to Dan Brown. They seem to have claimed a particular insight into the powers of evil and the Colossian heresy may have been an early form of Gnosticism. The ideas from which Gnosticism developed are likely to have been in circulation some time before its second century rise.

4. Ascetic Asceticism was high on their agenda – fasting, harsh treatment of the body, etc.

5. Arrogant They spoke of a higher knowledge reserved for the initiated. They went into great detail about what they had seen. Their unspiritual mind puffing them up with idle notions.

6. Backward-looking What they were advocating was a step back into Judaism, into keeping religious festivals such as New Moon celebrations or Sabbath days. These are only a shadow of the things … to come. The reality is found in Christ.

7. Divisive Like all false teachers they were divisive. Paul does not want the believers to be deceived by fine-sounding arguments but to be united in love and peace for God’s glory, where there is no Greek or Jew, … but Christ is all, and is in all (3:11).

The Colossian heresy centred on Christ’s person of Christ. Paul corrects makes a positive presentation of the correct doctrine. He shows that all philosophies, ceremonies and spiritual powers are secondary to the glory and fullness of Christ.

This is in 1:14-22, a section that flows from the prayer he offers for them in the opening verses after the usual greeting. What Paul says of Christ can only be applied fully to God himself. The section is summarised in Paul’s assertion that in Christ the fulness of the Godhead dwelt bodily. Paul is using a term here familiar to the heretics - fulness - and applying it to Christ. He argues that in creation, redemption and our personal lives, Christ must be pre-eminent.

The doctrine of redemption is prominent. In Christ we have forgiveness of sins (1:14); we are reconciled to God through the blood of the cross (1:20, 22) and all our debt is cancelled by Christ (2:14). In the light of all the Lord has accomplished, Paul argues that we should not submit ourselves to man-made ordinances but rather seek the things that are above.

As in Ephesians, he shows the kind of life and conduct that should flow from an understanding of our privileges in Christ. There are many similarities between Colossians and Ephesians. Some argue, unconvincingly, that Colossians is just a copy of Ephesians with certain matters added. One writer calls the books twins. They were written at the same time, so it is hardly surprising that the same matters were in Paul’s mind and that these were expressed in similar ways in both letters. An interesting difference is that in certain places where Ephesians speaks of the Spirit, Colossians speaks of the Word. These parallel verses are useful for cross-interpretation.

To sum up, among reasons for Paul writing his letter are

1. His prayerful concern for them. See 1:1-12.

2. His desire for them to have a clear understanding of Christ’s sovereign headship over creation and the church. See 1:13-29.

3. His obvious desire to warn against the heresy referred to. In Chapter 3 he begins to exhort the Colossians to a life of holiness.

4. The need to explain the mission of Tychicus and Onesimus who brought the letter. He sends greetings from those with him in Rome.

1. Greeting 1:1-2

2. The Person and Work of Christ 1:3-2:7

Paul’s thanksgiving for the church 1:3-8

Paul’s prayer for the church 1:9-12

The pre-eminence of Christ 1:13-23

Paul’s sufferings and concern for the church 1:24-2:7

3. False Teaching and Its Remedy 2:8-3:4

False philosophy 2:8-15

False worship 2:16-19

False asceticism 2:20-3:4

4. The Christian Life 3:5-4:6

Negatively put off … 3:5-11

Positively put on … 3:12-17

Family relationships 3:18-4:1

General conduct 4:2-6

5. Personal Notes and Final Blessing 4:7-18