Colossians
Audience
• This letter was written to Gentile converts
in Colossae, a city in the region of Phrygia
in southwest Asia Minor, about 120 miles
east of Ephesus.
• There is no record of Paul visiting
Colossae; the letter to the Colossians
indicates that he hadn’t yet visited the city
(2:1).
Occasion
• This letter was prompted by the author’s
concern about a false philosophy that
threatened to undermine the Colossians’
faith, luring them into practices which
were not in harmony with the gospel (2:8–
23). The author wants his readers to
“continue in the faith grounded and
settled, and be not moved away from the
hope of the gospel” (1:23).
Authorship
• Colossians claims to have been written by
Paul (1:1, 23; 4:18), but scholars are
divided on whether he actually wrote it or
whether it was written by someone else
who claimed to be Paul. The tone, writing
style, theology, and Paul’s understanding
of his own authority and role are different
than his other letters.
Date
• Colossians is traditionally part of Paul’s
“prison letters” (4:3, 10, 18), written from
Rome in A.D. 61–63. However, Colossae
was destroyed by an earthquake in A.D. 61
and was not rebuilt until the 2nd century,
suggesting that the letter was written
during an earlier imprisonment (mid-
50s?).
• If Paul was not the author, then it was
probably written within a decade or two
after his death (late 60s to early 80s).
Themes
• Warning against false teachings (2:8–
23). The Colossians are warned against
“philosophy and empty deceit” which
emphasizes the “elemental spirits of the
universe” (NRSV 2:8). This may have been
a pagan mystery cult, or a form of
Gnosticism, or apocalyptic Judaism.
• The supremacy of Christ (1:15–20). Jesus
is “the image of the invisible God, the
firstborn of every creature,” the creator of
all things, and the head of the Church.
• Christians should “put off the old man…
[and] put on the new man” (3:9–10) in
Christ (3:5–4:6). We are dead to our old
way of life and are now the elect of God.
Structure
Introduction (1:1–8).
• Salutation (1:1–2).
• Thanksgiving for the Colossians’ obedience
(1:3–8).
Affirmations of the gospel (1:9–2:7).
• Introductory prayer for the knowledge of
God (1:9–12).
• The supremacy of Christ (1:13–20).
• Appeal to remain faithful (1:21–23).
• Paul’s mission and pastoral commitment
(1:24–2:5).
• Summary exhortation (2:6–7).
Warnings about false teachers (2:8–23).
• Instruction in Christ and the cross (2:8–
15).
• Specific warnings against false religious
practices (2:16–23).
Exhortations to lead a Christian life (3:1–4:6).
• “Seek those things which are above” (3:1–
4).
• Put off the old nature (3:5–11).
• Put on the new nature (3:12–17).
• Rules for household relationships (3:18–
4:1).
• Exhortation to prayer (4:2–4).
• Conduct toward outsiders (4:5–6).
Final greetings and instructions (4:7–18).
• News, greetings, and instruction
concerning Paul’s associates and the
church in Laodicea (4:7–17).
• Autograph conclusion (4:18).
Adapted from Victor Paul Furnish, “Colossians, Epistle to
the,” The Anchor Bible Dictionary (1992), 1:1090.
 Ephesians
Audience
• This epistle was written to the church at
Ephesus, a major city on the Aegean Sea in
western Asia Minor.
• Paul first visited Ephesus at the end of his
second missionary journey (Acts 18:19–
21), and then returned and spent two years
there during his third journey (Acts 19:1–
20:1).
Occasion
• There are no immediate concerns that
seem to prompt this letter; instead, it reads
more like a homily or sermon.
• The purpose may have been to help
reconcile Gentile and Jewish Christians as
one body in Christ (2:14–16).
Authorship
• A majority of scholars believe that
Ephesians is a pseudonymous letter—
written by an unknown person in Paul’s
name. The vocabulary, style, theology, and
even sentence length are very much unlike
Paul’s other letters. It appears to be based
on Colossians.
Date
• If Paul was the author of Ephesians, then
the letter is part of his “prison letters” (3:1;
4:1; 6:20), written from Rome in A.D. 61–
63.
• If Paul was not the author, then it was
probably written in the late first century
(A.D. 70–95).
• The Christian household in the image of
God’s household, the church (5:21–6:9).
A man should love his wife as Christ loves
the church, and a wife should be obedient
to her husband as the church is to Christ.
• Put on the whole armor of God (6:10–17).
Our true enemies are not human, but
spiritual.
Structure
Introduction (1:1–23).
• Greeting (1:1–2).
• Blessing (1:3–14).
• Thanksgiving (1:15–23).
Affirmations about the mystery of Christ (2:1–
3:21).
• The old life contrasted with the new life
(2:1–10).
• The unity of Jews and Gentiles in the
church (2:11–22).
• Paul’s stewardship of God’s grace (3:1–13).
• Prayer for the church’s spiritual maturity
(3:14–21).
Exhortations to lead a Christian life (4:1–
6:20).
• Appeal for unity amid diversity (4:1–16).
• Put off the old nature (4:17–22).
• Put on the new nature (4:23–24).
• Shun wickedness and embrace righteous
living (4:25–5:20).
• Life in the Christian household (5:21–6:9).
• Put on the whole armor of God (6:10–17).
• Pray in the Spirit (6:18–20).

Themes Conclusion (6:21–24).

• Commendation of Tychicus (6:21–22).
• The universal church (2:14–16; 4:1–16). • Benediction (6:23–24).
Christ’s death brought together both Jews
and Gentiles into a new, unified Adapted from Victor Paul Furnish, “Ephesians, Epistle to
community. The Jewish Law, which was a the,” The Anchor Bible Dictionary (1992), 2:536.
wall between Jews and Gentiles, was
rendered irrelevant by the cross, and thus Similar passages in Ephesians and Colossians
Christ reconciled both groups to each other
and to God. Ephesians Colossians Ephesians Colossians
1:1–2 1:1–2 5:22 3:18
• The mystery of God’s plan revealed (3:1–
13). God’s plan for the Gentiles to become 1:15–16 1:3–4, 9 5:25 3:19
“fellow-heirs” with the Jews has been 1:22–23 1:17–19 6:1 3:20
hidden, but is now revealed in Christ 2:13–18 1:20–22 6:5–9 3:22–25, 4:1
through Paul’s apostolic commission. 4:16 2:9 6:18–20 4:2–4
5:6 3:6 6:21–22 4:7–8
5:18–20 3:16–17