The Book of Colossians
Paul's answer to false teaching: Christ's absolute supremacy and sufficiency.
Written from prison around AD 60-62 to a church Paul had never visited, Colossians confronts a mix of Jewish ritual, philosophy, and mysticism that was displacing Christ from the center of the Colossian church's faith. Across four chapters Paul responds with what many call the highest Christology in the New Testament. Start reading at Colossians chapter 1.
About Colossians
Colossians is the fifty-first book of the Bible, written by the apostle Paul around AD 60-62 while imprisoned in Rome, and spanning 4 chapters. Written to a church Paul had not personally visited (planted by his co-worker Epaphras), Colossians addresses a dangerous heretical teaching -- the Colossian heresy -- that apparently combined Jewish ritualism, Greek philosophy, angel worship, and ascetic practices into a religious system that diminished the absolute supremacy and sufficiency of Christ. Paul responds with what scholars consider the most exalted Christology in the entire New Testament. Major themes include the absolute supremacy and sufficiency of Christ as Creator, Sustainer, and Redeemer, the fullness of deity dwelling in Christ bodily, freedom from human religious regulations that merely appear wise, and the transformation of all human relationships through the gospel. Key chapters include Colossians 1 (the Christ hymn -- the image of the invisible God), Colossians 2 (fullness in Christ, warning against empty philosophy), and Colossians 3 (put off and put on -- the new self in Christ). Famous verses include Colossians 1:16-17 -- For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible...and in him all things hold together -- and Colossians 3:23 -- Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord. Colossians KJV Bible reading establishes Christ as preeminent over all things. Read the Book of Colossians online here in full.