Colossians Blog 1

Some scholars believe that Paul wrote Colossians while others think it was written after his death. Colossians was written to Colossae, Laodicea and Hierapolis (Bullard). There was an earthquake that devastated the region in and around Colossae in 60 AD, so if this letter was written after Paul’s death, then the address to the Colossians would have not been literal (Bullard). If Paul did write Colossians, then it was probably written while he was in prison around the mid-fifties. Craig S. Keener states that the situation may have included idea that “Colossians 2 may indicate that Christians were attracted to mystical or apocalyptic elements in a Judaism thoroughly influenced by Phrygian Culture” (569). Try to imagine both Jewish and Gentile religions all mashed up together.

Colossians 1:11-14 says “May you be made strong with all the strengthen that comes from his glorious power, and my you be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully giving thanks to the Father who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light.. He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”

This semester I have learned about God’s faithfulness in such a deep way. Growing closer to Him daily makes the enemy angry and that is when these verses come in as a great reminder of what it means to be a Christian. Perseverance is necessary, especially when everything that you have been learning from God is being tested. You know what else? Classes don’t seem to care because they have a schedule to keep. Thankfully, God knows all of this already. These verses were refreshing, epecially when I now look back at the past month of school. God is good.

WORKS CITED

Bullard, Roger. “The Letter of Paul to the Colossians.” Pages 2107-2108 in The New Interpreter’s Study Bible with the Apocrypha. Edited by Walter J. Harrelson et al. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2003.

Keener, Craig S. “Colossians,” Pages 568-582 in The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament. Downers Grove, Illinois: InterVarsity Press, 1993.