Sabbath school study hour helping you get the most out of your sabbath school quarterly every week. A dangerous teaching was threatening the church at colossae, one that lessened christs role and undermined the new. He wrote to refute each of the theological errors the colossians were tempted to embrace. Jul 28, 2015 why study pauls letters to the colossians and philemon. Popular colossians books meet your next favorite book. Intro to colossians biblica the international bible. It is a prison letter, coauthored by paul the apostle with timothy, to philemon, a leader in the colossian church. Used by workplace christians, pastors and scholars.
The purpose of pauls epistle to the colossians is to instruct the believers that salvation is only in jesus christ. Colossians activities for kids susans homeschool blog. The general consensus is that these epistles were written during pauls imprisonment at rome cf. 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.
Christ, and in colossians the emphasis is on the christ as the head of the body. The letter of paul to the colossians, also called the epistle of st. Politically, corinth was the capital city of the roman province of achaia, a territory including nearly all of greece. However, paul presented the gift of god in christ and the benefits we. 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. May 02, 2020 timothy is also given some credit colossians 1. Though he did not personally know the recipients, paul was acquainted with them. This letter was written by paul, an apostle of jesus christ 1. It was written to counter and respond to heretical teachings and encourage believers to serve with fervor and passion. Colossians is firmly established in the canon of the christian church. Amazing facts 247 television station featuring the best in bible study streamed lived and ondemand. Paul explains and demonstrates the preeminence of christ in creation, redemption, and the relationships of life in this letter to the colossians.
For the prayer that their hearts may be comforted, must include the. In colossians, paul encourages the colossian christians to see jesus. Intro to colossians biblica the international bible society. It was written to counter and respond to heretical teachings and encourage believers to. Please contact the publisher to obtain copies of this resource. 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. Malachi is merely a transliteration of a hebrew word meaning my messenger. Previous index next the epistle to the colossians introduction author. Apr 11, 2019 jack zavada is a writer who covers the bible, theology, and other christianity topics. Book of colossians overview insight for living ministries. Colossians was written from rome during pauls first imprisonment, about 6162 ad.
The letter of paul to the colossians work by saint paul. It emphasizes that those who belong to jesus need only draw on the resources god provides through jesus in order to find blessing. Now, in an age like this with no absolutes, somebody needs to really define who jesus is. Become the whole person god intends you to be by warren w. Scholars have increasingly questioned pauls authorship and attributed the letter to an early follower instead. At the time of the colossians letter, paul had not visited colosse the colossian letter was sent from rome to colosse by tychicus and the converted slave, onesimus. Some of the most exalted language concerning him is found in this short jewel of a letter we know today as the book of colossians. The epistle of paul to philemon, known simply as philemon, is one of the books of the christian new testament.
No one has ever seen him, so what is written about him, under the inspiration of the holy spirit, is the only thing one has today so as to study him. Indeed, he is the image of the invisible god, the sovereign and preeminent one among all creation col. The epistle of paul to the colossians, is the twelfth book of the new testament. 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. In the 19th century, however, some thought that the heresy refuted in ch. Colossians, theology of definition and meaning bible dictionary. Paradoxically, this dualism also led to licentiousness. But at the center of this movement is a religious syncretism that rejects the biblical revelation of god as revealed in christ. Because of his divine nature, jesus is sovereign, above all things with an authority given him by the father.
From prison, paul had heard that the colossian christians, who had at one time been strong in their faith, were now vulnerable to deception about the faith 2. Colossians summary we have detailed a brief summary of the book of colossians for bible study or sunday school lessons. We are to encourage each other with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, so go ahead and obey the verse by taking out some hymn books and singing your favorite hymns. The author of the book of colossians is the apostle paul. 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. This ascetic form of gnosticism is the background of part of the letter to the colossians see col 2. The developed theology of the letter, many believe, indicates that it was composed by paul in. The epistle of paul to the colossians, or simply colossians, is the twelfth book of the new. Colossians was originally addressed to believers in the church at colossae, an ancient city in southwest asia minor, but this letter continues to be relevant to all readers of the bible. The book of philippians paul writes a thankyou note to the believers at philippi for their help in his hour of need, and he uses the occasion to send along some instructions on christian unity. It deals with the themes of forgiveness and reconciliation. Colossians is named for the city of colossae, where the church it was addressed to was located. At that time, nero was the cruel and insane emperor of the roman empire who could ignore the claims of pauls roman citizenship.
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. Watch our overview video on the book of colossians, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. Paul does not identify himself as an apostle with authority. Epistles of paul are the only ones for the body of christ for doctrine and practice, and the other books are for the nation of israel including the book of hebrews and revelation. The apostle paul, joined in his salutation by timothy 1. In the new testament, the 27 books include four gospels matthew to john, one book of history acts, the epistles or letters romans to jude and one book of prophecy revelation. This view is the background of much of 1 john see 1. The bad news was the colossians were being troubled by a new teaching that was contrary to the gospel which epaphras had been preaching to them. It presents authorship, recipient, a greeting, blessing, body of letter, and farewell address. Secular history only verifies and clarifies the impression of the city of corinth which we gain from the pens of luke acts and paul 1 and 2 corinthians. The letters, however, take readers far beyond these issues of deception. The book of colossians is a prison epistle letter written while in prison. Brothers, i do not consider that i have made it my own.
The apostle paul wrote this letter to christians living in the small city of colossae. The letter of paul to the colossians, new testament writing addressed to christians at colossae, asia minor, whose congregation was founded by pauls colleague epaphras. History of the book of colossians offers a variety of legal forms and contracts including a temporary guardianship form an llc operating agreement and an eviction notice form. Since the body was considered evil, it was to be treated harshly. 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. In him dwells all the fullness of the godhead bodily. Evidence in favor of pauline authorship is the many notable similarities to his other writings. All three letters were sent with tychicus and onesimus. Colossians intro to colossians biblica the international bible.
Paul does not identify himself as an apostle with authority, but as a prisoner of jesus christ, calling. For a defense of pauline authorship for colossians see. Before paul wrote this letter to the christians in colossae, he had never been to their city colossians 2. Colossians 1, king james version kjv the bible app. 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. Early sources in church history that attribute this letter to paul include. Intro to 1 john biblica the international bible society. Jesus, it says, is the image of the invisible god, the preeminent one of all creation. His life, just like the life of george washington, abraham lincoln, and martin luther, is a life in the history books. Paul the apostle to the colossians, new testament writing addressed to christians at colossae, asia minor, whose congregation was founded by pauls colleague epaphras. The story of the atomic bomb started around the turn of the century when a small number of physicists began to think about, discuss, and publish papers about the phenomenon of radioactivity, the behavior of alpha particles, and the properties of various materials when irradiated. Christ is lord over all of creation, including the. 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 from ephesus in asia minor.
Colossians is named for the city of colosse, where the church it was addressed to was located. If such is truly the case, then paul wrote colossians around 6163 a. Forgiveness shines like a brilliant light throughout the bible, and one of its brightest spots is the tiny book of philemon. Book of ephesians overview insight for living ministries. Study the bible online using commentary on colossians and more. In colossians all stops are out on the majestic hymn of praise sung to him who is the fullness of the godhead bodily col. The letter of paul to the colossians work by saint paul britannica. In chapter 1 after giving the introduction and purpose of the book, paul surveys natural revelation via creation, noting that the creation rejected the creator for the satisfaction of baser instincts. First, colossians is unrivalled in its portrayal of the person of the lord jesus christ. And that is the reason for the colossians gratitude. Paul wrote his letter to the colossians while in prison, probably in rome. The book of colossians is about the supremacy of the person of christ. This was about the same time he wrote ephesians and philemon.
Read colossians commentary using matthew henry commentary on the whole bible complete. This article is also available and sold as a booklet. This section is an exposition on the early part of genesis. Explore free resources providing a biblical perspective on faith and work. 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. Introduction to the book of colossians learn religions. This program is about getting a new beginning and how to. The good news was the gospel had born fruit among the colossians see colossians 1.
Colossians commentary matthew henry commentary on the. The numerous parallels of vocabulary and matters discussed in ephesians and colossians link these epistles together. While the book of ephesians focuses on the body the church, colossians focuses on the head christ. The letters to the colossians and to philemon are believed to have been written by paul from prison sometime circa 60 to 62. 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.
Summary of the book of colossians story of the bible. Also, there are many personal references common to philemon and colossians. The church at colossae was likely established during pauls third missionary journey as he ministered for three years in ephesus. If baptism is the first thing it talks about in the gospel, and the last thing it talks about in the. 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. History and literature of early christianity, introduction to the new testament vol 2.
Shortly after pauls letter was delivered, the entire valley was devastated by a severe earthquake, which further reduced colossaes importance as a city. Although short in length and written to a church paul did not plant, colossians stands tall in highlighting the centrality of jesus christ as the mediator of gods saving activity. It was also to be read in the neighboring church at laodicea 4. Colosse was a city in phrygia, in the roman province of asia part of modern turkey, about 100 mi. In the early church, all who speak on the subject of authorship ascribe it to paul.
The epistle of paul to the colossians, or simply colossians, is the twelfth book of the new testament. In chapter 2 paul announces the judgment of god according to truth, explaining. The key personalities include paul, timothy, tychicus, onesimus, aristarchus, mark, and epaphras. Bible blender october 14, 2017 complete but concise summary of each book of the bible old testament and new testament 20171218t17. Background on colossae and the colossians bible commentary. Also known as the epistle to the colossians, the book of colossians was written by the apostle paul from 58 to 62 a. Its also important to discover the authors intended meaning of the text in order to interpret it. Jesus christ exalted chapter 1 christianity exalted chapters 2 union with christ exalted chapter 34. While the old testament period ended approximately 400 years prior the time of the new testament writings, the books within each testament occurred at a variety of. The mood of colossians is argumentative and controversial, that of ephesians clam and peaceful. In the early church, all who speak on the subject of. For example, the description of the church in colossians 2.
The epistle to the colossians was written by paul the apostle and included with his prison epistles. The book of colossians gives the clearest, most comprehensive teaching on christology of all pauls epistles. 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. Having this background we can then have the context to understand gods message to the colossians and to ourselves. The book of colossians was likely written between a. 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. Most likely written shortly after writing colossians. The developed theology of the letter, many believe, indicates that it was composed by paul in rome about ad. Colossians was likely penned, as were ephesians, philippians, and philemon, during pauls first imprisonment at rome 1.
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