Author and Date
Although many scholars (probably the majority) believe that Paul wrote Colossians (dictating to a scribe, as in Ro 16:22), some demur. Most of those who do not believe that Paul authored the letter directly suggest that a disciple of Paul wrote the letter in Paul’s name (probably with his approval, or posthumously in faithfulness to his teachings).
Against the view that it is a posthumous collection of Paul’s ideas, there is good reason to affirm that this letter must have been written during Paul’s lifetime (he probably died no earlier than AD 64). Forgers and imitators normally wrote letters in a deceased person’s name only long after the person’s death, but a date long after Paul’s death is unlikely. Colossae was never fully rebuilt after an earthquake devastated the city sometime between AD 60 and 64. Why then would someone writing after the earthquake pretend to direct a letter to Colossae? Meanwhile, it would be difficult to pass off a forgery while Paul and his immediate followers were around to protest it. Such factors reinforce the likelihood of Paul’s authorship.
There are some differences in language from Paul’s earlier letters, but this is also true for Philippians (from the same period). During his captivity letters, Paul appears to have drawn more on the language of popular philosophy (cf. earlier Ac 19:9). Paul may borrow some language from the false teachers to make his case against them (e.g., “powers” in heavenly places [Col 1:16; 2:15; cf. 2:10]; perhaps “fullness” [1:19; 2:9; cf. 1:25; 2:10]), but even here, most of the language that is used in Colossians has parallels in his undisputed writings (which also differ from one another). Given possible freedoms allowed the scribe and the lapse of several years since Paul’s earlier letters, we lack strong reasons to doubt Pauline authorship.
The False Teaching in Colossae
Although it is clear that Paul combats false teaching in Colossae, scholars differ in how they reconstruct the error. In light of explicit mention of the New Moon and Sabbath in 2:16–18, many believe that the teachers drew on mystical elements in a very Hellenized form of Judaism. (The mysticism may have been something like apocalyptic visions without an emphasis on the future.) Much of the Judaism in Phrygia had assimilated elements of local culture. Some also may have overemphasized angels (2:18) and the authority of such intermediate forces (1:16; 2:8, 15, 20). ◆
Quick Glance
Author:
The apostle Paul
Audience:
The believers at Colossae, a church perhaps planted by Paul’s coworker Epaphras
Date:
About AD 60
Theme:
Paul writes to demonstrate that Christ is supreme over every human philosophy and accomplishment.