Colossians Background Overview

• Author: Paul

• Date: 60-62 A.D. (Acts 19)

• Audience: Church of Colossae (mostly Gentiles)

– This Christian community had not been converted through the ministry of Paul himself, but converted as a result of his Ephesians ministry (Acts 19) indirectly.

– Church was planted by one of Paul's coworkers, Epaphras, a native of Colossae and a “faithful minister of Christ” (Col 1:7).

• Epaphras had paid a visit to Paul in Rome and updated him on the ministry (Col 1:8, 2:5). Much of the report was encouraging, except that attractive, but false teaching had recently been introduced to the congregation. If these heresies went unchecked, they would distort and subvert the gospel, bringing the Colossians into spiritual slavery.

• Paul’s letter was written as a response to this, to combat the heresy that had arisen in Colossae and was threatening the life of the church.

historical background: