The Colossians are the saints in Colossae to whom Paul wrote.
To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae.
He had not met most of them. Epaphras had.
The Colossians are the church in Colossae, a city in the Lycus valley. Paul writes to the saints and faithful brothers in Christ there. He had not visited them. Epaphras, a faithful minister of Christ on their behalf, had taught them and brought Paul word of their love in the Spirit. The letter guards them against a philosophy that is not according to Christ. In Him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily. They are not the book as a title only. They are the people the book addresses.
- Colossae sat near Laodicea and Hierapolis. Paul tells them to have the letter read in Laodicea also.
- Timothy is named with Paul in the opening. Onesimus and Archippus are named at the end.
- The early church in that valley learned Christ from Epaphras, and received the apostle’s letter from a prison.
Saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae.
Epaphras taught them.
In Christ the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily.
- The Colossians are the church at Colossae, not only the name of a letter.
- Paul had not met most of them.
- Epaphras was their minister and Paul’s reporter.
- The danger was a philosophy not according to Christ.
- The answer is the fullness of deity dwelling in Christ bodily.
- The letter was also to be read in Laodicea.
- The City – Colossae, in the Lycus valley.
- The People – Saints and faithful brothers.
- The Teacher – Epaphras.
- The Letter – From Paul, with Timothy.
- The Threat – Empty philosophy.
- The Fullness – In Christ, bodily.
- Colossians 1:1-2, 7 – “To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae… Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf.”
- Colossians 2:8-9 – “See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit… For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily.”
- Colossians 4:16 – “When this letter has been read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans.”
To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae.
Epaphras is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf.
In him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily.
The Colossians are those people. Paul had not planted the church. He wrote so they would not be taken captive by a philosophy that is not Christ.
Entry compiled for the JESUSaves.com Bible Glossary. Optimized for wiki.js Visual Editor.