Colossians
Summary[i]
Writer: The Apostle Paul (Col_1:1).
Date: Colossians was sent by the same
messenger who bore Ephesians and Philemon, and was probably written at the same
time.
Theme: Epaphras, who laboured in the Word
in the assembly at Colosse, was Paul's fellow-prisoner at Rome. Doubtless from
him Paul learned the state of that church. As to fundamentals that state was
excellent (Col_1:3-8), but in a subtle
way two forms of error were at work: The first was legality in its Alexandrian
form of asceticism, "touch not, taste not," with a trace of the
Judaic observance of "days"; the object of which was the
mortification of the body (cf Rom_8:13).
The second form of error was false mysticism, "intruding into those things
which he hath not seen"--the result of philosophic speculation. Because
these are ever present perils, Colossians was written, not for that day only,
but for the warning of the church in all days.
The Epistle is in seven divisions:
1. Introduction (Colossians 1:1-8).
2. The apostolic prayer (Colossians 1:9-14).
3. The exaltation of Christ, Creator, Redeemer,
Indweller (Colossians 1:15-29).
4. The Godhead incarnate in Christ, in whom the
believer is complete (Colossians 2:1-23).
5. The believer's union with Christ in
resurrection life and glory (Colossians 3:1-4).
6. Christian living, the fruit of union with
Christ (Colossians 3:5 - 4:6).
7. Christian fellowship (Colossians 4:7-18).