A Brief Introduction to the Book of Colossians
The Apostle Paul wrote his epistle to the saints and faithful brethren at Colossae, a city 120 east of Ephesus in the River Lychus Valley of Asia Minor. The congregation of believers was being subject to false teachers. Paul wrote to encourage the Christians not to fall prey to the influence of a syncretistic Judeo-Mystery religion.
The Apostle Paul was imprisoned at Rome in the period between A.D. 61–63. This was the time and location for his writing his “prison epistles”: Colossians; Philippians; Philemon; and Ephesians. 25% of his Colossians epistle content is found in Ephesians. This supports Pauline authorship and a later date for writing (vs. early A.D. 50s). Paul’s Ephesian ministry was from A.D. 53–56.
False teaching in the early church was different in every location; but false teaching does tend to detract from the Person and work of Jesus Christ. At Colossae, it was primarily Jewish in nature. Elements of Greek mystery religion, combined with Judaism’s take on Temple worship, produced persuasive arguments that Christ Jesus was not sufficient.
Temple theology is a New Testament theme where Old Testament types and shadows find their fulfillment and substance in Jesus Messiah. Devaluing the sufficiency of Christ was the issue with the Judaizers in nearby Galatia. It was also the issue with the developing Gnostic heresies. It is the contention of the New Testament writers that Christ Jesus is not only sufficient for our salvation but that Jesus Christ is supreme in all things as Lord of all.
Epaphras was the key figure at the church the Apostle Paul had not yet visited (Col 1:7). Likely taught and trained by Paul and Timothy at Ephesus, this man of God took the Gospel to Colossae and the result was “saints” and “faithful brethren.” Paul’s epistle came to the church with apostolic authority. Despite the absence of his person, the Apostle’s writing had the authority of God and of Christ.
To be “in Christ” is sufficient; and it is our salvation. Many false teachers, today, insist on the same errors regarding issues of food restrictions and holiday observance. The suggestion then was that non-observance disqualified the Christian (Col 2:18). These additions to the finished work of Christ must be rejected, today, as they needed to be rejected at Colossae.
Christians need to see all the fullness of what is required of them to worship…in Christ alone. Nothing but faith in Christ, alone, is evidence of one’s salvation. God has executed everything required by God to secure the salvation of His chosen people. From election, to redemption, to regeneration, it is all a work of God.
Christians who have moved from unbelief in the domain of darkness are now believers positioned in the kingdom of God’s beloved Son (Col 1:13). Worship is simply our approach to God in the Spirit and in the truth as it is in Jesus. We pray in the Spirit and in Jesus’ name. We subject ourselves to God’s Word and to the fellowship of the saints. Our goal is to evangelize — that the lost sheep would be found in every nation.
Christians are living stones in God’s temple in the Spirit (Eph 2:20–22). Each one finds his unique place in the house of God, Christ’s church. Each Christian, as a temple stone, is aligned with the cornerstone, who is Christ Jesus, our Lord.
Those who claim special knowledge or special access to a heavenly temple experience apart from Christ are deceivers luring God’s people away from the purity and simplicity of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Faithfulness to our Lord is a product of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Gal 5:22). Thus, every believer will hear the commendation, “Well done, good and faithful slave…enter the joy of the Lord.” Just as faith is a product of God’s grace, so is faithfulness. Grace is God working in His people to grow them in spiritual maturity. Grace saves us from beginning to end. This is why the Christian’s victory in Jesus is his faith in Jesus being made manifest.
Receiving Jesus Christ, by the will of God, is a gift of God’s grace granted to us (Jn 1:12–13; Eph 2:8–9; Phil 1:29). Grace protects and preserves every elect, redeemed, believer. With Christ in us and our position in Him, the life of God and the worship of God becomes the Christian’s magnificent obsession. This is the beginning of the new creation — a foretaste of better things to come. For now, believers in Jesus must see the supremacy of Christ and trust that He alone is sufficient for us in life, ministry, and worship.
There is nothing to add to one’s simple devotion to Jesus Christ. False teachers are legion. They forever try to create an allure for us to leave Christ and His church. Complicating the Gospel message is the specialty of false teachers. For them, Jesus needs help in saving people which invariably leads to man-made religion based on “doing” something to gain favor with God.
Christians in every generation must be warned about the enemy’s efforts to create religious rites and rituals. Prohibitions are as important as observances to these people. For us, no special knowledge is needed. No special initiation into the mystery cult is necessary.
Jesus is above it all. He rules and reigns supreme, with the name above every other name. He is exalted in His enthronement at the right hand of Majesty, at the right hand of God the Father, Almighty. He alone is right before the Holy God; and He alone is the way to God, as the one Mediator between God and man (1 Tim 2:5).
There is no one like Christ Jesus our Lord. He is everything to the saints. He sits in the heavens, always making intercession for His people. Thus, we have an advocate with God the Father, who perfectly pleads our case before God’s judgment in righteousness. Absolutely nothing and no one needs to be added to the child of God’s immediate and permanent access to the throne of God because of the supremacy of Jesus Christ and to the glory of the Father.
David Norczyk
Spokane Valley, Washington
November 5, 2023
Colossians Intro
