Colossians
Purpose
Colossians is written to counter a deceptive teaching that had crept into the church at Colossae, a syncretism that mixed reverence for Christ with the worship of angelic "elemental spirits," strict ascetic rules, visions, and Jewish ceremonial observances, as though Christ alone were not sufficient for salvation and fullness. Paul answers not by splitting doctrinal hairs but by exalting Christ beyond all rivalry: the Son is "the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation," the one by whom and for whom all things were made, the head of the church, and the one in whom "the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily" — so that the believer, made full in him, needs nothing and no one else. The first half is a hymn to Christ's supremacy in creation and reconciliation; the second half works out the implications: since the believer has died and risen with Christ, he must put to death what is earthly and put on the new self, renewing every relationship — wives and husbands, children and parents, slaves and masters — in the Lord. Christ is all, and in all.
Author
Paul the apostle
Time Period
Written c. 60-62 AD during Paul's first Roman imprisonment
Key Themes
- The supremacy and fullness of Christ
- Christ over creation and the church
- Freedom from false worship
- The new self
- Christ in every relationship
Outline
The supremacy of Christ (ch. 1–2): thanksgiving, the Christ-hymn of creation and reconciliation, Paul's labor, and freedom from judgment over food, festivals, and the worship of angels. The new life in Christ (ch. 3–4): set your minds on things above, put to death the earthly, put on the new self, and the household code; with devoted, watchful prayer and gracious speech toward outsiders.