| | [[File:The Conversion of St Paul by Nicolas-Bernard Lepicie, 1767.JPG|thumb|right|The Conversion of [[Saint Paul|St. Paul]] by Nicolas-Bernard Lepicie, 1767.]] | | [[File:The Conversion of St Paul by Nicolas-Bernard Lepicie, 1767.JPG|thumb|right|The Conversion of [[Saint Paul|St. Paul]] by Nicolas-Bernard Lepicie, 1767.]] |
| − | '''Colossians''' is a [[book]] in the [[New Testament]] written by the [[Saint Paul|Apostle Paul]]. | + | '''Colossians''' is a [[book]] in the [[New Testament]] written by the [[Saint Paul|Apostle Paul]], as written from prison. |
| | This epistle of the [[Saint Paul|apostle Paul]], "an apostle of [[Jesus Christ|Christ Jesus]] by the will of [[God]], and [[Timothy]] our brother" (Colossians 1:1) is addressed to a congregation at Colossae in the Lycus Valley in [[Anatolia|Asia Minor]], east of Ephesus, written before Paul had ever visited them (Colossians 1:4; 2:1). Apparently Epaphras of Colossae had established the [[Christianity|Christian]] community there (Colossians 1:7; 4:12). Problems had arisen from teachers who emphasized ideas about Christ's relation to the cosmos ([[universe]]), stressing the beings of [[angels]], "principalities and powers", which were associated with astral powers and cultic practices ([[mystery religion]]s), and imposed regulations about food and drink and [[Ascesis|ascetical]] practices of self-denial (Colossians 2:16, 18). Paul insists that these practices detract from the Person and work of Christ for [[salvation]], as set forth by him in a magnificent [[hymn]]ic passage (Colossians 1:15-20) and reiterated throughout his letter. Such distracting ideas are only "shadows"<ref>An indirect reference to [[Plato]]'s analogy of the cave in which men are born imprisoned and unable to see the outside world, but can only guess at its nature by the shadows thrown onto the wall opposite them from the light and darkness of the reality of the things passing by the opening outside the cave.</ref>; Christ is "reality" (Colossians 2:17). | | This epistle of the [[Saint Paul|apostle Paul]], "an apostle of [[Jesus Christ|Christ Jesus]] by the will of [[God]], and [[Timothy]] our brother" (Colossians 1:1) is addressed to a congregation at Colossae in the Lycus Valley in [[Anatolia|Asia Minor]], east of Ephesus, written before Paul had ever visited them (Colossians 1:4; 2:1). Apparently Epaphras of Colossae had established the [[Christianity|Christian]] community there (Colossians 1:7; 4:12). Problems had arisen from teachers who emphasized ideas about Christ's relation to the cosmos ([[universe]]), stressing the beings of [[angels]], "principalities and powers", which were associated with astral powers and cultic practices ([[mystery religion]]s), and imposed regulations about food and drink and [[Ascesis|ascetical]] practices of self-denial (Colossians 2:16, 18). Paul insists that these practices detract from the Person and work of Christ for [[salvation]], as set forth by him in a magnificent [[hymn]]ic passage (Colossians 1:15-20) and reiterated throughout his letter. Such distracting ideas are only "shadows"<ref>An indirect reference to [[Plato]]'s analogy of the cave in which men are born imprisoned and unable to see the outside world, but can only guess at its nature by the shadows thrown onto the wall opposite them from the light and darkness of the reality of the things passing by the opening outside the cave.</ref>; Christ is "reality" (Colossians 2:17). |