Colossians

"Jesus is not enough." This was the message of a group of Colossian heretics. So the apostle Paul writes to correct the error and remind a church in crisis that Jesus is always enough. He is the center of reality, in Him all things hold together, and only through Him is there freedom from the powers of guilt and shame.

At a Glance

• Overview
• 2010 Colossians Series (Sundays)
• 2018 Colossians Series (Mid Week)
• Colossians Misc Selection

Overview

NIV Bible Colossians Introduction

While Paul was in prison in Rome, awaiting his upcoming trial before Caesar, one of the letters he wrote was to the gathering of believers in the city of Colossae. Paul had never met them, but they knew who he was and respected his leadership. Paul had worked with a man named Epaphras when he was in Ephesus. Epaphras was originally from Colossae, about 100 miles to the east. Paul sent him to bring the good news about Jesus to his city and to two other nearby cities, Laodicea and Hierapolis. Epaphras was later arrested and brought to Rome as a prisoner himself. Paul learned from him what was happening in those cities.

The Colossians were mostly Gentiles, but like the Galatians they were being pressured to follow the Jewish law and were adding extra rules and false teachings to the faith. Some of them were priding themselves on having visions and getting secret spiritual knowledge. So Paul wrote them a letter to say, “When you’ve got Jesus the Messiah, you’ve got it all!”

Paul emphasizes that all things in heaven and earth were created by the Son and were reconciled to God by the Son’s death on the cross. Christ possesses the fullness of God’s being. Since the Colossians have been brought into the new kingdom of light, they can live their faith to the fullest. They are to put on the new self,awaiting the time the Messiah will appear openly, revealing his glory.

Bible Project

Colossians Introduction

Spoken Gospel

2010 Colossians Series (Sundays)

Cornerstone Chapel

2018 Colossians Series (Mid Week)

Cornerstone Chapel

Colossians Misc Selection

Cornerstone Chapel