The Colossians

In Colossians, Chapter 4, Paul delivers some final instructions and greetings to the Colossian church. He urges the believers in the Lycus Valley to make the most of every opportunity to share the Gospel and to pray for him and his fellow workers. Near the end of his letter, Paul delivers greetings and encouragement on behalf of nine fellow believers.

Paul mentions the Christians at Laodicea a few times in his Letter to the Colossians. Since Laodicea is very near Colossae, it makes sense that Paul would reach out to both Christian communities when he sent his letter. Paul even referenced a previous letter he wrote (the “letter from Laodicea”), which appears to have been lost to history.

Like many of his letters, Paul began Colossians with a personal greeting, a prayer of thanksgiving, and a declaration of the Gospel. The start of Colossians contains a special level of heart, clarity, and power. Faith, love, and hope were some of Paul’s favorite words -faith in Christ, love towards his fellow believers, and hope in the kingdom of heaven.

After declaring the preeminence of Jesus Christ in Chapter 1, Paul used Chapter 2 to warn the Colossian believers against being taken captive by false teaching and human philosophy. He emphasized that in Jesus, we have everything we need for eternal salvation and the Christian life.

In Chapter 3 of Colossians, Paul shifts to the practical implications of Christ’s supremacy for our lives as believers. Paul tells us to set our hearts and minds on things above, not on earthly things. He also gives us specific guidance for how to live as followers of Jesus, including putting to death our sinful nature and putting on a “new self.”

In Colossians, Chapter 4, Paul delivers some final instructions and greetings to the Colossian church. He urges the believers in the Lycus Valley to make the most of every opportunity to share the Gospel and to pray for him and his fellow workers. Near the end of his letter, Paul delivers greetings and encouragement on behalf of nine fellow believers.