The message of Jesus Christ came to the region through the ministry of Paul, the Apostle, but not directly. It was through Paul’s converts: Epaphras (1:7), and Philemon in whose house the church met (Phm. 19). Paul’s far-reaching ministry in Ephesus on his third missionary journey, far from Jerusalem, led Luke to write in Acts 19:10 that…. ….all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord. We know that Paul was in prison when writing this letter (4:10, 18). But which prison at what time? There is broad agreement that Epaphras arrived in Rome with disturbing news of heretical teaching in Colosse that was threatening the health of the church (1:8). Thus, Paul is well-developed in his theological thought at the time of writing, about AD 62 . It may have been written before the letter to the Ephesians, but not much separates them. The letter to Philemon relates closely to it. The Central Theme Let’s start at the very beginning. Well, that is, in the very middle!

Colossians 2:6-7 summarize the main theme of Paul’s letter and within these verses we find the important elements that Paul wants his readers to concentrate on. Let’s take them bit by bit… Col 2:6-7 “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”