Who wrote the book of Colossians in the Bible?

Answer 1

Colossians is attributed to the Apostle Paul, although a clear majority of scholars say that it was written in his name, after his death. The epistle differs from those that are certain to have been written by Paul and dealt largely with christology, focusing on Jesus, whereas the focus in Colossians is on the church itself as the body of Christ. Although Colossians often uses the same words and concepts as Paul, the style and overall vocabulary differ considerably from that of Paul.

Conservative Christians date Colossians, on the basis as being a genuine letter by Paul, to around 60 CE. Other place it during the 70s of the first century.

Answer 2

The book of Colossians 1:1-2 tells us that the writer was Paul, who was accompanied by Timothy. He wrote the letter to the Colossian congregation from Rome around 60-61CE.

On the other hand, Fr. Raymond E. Brown, a member of the Vatican's Roman Pontifical Biblical Commission, says that, of the thirteen epistles which say that they were written by Paul, critical scholars have reached a near consensus that only seven are definitely Paul's: 1 Thessalonians, Galatians, 1 & 2 Corinthians, Philippians, Philemon and Romans. On this view, Colossians was written by an anonymous author late in the first century CE.

Answer 3

Colossians is attributed to the apostle Paul, although a clear majority of scholars say that it was written in his name, after his death. The epistle differs from those that are certain to have been written by Paul and dealt largely with christology, focusing on Jesus, whereas the focus in Colossians is on the church itself as the body of Christ. Although Colossians often uses the same words and concepts as Paul, the style and overall vocabulary differ considerably from that of Paul.

The Epistle to the Colossians was not really written to the Colossians but was written to the Church as a whole: that attribution was a device to gain acceptance that it was really an epistle written by Paul. However, it does seem to have been written by a follower or disciple of Paul. other than this, its authorship is unknown, and we can not say where it was written.

Answer 4

A:

The Epistle to the Colossians is in The Bible because the Church Fathers, from the second century onwards, believed it to have been written by the apostle Paul. The consensus of New Testament scholars is now that the book was written in the 70s of the first century, using Paul's name in order to have the author's message more readily accepted.

Answer 5

Another Answer from our community:

Paul wrote this letter to the Colossians, yet as in all of his epistles, Paul seems to write as if he is addressing our own society. The early believers at Colosse appeared to have had a mixture of Judaism and Gnosticism which many other early Churches were experiencing. Paul wrote this letter to deal with a doctrinal heresy that was creeping into the Colossian Church. The Jews taught the new Christians about their laws on food and Sabbath/Festivals as a way to attain Salvation. The gentile members were promoting a form of mysticism that claimed that Jesus was a 'higher being' but not God. Paul refuted these errors.

Pauline authorship of this letter has been universally recognized throughout church history. The Muratorian fragment written about 180 AD list Colossians as a Pauline epistle of divine inspiration. Church fathers Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Clement of Alexandria, Tertullian, and Origen all uphold Paul's authorship.

Though there are some who disagree, many date this letter to circa 60 A.D..

Answer:Nominally, Colossians was written by the apostle Paul to the church at Colosse, hence the fuller name, The Epistle to the Colossians. However, New Testament scholars say that the epistle was clearly not written by Paul, but in his name long after his death. As it was not written by Paul, Colossians could not have been written to the Colossians. The book was really an encyclical to the Church at large.

Answer 6

A:

Colossians is written as an epistle to the Christians of Colossi. However, it has long been recognised by New Testament scholars that Paul was not the author of this epistle. It was written in his name to address issues that arose in the Christian Church long after his death. By using Paul's name, it was realised that the epistle would gain far greater respect than if the real author acknowledged his role.

As with any pseudepigraphical work, we can not assume that the intended audience really were the Christians of Colossi. It is thought to have been written to churches in Asia Minor, but thismust remain uncertain.

Answer 7

Paul's Epistle to the Colossians is addressed to the saints and brethren in Colosse (or Colossae) in Asia Minor, but verse 4:16 also asks that it be read at the nearby city of Laodicea. However, the consensus of New Testament scholars is that it is not authentic, but was a pseudepigraphical work of the 70s of the first century, using the authority of Paul's name to address a sectarian conflict that had by then arisen in Asia Minor.

Since Colosse and Laodicea were both completely destroyed by the earthquake of 60 CE, more than ten years before the epistle is believed to have been written, it is unlikely that the epistle was really written to Christians in those cities. If indeed the letter was inauthentic, the earthquake could perhaps even have been the reason the cities were addressed in the epistle, as no one could have established whether any Christians who might have lived in those cities some twenty years earlier had known of Paul's letter.

Answer 8

Around 60 A.D. when Paul was imprisoned in Rome.