PAUL RESPONDS TO HERESY IN A LETTER TO THE COLOSSIANS

COLOSSIANS

The church at Colosse is not mentioned by name in the book of Acts, and it is an ancient site virtually untouched by archaeological investigation.38 But when we read Colossians, the letter sent by Paul to the churches in this region, one thing does become clear: they were struggling with various heresies, a struggle that would come to a conclusion when they joined Paul in asserting the adequacy of Christ.

If Paul did visit Colosse, it was most likely during the third journey when he traveled from Syrian Antioch to Ephesus. During the early stages of that trip Paul’s goal was to strengthen the disciples throughout Galatia and Phrygia while traveling to Ephesus (Acts 18:23). Presuming that Paul took the main road through Asia Minor, he would have traveled within a few miles of Colosse. But there is no evidence that even a few hours of his time were spent in this city. With Acts and archaeology silent on the subject, the start of the church in Colosse and neighboring churches in Laodicea and Hierapolis (Col. 4:13–16) remains a mystery.

Although Paul had not visited the fellowships personally (Col. 2:1), he had received reports about their circumstances (Col. 1:9). The reports appear to have come from two individuals, Epaphras and Onesimus, both of whom were with Paul during the time of his imprisonment in Rome when he wrote Colossians (Col. 1:7–8; 4:9). We know that when Paul was in Ephesus on his second journey the Good News of Jesus spread throughout the Roman province of Asia (Acts 19:10). It is very possible that Epaphras was among those who traveled from Ephesus, during Paul’s stay there, and visited cities like Colosse. By contrast, Onesimus was a slave from Colosse who had joined Paul after running away from his master.39 Thus what Paul lacked in personal contact with the churches in these cities he gained via the eyewitness reports he received from these two men.

This Greek inscription (third century AD) discovered in Miletus reveals five (of seven) prayers to unnamed archangels.

The news that Epaphras and Onesimus offered Paul was not good. The church at Colosse was deeply embattled in heresy.40 Paul discussed or alluded to at least three separate issues that had arisen in this church. First he mentioned the intrusion and competition of human philosophy—deceptive philosophy that leans on the “basic principles of this world rather than on Christ” (Col. 2:8). He further spoke about certain Jewish practices that had been fulfilled in Jesus and therefore were no longer required to be adopted into God’s family. He mentioned the better circumcision they have received from Christ (v. 11) and urged the believers of Colosse not to allow themselves to be judged for not observing dietary rituals, religious festivals, New Moon celebrations, or Sabbath days (v. 16). Finally, Paul touched briefly on the topic of angel worship that threatened “to disqualify them for the prize” (v. 18).

Classical Greek philosopher Socrates (ca. 470–399 BC).

Paul responded to heresy in a letter to the Colossians for a reason. The common denominator linking all these mistaken beliefs was a failure to see Christ as the full and adequate answer to the meaning of life.41 Consequently, Paul encouraged the church at Colosse to remain faithful to the teachings they first received about Jesus. Since they had apparently lost touch with those basics, he presented an extended discourse reviewing the nature and role of the Messiah in their lives (Col. 1:15–23; 2:13–23). So far as we know, Paul may never have made a personal stop in Colosse, and many details of this city’s heritage continue to elude us. But we do know that Paul wrote a letter to this church to confront false teachings and bring their focus back to the church and to the full and total adequacy of Christ.

The acropolis of Colosse (aerial view looking south).

Paul’s travels through Galatia and Phrygia

Cities of Phrygia: Hierapolis, Laodicea, Colosse