The Book of Colossians

Colossians Outline

Chapters & Genres

The book of Colossians is a letter written by the apostle Paul to the church at Colossae, a small city in Asia Minor. The letter is one of the four prison epistles written by Paul during his imprisonment in Rome, along with Ephesians, Philippians, and Philemon. The letter was written around AD 60-62, during the time when Paul was under house arrest in Rome.

The purpose of the letter was to address certain false teachings that had infiltrated the church at Colossae. These false teachings were a mixture of Jewish legalism, Greek philosophy, and pagan mysticism. The false teachers claimed to have secret knowledge and spiritual experiences that surpassed the teachings of Christ and the apostles. They also emphasized asceticism and the worship of angels, rather than the sufficiency of Christ for salvation.

In response to these false teachings, Paul wrote to the Colossians to reaffirm the supremacy and sufficiency of Christ. He emphasized that Christ is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation, and the head of the church. He also affirmed that in Christ, all the fullness of God dwells bodily, and that believers have been made complete in him.

Paul also addressed the practical implications of the believers' union with Christ. He urged them to put off the old self and put on the new self, to put to death the deeds of the flesh, and to put on love, compassion, and forgiveness. He also gave instructions for Christian living in various spheres of life, including marriage, family, and work.

The structure of the letter can be divided into four main sections. The first section, in chapters 1-2, focuses on the supremacy of Christ. Paul affirms that Christ is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation, and the head of the church. He also warns against the false teachings that are contrary to the gospel, and urges the Colossians to hold fast to the truth of Christ.

The second section, in chapters 2-3, focuses on the implications of believers' union with Christ. Paul urges the Colossians to put off the old self, to put on the new self, and to put to death the deeds of the flesh. He also exhorts them to put on compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, and forgiveness, and to let the peace of Christ rule in their hearts.

The third section, in chapter 3, focuses on Christian living in various spheres of life. Paul gives instructions for Christian living in marriage, family, and work. He urges wives to submit to their husbands, husbands to love their wives, children to obey their parents, and slaves to obey their masters. He also urges believers to work with sincerity and diligence, as if working for the Lord.

The fourth section, in chapter 4, contains final instructions and greetings. Paul urges the Colossians to pray for him and for the spread of the gospel, and to greet one another with love. He also sends greetings from various fellow workers and asks for their prayers and support.

Overall, the letter to the Colossians is a powerful affirmation of the supremacy and sufficiency of Christ for salvation and Christian living. It is a call to hold fast to the truth of the gospel, to put off the old self and put on the new self, and to live in love and obedience to Christ. It is a letter that speaks to believers in all ages and cultures, reminding us of the centrality of Christ for our salvation and our daily walk with him.