Context
Paul wrote Colossians while in prison to a group of Christians he had never personally met. His connection to them came through Epaphras (Col. 1:7; 4:12–13), a disciple from Colossae who had interacted with Paul in Rome. Epaphras informed Paul about the cultural and spiritual challenges facing the church in Colossae—a toxic mixture of competing philosophies, traditional impulses, and spiritual practices that threatened to derail their young faith.
Paul himself had invested significant time in the surrounding region, especially during his ministry in Ephesus (Acts 19:10), where the gospel spread throughout Asia Minor. He cared deeply about the Colossians and Laodiceans, urging both churches to exchange letters (Col. 4:16).
Paul’s purpose in writing is clear: to help the Colossians remain grounded in the preeminence and supremacy of Jesus Christ amid cultural and spiritual pressures.
Structure
Though Colossians is only four chapters, the letter moves through four major sections:
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Introduction and Prayer (1:1–23)
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Thanksgiving for the Colossians (1:3–8).
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Paul’s prayer priorities for them (1:9–14).
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The supremacy of Christ expressed in poetic form (1:15–20).
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Application of the gospel to their past alienation and present reconciliation (1:21–23).
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Paul’s Ministry and the Threats They Face (1:24–2:23)
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Paul describes his ministry of presenting everyone complete in Christ (1:24–2:5).
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He warns against false teaching and cultural captivity (2:6–23):
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“See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy” (2:8).
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“Let no one pass judgment on you” regarding food, drink, or festivals (2:16).
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“Let no one disqualify you” through asceticism or angel worship (2:18).
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Practical Implications of Union with Christ (3:1–4:1)
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Because believers are united with Christ in his death, burial, and resurrection (2:12, 20; 3:1), they must live out this new identity.
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Put off the old self (3:5–11).
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Put on the new self (3:12–17).
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Apply the gospel to family and work relationships (3:18–4:1).
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Final Instructions (4:2–18)
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A call to prayer and watchfulness (4:2–4).
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Practical admonitions for gospel witness (4:5–6).
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Greetings and updates from Paul’s ministry partners (4:7–18).
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Themes
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Creation and New Creation
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Christ is the firstborn of all creation (1:15–16).
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Through him all things were made, and through him believers are being re-created in God’s image (3:10).
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Fruitfulness
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The gospel is bearing fruit and increasing in the whole world (1:6).
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Believers are called to walk worthy of the Lord, bearing fruit in every good work (1:10).
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Fullness in Christ
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All the fullness of God dwells in Christ (1:19; 2:9).
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Because believers are in Christ, they share in his fullness and need no substitutes (2:10).
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Maturity in Christ
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Paul labors to present everyone mature in Christ (1:28).
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Epaphras prays that the Colossians may stand mature and fully assured (4:12).
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Paul’s goal: that believers grow until they reach complete maturity in Christ.
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Gospel Connections
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The Cross (2:13–14): Christ has canceled our record of debt by nailing it to the cross.
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Creation and Re-creation (1:15–20; 3:10): Christ as the firstborn of creation is also the one who renews believers in God’s image.
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Resurrection Life (3:1–4): Since believers have been raised with Christ, they must live out resurrection realities by putting off sin and putting on righteousness.
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Christ’s Fullness and Sufficiency: In Christ, believers have everything they need—no philosophy, tradition, or spiritual substitute can compare.
Paul weaves these themes together to show that Christ is sufficient, supreme, and preeminent. The gospel story—creation, cross, resurrection, and new creation—runs through every section of the letter.
Conclusion
The book of Colossians teaches us that if we have Christ, we have everything. Paul’s passion is to see believers rooted in Christ, maturing in Christ, and living out the fullness of Christ in every sphere of life.
As you prepare to preach Colossians, pay attention to these themes and gospel connections. Remember: getting started right will help you cut it straight.
Would you like me to shape this into a preaching outline (sermon series structure with passages and suggested themes per sermon) so you could drop it straight into a teaching plan?