The letter to the Colossian Christians is part of the so-called “prison epistles,” being written while Paul was incarcerated (see Col 4:10) and was written probably around the same time and with similar content as the letter to the Ephesians. The city of Colossae was located about 100 miles east of Ephesus in Asia Minor. As a Roman city, it was unremarkable at the time of Paul’s writing for it had “seen its better day” in previous times. Yet the letter contains remarkable teaching.

One of the major themes of the letter has to do with a particular false teaching which later, in its full-blown manifestation, came to be known as Gnosticism. Present day interest in this cultic persuasion has been revived in popular film and book culture. It is still as false today as it was in its beginning forms in Paul’s day.

The apostle begins the letter in his usual way, identifying himself as author. There had been no serious question of his authorship until the 19^th century with the rise of higher criticism. But, from the earliest times and by virtually all early Christian writers, Paul the apostle was believed to be the genuine author of this letter (as opposed another “Paul” or someone falsely using his name). He identified Timothy as his co-author, the one to whom he later penned two letters which we call 1 and 2 Timothy in the New Testament.

Continuing his introduction, he identifies his audience, the members of the church in Colossae. He describes them in three ways. 1) “Saints”—this word comes from the root word meaning those who are called out as special. A saint, in Paul’s usage, is not someone who has been canonized by an ecclesiastical council. Rather, all people who believe in Jesus Christ, who have been redeemed by the grace of God, are saints. There is no division between “ordinary” Christians and a special class called “saints.” We are all special to God! Paul was probably infused with the attitude of the Psalmist who wrote, “As for the saints who are in the earth, they are the majestic ones in whom is all my delight” (Ps 16:3).

He calls the Colossian believers “faithful brethren,” a high commendation. If there is one thing God requires and values in us, it is faithfulness (see Col 4:2). The Colossians were doing well in that area, and Paul encourages them to build on their faithfulness to God as they confront false teaching.