Colossians Images and
NotesThe Book of Colossians
Colossians 1:16 - For by him were all things created, that
are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible,
whether [they be] thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or
powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
Colossians 2:15-17 - [And] having spoiled principalities and
powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in
it. Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in
respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath
[days]: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body [is]
of Christ.
Colossians in The New Testament - A Brief Overview
Painting of Paul the Apostle by Rembrandt - 1657
Introduction to The
Book of Colossians
Brief Summary. Paul had been imprisoned at Rome and
received messages about heresies at the church in Colossae. Paul
defended the faith by exalting the person of Jesus, and
clarifying the true doctrine of Jesus Christ.
Summary of The Book of Colossians
Purpose. The purpose of Paul's epistle to the Colossians
is to instruct the believers that salvation is only in Jesus
Christ. 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
1:15, 19). When Jesus died on the cross he put an end to the
civil and ceremonial laws of Judaism. Believers can trust in the
finished work of Jesus Christ, our God and creator.
Contents. The epistle to the Colossians contains
Paul's instruction about the new life in Christ which comes
through a spiritual union with Christ in heaven. This new life
produces a Christlike character: brotherly affection,
forgiveness, peace, worship and ministry, devotion to Christ,
and thankfulness in everything.
Colossae. The city of Colossae was in the heart of New
Testament Asia about a hundred miles east of Ephesus, in the Lycus
River Valley, in southern Phrygia Colossae was situated on
the great highway which ran from Ephesus to the Euphrates
Valley, near Hierapolis and Laodicea. According to Colossians
4:12-15 the church had been established in Colossae some time
earlier and was Paul sternly warns the church regarding
angel-worship, especially that of Michael the Archangel.
The Church at Colossae. Paul does not name himself as
the founder of the church at Colossae, yet since he passed
through the region of Phrygia (Acts 16:6; 18:23) which the city
of Colossae was a part of, it may be assumed that Paul came
there and preached Christianity.
The Heresy. The Church at Colossae was being severely
attacked by false teachers. The heresy contained many false
teachings which included: a false view of the universe, matter
is evil, a distortion of man, sin is physical not spiritual,
abstaining from foods and asceticism, a misunderstanding of the
person of Jesus Christ and the Logos, the worship of angels, and
elements of Judaism mixed with Christianity.
Authorship. The epistle to the Colossians was written by
Paul the Apostle and included with his prison epistles.
Date. Colossians was written from Rome during Paul's
first imprisonment, about 61-62 AD.
Outline of the Book of Colossians
Jesus Christ Exalted - Chapter 1
Christianity Exalted - Chapters 2
Union with Christ Exalted - Chapter 3-4
The Name Jesus In Ancient Hebrew Text
"Yeshua" in First Century Hebrew Text. This is how the name "Jesus"
would have been written in ancient Hebrew documents. The four letters or
consonants from right to left are Yod, Shin, Vav, Ayin (Y, SH, OO, A).
Jesus is the Greek name for the Hebrew name Joshua or Y'shua which means
"The LORD or Yahweh is Salvation".
Colossians Maps and Resources
Map of the Roman Empire (14 A.D.) - This map reveals the
Roman Empire during the time shortly after the birth of Jesus,
in 14 AD at the time of the death of Augustus. The order which
prevailed in this extensive empire, the good military roads, and
the use of Koine Greek as the general language of culture
throughout the area were among the factors which multiplied the
rapid spread of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. (Color Map)
Map of Paul's First Missionary Journey (48 A.D.) - This map
reveals the areas in Asia Minor where Paul visited in his first
missionary journey. Around 48 AD, in the springtime, Paul and
his companions Barnabas and Mark were sent on a mission from the
church in Antioch. This would be the first of Paul's Missionary
Journey's. (Color Map)
Map of Paul's Second Missionary Journey (51 A.D.) - This map
reveals the areas in Asia and Greece where Paul visited in his
second missionary journey. Paul re-visits a couple cities in
Asia, one of which was Lystra where he was stoned and left for
dead a few years earlier. He later has a vision that leads him
over to Greece and Paul and his companions travel and minister
in various cities in Greece (Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea,
Athens and Corinth. Later Paul returns to Ephesus and finally to
Caesarea and Antioch. (Color Map)
Map of Paul's Third Missionary Journey (54 A.D.) - This map
reveals the areas in Asia and Greece where Paul visited in his
third missionary journey. On Paul's third missionary journey he
returned to the cities he had first visited on his first
missionary journey. During this time he decided to remain in
Ephesus for about 3 years, and this city was the main focus of
his activities and an important Christian community (Acts 19).
(Color Map)
Map of the New Testament World - This map reveals the
"Nations" within the ancient world during the first century
A.D., the time of the New Testament. The map includes the areas
of Israel, Asia, Greece, and Italy. (Color Map)
Map of New Testament Asia - This map shows the cities within
Asia Minor during the first century A.D., the time of the New
Testament. The map includes the principal cities of Asia
including Tarsus, Ephesus, and Colossae, and provinces like
Galatia and Pamphilia. (Color Map)
