Episode 4: “Dear Colossians…”

In this age of electronic communication, the art of writing out letters longhand is becoming a lost art. It may be hard for us to appreciate the subtleties of meaning involved in the way people of Paul’s time began and ended letters. In this episode, therefore, we’ll begin exploring Paul’s two opening verses, and how he pastorally reworks the letter-writing conventions of his day for gospel purposes.

What is Chunks: Paul's Letter to the Colossians?

The church in the city of Colossae had recently been founded by one of the apostle Paul's colleagues; he had never met them personally. But he had heard of their faith and of some of the challenges that threatened to undermine that faith, including what seems to be the presence of false teachers who were leading them astray. Paul therefore writes to them from prison, lovingly encouraging them to realize the treasure they already have in the gospel. In so doing, he paints a magnificent and cosmic portrait of the Christ in whom they've already believed, and in whom they've been given a new and transformed nature. His words should help remind believers of every time and place that the Christ we worship is supreme. (Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture passages will be read from the New International Version.)