Colossae was located in the Lycus valley, once an important town along the great East-West trade route in Asia Minor. Centuries later, during the time period of this letter, it was no longer flourishing as grandly but still a market city. Christians there were mostly Gentiles. The recipients of the letter were the congregates of Christian church Epaphras had planted in Colossae.
Assigned by Paul to preach to the Gentiles in the Lycus Valley, the church he founded at Colossae was well known. Additionally, they were being falsely advised to believe angel worship would add to their faith. Paul ensured the church that everything they needed is found in Jesus, and Jesus alone.
Other teachers of biblical law were adding to the gospel, and in his letter, Paul brought them back to the essential gospel principles. Christians prominently guided by Judaism sought to overthrow the church at Colossae by impressing specific elements of their teachings: circumcision, the Law, and special seasons.
He is the Creator, Sustainer, and Author of our Salvation. When we have a clear understanding of who He is, it then affects who we become. Through our obedience to His word, His slow and holy sanctification in our hearts, our lives begin to reflect Christ. Paul encouraged the Colossians, and we can take note as well today, to keep our focus on Jesus. Paul apparently handwrote his own salutation at the close of the epistle see Colossians , indicating that a scribe, perhaps Timothy, had assisted him in writing the body of the letter.
Paul wrote this epistle during his first imprisonment in Rome, around A. Paul probably wrote the Epistle to the Colossians around the same time he wrote Philippians, Ephesians, and Philemon. This epistle was written to the faithful Saints in Colossae, a site in modern-day Turkey. Paul instructed the Colossian Saints to share the letter with the members of the Church in nearby Laodicea see Colossians Epaphras told Paul that the Colossians were falling into serious error—they thought they were better than other people because they carefully observed certain external ordinances [see Colossians ], denied themselves certain physical wants, and worshiped angels [see Colossians ].
These practices made the Colossians feel they were being sanctified. They also felt they understood the mysteries of the universe better than other Church members. In the Epistle to the Colossians, Paul countered the false teachings in Colossae by emphasizing the divinity, saving mission, and preeminence of Jesus Christ see Colossians — He taught that Christ is the very image of God the Father, the Creator, the Head of the Church, the first to be resurrected, and the Redeemer.
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