Background book of colossians

The epistle of paul to the colossians, or simply colossians, is the twelfth book of the new testament. The book of colossians encourages a greater devotion to. The letter to philemon tells us that onesimus was the slave of a christian named philemon philem. The landscape of the book of colossians scholars believe colossians was penned in a prison in rome, to the church at colossae, in the lycus river valley, now modern turkey. The book of colossians is a prison epistle letter written while in prison. Shortly after pauls letter was delivered, the entire valley was devastated by a severe earthquake, which further reduced colossaes importance as a city. Colossians follows the outline of a typical pauline letter. 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. In the 19th century, however, some thought that the heresy refuted in ch. Some of the most exalted language concerning him is found in this short jewel. At the time of writing, paul had not visited there, the letter says col 1.

In colossians, paul encourages the colossian christians to see jesus. Additional evidence for pauls authorship comes from the books. But let us not miss the fact that this movement has its. A study of deeper faith in colossians, part 12 october 19, 2014 mike minter sermons colossians, john our vertical relationship with god deeply impacts our horizontal relationships with others, and peace with god gives us the peace of god. First, colossians is unrivalled in its portrayal of the person of the lord jesus christ. The letters to the colossians and to philemon the pillar new testament commentary pntc.

Black wool and dyes made from the nearby chalk deposits were important products. Thanksgiving and prayer we always thank god, the father of our lord jesus christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in christ jesus and of the love you have for all. Philemon bible study lesson 1 historical backgrounds of philemon information useful to understand before a study of the letters contents slavery in the grecoroman world one of the most important things to understand about philemon is the background of slavery in the ancient world. 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. Background of the book of colossians 1 who is considered the author of the book and why. Colossians is one of four prison epistles written by the apostle paul during his first roman imprisonment. He also was a slaveholder whose slave onesimus had escaped, had later encountered the apostle paul, and had responded to the gospel message about jesus. The book of ephesians hits on a wide range of moral and ethical behaviors, designed to ensure believers are living up to our heavenly calling. Were into the last church epistle, the only one that has not been covered on a. Colossians 3 background information with maps and images. The historical context a daily devotion for june 26, 2014 as we looked at the literary context yesterday, today the goal is to look at the historical context of colossians. 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 160km from ephesus in asia minor. Paul, an apostle of christ jesus by the will of god, and timothy our brother, to gods holy people in colossae, the faithful brothers and sisters in christ.

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. Indeed, he is the image of the invisible god, the sovereign and preeminent one among all creation col. In introducing a book like this, it is critically important for us to have some overall understanding and background. Jun 21, 2012 a brief introduction to the background of pauls letters to the colossians and to a christian named philemon. In the early church, all who speak on the subject of authorship ascribe it to paul.

The book of colossians was likely written between a. As we continue in our faith from day to day, month to month, and year to year, the temptation to get comfortable will always exist. The church at colossae was likely established during pauls third missionary journey as he ministered for three years in ephesus. Colossians is one of pauls four prison epistles col 4. Sep 03, 2011 this semester im involved in an intensive bible study on the book of colossians. Why study pauls letters to the colossians and philemon. He penned this letter, along with ephesians, philippians, and philemon during his first imprisonment in rome. Book of ephesians overview insight for living ministries. The book of colossians encourages a greater devotion to jesus. However, paul presented the gift of god in christ and the benefits we. Introduction to the book of colossians learn religions. This semester im involved in an intensive bible study on the book of colossians. Previous index next the epistle to the colossians introduction author.

The background, burden, and main points the lifestudy of the bible is a bookbybook exposition of the bible by witness lee. This was a letter, written by paul, under the inspiration of the holy ghost, to the church at colossae. Colossians background christianity was the solution, but it is so simple, most people missed the profoundness of it and thus seek to add to it. This letter is addressed to a congregation at colossae in the lycus valley in asia minor, east of ephesus. In this book, the apostle paul described jesus with some of the loftiest. The author of the book of colossians is the apostle paul. Introduction to the book of colossians pulpit pages. Religion, tradition, and philosophy including mysticism and. The apostle paul wrote this letter to christians living in the small city of colossae.

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. He should have done more research, organized it, and then written this book, and utilized an editor himself. Also, there are many personal references common to philemon and colossians. The letters to the colossians and to philemon the pillar. The apostle paul, joined in his salutation by timothy 1. Because of his divine nature, jesus is sovereign, above all things with an authority given him by the father. History and literature of early christianity, introduction to the new testament vol 2. 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. We are writing to gods holy people in the city of colosse, who are faithful brothers and sisters in christ. Colossians was likely penned, as were ephesians, philippians, and philemon, during pauls first imprisonment at rome 1.

Colossians introduction commentary commentary critical. Christ was and is the visible image of the invisible god, containing within himself the fullness of deity colossians 2. Background of colossians march 28, 1984 ok, lets turn to colossians chapter four. The city of colosse is not even mentioned in the book of acts. The book of colossians gives the clearest, most comprehensive teaching on christology of all pauls epistles. Colossians executable outline study resources blue letter bible. And the new fancy philosophical theories were as catchy and powerful then as todays false teachers and their deceptive tv ministries that fleece the flock and leave people empty and devastated along. The apostle paul and timothy directly named in colossians 1. In colossians, paul mentions the faithful and beloved brother, onesimus col. All our biblical information about the church there comes from this letter and a few allusions in the letter to philemon. Intro to colossians biblica the international bible. Having this background we can then have the context to understand gods message to the colossians and to ourselves.

Colossians intro to colossians biblica the international bible. The external testimony to the pauline authorship of colossians is ancient and consistent. Nov 01, 2016 watch our overview video on the book of colossians, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. Introduction to colossians bible exposition commentary. 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.

Introduction to the book of colossians tonight i want to begin a study of the book of colossians. Colossians a historical background study doing a historical background study is helpful in understanding the specific situation and setting of the author and the reader of biblical literature. Listen to chuck swindolls overview of colossians in his audio message from the classic. Colossians is named for the city of colosse, where the church it was addressed to was located.

Book summary colossians shows jesus christs divine characteristics. Please contact the publisher to obtain copies of this resource. Background on colossae and the colossians bible commentary. Intro to colossians biblica the international bible society. Evidence in favor of pauline authorship is the many notable similarities to his other writings. The epistles of paul to the colossians and philemon. A brief introduction to the background of pauls letters to the colossians and to a christian named philemon. God worked in creation, making humans workers in his image colossians 1. It had been an important town during the greek and persian war of the fifth century b. Constable historical background the city of colosse lay in the beautiful lycus valley about 100 miles east of ephesus. The epistle of paul to the colossians, or simply colossians, is the twelfth book of the new. Tychicus was a coworker of paul who would have been able to help the colossian believers understand and apply the apostles teachings in the letter. This letter was written by paul, an apostle of jesus christ 1. Pauline epistle, also one of pauls prison epistles, 12th book of the new testament.

Take your bible and turn with me to colossians, and i want us to, at least, begin to look at what god might have for us here. The key personalities include paul, timothy, tychicus, onesimus, aristarchus, mark, and epaphras. The general consensus is that these epistles were written during pauls imprisonment at rome cf. What paul is up against in this epistle is the bastions of human culture. Watch our overview video on the book of colossians, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. This summary of the book of colossians provides information about the title, author s, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of colossians. Its also important to discover the authors intended meaning of the text in order to interpret it. The numerous parallels of vocabulary and matters discussed in ephesians and colossians link these epistles together. Because of jesus resurrection, believers become part of a new humanity thats joined to him, and their lives are. The book of colossians encourages christians to not compromise or turn from jesus. While there is not much that is needed to be known here, there are some things to know. Background of the book of colossians 1 who is considered.

The community had apparently been established by epaphras of colossae col 1. Philemon was a citizen of colossae and an upright leader in that church. Colosse was a thriving city in the fifth century b. The letters to the colossians and to philemon the pillar new. Colossians 1 full chapter greetings from paul this letter is from paul, chosen by the will of god to be an apostle of christ jesus, and from our brother timothy. In the letter to the colossians, paul addresses how our relationship to god through jesus christ affects us in the workplace. May 02, 2020 timothy is also given some credit colossians 1. The book of colossians is about the supremacy of the person of christ. He has no equal among the religious leaders of the world religions because he and he alone is gods son and the way, the truth, and the life john 14. Christ is lord over all of creation, including the.

Though he did not personally know the recipients, paul was acquainted with them. The apostle paul was the primary writer of the book of colossians colossians 1. It was written to counter and respond to heretical teachings and encourage believers to serve with fervor and passion. Early sources in church history that attribute this letter to paul include. Background of the book of colossians 1 who is considered the. Bruce, paul, the apostle of the heart set free, pp. Philemon bible study lesson 1 historical backgrounds of.

Stay connected amidst social distancing receive weekly bible studies to share with family and friends. This infinite eternal powerful being is shown in this epistle to be personal, he. This hymn may be compared with similar passages in phil 2. Problems, however, had arisen, brought on by teachers who emphasized christs. In addition, the city was situated at the junction of the main northsouth and eastwest trade routes. It was written to counter and respond to heretical teachings and encourage believers to. Book of colossians overview insight for living ministries.

Colossians is named for the city of colossae, where the church it was addressed to was located. From these sources we learn that epaphras was responsible for bringing the gospel to. Religion, tradition, and philosophy including mysticism and asceticism had swept through the church life there. This was about the same time he wrote ephesians and philemon. So paul sent this letter, along with the letters to philemon and to the ephesians, with tychicus, accompanied by onesimus colossians 4.

Mar, 2019 the landscape of the book of colossians scholars believe colossians was penned in a prison in rome, to the church at colossae, in the lycus river valley, now modern turkey. Colossiansa historical background study doing a historical background study is helpful in understanding the specific situation and setting of the author and the reader of biblical literature. This article is also available and sold as a booklet. Abbott, a critical and exegetical commentary on the epistles to the ephesians and to the colossians, icc, pp. The letters to the colossians and to philemon the pillar new testament commentary pntc moo, douglas j. They must grasp who jesus is and what he did for them. Thus, colossians is a book that speaks to our cosmic age and to this new age movement. If such is truly the case, then paul wrote colossians around 6163 a. All three letters were sent with tychicus and onesimus. Tonight were going to begin a study thats going to take us probably for a couple of months, through.

From these sources we learn that epaphras was responsible for bringing the gospel to the colossians colossians 1. It was apparently familiar liturgical material to the author. The creator, the one from whom all things consist, the all powerful one, the master of time and space, the head of the church. The first half of the book of colossians is a theological treatise that includes one of the most profound presentations of christology anywhere in. Colossians niv paul, an apostle of christ jesus by the. In the early church, all who speak on the subject of. A dangerous teaching was threatening the church at colossae, one that lessened christs role and undermined the new.