From AD 52-55 the ministry of the Apostle Paul resulted in a new church that began preaching the gospel. During that time a man by the name of Epaphras heard the gospel and resolved to take it back to his home town.
Epaphras returned to his hometown and began the hard work of building the Colossian church. In AD 62 Epaphras visited Rome where Paul was imprisoned. He shared with Paul the news of a strange teaching that was rising up and threatening the health and vitality of the Colossian church.
The Colossians were being enticed away from the gospel through forms of asceticism and the worship of angels. In other words, there were being told that Jesus wasn’t enough. They were being distracted with man made religion. They were drifting with the tide of their culture. They were buying into the false hope that the Roman Empire would offer them ultimate comfort and security.
Although Paul had never been there he was deeply concerned out of his love for the people of this church. Therefore he set out to write a pastoral letter to them from prison that would remind them that God had already accepted them by virtue of their connection and identity with Christ alone.
What those in the church in Colossae needed to be taught and reminded of them we need just as much today. In the face of oppositions, distractions and false teachings we are to stand in Christ against the flow.
Epaphras returned to his hometown and began the hard work of building the Colossian church. In AD 62 Epaphras visited Rome where Paul was imprisoned. He shared with Paul the news of a strange teaching that was rising up and threatening the health and vitality of the Colossian church.
The Colossians were being enticed away from the gospel through forms of asceticism and the worship of angels. In other words, there were being told that Jesus wasn’t enough. They were being distracted with man made religion. They were drifting with the tide of their culture. They were buying into the false hope that the Roman Empire would offer them ultimate comfort and security.
Although Paul had never been there he was deeply concerned out of his love for the people of this church. Therefore he set out to write a pastoral letter to them from prison that would remind them that God had already accepted them by virtue of their connection and identity with Christ alone.
What those in the church in Colossae needed to be taught and reminded of them we need just as much today. In the face of oppositions, distractions and false teachings we are to stand in Christ against the flow.
