Colossians
Introduction
This
letter is addressed to a congregation at Colossae in the Lycus Valley in Asia
Minor, east of Ephesus. At the time of writing, Paul had not visited there, the
letter says (Col 1:4;
2:1).
The community had apparently been established by Epaphras of Colossae (Col 1:7;
4:12;
Philemon
1:23). Problems, however, had arisen, brought on by teachers who emphasized
Christ's relation to the universe (cosmos). Their teachings stressed angels (Col 2:18;
"principalities and powers," Col 2:15),
which were connected with astral powers and cultic practices (see the note on Col 2:16)
and rules about food and drink and ascetical disciplines (Col 2:16,
18).
These teachings, Paul insists, detract from the person and work of Christ for
salvation as set forth magnificently in a hymnic passage at Col
1:15-20 and reiterated throughout the letter. Such teachings are but
"shadows"; Christ is "reality" (Col 2:17).
For help in dealing with
these problems that the new teachers posed at Colossae, Epaphras sought out
Paul, who was then imprisoned (Col 4:10,
18)
at a place that the letter does not mention. Paul, without entering into debate
over the existence of angelic spirits or their function, simply affirms that
Christ possesses the sum total of redemptive power (Col 1:19)
and that the spiritual renewal of the human person occurs through contact in
baptism with the person of Christ, who died and rose again (Col 2:9-14).
It is unnecessary for the Christian to be concerned about placating spirits (Col 2:15)
or avoiding imagined defilement through ascetical practices in regard to food and
drink (Col
2:20-23). True Christian asceticism consists in the conquering of personal
sins (Col
3:5-10) and the practice of love of neighbor in accordance with the
standard set by Christ (Col
3:12-16).
Paul commends the community
as a whole (Col 1:3-8);
this seems to indicate that, though the Colossians have been under pressure to
adopt the false doctrines, they have not yet succumbed. The apostle expresses
his prayerful concern for them (Col 1:9-14).
His preaching has cost him persecution, suffering, and imprisonment, but he
regards these as reflective of the sufferings of Christ, a required discipline
for the sake of the gospel (see the note on 1:24;
cf 1:29;
2:1).
His instructions to the Christian family and to slaves and masters require a
new spirit of reflection and action. Love, obedience, and service are to be
rendered "in the Lord" (Col 3:18-4:1).
Colossians follows the
outline of a typical Pauline letter. It is distinguished by the poetic lines in
Col
1:15-20 concerning who Christ is and what Christ means in creation and
redemption. This hymn may be compared with similar passages in Philippians
2:6-11; 1
Tim 3:16; and John
1:1-18. It was apparently familiar liturgical material to the author, the
audience, and the false teachers. In Col 1:21-2:7,
however, Paul interprets the relation between the body of Christ, which he
insists is the church (Col 1:18),
and the world or cosmos to be one not simply of Christ's preexistence and rule
but one of missionary advance into the world by the spreading of the word (Col 1:25,
28).
In this labor of the missionary body of Christ, Paul as a minister plays a
prime part in bringing Christ and the gospel as hope to the Gentiles (Col 1:23,
25,
27).
To "every creature under heaven" the word is to be proclaimed, so
that everyone receives Christ, is established in faith, and walks in Christ (Col 1:28;
2:6,
7).
Paul wrote the Letter to the
Colossians while in prison, but his several imprisonments leave the specific
place and date of composition uncertain. On this point the same problem exists
as with Ephesians and Philippians (see the Introductions to these letters).
Traditionally the house arrest at Rome, in which Paul enjoyed a certain restricted
freedom in preaching (see Acts 28:16-28),
or a second Roman imprisonment has been claimed as the setting. Others suggest
a still earlier imprisonment at Caesarea (see Acts 23:12-27:1) or in
Ephesus (see Act 19). Still others regard the letter as the work of some pupil
or follower of Paul, writing in his name. In any case, the contents are often
closely paralleled by thoughts in Ephesians.
The principal divisions of
the Letter to the Colossians are the following:
I.
Address
(Col
1:1-14)
II.
The
Preeminence of Christ (Col 1:15-2:3)
III.
Warnings
against False Teachers (Col 2:4-23)
IV.
The
Ideal Christian Life in the World (Col 3:1-4:6)
V.
Conclusion
(Col
4:7-18)
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Colossians
Introduction Ends.
Easter
Sunday 12 April 2009.