Changes

Paul expresses his prayerful concern for them (Colossians 1:9-14) and commends the community as a whole, which seems to indicate that while they have been under the persuasive pressure to adopt the false doctrines put forth by the new teachers they have not yet succumbed to it. His own dedication to the doctrine of Christ by his preaching has also cost him: persecution, suffering, and imprisonment. Yet he regards these as reflecting the sufferings of Christ as required ascetical discipline for the sake of the [[Gospel]] (1:24, 29; 2:1). Love, obedience and service are to be rendered "in the Lord" (3:18–4:1). His instructions to the Christian family and to slaves and masters require of them a new spirit of reflective reconsideration and action in Christ "their life" (3:4).

Paul expresses his prayerful concern for them (Colossians 1:9-14) and commends the community as a whole, which seems to indicate that while they have been under the persuasive pressure to adopt the false doctrines put forth by the new teachers they have not yet succumbed to it. His own dedication to the doctrine of Christ by his preaching has also cost him: persecution, suffering, and imprisonment. Yet he regards these as reflecting the sufferings of Christ as required ascetical discipline for the sake of the [[Gospel]] (1:24, 29; 2:1). Love, obedience and service are to be rendered "in the Lord" (3:18–4:1). His instructions to the Christian family and to slaves and masters require of them a new spirit of reflective reconsideration and action in Christ "their life" (3:4).

The letter to the Colossians follows the pattern of a Pauline epistle. It is distinguished by poetic lines (Colossians 1:15-20) concerning who Christ is and what He means in creation and in redemption of spirits and [[soul]]s of men. This [[hymn]] is comparable to similar passages in [[Philippians]] 2:6-11; [[I Timothy|1 Timothy]] 3:16 and [[Gospel of John|John]] 1:1-18. Its [[Liturgy|liturgical]] form and content was apparently familiar to Paul, to the congregation, and to the false teachers. However, in Colossians 1:21–2:7 Paul interprets the relation between the body of Christ, as being most emphatically the church (1:18), and the [[Universe|world cosmos]], to be a relationship not simply of Christ's pre-incarnate existence and rule but one of missionary advance into the world by the spreading of the word (1:25, 28). Paul as Christ's minister in this one labor of the missionary body of Christ plays a prime part in bringing Christ and the Gospel as a confidently expectant hope to the Gentiles (1:23, 25, 27). The word is to be proclaimed to "''every'' creature under heaven" (not just the elect), so that everyone receives Christ, is established in faith, and walks in Christ (1:28; 2:6, 7).

The letter to the Colossians follows the pattern of a Pauline epistle. It is distinguished by poetic lines (Colossians 1:15-20) concerning who Christ is and what He means in creation and in redemption of spirits and [[soul]]s of men. This [[hymn]] is comparable to similar passages in [[Philippians]] 2:6-11; [[I Timothy|1 Timothy]] 3:16 and [[Gospel of John|John]] 1:1-18. Its [[Liturgy|liturgical]] form and content was apparently familiar to Paul, to the congregation, and to the false teachers. However, in Colossians 1:21–2:7 Paul interprets the relation between the body of Christ, as being most emphatically the church (1:18), and the [[Universe|world cosmos]], to be a relationship not simply of Christ's pre-[[Incarnation|incarnate]] existence and rule but one of missionary advance into the world by the spreading of the word (1:25, 28). Paul as Christ's minister in this one labor of the missionary body of Christ plays a prime part in bringing Christ and the Gospel as a confidently expectant hope to the Gentiles (1:23, 25, 27). The word is to be proclaimed to "''every'' creature under heaven" (not just the elect), so that everyone receives Christ, is established in faith, and walks in Christ (1:28; 2:6, 7).

Paul's several imprisonments leave uncertain the specific place and date of this letter composed in prison. The same difficulty exists with [[Ephesians]] and [[Philippians]] and [[Philemon]]. Traditionally he was under house arrest at Rome, in which he was allowed a certain restricted freedom in preaching to visitors (see Acts 23:16-28), but a second Roman imprisonment has been proposed as the setting of its composition. Others suggest a still earlier imprisonment at Caesarea (see Acts 23:12–27:1) or in Ephesus (see Acts 19). Still other scholars regard the letter as the work of some faithful pupil or follower of Paul, writing in his name. Whatever is the truth, the contents of this letter to the Colossians often closely parallel the thoughts in Ephesians.

Paul's several imprisonments leave uncertain the specific place and date of this letter composed in prison. The same difficulty exists with [[Ephesians]] and [[Philippians]] and [[Philemon]]. Traditionally he was under house arrest at Rome, in which he was allowed a certain restricted freedom in preaching to visitors (see Acts 23:16-28), but a second Roman imprisonment has been proposed as the setting of its composition. Others suggest a still earlier imprisonment at Caesarea (see Acts 23:12–27:1) or in Ephesus (see Acts 19). Still other scholars regard the letter as the work of some faithful pupil or follower of Paul, writing in his name. Whatever is the truth, the contents of this letter to the Colossians often closely parallel the thoughts in Ephesians.