Colossians

About Colossians

Colossians was written to a church Paul had never visited, where new teachings were making Christ seem like just one spiritual power among many. Paul answers with one of the Bible's most soaring pictures of Jesus: the image of the invisible God, the one through whom and for whom everything was made. Because believers already have fullness in Him, they need no extra rules or secret experiences, only lives rooted and growing in Christ.

Written by

The letter comes in the names of Paul and Timothy, and the church has traditionally received it as Paul's; some modern scholars question this because of its style, while many others uphold it.

When

If from Paul, it was written during his imprisonment around AD 60-62.

Themes

• Christ supreme over all
• Fullness in Christ alone
• The new self
• Rooted and growing faith

Key verses

• Colossians 1:15-17Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
• Colossians 2:6-7As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
• Colossians 3:1-2If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.