Colossae was a town in the Lycus Valley of Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey), near the bigger cities of Laodicea and Hierapolis. There was a significant Jewish population in the region, as evidenced by the fact that Laodicea was a collection point for the Temple tax.
We may know more about the background and timing of Paul's epistle to the Colossians when more archaeological work has been done there. A Turkish university has done a survey preparing for a dig which they hope to begin soon.
One main question involves an earthquake that hit the region in the early 60s AD, causing major damage. Paul's letter does not mention the earthquake directly. Some commentators---e.g., Michael Bird---suggest that Paul wrote the letter in the late 50s AD before the earthquake. Others suggest that Paul uses some architectural language in the letter that may indirectly refer to the earthquake.
Paul was imprisoned when he wrote Colossians and Philemon, and there are questions about when and where he was detained. Bird weighs arguments for the Roman imprisonment of Acts 28 and for a possible earlier imprisonment in Ephesus, coming down on the side of the latter.
Paul wrote to counter a problematic teaching that may have been popular in the local synagogue community. Scholars have tried to reconstruct what this teaching might have been from the hints we get in the letter. Perhaps some were advocating a regimen of ascetic practices that were meant to lead to visions that involved worshiping God with the angels (based on 2:18). Whatever this teaching was, Paul urged the Colossians not to become preoccupied with it, but instead to put their focus on the risen Messiah.
The Christian congregation(s) at Colossae apparently had been planted by Epaphras (1:7), one of Paul's coworkers. Another purpose of the letter may be support Epaphras' leadership there.
Paul expresses thanks for the faithfulness and love that the Colossians are known to have, grounded in their trust in Jesus, who they anticipated would reward them at his return (1:3-5). Paul wants them to understand that their little group is part of a much larger movement that is "bearing fruit and increasing" (v 6). The phrase "bearing fruit and increasing" is an allusion to the "be fruitful and multiply" of Genesis 1:28. They were part of a new creation begun by a second Adam. Bird suggests that Paul also may have in mind here the prophecy of Isaiah 27:6: "In days to come Jacob shall take root, Israel shall blossom and put forth shoots and fill the whold world with fruit."
Paul next turns from thanksgiving to intercession, praying that the Colossians will have life-changing knowledge, wisdom, and understanding through the Holy Spirit. Paul says that God has qualified them to "share in the inheritance of the saints in light" (v. 12). Given the apparent interest in angels in Colossae, Bird suggests that the "saints" in this verse may be angelid beings.
In Colossians 1:15-20, Paul may be quoting (and perhaps building upon) an existing Christian confession hymn. There are other New Testament passages that may also fall into this category---Phil 2:6-11; 1 Co 8:6;1 Pe 2:21-24.
In any case, he makes a number of remarkable affirmations about Jesus, who is
- the creator, sustainer, and ruler of all things.
- a second Adam.
- the firstfruits of a great spiritual harvest.
- head of the church.
Colossians 1, of course, is not the only passage that makes such statements about Jesus. John 1, Philippians 2, Hebrews 1:1-3, and 1 Cor 8:6 are others.
In a sermon at Church of the Messiah on October 14, 2023, Kyle Kettering reflected on this theological truth, emphasizing that our purpose is to yield to God as Creator and Ruler, and to manifest and magnify his sovereignty.
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