Hey everybody this is Steve and this is a brief introduction to Paul's letter to the
Colossians.
Colossians is one of the 13 epistles attributed to St Paul, and one of the 27 books and letters
that make up the New Testament canon.
The Apostle Paul is, of course, the author.
And, as you might guess, he wrote this letter to the Christians in Colossae, a city in Asia
Minor (in what is today modern Turkey).
But there's an interesting wrinkle here because, at the end of the letter, Paul asks the Colossians
to share this letter with the Christians in Laodecia; and for the Colossians to receive
a letter from the Laodecians, so they can read it in their congregations.
In other words, Paul wants those two cities to swap letters.
So this gives us a look into the way Paul thought about his ministry: while he wrote
particular letters to particular communities addressing particular problems, he also intended
his letters to be read by the wider Church.
And of course, we still do that.
We're reading this letter, and we're not first century Christians living in first century
Colossae; unless someone somehow smuggled an iphone back in time...
Colossians is also interesting because it has strong connections to Paul's letter to
the Ephesians.
There are entire sections of the letter to the Colossians that Paul seems to have copied,
and then elaborated on, in his letter to the Ephesians.
So again, we see that Paul was offering a message with universal importance for Christians
in different places and at different times.
Scholars disagree about exactly when to date the letter.
It seems like it was written by Paul while he was in prison.
The trouble, as we see in the Book of Acts, is he was imprisoned a bunch of times during
his life.
So depending on which imprisonment we're talking about, Paul may have written this letter in
the early 50s, the mid 50s (around 56 AD), or as late as the early 60s.
Paul didn't found the Church in Colossae; that was his spiritual son, Epaphras.
And he never visited the Christian community there, either; which is why he opens the letter
by saying how he's heard about the faith of the Colossians.
Yet he was a spiritual father to the Colossians.
And an Apostle.
So his words carried weight.
And he wrote to them to address an important problem.
You see, the Colossians were falling into something called "syncretism."
They were adopting beliefs and religious practices from other religious and philosophical traditions.
They were acting as if Christ wasn't enough, as if they needed to add to the Gospel and
the life of the Church by drawing from other sources.
Yet Paul doesn't start his letter with a negative tone, scolding the Colossians from straying.
He starts, as we noted earlier, by complimenting them: saying that he's heard about their faith.
And then, he doesn't attack any other religious traditions; instead, he simply begins to talk
about the fullness of Christ.
"For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased
to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through
the blood of his cross."
(Col 1:19-20)
It's only later, after Paul has laid this positive and joyous foundation, that he begins
to specifically address some of the errors the Colossians were making: observing pagan
festivals, worshiping angels, dwelling on visions, things like that.
These teachings and practices were mistakes because they were the inventions of people,
the product of human minds and imaginations and philosophies.
They were not grounded in Christ and His Gospel; in fact, they were leading the Colossians
to dilute the Gospel.
To add to it and, in doing so, slowly forget it and the Lord.
Which, if we're honest, is a temptation that Christians can fall into: anytime, and anywhere.
As we wrap it up, here are 2 things to keep in mind when you read to help give you a bit
of context and better understand Paul's letter to the Colossians.
First, Paul emphasizes that we are saved only by our connection with Christ.
Colossians is a beautiful meditation on salvation, which is found only in our union with the
Lord.
Christ made all things, and holds all things together.
And He brings all things to be reconciled with His Father.
Paul explains how the Church is the very Body of Christ, with the Lord as its head.
And that, when we are baptized in Christ, we are joined to Christ, and raised with Him
into new life.
It is in Christ, and Christ alone, that we are raised up, reconciled with, and made children
of our heavenly Father.
"And you who were once estranged and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled
in his fleshly body through death, so as to present you holy and blameless and irreproachable
before Him, [God the Father]."
(Col 1:21-22)
And second, Paul explains that this new life in Christ needs to shape the actions and choices
we make each and every day.
To truly find new life in Christ, we need to put to death everything in us that's opposed
to that: greed and passion and evil desire, the things that hold us down in the grave,
that hold us back from life and connection with God.
We need to devote ourselves to constant prayer, making our entire lives an offering of thanks,
lifting ourselves, each other, and our whole lives up to the Lord.
"[Because] if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ
is, seated at the right hand of God."
(Col 3:1)
As you read along with us, keep these two points in mind: 1.
That salvation is found only in our union with Christ; and 2.
That our new life in Christ needs to shape the way we live, every day.
Tell us in the comments how you notice these two things as you begin to engage with the
Scripture; and then join us in our weekly video series, Live the Word.
Most importantly, I hope you'll celebrate with us this Sunday and every Sunday, to hear
the beautiful Scripture readings proclaimed during the Divine Liturgy and to learn how
you can Live the Word.
Thanks for watching.
You can click on our logo to subscribe to our channel, and make sure you turn on notifications
so you never miss a video.
You can find lots more from us at our website: y2am.org.