Colossae was a town in Roman Asia Minor, in the valley of the River Lycus, close to the larger city of Laodicea, and its Christian congregation had been founded by Paul's friend and collaborator, Epaphras. According to tradition, Paul wrote this letter in about 62 A.D., while he was a prisoner in Rome awaiting trial. At the same time that he wrote this letter he also composed his letter to the Ephesians, and the delivery of both letters was entrusted to Tychicus (see Col. 4. 7 seq. and Ep. 6. 21 seq.) On this mission, Tychicus is accompanied by Onesimus, who will also deliver Paul's short letter to Philemon, who was an inhabitant of Colossae (see Col. 4. 9 and Phm. 10-12).
It was not Paul's usual practice to write letters to congregations he had not founded, but he apparently departed from his normal rule in this case, following disturbing news which he had received from Epaphras that the Colossians were adopting certain proto-gnostic and syncretistic doctrines which were incompatible with Paul's view of the preeminence of Christ, "In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Col. 2. 3). In Chapter II, Paul refers to some of the views which concern him: "philosophy and vain deceit according to the tradition of men, according to the rudiments of this world, and not according to Christ" (2. 8); their attachment to various Jewish practices concerning eating and drinking, and their observance of festivals and the sabbath (2. 16); "a form of worship of the angels" (2. 18); "their idiosyncratic form of worship, their self-abasement and their severe treatment of the body" (2. 23). It is not, however, clear exactly what is the source of these ideas, but it is likely that they come from ideas common among the Jewish Essenes. Their speculations about the importance of the celestial or cosmic powers would, in Paul's view, have threatened the supremacy of Jesus. Hence, the need for his letter to the Colossians, which was followed shortly afterwards by his letter to the Ephesians.
The traditional view that Paul was the author of these two letters has now been challenged by the view that they are the apocryphal works of a later imitator of St. Paul, the so-called Deutero-Paul, writing in about 100 A.D. The case for this view has been made on the basis of their vocabulary, and their heavy and repetitious style, but also because their theological emphases on the Body of Christ, and Christ as the head of that body, the universal church, are different from those of his earlier letters. The errors of the Colossian congregation are later than those of Paul's time, and are closer to the gnostic ideas of the Second Century. There is also a marked lack of reference to any of Paul's eschatological convictions, which are so prominent in the earlier letters. On p. 59 of his book, "The Changing Faces of Jesus" (Penguin, 2001), Geza Vermes writes: "Ephesians and Colossians are probably apocryphal works of a later imitator of St. Paul."
One of the most remarkable passages in Colossians is the hymnic exaltation of Chapter 1. vv. 13-20 (see below). On p.109 of his book, "The Changing Faces of Jesus" (Penguin, 2001), Geza Vermes writes: "It is impossible not to recognise the similarity between these descriptions and the prologue of the Fourth Gospel." However, Vermes also acknowledges that it is impossible to determine whether these post-Pauline authors, writing at the turn of the century, anticipated and influenced the thinking of the Fourth Evangelist, or whether they are echoing his ideas.
CHAPTER 1.
Salutation (vv. 1-2).
(1) Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God and Timothy, our brother, (2) to the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae. Grace (be) to you and peace from God our Father.
Paul thanks God for the Colossians (vv. 3-8).
(3) We always give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, (4) since we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which you have for all the saints, (5) because of the hope which is being reserved for you in the heavens. (This is the hope) which you heard about not long ago in the true words of the gospel, (6) which has come to you just as it is bearing fruit and growing throughout the world, as (it is) also (doing) among you, ever since the day on which you heard about the grace of God and recognised (it) as the truth. (7) (It is) just what you have learned from Epaphras, our beloved fellow-servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf, (8) and he is also (the one) who showed us your love in a spiritual (sense).
The person and work of Christ (vv. 9-23).
(9) (That is) also why we, ever since the day on which we heard (about it), do not cease praying for you, and asking that you may be filled with the full knowledge of his will, in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, (10) to lead a life worthy of the Lord (and) acceptable (to him) in all its (aspects), being fruitful in every (kind of) good work, and growing in the knowledge of God, (11) being endowed with all his strength in accordance with his glorious might, with a view to all endurance and long-suffering, (12) (and) giving thanks with joy to the Father, who has made you fit to (receive) a share in the inheritance of the saints in the (kingdom of) light.
(13) (It is he,) who has delivered us from the power of darkness and transferred (us) into the Kingdom of his beloved Son, (14) in whom we have our redemption (and) the remission of our sins. (15) (It is he) who is an image of the unseen God and (who is) the first-born of all creation, (16) because in him all things were created, in the heavens and on the earth, things visible and invisible, whether thrones, or lordships, or rulers or powers; all things were created through him and for him; (17) and he is before all things, and in him all things were made to exist, (18) and he is the head of the body, of the Church; (it is he) who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, in order that he might become preeminent in all things; (19) (this was) because (God) wanted all fullness to dwell in him, (20) and through him to reconcile all things to him(self), (by) making peace through the blood (shed) by him on his cross, whether (they are) things on the earth or things in the heavens.
(21) And you, who were once alienated and hostile, due to the evil works (that were) in your minds, (22) he has now reconciled through the death of his fleshly body, in order to bring you before him, holy, and unblemished, and free of accusations, (23) provided, of course, that you continue in the faith, having been firmly grounded (in it), (that you are) steadfast, and (that you are) not shifted away from the hope of the good news, which you have heard, and which has been preached to every creature under heaven, (and) of which I, Paul, have become a minister.
(13) (It is he,) who has delivered us from the power of darkness and transferred (us) into the Kingdom of his beloved Son, (14) in whom we have our redemption (and) the remission of our sins. (15) (It is he) who is an image of the unseen God and (who is) the first-born of all creation, (16) because in him all things were created, in the heavens and on the earth, things visible and invisible, whether thrones, or lordships, or rulers or powers; all things were created through him and for him; (17) and he is before all things, and in him all things were made to exist, (18) and he is the head of the body, of the Church; (it is he) who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, in order that he might become preeminent in all things; (19) (this was) because (God) wanted all fullness to dwell in him, (20) and through him to reconcile all things to him(self), (by) making peace through the blood (shed) by him on his cross, whether (they are) things on the earth or things in the heavens.
(21) And you, who were once alienated and hostile, due to the evil works (that were) in your minds, (22) he has now reconciled through the death of his fleshly body, in order to bring you before him, holy, and unblemished, and free of accusations, (23) provided, of course, that you continue in the faith, having been firmly grounded (in it), (that you are) steadfast, and (that you are) not shifted away from the hope of the good news, which you have heard, and which has been preached to every creature under heaven, (and) of which I, Paul, have become a minister.
Paul's ministry to the Church (vv. 24-29).
(24) Now I am rejoicing in my sufferings on your behalf, and I am making up for what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ in my flesh on behalf of his body, which is the Church. (25) I became its minister according to the stewardship of God, given to me in your (interests), to explain fully the word of God, (26) (that is) the (sacred) mystery (which has been) hidden away from (all previous) ages and generations - but now it has been made manifest to his saints, (27) to whom God wished to make known among the nations what (are) the glorious riches of this (sacred) mystery, which is that Christ in (union with) you (is) the hope of glory; (28) (he it is) whom we proclaim, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, so that we may present every man (as) completely in (union with) Christ. (29) To this (end) also I am labouring (and) striving in accordance with his energy, which is powerfully at work in me.
CHAPTER 2.
Paul's ministry to the Church - continued (vv. 1-5).
(1) For I want you to know how great a struggle I am having on behalf of you, and of those at Laodicea, and of all those who have not seen my face in (the) flesh, (2) that their hearts might be encouraged, and that they might be bound together in love, and with a view to all the riches of the full assurance of their understanding in relation to knowledge of God's (sacred) mystery, (namely) Christ, (3) in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (4) I am saying this, in order that no one may deceive you by persuasive argument. (5) For even if I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing and observing your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.
Fullness of life in Christ (vv. 6-19).
(6) So, as you have accepted Christ Jesus (as) the Lord, continue to lead your lives in (union with) him, (7) being firmly rooted and being built up in him, and being confirmed in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in it in your thanksgiving.
(8) Beware lest there shall be anyone that despoils you through philosophy and vain deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the rudiments of this world, and not according to Christ; (9) because (it is) in him (that) all the fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily. (10) And you are finding your fulfilment in him, who is the head of all sovereignty and power. (11) In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision not wrought by hand (but) by the stripping off of the fleshly body in the circumcision that belongs to Christ, (12) having been buried together with him in baptism, by means of which you were also raised together with (him) through your belief in the power of God, who raised him from (the) dead.
(13) And you, although you were dead through your trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, (God) brought you to life with him, forgiving us all our trespasses. (14) He blotted out the handwritten record of our debts (to the Law), which, with its decrees, was set out against us, and he has taken it out of the way (by) nailing it to the cross; (15) having stripped the governments and authorities bare, he made a show (of them) in public, leading them in a triumphal procession for this purpose.
(16) Therefore, let no man judge you with regard to eating and drinking or in relation to (the observance) of a festival, or of the new moon or of the sabbath; (17) these things are (but) a shadow of the things to come, but the reality belongs to Christ. (18) Let no man deprive you of your prize, delighting in a (false) humility and in a form of worship of the angels, taking his stand on (the things) which he has seen, vainly puffed up by by his fleshly (frame of) mind, (19) and not holding fast to the head, from which the whole body, supported and joined together by means of its joints and ligaments, goes on growing the growth which God (gives).
(20) If you have died, together with Christ, with regard to the ordinary things of this world, why do you submit yourself to its ordinances, as though you are (still) living in the world - (21) "Do not handle, or taste, or touch" (22) any of those things which are destined for destruction by their being used up, in accordance with the injunctions and teachings of men? (23) Such things do indeed have the appearance of wisdom in their idiosyncratic form of worship, their self-abasement and their severe treatment of the body, (but) they do not (have) any value when dealing with self-indulgence.
CHAPTER 3.
The new life in Christ - continued (vv. 1-17).
(1) So, if you were raised up together with Christ, you must seek the things above, where Christ is seated at God's right hand. (2) Keep your mind on the things above, not (on) the things on the earth. (3) For you have died, and your life has been hidden with Christ in (union with) God. (4) Whenever Christ, (who is) our life, should be made manifest, then you also will be made manifest with him in glory.
(5) So, deaden everything within you that (is related) to the earth, (namely) fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and the covetousness which is idolatry. (6) On account of these (things), the wrath of God is coming; (7) in these (very things) you too once walked, when you used to live in the midst of them; (8) but now you also should put away all these things from out of your mouth, (namely) anger, rage, malice, blasphemy, and obscene language. (9) Do not lie to one another; (but) strip off the former man with his practices, (10) and put on the new (man), whose consciousness is being renewed in accordance with the image of (the one) who created him, (11) where there is no Greek and Jew, circumcision and foreskin, barbarian, (and) Scythian, slave, (and) freeman, but Christ (is) all (things) and in all (things).
(12) So, as God's chosen (ones), holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with the affections of compassion, kindness, humility, mildness, forbearance, (13) putting up with one another, forgiving each other, if anyone has a cause for complaint against another; just as the Lord forgave you, so (do) you also; (14) and over all these (things), (put on) love, (which is) the perfect bond.
(15) And may the peace of God rule in your hearts, and (it was) for this (purpose) that you were called together in one body; (and) be thankful. (16) Let the word of Christ dwell richly within you in all its wisdom, while you teach and admonish one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with gratitude in your hearts to God; (17) and whatever you may do, in word or in deed, (do) everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Social duties of the new life (vv. 18-25).
(18) Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is proper in (the name of the) Lord. (19) Husbands, show affection to your wives, and do not get angry with them. (20) Children, obey your parents, for this is pleasing to the Lord. (21) Fathers, do not exasperate your children, lest they become downhearted. (22) Slaves, obey your worldly masters in everything, not only trying to please them when you are under their eyes, but in sincerity of heart, and in fear of your (heavenly) Master. (23) Whatever you may be doing, work (at it) wholeheartedly, as if (you are doing it) for the Lord and not for men, (24) as you know that you will receive back from the Lord the (due) reward of your inheritance. (It is) Christ, the Lord, (that) you are serving. (25) For he who did wrong will receive back the wrong that he did, and there is no favouritism.
CHAPTER 4.
Social duties of the new life - continued (v. 1).
(1) Masters, treat your slaves with justice and fairness, as you know that you also have a Master in heaven.
Exhortations (vv. 2-6).
(2) Persevere in prayer, and during it, stay alert in relation to (the need for) thanksgiving, (3) and at the same time praying also for us that God may open to us a door of utterance to speak of the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been bound (in chains), (4) in order that I may reveal (it) in the way that I ought to speak (of it).
(5) Walk in wisdom towards outsiders, making the most of the time (available). (6) (May) your words always be phrased in a pleasant (manner), (and) with a measure of wit, so you know how you ought to answer each one.
Final greetings (vv. 7-18).
(7) Tychicus, my beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow-slave in (the service of) the Lord, will make known to you everything about my affairs, (8) and I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you might know the (facts) about us and he might bring comfort to your hearts; (9) (I have sent him) along with Onesimus, my faithful and beloved brother, who is (one) of you. All the things (that are happening) here they will make known to you.
(10) Aristarchus, my fellow-prisoner, sends you his greetings, and (so does) Mark, the cousin of Barnabas, concerning whom you have received some instructions to welcome him, if ever he comes to visit you, (11) and Jesus, who is called Justus. Of (all) those who have been circumcised, only these are my fellow-workers for the kingdom of God, and they have become a great (source of) comfort to me. (12) Epaphras, who is (one) of you, (and) a slave of Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings; he is always exerting himself on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand perfect and fully assured in (accordance with) all of the will of God. (13) Indeed, I bear him witness that he is toiling greatly on behalf of you, and those in Laodicea and those in Hierapolis.
(14) Luke, the beloved physician, sends you his greetings, and (so does) Demas. (15) (Please) give my greetings to our brothers at Laodicea, and (to) Nymphas and the congregation at her house. (16) And, when this letter has been read among you, (please) arrange that it should also be read in the church of the Laodiceans, and that you also read (the one) from Laodicea. (17) Also, give Archippus this message: "Remember the ministry which you accepted in the Lord's (name), in order that you fulfil it!"
(18) Paul's greeting (is) in my own hand. Keep my (prison) bonds in your mind! Grace (be) with you.
Envoi.
Sabidius first translated this epistle in 2010, but it is only now that he has loaded this translation on to his blog, together with an accompanying introduction. 12.02.19.
CHAPTER 2.
Paul's ministry to the Church - continued (vv. 1-5).
(1) For I want you to know how great a struggle I am having on behalf of you, and of those at Laodicea, and of all those who have not seen my face in (the) flesh, (2) that their hearts might be encouraged, and that they might be bound together in love, and with a view to all the riches of the full assurance of their understanding in relation to knowledge of God's (sacred) mystery, (namely) Christ, (3) in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (4) I am saying this, in order that no one may deceive you by persuasive argument. (5) For even if I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing and observing your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.
Fullness of life in Christ (vv. 6-19).
(6) So, as you have accepted Christ Jesus (as) the Lord, continue to lead your lives in (union with) him, (7) being firmly rooted and being built up in him, and being confirmed in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in it in your thanksgiving.
(8) Beware lest there shall be anyone that despoils you through philosophy and vain deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the rudiments of this world, and not according to Christ; (9) because (it is) in him (that) all the fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily. (10) And you are finding your fulfilment in him, who is the head of all sovereignty and power. (11) In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision not wrought by hand (but) by the stripping off of the fleshly body in the circumcision that belongs to Christ, (12) having been buried together with him in baptism, by means of which you were also raised together with (him) through your belief in the power of God, who raised him from (the) dead.
(13) And you, although you were dead through your trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, (God) brought you to life with him, forgiving us all our trespasses. (14) He blotted out the handwritten record of our debts (to the Law), which, with its decrees, was set out against us, and he has taken it out of the way (by) nailing it to the cross; (15) having stripped the governments and authorities bare, he made a show (of them) in public, leading them in a triumphal procession for this purpose.
(16) Therefore, let no man judge you with regard to eating and drinking or in relation to (the observance) of a festival, or of the new moon or of the sabbath; (17) these things are (but) a shadow of the things to come, but the reality belongs to Christ. (18) Let no man deprive you of your prize, delighting in a (false) humility and in a form of worship of the angels, taking his stand on (the things) which he has seen, vainly puffed up by by his fleshly (frame of) mind, (19) and not holding fast to the head, from which the whole body, supported and joined together by means of its joints and ligaments, goes on growing the growth which God (gives).
The new life in Christ (vv. 20-23).
(20) If you have died, together with Christ, with regard to the ordinary things of this world, why do you submit yourself to its ordinances, as though you are (still) living in the world - (21) "Do not handle, or taste, or touch" (22) any of those things which are destined for destruction by their being used up, in accordance with the injunctions and teachings of men? (23) Such things do indeed have the appearance of wisdom in their idiosyncratic form of worship, their self-abasement and their severe treatment of the body, (but) they do not (have) any value when dealing with self-indulgence.
CHAPTER 3.
The new life in Christ - continued (vv. 1-17).
(1) So, if you were raised up together with Christ, you must seek the things above, where Christ is seated at God's right hand. (2) Keep your mind on the things above, not (on) the things on the earth. (3) For you have died, and your life has been hidden with Christ in (union with) God. (4) Whenever Christ, (who is) our life, should be made manifest, then you also will be made manifest with him in glory.
(5) So, deaden everything within you that (is related) to the earth, (namely) fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and the covetousness which is idolatry. (6) On account of these (things), the wrath of God is coming; (7) in these (very things) you too once walked, when you used to live in the midst of them; (8) but now you also should put away all these things from out of your mouth, (namely) anger, rage, malice, blasphemy, and obscene language. (9) Do not lie to one another; (but) strip off the former man with his practices, (10) and put on the new (man), whose consciousness is being renewed in accordance with the image of (the one) who created him, (11) where there is no Greek and Jew, circumcision and foreskin, barbarian, (and) Scythian, slave, (and) freeman, but Christ (is) all (things) and in all (things).
(12) So, as God's chosen (ones), holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with the affections of compassion, kindness, humility, mildness, forbearance, (13) putting up with one another, forgiving each other, if anyone has a cause for complaint against another; just as the Lord forgave you, so (do) you also; (14) and over all these (things), (put on) love, (which is) the perfect bond.
(15) And may the peace of God rule in your hearts, and (it was) for this (purpose) that you were called together in one body; (and) be thankful. (16) Let the word of Christ dwell richly within you in all its wisdom, while you teach and admonish one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with gratitude in your hearts to God; (17) and whatever you may do, in word or in deed, (do) everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Social duties of the new life (vv. 18-25).
(18) Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is proper in (the name of the) Lord. (19) Husbands, show affection to your wives, and do not get angry with them. (20) Children, obey your parents, for this is pleasing to the Lord. (21) Fathers, do not exasperate your children, lest they become downhearted. (22) Slaves, obey your worldly masters in everything, not only trying to please them when you are under their eyes, but in sincerity of heart, and in fear of your (heavenly) Master. (23) Whatever you may be doing, work (at it) wholeheartedly, as if (you are doing it) for the Lord and not for men, (24) as you know that you will receive back from the Lord the (due) reward of your inheritance. (It is) Christ, the Lord, (that) you are serving. (25) For he who did wrong will receive back the wrong that he did, and there is no favouritism.
CHAPTER 4.
Social duties of the new life - continued (v. 1).
(1) Masters, treat your slaves with justice and fairness, as you know that you also have a Master in heaven.
Exhortations (vv. 2-6).
(2) Persevere in prayer, and during it, stay alert in relation to (the need for) thanksgiving, (3) and at the same time praying also for us that God may open to us a door of utterance to speak of the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been bound (in chains), (4) in order that I may reveal (it) in the way that I ought to speak (of it).
(5) Walk in wisdom towards outsiders, making the most of the time (available). (6) (May) your words always be phrased in a pleasant (manner), (and) with a measure of wit, so you know how you ought to answer each one.
Final greetings (vv. 7-18).
(7) Tychicus, my beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow-slave in (the service of) the Lord, will make known to you everything about my affairs, (8) and I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you might know the (facts) about us and he might bring comfort to your hearts; (9) (I have sent him) along with Onesimus, my faithful and beloved brother, who is (one) of you. All the things (that are happening) here they will make known to you.
(10) Aristarchus, my fellow-prisoner, sends you his greetings, and (so does) Mark, the cousin of Barnabas, concerning whom you have received some instructions to welcome him, if ever he comes to visit you, (11) and Jesus, who is called Justus. Of (all) those who have been circumcised, only these are my fellow-workers for the kingdom of God, and they have become a great (source of) comfort to me. (12) Epaphras, who is (one) of you, (and) a slave of Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings; he is always exerting himself on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand perfect and fully assured in (accordance with) all of the will of God. (13) Indeed, I bear him witness that he is toiling greatly on behalf of you, and those in Laodicea and those in Hierapolis.
(14) Luke, the beloved physician, sends you his greetings, and (so does) Demas. (15) (Please) give my greetings to our brothers at Laodicea, and (to) Nymphas and the congregation at her house. (16) And, when this letter has been read among you, (please) arrange that it should also be read in the church of the Laodiceans, and that you also read (the one) from Laodicea. (17) Also, give Archippus this message: "Remember the ministry which you accepted in the Lord's (name), in order that you fulfil it!"
(18) Paul's greeting (is) in my own hand. Keep my (prison) bonds in your mind! Grace (be) with you.
Envoi.
Sabidius first translated this epistle in 2010, but it is only now that he has loaded this translation on to his blog, together with an accompanying introduction. 12.02.19.
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