An Introduction to Colossians

Theme

To give background and contextual remarks for setting the scene of the book.

Introduction

This evening, we will begin our series in the book of Colossians, starting with the background and introductory remarks.

We won’t be able to get far into the first chapter this evening, but I hope to give you an introduction and then cover the salutation in chapter 1:1-2.

The Background of the Book (Verse)

The Human Author (Vs 1)

The book of Colossians begins with the words, “Paul, and Apostle of Jesus Christ.
1. The Apostle Paul is the recognized author of this book and there is no reason to doubt his authorship.
  1. The early church fathers had no problem with accepting this book as one of the letters of the Apostle Paul.
  2. Although the liberals claim that the Christological content of this book is more advanced than in Paul’s other writings, it isn’t beyond the capacity of the Holy Spirit to inspire and Paul to write these things, and the Apostle Paul himself declared that he had received direct revelation from Christ. (Galatians 1:12)
  3. Another fact the liberals miss is that, in the book of Colossians Paul is writing to address errors that had arisen in the church that Colosse that he had not needed to address elsewhere. This would lead him to take an otherwise unexpected approach to his writing.
2. Next, we look at the date for the writing of the book.
  1. The book of Colossians was written during Paul’s first imprisonment in Rome and is therefore considered one of the prison epistles.
  2. The exact date of writing is unknown; however, it is clear that the book of Colossians was written somewhere between A.D. 61 and A.D. 62.

The Reason for Writing (Col 2:8)

The threat of a Gnostic type of heresy which was gaining a hearing in the local church.
1. The Gnostics came in different shapes and sizes, however, the general concepts behind Gnosticism are as follows:
  1. The idea that one must attain some sort of existential or higher knowledge in order to obtain salvation.
  2. The idea that the physical world, and everything in it, is inherently evil, therefore, the only way to rise above evil is to bring the physical body into subjection and attain spiritual enlightenment.
    (This concept led to certain religious groups practicing self-flagellation in order to bring the physical body into subjection and attain a higher level of holiness.)
2. The antidote to this heresy was to point the believers to the all-sufficient Christ who is the head of the church and the Lord of all Creation.
The believers needed to be urged to holy living by “putting on” the indwelling Christ.
1. The believers needed to “put off” the old man with his deeds and put on the new man. The old man died when we were saved, born again, made alive in Christ.
2. Instead of attempting to subjugate the physical body, the believers needed to bring their old man into subjection to the spirit of the indwelling Christ.

The Background of Colosse (Vs 2)

The Church of Colosse

The Apostle Paul didn’t personally plant the church at Colosse.
1. In Chapter 2:1 Paul makes it clear that the believers at Colosse had not seen Paul in person, neither had the church at Laodicea.
2. It would appear, from studies of church history, that Epaphras had been saved under Paul’s ministry in Ephesus and, upon his return to the city of Colosse, he had planted the church here.
  1. A quick look at Philemon and vs 19-23 would give us the indication that Epaphras planted the church, possibly starting out in Philemon’s house.
  2. When the church at Colosse was becoming entangled with false doctrine, Epaphras went to seek Paul’s help in the matter, but Philemon vs 23 tells us that he became Paul’s fellow prisoner.
3. So, when the Colossians received this letter, they were in the middle of a doctrinal battle, their Pastor was in prison with Paul, and there were a few faithful men like Philemon and Archippus who were holding the ropes back home.

The City of Colosse

The city of Colosse had once been a thriving city, but by the time of the Apostle’s it had become a back water town.
1. “Colosse was a small market town in Asia Minor (modern Turkey) located about one hundred miles east of Ephesus. It was situated on the south bank of the Wolf River (the Lycus), a tributary of the Maeander. The town was located at the mouth of a narrow glen. To the south stood Mount Cadmus (called “Father of Mountains” by the Turks). The sister cities of Laodicea and Hierapolis were in the same valley, each about a day’s journey from Colosse. Both were larger and more important although Colosse had known its day of glory. The main road from Ephesus to the Euphrates ran through the town. It had known the tramp of the armies of the mighty Xerxes and the younger Cyrus. In apostolic times, it had ceased to be a town of much importance. Its population was a mix of Phrygians, Greeks, and Jews. The whole area bore the scars of past volcanic activity. Within several years of the writing of this letter, Colosse was destroyed by an earthquake. It was already only a footnote on the page of history. Probably we should never have heard of the place if Paul had not addressed this immortal letter to the church within its gates. As brief as it is, this letter-little more, really, than a mere memo-ranks among the giants. No one ever wrote greater or grander things about the Lord Jesus than Paul does in this epistle. Colossians 1:15-17 ranks alongside Philippians 2:5-11, Hebrews 1:1-14, and John 1:13-14.”^[1]

Paul’s Salutation to the Colossians (Vs 1-2)

The Persons in the Salutation (Vs 1)

The Apostle Paul
1. As mentioned earlier, the Apostle Paul is the author of the book and the first name mentioned in the opening salutation.
2. The Apostle begins by declaring his credentials as an Apostle.
  1. Remember, the believers at Colosse had never seen Paul in person, but Paul’s Apostleship meant that he had authority in all the churches.
  2. Paul was making clear at the outset of the letter that he was an Apostle, and that his Apostleship was established by God.
  3. The other Apostle’s, the Jerusalem church, or even the Jerusalem church Pastor, James, had not made Paul an Apostle. He was an Apostle by the will and the election of God, and he had the authority to address the doctrinal problems that had arisen in the church at Colosse.
Timotheus our brother
1. Timothy was a young man whose mother was a Jewess but whose father was a Greek.
  1. II Timothy 1:5 makes it clear that it was Timothy’s mother and grand mother who had instilled in him good teaching which had resulted in his “unfeigned faith.”
  2. The Apostle Paul later took Timothy under his tutelage and instructed him in the Word of God.
2. Timothy became the Pastor of the church at Ephesus.
  1. I Timothy 1:3 tells us that Paul besought Timothy to abide at Ephesus, and to “charge some that they teach no other doctrine.”
  2. At the time of the writing of the book of Colossians, it seems Timothy had begun his tutelage under the Apostle Paul and was one of his constant companions
3. Training men is one of the functions of a local church and particularly of a Pastor.
  1. II Timothy 2:2 “And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.”
  2. We need to be looking for faithful men who we can train for the work of the ministry. Whether that be full time ministry or some form of teaching role.

The Recipients of the Salutation (Vs 2)

The saint and faithful brethren at Colosse
1. The letter is written to the church at Colosse.
  1. No doubt, this letter would be a calm amidst the storm of false doctrine.
  2. You can almost picture the day when the letter from the Apostle Paul arrived and was read in front of the whole church. Up until this point there has been confusion and contention over the Gnostic and legalistic heresies which have entered the church and then this letter arrives from Paul and the heresies are rebuked and dealt with, bringing back unity within the local assembly.
2. Paul often begins his letters with a salutation of grace and peace.
  1. Paul’s desire for the believers at Colosse was that they would know the blessing of the divine grace and peace which comes only from God.
  2. It was always Paul’s desire to see local New Testament churches grow in their knowledge and understanding of the grace and peace of God.
  3. Philippians 4:7 “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Conclusion

So that is the introduction of the letter to the Colossians.
I trust as we get further into our study of this short letter, we will find it has many practical helps for us as a local assembly of believers as well.

Closing Hymn: 498 – When We All Get to Heaven

References

John Phillips 2002, Exploring Colossians and Philemon, Pg 15; Kregel Publications 2001, Grand Rapids, MI 49505 ↑

Sermons

An Introduction to Colossians – Colossians 1:1-2