Colossae was a small town, which had once thrived on its wool industry but became less important by the time of Roman rule. It lay 100 miles east of the big city of Ephesus, in what is now Turkey, in a beautiful valley of the River Lycus. Nothing of the town remains today; its site has been located but not yet excavated.
Who were the church at Colossae?
It’s likely that the church was founded by Epaphras, a fellow-worker of Paul, probably during Paul’s three-year ministry in Ephesus in 52-55AD (Acts 19). This was a time of vigorous evangelism and church-planting. Paul describes Epaphras “as one of you” (Col. 4.12). Could it be that Epaphras was from the town itself, and returned from Ephesus to establish the church in the place he new best? Paul mentions that had taught, or perhaps led, the church at Colossae (Col. 1.7).
From the contents of the letter, it’s clear that the Colossian Christians were converts to the faith. They were Gentiles (not Jews) and Paul describes them as hostile to God before their conversion. The warm greeting suggests that they had experienced a wonderful transformation, that their faith was genuine. By and large, this is a letter of encouragement, rather than correction.
Who wrote the letter?
The letter itself declares that it’s from Paul the Apostle. The majority of scholars agree that there is no reason to doubt this. Some of the words used in this letter aren’t used elsewhere in Paul’s writings but it may be that he used phrases and ideas that would have been specific to this particular audience. The theology of the letters emphasise the present blessings experienced in the Spirit rather than the future hope that is emphasised in letters to suffering Christian communities.
What led Paul to write the letter?
In around 60-61 AD, Epaphras had visited Paul in Rome, where he was imprisoned. Paul was with several Jewish Christian companions, including Aristarchus, Mark the cousin of Barnabas, and Jesus Justus, who had all been a great comfort to him in his captivity (Col. 4.10-11) and with “Doctor Luke” (who wrote the gospel and the book of Acts) and Demas (Col.4.12).
Epaphras brought news of the situation in the churches in the Lycus Valley – Christian communities in and around the towns of Hierapolis, Laodicea and Colossae. The news from Colossae was generally good, but Paul was also troubled by what he heard. It seems a new teaching had been introduced to the Colossians which disturbed Paul enough to write the letter. It’s not completely clear what this “Colossian heresy” might have been, we only have the evidence of Paul’s teaching in response to the problem.
Paul writes, “See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the universe, and not according to Christ.” (Col. 2.8). He’s clearly concerned that some other teaching, apart from salvation through the already accomplished work of Christ, needs to be challenged. Perhaps the Colossians were being urged to conform to the complicated rules and regulations of neighbouring peoples, as if these would earn them salvation. It seems that Paul’s encouragement to live simply in the light of the victory already won by Christ was an argument against those who wanted to impose a stricter discipline of religious observance.
Part of the problem was the accusation by some that the Colossians simple faith was not enough. Someone was urging them to adopt strict religious codes about food, festivals, the worship of angels and obsession with visions. (Col 2.16-19). Paul writes beautifully of the simple response of faith and the kind of very ordinary virtues which Christians should display to live out their reconciliation to God in Christ.
Paul sends the letter by way of Tychicus and Onesimus, two more of his companions in ministry. It’s also likely that the letter to Philemon (all about Onesimus) was written and sent at the same time (Col. 4 7-9).
What happened to the Colossians?
We know very little about what happened at Colossae. But the survival of Paul’s letter and it’s circulation to other churches imply that his encouragement and challenge were well received. In the letter to Philemon, Paul expresses a desire to visit the area (Phm 22).
The town itself may well have been destroyed by an earthquake.
What is the enduring message of the letter?
There are many famous passages in Paul’s letter. The soaring declaration of the person and work of Jesus in chapter 1 may well have been an early Christian hymn. It certainly has the feel of a worship song and it still inspires.
The encouragement to resist the human tendency to embellish religion with additional codes, rules, ceremonies and teachings has been valuable to Christians through the centuries, not least during the Reformation.
Paul’s letter defends against heresies by affirming a radically simple message. The daily life of every Christian, in the web of their ordinary relationships, should be worked out in order and generosity in consequence of the ultimate work of God in Jesus Christ.
Each generation of Christians has had to decide in what ways the teaching about relationships between men and women, parents and children, slaves and masters should be understood and applied. The very specific context of the letter should alert us to the fact that these instructions do not automatically mandate identical behaviour in our day. For example, the abolition of slavery led by Christian reformers was entirely just and long-overdue but was opposed by some who used the Letter to the Colossians to support their position. Likewise, we cannot uncritically transfer the teaching for wives, husbands, children and parents to our time without reflection and understanding.
The enduring message to the church is to make the peace which Christ won for us with God a reality in the company of Christian believers. It’s also not to withdraw from the world into isolation but to engage with those outside the Christian community wisely, with speech that is gracious and ‘palatable’ (Col. 4.5-6).
We’ll be looking at the letter in five services over six weeks before Pentecost:
30 March 2008 10.00am The Word Service
Colossians 1.1-23 The cosmic significance of Christ
6 April 2008 10.00am Holy Communion
Colossians 1.24-2.23 Christ in you, the hope of glory
20 April 2008 10.00am The Word Service led by Random Fish
Colossians 3.1-17 New life in Christ
27 April 2008 10.00am Holy Communion
Colossians 3.12-4.1 How should I behave towards Christians?
4 May 2008 10.00am Holy Communion
Colossians 4.2-18 How should I behave towards others?
