The Epistle of Paul to the Colossians
Written from Rome c. A.D. 60-62
While under house arrest in Rome (Acts 28) Paul received several visitors from the Lycus River Valley in Asia Minor. One of these visitors, Epaphras, reported to Paul of the potential danger of a syncretic Jewish/Greek heresy in Colossae threatening the purity of Christianity. To repel this threat, Paul writes this letter of warning, proclaiming the supremacy of Jesus Christ's person and work over human philosophy, experience, mysticism, and asceticism (1:15--2:23); a supremacy which should direct the course of their lives (3:1--4:6).
Chapter 1:1--2:23 The Fact of Christ's Supremacy
After a prayer of thanks for the fullness of the Christian life being manifest in the church in Colossae (namely "faith," "love," and "hope," 1:3-5) Paul notes that the "truth" came to them bearing much fruit (1:6-8). The "truth" is centralized in Christ, of whom Paul describes the supremacy of His person in relation to God (1:15a), in relation to creation (1:15b-17), and in relation to the church (1:18-19). Based on who Christ is, Paul then describes the supremacy of His work involving both reconciliation (1:20-23), and proclamation of the true knowledge of God (1:24--2:3). Thus, Paul demonstrates Christ's supremacy over human philosophy (2:4-10), Judaistic legalism (2:11-17), mystical existentialism (2:18-19), and personal asceticism (2:20-23). Because their faith is rooted in the supreme person and work of Christ, and not in any human solution, their faith has a solid basis to produce certainty for wise living.
Chapter 3:1--4:18 The Functional Effect of Christ's Supremacy
Citing first the governing principle to focus on things above (3:1-4), Paul explains that the supremacy of their faith being established alone in Christ has profound effects on one's personal life (3:5-17), family life (3:18-4:1), social life (4:2-6), and church life (4:7-18). The Colossians can live changed and confident lives because Christ is the supreme basis of faith.
Dr. Quine's View of the Key Verse: Colossians 2:2-3
"That their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God's mystery, that is Christ Himself."
