Colossians 3:1-4

Ancient lens?

What can we learn from the historical context?

Context and Tone

Paul was writing from prison to a Christian community that he didn’t establish. Rather, it was his co-laborer, Epaphras, who founded the church. Nevertheless, after a visit to Paul during his imprisonment, Paul was encouraged to write to the fledgling church about some difficult theological matters that required his input.

Paul’s tone is more pastoral and less combative than in his letter to the Galatians. Perhaps this is because he had not founded the church in Colossae. He may have felt less comfortable taking them to task for their wayward theology and held out a theological “carrot,” rather than pulling out the theological…