The letter to the Colossians was written by the Apostle Paul to the church in Colossae. The letter was written between 59 & 63AD. In this letter, Paul taught the people of Colossae about Jesus Christ and what they are to be in Him.
In the second half of chapter one Paul starts to describe Christ. In verse 13 and 14 he explains that Jesus rescued us from darkness. That Jesus is our Redeemer and Forgiver. The truth in these two verses is what makes our faith and worship of God possible. Without the redeeming and forgiving work of Jesus Christ we are at a lose and lack of understanding of everything else in Christ. It is only fitting for Paul to start his description of Christ in this way.
In verse fifteen Paul states Jesus is the image of the invisible God (the Father). Jesus was the image of Him whom we can not see. Just as Jesus said to know Him is to know the Father (John 14:7). To know Jesus is to know God, to know Him whom we can not see. Paul moves on to say that Jesus is the “firstborn of all creation”. This phrase is widely misunderstood. Many attempt to argue this means Jesus was created first and then through the next verse they argue everything else was created through Jesus. In historical context and within Judaism the term firstborn does not mean the first to be birthed or created, rather it means the foremost, most important, or predominant. When studying the Israelites we find the Jews are called the firstborn son of God (Exodus 4:22), not because the Jews were the first created nation but because they were first or foremost in God’s eyes. Jesus is the first born not in the sense of birth or creation but in the sense of importance, Jesus is the foremost of all.
After Paul finishes describing how Jesus is the firstborn and head of the Church Paul moves on to describe in verse twenty one the state of the Colossians before they heard the Good News and received salvation. He reminds the Colossians of the kind of people they were before Christ. That they were engaged in evil deeds, and hostile in mind. Then Paul in verse twenty two states a second time that Jesus has reconciled them.
In chapter two, Paul informs the church of the struggles which he has been through for the Gospel, for those in Laodicea, and those who have not seen his face. Paul did not plant the church in Colossae but he heard of their faith and chose to write them this letter. Paul is making known to the Colossians how he has suffered for the Gospel and for their sakes. Even though Paul does not personally know them he has suffered for the good of all the saint, including those in Colossae.
In chapter three, Paul describes the idea of putting on the new self, the newness that we have because of Christ Jesus. In chapter four, Paul provides instructions in how we are to act. In verse eighteen Paul ends his letter with a note, “I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my imprisonment. Grace be with you.” Paul took the time to write the greeting and he told them to remember his imprisonment, a final reminder he was suffering for their sakes.
This is a significant letter, Paul did not know these people or this church personally but he cared for them and wanted to encourage them to walk as is fitting as believers. An Apostle took the time to write this church body whom had previously not had the privilege of learning from Paul. This letter is an encouragement to the Colossians and to us today. All that Jesus has done for us, redeeming us from our old ways that we are to walk in our new self
