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Colossians Background Info

Important background knowledge about Colossians

  • The author: Paul and Timothy are named as the authors of Colossians. Therefore “we” can refer to Paul and Timothy. “I” refers to Paul speaking. Timothy was likely Paul’s secretary.
  • The audience: The believers at the church in Colossae.
  • The church: False teachings promoting asceticism are on the rise in the Colossian church which we will talk about in chapter 2.
  • The time of writing: Roughly the same time as Paul wrote Philemon and Ephesians, all three letters were sent with Tychicus and Onesimus. During Roman imprisonment after his voyage to Rome in Acts 27-28.
  • The purpose:
    • How the Colossian church started: Epaphras heard Paul preaching the gospel in Ephesus, he then returned to Colossae and shared Christ there and started the church.
    • Epaphras likely shared news about false teachings at the church to which Paul is responding by writing this letter.