The Bare Facts -- Overviews and Outlines --
Bible Studies: Whole Book -- Part of Book -- Thematic --
Sermons -- Bibliographies
In four short chapters, Paul presents his Christology to the saints at Colossae, not in order to pen some brilliant theological treatise, but to preserve the church from succumbing to heresy.
Left: "Colossians 1:19-20" by Samuel Teo.
The Bare Facts
Who: Like Philippians, another "prison epistle," Paul and Timothy are explicitly stated as the authors of this work. A few scholars, basing their objections on linguistic and theological grounds, have suggested a non-Pauline authorship, but their evidence is counter-balanced by at least as much pro-Pauline evidence.Where: Although some have claimed that this letter was written while Paul was incarcerated in Caesarea or in Ephesus, the preponderance of the evidence supports the traditional belief that he was instead a prisoner in Rome when he wrote Colossians.When: Paul's stay in the Roman prison--the first time--ran from A.D. 59 to 61. He states that he expects to be released soon, which some take as evidence for the later date. This is, however, possibly ascribed to wishful thinking. I don't believe we must see Paul's expectations as inspired, after all. Splitting the difference, we can date this epistle in A.D. 60 and be fairly confident of the margin of error.
What: Paul wrote this letter in response to a not-clearly-defined heresy threatening the church at Colossae.
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Memorable Passages |
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Overviews and Outlines
- Colossians: Introduction, Argument, Outline
- A solid overview by Daniel Wallace.
- The Letter to the Colossians
- An introduction by Greg Herrick.
- Letter to the Colossians
- An introductory essay by Barry Smith.
- Bible Basics
- A very brief list of facts, but it includes a wav file pronouncing the book's title.
- Easton Bible Dictionary: Colossians
- The article from M.G. Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary.
- Catholic Encyclopedia: Colossians
- The appropriate entry from the public domain edition of this venerable reference work.
- Columbia Encyclopedia: Colossians
- A brief article from the 2001 edition of this reference work.
- Bible Explained
- This is a commentary by an energetic fellow named Ted Wade. He provides brief notes on each chapter and most verses for the entire Bible.
- Luther Productions
- A very brief overview including key verses.
- The Blue Letter Bible
- An excellent source for text, cross-references, concordance, language helps, commentaries, and more.
- Vocabulary for Exegesis of Colossians
- A page in support of a Greek class but useful to others.
Bible Studies: Whole Book
- Paul's Letter to the Colossians: An Exegetical and Devotional Commentary
- A study course in 14 lessons by Hampton Keathley III. It was left incomplete at his death.
- Colossians: Our Christ Centered Faith
- A lengthy, verse-level commentary and set of notes by David Griffiths, a native of Wales who has ministered for many years in the United States through the Assemblies of God.
- Christ and the Powers of Darkness: Lessons from Colossians
- An article from Word and World by Robert Paul Roth.
- Love the Lord Bible Studies: Colossians
- A six-lesson study with questions from an Arkansas-based ministry. They seem orthodox enough, although the statement of faith makes me wonder if they're not into prosperity gospel teachings.
- Colossians--A Study Guide
- An executable outline by Mark Copeland.
- Talks for Growing Christians
- A nifty study, which includes a brief sermon, question, and answers. A project from Talks for Growing Christians.
- John Calvin's Commentary
- The commentary of the 16th-century French reformer.
- Geneva Notes
- In 1599, English Puritans, working in Geneva, published the first study Bible. These are the notes from that edition.
- Coffman's Commentary
- A verse-by-verse commentary by Dr. James Burton Coffman, a leading Church of Christ scholar.
- Matthew Henry's Commentary
- The chapter-by-chapter 1712 commentary by the great English Puritan writer..
- John Wesley Notes
- Over his career, the founder of Methodism maintained notes on the entire Bible.
- JFB Commentary
- The comments of Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown from Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871).
- Comments on Colossians
- A lengthy commentary by Leslie M. Grant.
- Clarke's Commentary
- The first chapter for this book from Adam Clarke's nineteenth-century commentary.
- Introductory Lectures on the Epistles of Paul
- A set of studies by William Kelly.
- John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible
- The commentary of the 17th century Baptist theologian and preacher.
- Scofield Reference Notes
- The notes from the 1917 edition of the great study Bible. From a dispensationalist viewpoint.
- Barne's Notes on the New Testament
- Educated at Princeton seminary, Albert Barnes was a dedicated student of the Bible. Though passed over by the biographical sketches of influential theological writers, his notes on the New Testament continue to be quite popular even today.
- John S. C. Abbott and Jacob Abbott Illustrated New Testament
- Well known throughout the late 1800's for their prolific writings on various subjects, John and Jacob Abbott decided to put to paper their personal study and translation of the original Greek New Testament. Included are 50 woodcut illustrations from the original printing.
- John Darby's Synopsis of the New Testament
- These synopses were originally written and published in French and introduced book-by-book. Only the New Testament is available.
- Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
- A combination brief commentary and thorough cross-reference. Developed by R.A. Torrey.
- David Guzik's Commentaries on the Bible
- David Guzik, a former senior pastor at Clavary Chapel Simi Valley in California, provides a verse-by-verse commentary. Currently Guzik directs the Calvary Chapel Bible College in Siegen, Germany.
- The Jerome Bible Commentary
- A commentary by a Catholic doctor, Jerome Dominguez, M.D. Is English isn't perfect, but you have to admire his energy. Although Catholic in orientation, this source has some good material for study.
Bible Studies: Part of Book
- Morning and Evening (1:5)
- One of C.H. Spurgeon's devotions.
- Firstborn Over All (1:15-20)
- A brief article from Kerux by Steven M. Baugh.
- The Structure and Rhetoric of Colossians 1:15-20
- An article, apparently first published in Spanish, by Luis Carlos Reyes.
- Wisdom in Col 1:15-20: Contribution and Significance
- An article by Jeffrey S. Lamp from the Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society.
- Christ the Head of the Body (1:18)
- A study from "The Poor Man's Portions" by Robert Hawker.
- Morning and Evening (1:28)
- One of C.H. Spurgeon's devotions.
- Fully Forgiven in Christ (ch. 2)
- A study from the Worldwide Church of God, a denomination with a checkered past but an exciting present.
- Morning and Evening (2:6)
- One of C.H. Spurgeon's devotions.
- Morning and Evening (2:6)
- One of C.H. Spurgeon's devotions.
- Colossians 2:6-15 as a Thesis: A Rhetorical-Critical Study
- An article by Barth Campbell from Journal for the Rhetorical Study of the New Testament.
- Morning and Evening (2:9-10)
- One of C.H. Spurgeon's devotions.
- The Conquest of the Cross (2:15)
- A brief article from Kerux by Robert Drake.
- The "Handwriting of Requirements" (2:14)
- A study from the Worldwide Church of God, a denomination with a checkered past but an exciting present.
- Resurrection Living (3:1-4)
- A brief article from Kerux by William Dennison
- The Old Man (3:1-18)
- A brief article from Kerux by David L. Roth.
- Seek the Things Above (3:1-4:6)
- A study by Max Billeter
- Morning and Evening (3:4)
- One of C.H. Spurgeon's devotions.
- On Obedience to Parents (3:20)
- A sermon by John Wesley
- Morning and Evening (3:24)
- One of C.H. Spurgeon's devotions.
- Morning and Evening (4:2)
- One of C.H. Spurgeon's devotions.
- Walk in Wisdom Toward Those Outside (4:2-6)
- A sermon by John Piper
Thematic
- "Old Man" and "New Man" in Paul
- A thematic study by Greg Herrick.
- The Colossian Heresy
- A study from the Worldwide Church of God, a denomination with a checkered past but an exciting present.
Sermons
- Colossians: The Power to Endure with Joy
- The appropriate sermon from Ray C. Stedman's Adventuring through the Bible series.
- Expository Studies in Colossians
- A 12-sermon series by Ray C. Stedman.
- David Simpson's Sermons
- Text and audio links to this Calvary Chapel pastor's sermons.
- Ken Gehrels
- Links to 6 sermons. Scroll down a bit to find the appropriate entries.
- Thomas Manton
- Eight sermons by this Puritan minister, titled Christ's Eternal Existence and the Dignity of his Person Asserted and Proved (in opposition to the doctrine of the Socinians).
- C.H. Spurgeon
- A listing of sermons, some of which are available online, by the great British Baptist.
- Homilies of St. John Chrysostom
- The twelve homilies by this ancient Archbishop of Constantinople.
- Sermon Outlines
- Links to sermon outlines from SermonLinks.
Articles, Books, and Bibliographies
- The Danger of False Ideas
- An article by Chuck Missler
- The Function of Ethos in Colossians
- An article from the rhetoric journal Queen. By Jerry L. Sumney.
- Two-Age Bibliography
- A list of recommended sources, mostly scholarly in nature, provided by a website devoted to the "Redemptive Historical" school of theology.