NOTES ON COLOSSIANS
Introduction

     In Colossians 2:8 it is stated, "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit after the tradition of  men , after the rudiments of  the world, and not after Christ."

     This verse sets forth one of  the reasons that Paul under the inspiration of  the Holy Spirit wrote this epistle.  As this
writer begins this study of  the Epistle of  Colossians, some introductory matters will be considered on this web page.
     As is the usual case in the studies that this writer has presented, all references will be identified as used.  Use will be made of  Ibid. when the same page of  the previous work is cited; op. cit. will be used when another page of  the previous work is cited.  Also, if  a word seems to be misspelled in a quotation (other than the ou for o) the word "sic" in brackets will appear.  Unless otherwise specified all brackets ([ ]) will be comments within a quotation by this writer.  There may arise an occasion where the author cited uses brackets; it that case if  this writer makes a comment it will be in braces ({ }).

I. DATE AND AUTHORSHIP
     A. The Date
          1. The date is dependent on where one places the writing of  it.
               a. There are some who think that it may have been written at Caesarea.
               b. Others dream, that is, they have no real evidence, that Paul wrote it at a supposed imprisonment at Ephesus.
               c. Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians are prison epistles, and there is no other imprisonment than the one in
                    Rome.
          2. Therefore, this epistle was written about the same time as Philippians during A. D. 62.
     B. The Author
          1. This epistle beginning
               a. He names himself Paul.
               b. To the believer this is sufficient.
               c. Furthermore, he labels himself as an apostle of  Jesus Christ, which only Peter does in 1 Peter.
          2. The close of  the epistle
               a. Verse 18 is a salutation by his own hand--"Having an amanuensis in writing the previous portion of  the epistle,
                    the apostle authenticates it by adding his salutation in his own hand." (Eadie, John, Commentary on the
                    Epistle of  Paul to the Colossians. Grand Rapids, MI:  Zondervan Publishing House, 1957; page 302)
               b. Cf.
                    (I) 1 Corinthians 16:21
                    (II) 2 Thessalonians 3:17
               c. He tell them, Remember my bonds; this shows that he was in prison.
               d. Finally, Paul's standard benediction is given, Grace be with you; this benediction with variations occurs at the
                    end of  every one of  his epistles.
          3. The early church universally declared it was written by Paul.
               a. Even the heretical groups included in their canon.
               b. "Eusebius therefore placed it among the" . . . "books which were confessed on all sides to be of  apostolical
                    origin." (Eadie, xxii)
               c. It is quoted by Tertaullian about 30 times.
               d. Clement of  Alexandria alludes to it.
               e. It is referred to by Justin is his dialogue with Trypho; he quotes or alludes to Colossians 1:15, 16
                    at least four times.
               f. Irenaeus made many lengthy quotations.
               g. Others could be cited as well.

II. PLACE AND PURPOSE
     A. Its Place
          1. Written from Rome
               a. There is no real doubt that Paul was in Rome when he sent this epistle.
               b. This was discussed briefly in connection with the date.
          2. Written to the believers in Colosse
               a. It was a city of  Phrygia.
               b. It was situated about twelve miles southeast of  Laodicea; this is perhaps why the reference to that city in
                    Colossians 4:13, 15, 16.
               c. Did Paul found this church?
                    (I) Colossians 1:3 suggests that he did not, for there is an impersonal reference to their faith.
                    (II) Acts 16:6 states that he and his companions went "throughout Phrygia"; it would seem unlikely that he
                         skipped past Colosse, but it is not mentioned.
                    (III) Acts 18:23 indicates that he "went over all the country of Galatia and Phrygia in order"; thus again it
                         would seem that he might have past through Colosse, but again it is not mentioned.
                    (IV) Onesimus was from Colosse as indicated by Colossians 4:9; Paul entreats Philemon to take back his
                         runaway slave, now as a brother, which would imply that Philemon was a Colossian.
                         (A) That epistle suggests that Paul led Philemon to Christ, and knew of  his house.
                         (B) It is, however, equally possible that Paul led Philemon to Christ elsewhere, perhaps in a nearby town.
               d. If  Paul did not found this church, the most probably person would be Epaphras--cf. Colossians 1:7; 4:12, 13.
     B. Its Purpose
          1. To combat indirectly gnostic teachers
               a. Some taught it through philosophy.
                    (I) One such heresy involved philosophy "which longed to uncover the unseen and climb to heaven by homage
                         done to the angelic hierarchy." (Eadie, xxxiv)
                    (II) Cf. Colossians 2:8
                    (III) "The Gnostic professed to have fuller knowledge of  the mysteries of  life and death and heavenly beings
                         than the Bible itself reveals.  He added to, or perverted the scriptural revelation, linking with it weird
                         Persian dreams and human reasonings." (Ironside, H. A., LECTURES on the EPISTLE to the
                         COLOSSIANS.  New York:  Loizeaux Brothers, Inc., Bible Truth Depot, n. d.; his preface is dated
                         December 12, 1928; page 10)
                    (IV) Some modern day gnostic systems (or some which partake of gnostic elements)
                         (A) Christian Science
                         (B) Unity School of  Christianity
                         (C) New Thought in its various forms
               b. Some taught it through Essenic Judaism.
                    (I) Many Jews lived in the area.
                    (II) Paul used Jewish terminology "in describing these errors--'circumcision,' 'hand-writing of  ordinances,'
                         'festivals, new moons and sabbaths,' 'a shadow of  things to come,' [Colossians 2:16-18]--we are forced
                         to the conclusion, that the false teaching pointed out and reprobated must have had a Jewish source,
                         having grown up among those who had once observed the Levitical ritual, and who carried with them into
                         the church many of  those predilections and tendencies which the idealized Mosaism of  that age had
                         originated and ripened." (op. cit., xxxv-xxxvi)
                    (III) The Essenes were a Jewish sect that went back before the birth of  Christ and were more mystical and
                         ascetical than were the Pharisees.
          2. To confirm to the Colossians of  their mutual welfare
               a. He learned of  their spiritual well-being through Epaphras-- Colossians 1:4, 7, 8.
               b. He informed them of  his welfare--Colossians 4:7-9

     The Epistle of  Colossians was concerned with the nature of  Jesus Christ.  Was He God manifested in the flesh or not? Paul dealt with this issue in showing that Jesus Christ is God.  He dealt with some practical matters as well.
     Have you believed that Jesus Christ is indeed God manifest in human flesh, and that He did so to redeem you unto God?  If  not, then do so right now, and toss aside philosophy so-called and mysticism or any other system which even suggests that Jesus Christ is not what the Bible claims Him to be.