WRITER, The Apostle Paul.

DATE. Probably written from Rome between 60 and 64 A.D.

TO WHOM ADDRESSED, The church at Colosse, a city of Asia Minor

PURPOSE.
(1) General, a message of good will, to exhort and edify believers.

(2) Special, to counteract doctrinal errors growing out of the mixture of Judaistic teaching, combined with the vagaries of oriental and philosophic speculation. These heresies tended to obscure the divine glory of Christ.

CHARACTERISTICS. The epistle presents a considerable resemblance to Ephesians both in thought and language, yet has a distinct message of its own. In Ephesians Paul dwells upon the thought of the church as the body of Christ, while in Colossians he emphasizes Christ as the head of the church. The warning against trusting in worldly wisdom which appears in 1 Corinthians, reappears in Colossians.

SYNOPSIS, The epistle may be divided into six parts.

PART I.
Ch. 1.
(1) The Apostolic greeting and commendation # Col 1:1-8

(2) The prayer for the church.
(a) That it might be filled with wisdom, fruitful in good works, and strengthened with divine power # Col 1:9-11
(b) Thanksgiving for the spiritual inheritance, the great deliverance, and redemption from sins # Col 1:12-14

PART II. The Doctrinal Section. Main Theme, The glory of the person and the Work of Christ.
Ch. 1.
(1) His glorious preëminence.
(a) As the image of God # Col 1:15

(b) The creator of all things # Col 1:16

(c) His preexistence # Col 1:17

(d) His head-ship of the church # Col 1:18

(e) His divine fullness # Col 1:19

(f) His reconciling work # Col 1:20-23

(g) The mystery of his indwelling in believers proclaimed in Paul’s ministry # Col 1:24-29

Ch. 2.
(2) Paul’s anxiety concerning the state of the church.
(a) That the members might be united together in love, having a fuller understanding of the spiritual mysteries of the Father and of Christ # Col 2:1-3
(b) He warns against false doctrines and enjoins steadfast faith in Christ # Col 2:4-7

PART III. Doctrinal and Polemical Section.
Ch. 2.
(1) The peril of worldly philosophy and legalism # Col 2:8

(2) The transcendant glory of Christ and the power of his spiritual ordinances, contrasted with those of the ceremonial system # Col 2:4-13

(3) The liberating power of the cross of Christ in abolishing the old ceremonialism # Col 2:14-17

(4) Warnings concerning angel worship, and false mysticism which dishonour Christ as the Head of the church # Col 2:18,19

(5) Warnings against ceremonialism and asceticism # Col 2:20-23

PART IV. The Hortatory Section.
Ch. 3. Exhortations.

(1) To heavenly aspirations and affections # Col 3:1-4

(2) To the subjugation of fleshly lusts and desires # Col 3:5-7

(3) To lay aside the evil passions and vices, and to put on the Christian graces and virtues
# Col 3:8-14

(4) To be ruled by the spirit of peace, unity and thankfulness # Col 3:15

(5) To seek an infilling of the truth so as to be mutually helpful in instruction and warning and praise; doing all things in the name of Christ # Col 3:16,17

PART V. The Family Section.
Chs. 3, 4. The duties of the various members of the Christian household: wives, husbands, children, fathers, servants, masters # Col 3:18 – 4:1

PART VI. The Fellowship Section.
Ch. 4.
(1) Paul’s request for prayer and advice concerning social conduct # Col 4:3-6

(2) Closing salutations and commendations of workers # Col 4:7-18