It is polemic in spirit and argues that we have everything in christ, that he is the source and lord of all creation and that he alone can forgive sins and reconcile us to god. In the book of colossians, paul addresses problems the church faces and encourages believers to remain devoted to the exalted jesus. This was about the same time he wrote ephesians and philemon. It was written, according to the text, by paul the apostle and timothy to the church in colossae, a small phrygian city near laodicea and approximately 100 miles 160 km from ephesus in asia minor. This gives further testimony to the fact that pauls epistles letters were meant to be circulated and read to all churches 4. Summary of the book of colossians story of the bible. In colossians, paul encourages the colossian christians to see. In the fourth book of the same miscellany he quotes that section of this. The focus of this letter is jesuswho he is and what he did. A free bible commentary on pauls letter to the colossians in easyenglish. Grace to you and peace from god our father and the lord jesus christ. Colosse had heard paul and had come to know christ.
Colossians 1 commentary william barclays daily study bible. Evidence in favor of pauline authorship is the many notable similarities to his other writings. Best colossians commentaries updated for 2020 best. Colossians overview eadies commentary on galatians. They did not need the secret information that the false teachers pretended to possess. Whether the reader is new to the book or has read and studied it several times like i have, the reader will get so much out of it. Paul emphasised that he had told the colossians the complete message about the gospel. This phrase captures two themes in pauls letter and therefore functions here to connect his concern for epaphras with the content of what he has just written. Best commentaries and books on colossians logos bible. Watch our overview video on the book of colossians, which breaks down the. Before paul wrote this letter to the christians in colossae, he had never been to their city colossians 2. If you want a solid commentary on colossians, then i would thoroughly recommend this book. There is no record of paul ever visiting the colossians church 2.
Wright offers comment on both of these important books. Colossians and philemon begins with the typical study into the introductory matters of this book of the bible, this is common place in zondervan exegetical commentary series on the new testament. The depth of pauls conflict for the colossians and othersfor i want you to know what a great conflict i have for you and those in laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh. Colossians and philemon zondervan exegetical commentary. The apostle paul wrote this letter to christians living in the small city of colossae. Date paul wrote this epistle from prison, as he did ephesians, philippians, and philemon. The book of colossians is a prison epistle letter written while in prison. The person of jesus christ must be understood accurately and that he is the image of the invisible god and in him all the fulness of the godhead dwells in bodily form colossians 1. Paul, an apostle of jesus christ by the will of god, and timothy our brother, to the saints and faithful brethren in christ who are in colosse. Paul has much to say of the hope, to which the colossians have already listened and which they have already accepted. Im by no means proficient in greek, so appreciated how wright explained the various definitions of greek words. His widely acclaimed commentaries on pauls epistles prompted his appointment to the new testament committee engaged in preparing the revised version of the bible in english.
Because of jesus position as the firstborn and head of the body and. In fact, colossians is sometimes taken to be deuteropauline, which simply means that on the basis of certain allegedly nonpauline features of vocabulary, style, and theology, colossians was written by a disciple of paul, one well versed in the apostles theology. For example, in the sixth book of his stromata, after maintaining that paul does not condemn all philosophy, he quotes colossians 2. The key personalities include paul, timothy, tychicus, onesimus, aristarchus, mark, and epaphras. Wilson, colossians and philemon international critical commentary. We give thanks to the god and father of our lord jesus christ, praying always. While not technical, the volumes in the concordia commentary series reflect seminarylevel scholarship. Colossians by joyce meyer is perfect for anyone who wants to study colossians.
In the past, god had not told people the complete message. In this book, the apostle paul described jesus with some of the loftiest language in all the new testament, focusing on christs preeminence and sufficiency in all things. The purpose of pauls epistle to the colossians is to instruct the believers that salvation is only in jesus christ. I have to say that i was very pleased on the whole. A study in colossians the purpose of this study is to investigate the apostle pauls letter to the colossians chapter by chapter. Study the bible online using commentary on colossians and more. Paul, an apostle special messenger of christ jesus the messiah, by the will of god, and timothy our brother. In colossians, paul encourages the colossian christians to see jesus.
This works dives into history and recent scholarship, of the books of colossians and philemon of the apostles which always helpful to pastors. Barclay this is a letter from paul, an apostle of jesus christ by the. Paulos apostolos christou iesou dia th elemato s theou kai timotheos o adelphos. Walking worthily of the lord to please him in all respects col. Paul the apostle to the colossians, new testament writing addressed to christians at colossae, asia minor, whose congregation was founded by pauls colleague epaphras.
This gives further testimony to the fact that paul s epistles letters were meant to be circulated and read to all churches 4. The structure of the letter translation and commentary. The author provided the bible verses in the book often using an amplified version. I enjoyed that meyers book starts off with an introduction about the book of colossians to give some background knowledge. A church came into existence in colosse philemon 2, and epaphras was the minister colossians 1. It was written to counter and respond to heretical teachings and encourage believers to. Author, date and place of writing that colossians is a genuine letter of paul 1. Paul intended to visit there when he was released from prison philemon 22. The book of colossians gives the clearest, most comprehensive teaching on christology of all pauls epistles. Link to eerdmans mcknight begins this major commentary on colossians with the observation that the letter is pauls apostolic vision that sought to redesign the roman empire 1. The book of colossians commentary by pastor ron beckham. Colossians is a bible commentary on colossians that can be used for personal bible study or even as a devotional. The book of colossians was likely written between a.
In it paul stresses the preeminence of the person of christ and the completeness of the salvation he provides. Enduring word bible commentary colossians chapter 1. The letter of paul to the colossians, also called the epistle of st. It was written, according to the text, by paul the apostle and timothy to the church in colossae, a small phrygian city near laodicea and approximately 100 miles 160 km from ephesus in asia minor scholars have increasingly questioned pauls authorship and attributed the letter to an. This basic commentary provides some basic helps for understanding and appreciating pauls written address to the colossians. What was his goal or his purpose toward which he preached and labored 2. The letter of paul to the colossians work by saint paul. In the 19th century, however, some thought that the heresy refuted in ch. This really helped me understand the main thrust of what paul meant when he wrote these letters 2,000 years ago. The epistle of paul to the colossians, or simply colossians, is the twelfth book of the new testament. Wooo n colossians alo 1 introduction to colossians c olossians is perhaps the most christcentered book in the bible. It was written from rome during pauls first imprisonment, at which time he also wrote ephesians and philemon.
Paul wrote his letter to the colossians to declare the supremacy of jesus christ. In the process the reader will encounter our discussions on several major, and at times controversial, doctrines and issues. Paul presented christ as the center of the universe, not only as the active creator but also as the recipient of creationin his taking on of human flesh. Like ephesians, the little book of colossians divides neatly in half with the first portion doctrinal 12 and the second practical 34. Colossians is also very similar in content to ephesians and philemon, with about one fourth of colossians actually contained in the book of ephesians. The apostle paul was the primary writer of the book of colossians colossians 1. The introduction of the commentary was very, very good, perhaps even the strength of the commentary. Further, pauls phrase mature and fully assured extends his commentary on the importance of epaphrass prayer for the colossians. The developed theology of the letter, many believe, indicates that it was composed by paul in rome about ad. Rome paul was in prison this book is one of the prison epistles, written along with ephesians, philippians, and philemon. Paul wrote to this church as though it were his own.
What did paul want the colossians and laodiceans to know 2. Book of colossians free bible study questions, class book, workbook, assignments, and study material. Deterding takes an evangelical approach to scripture. In the early church, all who speak on the subject of authorship ascribe it to paul. She covered several verses at a time and worked her way through colossians. Thompsons book was the inaugural volume of the thnt series, which attempts to bridge biblical studies and theology. The epistle of paul to the colossians, or simply colossians, is the twelfth book of the new. Throughout the letter paul reiterates the importance of understanding christs identity. Grace to you and peace from god our father and the lord jesus christ a. The first half of the book of colossians is a theological treatise that includes one of the most profound presentations of christology anywhere in.
The questions contain minimal human commentary, but instead. In philemon, paul appeals to a fellow believer to receive a runaway slave in love and forgiveness. A commentary on the greek text of pauls letter to the colossians 9781599250069 by john eadie. Book of colossians overview insight for living ministries. Colossians 4 commentary pauls apostolic concern for. A commentary on the greek text of pauls letter to the. Read colossians commentary using matthew henry commentary on the whole bible complete. In the theological horizons section of the commentary, thompson relates colossians to pauls theology more generally, especially his christology and eschatology. Colossians niv paul, an apostle of christ jesus by the. Colossians commentary matthew henry commentary on the. The jews had the part of the bible that we call the old testament. The book of colossians encourages a greater devotion to. The news of these false teachings was brought to paul probably by epaphras.