What was the purpose of the letter to the colossians?

Answer 1

Another answer from our community:

It was not Paul who actually wrote the Epistle to the Colossians, but someone writing in his name after his death. It is for this reason that the Epistle to the Colossians is called a pseudo-Pauline epistle. Burton L Mack (Who Wrote the New Testament) says the Epistle to the Colossians, written sometime during the 70s, used the authority of Paul to address a sectarian conflict that had arisen in Asia Minor.

Answer:Matthew Henry answers this question well in the introduction to his Concise Commentary on Colossians:

"This epistle was sent because of some difficulties which arose among the Colossians, probably from false teachers, in consequence of which they sent to the apostle. The scope of the epistle is to show, that all hope of man's redemption is founded on Christ, in whom alone are all complete fulness, perfections, and sufficiency. The Colossians are cautioned against the devices of judaizing teachers, and also against the notions of carnal wisdom, and human inventions and traditions, as not consistent with full reliance on Christ. In the first two chapters the apostle tells them what they must believe, and in the two last what they must do; the doctrine of faith, and the precepts of life for salvation."

Colossians and Ephesians are two closely related epistles written by leaders of the Pauline school of Christianity some time late in the first century CE. They are not authentic epistles by Paul himself, but were written in his name by his successors in the school he had founded, a practice which was common at this time. Colossians was written to address a sectarian conflict that had arisen in Asia Minor.

Colossians was written by Paul to address a heresy that had arisen in the church at Colosse. The heresy involved a view of Christ which denied His deity.

Another answer:

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. 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 this must remain uncertain.

The Epistle to the Colossians was written in Paul's name because it was realised that the epistle would gain far greater respect than if the real author acknowledged his role. It was intended to address a sectarian conflict that had arisen in the Christian Church long after his death. Another important reason appears to have been to modify what Paul had taught in his genuine epistles. For Paul, Christian existence was an imitation of the sufferings and sacrificial death of Christ, while full participation in the resurrection of Christ would have to wait until the eschaton.

In Colossians 2:12, by contrast, Christians were those who had already been "raised with him [Jesus] through faith ... when you were buried with him in baptism."

when Jesus was ascending into the heavens, when he took captive capture he quote a scripture

Answer 2

Another answer from our community:

It was not Paul who actually wrote the Epistle to the Colossians, but someone writing in his name after his death. It is for this reason that the Epistle to the Colossians is called a pseudo-Pauline epistle. Burton L Mack (Who Wrote the New Testament) says the Epistle to the Colossians, written sometime during the 70s, used the authority of Paul to address a sectarian conflict that had arisen in Asia Minor.

Answer:Matthew Henry answers this question well in the introduction to his Concise Commentary on Colossians:

"This epistle was sent because of some difficulties which arose among the Colossians, probably from false teachers, in consequence of which they sent to the apostle. The scope of the epistle is to show, that all hope of man's redemption is founded on Christ, in whom alone are all complete fulness, perfections, and sufficiency. The Colossians are cautioned against the devices of judaizing teachers, and also against the notions of carnal wisdom, and human inventions and traditions, as not consistent with full reliance on Christ. In the first two chapters the apostle tells them what they must believe, and in the two last what they must do; the doctrine of faith, and the precepts of life for salvation."

Colossians and Ephesians are two closely related epistles written by leaders of the Pauline school of Christianity some time late in the first century CE. They are not authentic epistles by Paul himself, but were written in his name by his successors in the school he had founded, a practice which was common at this time. Colossians was written to address a sectarian conflict that had arisen in Asia Minor.

Colossians was written by Paul to address a heresy that had arisen in the church at Colosse. The heresy involved a view of Christ which denied His deity.

Another answer:

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. 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 this must remain uncertain.

The Epistle to the Colossians was written in Paul's name because it was realised that the epistle would gain far greater respect than if the real author acknowledged his role. It was intended to address a sectarian conflict that had arisen in the Christian Church long after his death. Another important reason appears to have been to modify what Paul had taught in his genuine epistles. For Paul, Christian existence was an imitation of the sufferings and sacrificial death of Christ, while full participation in the resurrection of Christ would have to wait until the eschaton.

In Colossians 2:12, by contrast, Christians were those who had already been "raised with him [Jesus] through faith ... when you were buried with him in baptism."

when Jesus was ascending into the heavens, when he took captive capture he quote a scripture

Answer 3

The letter to the Colossians, written sometime during the 70s, shows that the authority of Paul could be used to address a sectarian conflict that had arisen in Asia Minor.

For Paul, Christian existence was understood as an imitation of the sufferings and sacrificial death of Christ, while full participation in the resurrection of Christ would have to wait until the eschaton. In Colossians, by contrast, Christians were those who had already been "raised with him [Christ] through faith ... when you were buried with him in baptism" (Colossians 2:12).

Colossians contains nothing of Paul's heated arguments, expressed in his own epistles, for freedom from the law, the justification of sinners, faith in Christ, scriptural precedence, epic revisions or apocalyptic scenarios and threats.

Answer 4

Perhaps the major purpose for the Apostle Paul's writing to the Romans was to put an end to the problem of Christian gentiles and Jews judging one another. Paul wanted them to see that 'we shall all stand before the judgement seat of Christ' and will all be judged by the same standard (Romans 14:10; John 3:22-24).

A big problem with resource tools helping to understand Paul's sometimes difficult to grasp verses, is the enormous bias against Old Testament writings causing them to totally miss the point of Paul's letters. Another problem with Paul's writing is that people read their own beliefs/ideas into his words which are usually completely contrary to God's Word and even Paul's clear teachings.

It is extremely important for the reader to carefully read what Paul is actually saying in context instead of assuming that popular opinion is always right.

Paul puts the Law on a 'firmer footing' in Romans 3. He defines sin in agreement with The Bible like John did too (1 John 3:4). He explains Justification and how it relates to Salvation calling it 'imputed righteousness' in Romans 4:20-25. And what is most often misinterpreted is Romans 14 and whether or not it abolished laws of Unclean Meats - it did not, read whole chapter to understand. And finally, about the days of worship for a true Christian in Romans 14 where the word Sabbath is nowhere mentioned in these verses. Paul had already stated that the Law is holy and the commandment holy and just and good (Romans 7:12). The 'doers of the law will be justified (Romans 2:13) and how 'I delight in the law of God' (Romans 7:22). So he would never be irrevelant about God's Commandment to keep the Sabbath.

Answer 5

Nearly all biblical scholars regard Colossians as a pseudo-Pauline epistle written in the 80s of the first century, long after Paul had died. It was common practice to write in the name of Paul and various others of the early apostles, because this would lend weight to the message being circulated.

The letter was not really written to the Colossians, but was an encyclical intended by its anonymous author to be read at every church. Verse 4:16 gives this away, by suggesting that Colossians be read at Laodicea and the supposed letter from Laodicea be read at their church - in other words, 'my' letters are useful for everyone so please circulate them.

An important issue that the author sought to address was a sectarian conflict that had arisen in Asia Minor.

The epistle provided ethical instructions for ordering the household. Wives should be subject to their husbands, children to their parents and slaves to their masters. The husbands and rnasters should treat their wives, children and slaves kindly. But these were common standards for the managing of a household in the society at large.

Answer 6

When Paul wrote the book of Colossians, it is most likely he was in the city of Ephesus.