Introduction to Colossians

To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse

This letter was written to the Christians (saints and faithful brethren) in Colossee while Paul was a prisoner in Rome. Colossee was a city close to Laodicea (2:1; 4:13-16) and Hierapolis (4:13).

Ch 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God

Rom 1:1; 1Cor 1:1; 2Cor 1:1; Gal 1:1; Eph 1:1; 1Tim 1:1; 2Tim 1:1,

Why did Paul declare that he was an apostle chosen directly by God.

·       Rom 11:3 Paul was magnifying his office as the apostle to the Gentiles and his care of all the churches given him. (2Cor 11:28)

·       Everyone in the churches knew of Paul’s past persecution of Christians and they had heard of his special conversion through his encounter with the risen Lord Jesus Christ.

·       This was the way Paul emphasized the importance of his epistles and his God-given authority to teach and exhort all local churches including the ones he did not establish himself.

·       This was Paul’s way of saying “hearken” to my words.

·       2Cor 12:19-20 Paul’s epistles are for the edifying of the churches.

·       Paul did not establish Grace Baptist Church but Grace Baptist Church must hearken to Paul’s epistles.

Ch 1:2 “Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

·       When Paul said this to the churches (Ro 1:7; 1Co 1:3; 2Co 1:2; Eph 1:2; Php 1:2; 1Th 1:1; 2Th 1:2) it wasn’t just a nice way of beginning his letters to the churches.

·       These epistles were actually written and delivered through the grace of God. I wonder how many were seeking to intercept and destroy the letters Paul wrote before they reached the churches.

·       Paul also knew the only way these local churches could have enjoy peace among them and true peace with God is was for them to heed what the Holy Spirit inspired him to write.

·       We have these inspired, inerrant preserved epistles today only through God’s grace. The only way we may truly enjoy the peace is through heeding the words of his letters.

·       2Thes 2:16  .  .  . hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,

Key verse, the theme of Colossians: Col 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

·       Eph 1:22 He is the head over all things to the church

·       The Epistle to the saints in Colossee teaches what is necessary for Christ to have the preeminence in the local churches.

Note the connection between this and epistle Paul’s letter to Philemon.

Epaphras (1:7-8; 4:12) (Phm 23)

·       He was likely the first pastor of church in the house of Philemon in Colossee (1:7-8) where he taught the hope which we have laid up in heaven (V1:6).

·       When Paul sent the letter to Philemon concerning Onesimus Epaphras was likely in prison in Colossee for preaching Christ (Phm 23). Persecution may have been the reason why they were meeting in homes.

·       When released from prison in he traveled to Rome to report the condition of the saints in Colossee and remained in Rome with Paul (4:12)

Archippus (4:17) (Phm 2)

·       May have been the pastor of the church in the house of Philemon after Epaphras was imprisoned.

Onesimus (4:9, 18) (Phm 10,25)

·       Onesimus was a brother to Philemon (Phm 16) who was serving Philemon and likely stole from him and fled to Rome where he was in prison with Paul and was led to Christ (Phm 10).

·       Onesimus was forgiven and accepted by the saints in Colossee  (4:9 one of them) (this would have been good news for Paul) they sent him back to visited Paul in Rome with Epaphras.

·       After the letter exhorting Philemon and the others meeting in his house to accept Onesimus as one of them, forgiven of the wrong he had done.

The church in the house of Philemon was in Colossee.

Paul did not start this church nor had he ever visited the saints in Colossee. (Col 2:1)

Col 1:8 This epistle was in response to the report made by Epaphras,

Col 4:7-9,18  Tychicus and Onesimus delivered this letter to the church  in the house of Philemon (Phm 1:2)

·       They were to inform the saints in Colosse all that had happened to  Paul in Rome and Tychicus was going to return to Paul with information concerning the state of the saints in Colossee.

·       See Eph 6:21-22; 2Tim 4:12; Tit 3:12 Tychicus was a trusted servant of Paul sent to deliver messages of comfort to churches.

·       This epistle to Colossee was also to be delivered and read in the church in Laodicea. (4:16).