Who Wrote This Book:  The apostle Paul wrote this letter while under house arrest in Rome.

It should be understood that while Paul was “imprisoned” it didn’t always mean in the prison; at times it was just under house arrest and allowed to live in his home.

Date of Writing:   The book was written between 60 and 63 A.D. while Paul awaited trail by the emperor Nero.

Written To:  Colossians 2 states it is, ² To God’s holy people in Colossae, the faithful brothers and sisters^[a] in Christ:    Grace and peace to you from God our Father. (Colossians 1:2)

Why It Was Written:  Paul wrote this epistle with a quadruple purpose: 1) to denounce and refute the heresy; 2) to instruct the Colossians in the truth and warn them of the dangers of returning to their pagan vices; 3) to express his personal concern for the believers; and 4) to urge them to promote mutual harmony and love.

 A group called Gnostics (derived from the word for knowledge) claimed that they possessed privileged supernatural knowledge necessary for salvation.  Paul wrote to warn about the subtle arguments and false teachings that threatened to undermine their faith.  Paul intended to make clear the nature and identity of Jesus, in order to refute those who challenged his deity and authority.

No other book of the New Testament more completely or more thoroughly defends the universal kingdom of Christ than this epistle.  Combative in its tone, and cutting in style, Colossians is much like Ephesians in its language and content.  Around seventy of the 155 verses of Ephesians find their equivalent in Colossians.  On the other hand, twenty-eight words appear in Colossians that are not found in any other place in Paul's writings and thirty-four that don't appear in any other part of the New Testament.

Key Verses:

Colossians 1:15-20 (NIV, ©2011) ¹⁵ The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. ¹⁶ For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. ¹⁷ He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. ¹⁸ And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. ¹⁹ For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, ²⁰ and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

Colossians 2:9-10 (NIV, ©2011) ⁹ For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, ¹⁰ and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority.

Colossians 3:5-6 (NIV, ©2011) ⁵Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. ⁶ Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.