Colossians

 1:1-8.   Paul writes to the church in Colossae, a small city about 100 miles east of Ephesus.  It was near two more important cities, Laodicea and Hierapolis (4:13).  Paul had not personally been to these places, their having heard the gospel through Epaphras, and perhaps others, who had likely received it from Paul (4, 7, 8; 2:1).  Paul writes from prison (4:18), probably in Rome, and wrote Philemon at the same time (cf. 4:9 and Phm. 10).

     The purpose of the letter seems to be to counter certain false doctrines that the Colossians were being exposed to, probably from both Jewish and pagan sources, and to instruct them in Christian living (9, 10).  The false doctrine became fully mature in the Gnostic teachings of the 2nd century, but the spores of such errors were always there, and are very evident today.

     Even these introductory verses contain a wealth of doctrine.  We owe gratitude to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (3).  We recognize Christians by their faith in Christ Jesus, and their love for his saints, his set apart people (4).  Our hope is reserved for us in heaven, which we know by the word of truth, the gospel (5).  The gospel is universal, going to all kinds of men in all the world, and bearing increase not only in numbers, but also as it becomes more fruitful in each one who has heard and understood the grace of God in truth (6), the gift of God’s love in us by the Holy Spirit (8).