The colossians were apparently adopting protognostic and syncretistic views and practices that were incompatible with the knowledge of gods mystery, of christ, in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge 2. The date of the writing of the book of timothy is questioned. Colossians is also very similar in content to ephesians and philemon, with about one fourth of colossians actually contained in the book of ephesians. Among its 27 books are selected recollections of the life and acts and sayings of. Paul reminded the christians about the importance of jesus.
This is the holy book of colossians, known as the epistle of paul the apostle to the colossians. In history and literature, colossians is a book of the new testament. The epistle to the colossians was written by paul at rome during his first imprisonment there acts 28. Some have argued that paul wrote colossians from ephesus or caesarea, but most of the evidence favors rome as the place where paul penned all the prison. Watch our overview video on the book of colossians, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. Book of colossians overview insight for living ministries. The qualitative difference between the christ and the other significant messengers of god. Colossians is a book in the new testament of the bible it is a letter written by paul to the church at colosse. Paul and timothy are believed to have written it in the 50s ad. Though he did not personally know the recipients, paul was acquainted with them.
Interesting facts about colossians barnes bible charts author. Colossians is named for the city of colossae, where the church it was addressed to was located. The books of the bible were written at different times by different authors over a period of approximately 1,500 years from around 1,400 bc through 90 ad. Some have argued that paul wrote colossians from ephesus or caesarea, but most of the evidence favors rome as the place where paul penned all the prison letters ephesians, colossians, philippians and philemon. Amazing facts 247 television station featuring the best in bible study streamed lived and ondemand. This is because, if ephesians is judged to be written c. The key personalities include paul, timothy, tychicus, onesimus, aristarchus, mark, and epaphras. The book of luke was said to have been written somewhere around the time of 60 a.
All three letters were sent with tychicus and onesimus. The epistle of paul to philemon, known simply as philemon, is one of the books of the christian new testament. The epistle of paul to the colossians, or simply colossians, is the twelfth book of the new testament. The book of colossians is a prison epistle letter written while in prison.
A workplace application of the theme of mutuality is alluded to in colossians and discussed in pauls letter to philemon, the shortest book of the bible. Listen to chuck swindolls overview of colossians in his audio message from the classic series gods masterwork. Introduction to colossians bible exposition commentary. Colossians, letter, paul, rome, ephesus, jewish, philosophy. Book 12 pauls letter to the colossians with people, places, definitions, map writer. Though there are references to such things as philosophy and empty deceit 2. The book of colossians is pauls letter to the christians at colosse. Paul during his first imprisonment in rome the other three being ephesians, philemon and philippians. It was written to counter and respond to heretical teachings and encourage believers to serve with fervor and passion. The first half of the book of colossians is a theological treatise that includes one of the most profound presentations of christology anywhere in the new testament. In colossians, paul mentions the faithful and beloved brother, onesimus col. This letter was written from prison in rome acts 28. The letter of paul to the colossians work by saint paul britannica.
It was also to be read in the neighboring church at laodicea 4. Also eusebius reports that paul was brought to rome and that aristarchus was with him history, 2. Before paul wrote this letter to the christians in colossae, he had never been to their city colossians 2. The book of colossians, despite being written nearly 2,000 years ago, is stunningly relevant today, with its warnings against following false philosophies, worshiping angels, and becoming mired in legalism. Ephesians, colossians and philemon written at the same time. Most commentators are certain that paul was indeed the author.
The letter of paul to the colossians work by saint paul. It deals with the themes of forgiveness and reconciliation. Colossians intro to colossians biblica the international bible. Meyer then offers 14 chapters full of information from the book of colossians written to help you keep your faith and god and live a better christian life. The letter to philemon tells us that onesimus was the slave of a christian named philemon philem. It is a prison letter, coauthored by paul the apostle with timothy, to philemon, a leader in the colossian church. This helps explain the personal greetings he included at the end of the letter, a practice he usually reserved for letters to churches he had not visited for example, romans. Destination of the letter the epistle to the colossians was written to the church at colosse, probably between 60 and 63 ad. Moreover, it could be argued that the use of colossians by the author of ephesians supports the authenticity of colossians. Colossians christ is the theme and the periphery of the circle where christian living is the center. It was probably written while paul was imprisoned in rome around ad60. In fact, colossians is sometimes taken to be deuteropauline, which simply means that on the basis of certain allegedly nonpauline features of vocabulary, style, and theology, colossians was written by a disciple of paul, one well versed in the apostles theology. Sabbath school study hour helping you get the most out of your sabbath school quarterly every week.
Book of colossians audiobook by scourby bible media. This letter was written by paul, an apostle of jesus christ 1. That they were written in prison is stated in the epistles themselves. Scholars are divided on whether it was written by saint paul during one of his imprisonments after ad 60 or by a later follower of paul who further developed some of his ideas. He wrote the letter to the colossian congregation from rome around 60.
The apostle paul was the primary writer of the book of colossians colossians 1. Who wrote the book of colossians in the bible answers. The book of colossians encourages a greater devotion to. When was the book of the bible colossians written answers. In the 19th century, however, some thought that the heresy refuted in ch. This was about the same time he wrote ephesians and philemon. Introduction to the epistle of paul to the colossians. Also known as the epistle to the colossians, the book of colossians was written by the apostle paul from 58 to 62 a. Luke was a historian and a medical doctor we learned this through colossians 4. Christ is lord over all of creation, including the. Philippians emphasizes the kenosis christ became a servant philippians 2. Colossians summary from the easyenglish bible easy. The book of colossians was likely written between a.
We will focus on the main themes that arise throughout the book such as the supremacy of christ, the freedom we experience through the gospel, and how to live a life pleasing to the lord. The epistle to the colossians is a book of the new testament of the bible. The key personalities include paul, timothy, tychicus. The writer mentions his chain and his bonds ephesians 6. But he often prayed for the christians there colossians 1. The epistle to the colossians is a book in the new testament of the bible. Paul does not identify himself as an apostle with authority, but as a prisoner of jesus christ, calling.
The apostle paul wrote this letter to christians living in the small city of colossae. In the early church, all who speak on the subject of authorship ascribe it to paul. Its widely believed that pauls letter to the colossians was written in 62. The power of the bleeding love of god is stronger than the power of caesar, of the law, of mars, mammon, aphrodite and the rest. It was written for the location called colossae, hence its name. Its widely believed that pauls letter to the colossians was written in 62 a. The old testament was written in biblical hebrew excluding the books written during the chaldean ca. Pauls letter to the colossians is a rebuttal to the gnostic error, a first century heresy that was already evident in the church in 60 ad when the letter was written, and is still with us today. Paul wrote his epistle to the colossians because of a report that they were falling into serious error see bible dictionary, pauline. It was written to counter and respond to heretical teachings and encourage believers to. It was written, according to the text, by paul the apostle and timothy to the church in colossae, a small phrygian city near laodicea and approximately 100 miles 160 km from ephesus in asia minor. The subscript which was added at a later date asserts.
Stay connected amidst social distancing receive weekly bible studies to share with family and friends. Colossians is thought to have been written at the same time as ephesians and philemon. And that is the reason for the colossians gratitude. Intro to colossians biblica the international bible. Paul obviously wrote the book of colossians or the. Colossians starts with both an introduction on how to read the book and an introduction telling about the book of colossians. Colossians emphasizes the pleroma christ is the fullness of god colossians 2.
Colossians the book of colossians is the 12th book of the new testament, which contains the epistle of paul to the colossians, a letter written by the apostle paul to the church of colossae around 50 ce. The church at colossae in asia minor, probably established by christian workers from ephesus. The first half of the book of colossians is a theological treatise that includes one of the most profound presentations of christology anywhere in. The book of colossians addresses problems the church at colossae faced, and it challenges believers to examine all of life and be transformed through the resurrection and love of jesus. Thus, colossians is a book that speaks to our cosmic age and to this. The letter of paul to the colossians, new testament writing addressed to. The author the book of colossians was sent to the church at colossae which is near laodicea and was likely written about around a. This book was written shortly before paul was martyred.