New Testament · Epistle · Book 51 of 66

Book of Colossians

A letter about the supremacy of Christ: Lord over all creation, fully sufficient for His people, and the center of a new way of life.

4 Chapters

Colossians 1–4

Author

Paul (with Timothy)

Written

c. A.D. 60 – 62

Written From

Rome (in prison)

Overview

Book of Colossians Summary

Paul wrote to the church at Colossae, a congregation he had never visited, after Epaphras reported on their faith and love and also on a dangerous teaching spreading among them. Paul calls it a hollow and deceptive philosophy (2:8) that added rules, festivals, visions and worship of angels to Christ.

His answer is the supremacy and sufficiency of Christ. Chapter 1 opens with thanksgiving and prayer and then describes Christ as the image of the invisible God, the Creator and sustainer of everything, the head of the church, and the one who reconciles us to God. Chapter 2 warns that all the fullness of God lives in Christ, so believers who have been buried and raised with Him need nothing added.

Chapters 3 and 4 turn to daily life. Because they have been raised with Christ, believers are to seek the things above, put off the old self, put on compassion, forgiveness and love, and live this out in the home, in prayer and among outsiders. The letter closes with personal greetings.

About the Name

Title

The letter is named for its recipients, the church at Colossae. The early Greek title is Pros Kolossaeis, “To the Colossians.” Colossae was a small city in the Lycus River valley in the Roman province of Asia, in what is now western Turkey, near Laodicea and Hierapolis (4:13, 15–16).

Paul had not met the church face to face (2:1). It was probably planted by Epaphras (1:7; 4:12), likely during Paul’s ministry in Ephesus (Acts 19:10).

Who Wrote It

Author Details

The letter names Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, with Timothy as co-sender (1:1), and closes with Paul’s greeting in his own hand (4:18). It describes him as a prisoner (4:3, 10, 18).

The church has received it as Paul’s from the earliest centuries.

When It Was Written

Date of Writing

Colossians is most often dated to about A.D. 60–62, during Paul’s first imprisonment in Rome (Acts 28:30–31). Some scholars suggest Caesarea or Ephesus instead.

Tychicus carried the letter, together with Onesimus (4:7–9), at the same time as Philemon and Ephesians, which explains why these letters share so many names and themes.