The Epistle to the Colossians ( dr. Greek Ἐπιστολή πρὸς Κολοσσαε лат , lat. Epistula ad Colossenses ) is a New Testament book written by the apostle Paul ( 1: 1 ; 1:23 ) and addressed to the Christians of the Phrygian city of Colossus . The book refers to the later epistles written by the apostle Paul during his imprisonment (“in bonds”) ( 4:18 ).
Content
History
The city of Colossus was 160 km from Ephesus . Paul was never in this city, but his disciple Epaphras founded the Christian church here ( 1: 7 ).
The epistle was written in Rome , during the first conclusion of the apostle, in 60 [1] - 62 years [2] or even 64 [3] . In content, it is close to the Epistle to the Ephesians and, apparently, was written simultaneously with it. In particular, the theme of the Church, which is the body of Christ, is emphasized ( 1:24 - cf. Eph. 1:23 ). He also speaks of a decrepit man ( 3: 9 - cf. Eph. 4: 2 ). The image of Christ, who was born “first of all creatures” ( 1:15 ) and took part in the creation of the world, is more deeply worked out. The reason for writing the message was a certain “philosophy” ( 2: 8 ), apparently of a Gnostic nature [4] , because Paul says that the pleroma (fullness of the Divine) abides exclusively in Christ ( 2: 9 ), and also condemns the cult of angels ( 2: 18 ) and ascetic practice ( 2:23 ).
Judging by the greeting “Paul and Timothy,” the message was recorded from the words of Paul by his beloved disciple, Timothy , and the final phrase “Greetings by my hand, Pavlova. Remember my bonds ”(Col. 4:18) testifies that Paul put his signature under the message and called to remember his conclusion.
The message was known to the ancient Fathers of the Church, it is mentioned by Irenaeus of Lyons and Tertullian . In the XIX and XX centuries there were attempts to refute Paul’s authorship on the basis of some difference in the style of the epistle from the other epistles of the apostle, perhaps this can be explained by the fact that part of the epistle does not belong to Paul, but to Timothy.
Key topics
The leitmotif of the epistle is the instruction of the community of Colossians in faith in Jesus Christ , a true savior, and a warning from those who preach Gnostic philosophy, leading away from a true understanding of the mission of Jesus.
- Greetings ( 1: 1 - 3 )
- Gratitude to the Colossians and joy for their community ( 1: 4-11 )
- The Greatness of Jesus Christ ( 1:12 - 29 )
- Strengthening the faith and warning against false doctrines ( chapter 2 )
- Call to Holiness ( Chapter 3 )
- The exhortation to prayer ( 4: 1-6)
- The messengers and staff of the apostle. Mentioning the Epistle to the Laodicean Church . ( 4: 7 - 18 )
In 3:11 of the Epistle, there is a maxim , which is now often cited as a declaration of the “internationality” of Christianity:
| ... there is neither Greece, nor Judea, nor circumcision, nor uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free, but everything is Christ in everything. |