Colossae

Biblical Text

In the Bible, the name Colossae appears only in Colossians 1:2. Paul addressed this letter "to the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse." The Epistle to the Colossians reveals the following about this church:

• Origin of the church: The Colossian believers learned the gospel from Epaphras (Colossians 1:7). Epaphras is introduced as "one of you" and is described as one who labored on behalf of the believers in Colossae, Laodicea, and Hierapolis (Colossians 4:12-13).
• Relationship with Paul: Paul says that these believers had not seen his face in the flesh (Colossians 2:1). For this reason, it is generally held that Paul never visited Colossae in person.
• Delivery of the letter: Paul writes that he is sending Tychicus and Onesimus to Colossae. Onesimus is described as "one of you" (Colossians 4:7-9).
• Exchange with a neighboring church: Paul instructs that the Epistle to the Colossians also be read in the church of the Laodiceans, and that the Colossians likewise read "the epistle from Laodicea" (Colossians 4:15-16).

The name Colossae does not appear in the Acts of the Apostles. Many interpreters, however, link the evangelization of Colossae to Acts 19:10, which records that during Paul's stay in Ephesus "all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus," and conclude that the gospel reached Colossae through Epaphras during this period.

Geographical and Historical Background

Colossae lay in the valley of the Lycus River, near Laodicea and Hierapolis in the same valley. Ancient Greek writers such as Herodotus and Xenophon described it as a great city. In the Roman period, however, Colossae is believed to have declined in importance as Laodicea grew into the regional center. The area was also known for its wool and textile industries.

Ancient sources report a major earthquake in the Lycus Valley around the middle of the first century. How much damage it caused at Colossae is unclear. Scholars locate the ruins of Colossae on a mound near Honaz in present-day Denizli Province, but the site long remained without systematic excavation.

Significance in Scripture

Colossae is an example of Paul writing to a church he did not found himself, and it illustrates how the gospel spread through a region by means of his co-workers. The Epistle to Philemon is also connected with this church. Because Onesimus and Archippus (Colossians 4:17; Philemon 1:2) appear in both letters, it is widely accepted that the church meeting in Philemon's house was located in Colossae. The neighboring city of Laodicea appears again later in the Book of Revelation as one of the seven churches of Asia (Revelation 3:14-22).

Interpretation and Issues

• Authorship and place of writing: Colossians has traditionally been accepted as a letter Paul wrote from prison (Colossians 4:3, 4:18). Some critical scholars regard it as the work of one of Paul's disciples. Opinions are also divided as to whether Paul was imprisoned in Rome, Ephesus, or Caesarea at the time.
• The false teaching at Colossae: Colossians 2 warns against teachings involving philosophy and vain deceit, regulations concerning food and holy days, and the worshipping of angels (Colossians 2:8, 16-18). Interpretations of this teaching vary, identifying it as Jewish mysticism, an early form of Gnostic thought, or a blend incorporating local folk religion, and no consensus has been reached.
• The letter from Laodicea: The letter from Laodicea mentioned in Colossians 4:16 has not survived. Some identify it with the Epistle to the Ephesians, but this identification is not certain.