Colossians

The Letter to the Colossians is a gem. In it we find much which tells us of the true nature of Jesus Christ. It is relatively short (for one of Paul's letters).

That may be explained by certain facts:

	Paul wrote this letter while in chains. It is likely enough that he dictated it.
	Paul had never been to Colosse; he does not know these people personally. His contact with them is through Epaphras, a fellow evangelist.

In this letter Paul adopts the more formal style of teaching which is also found in Romans. In both cases he writes to those he doesn't know. In this instance in particular, there is some evidence that the Colossians had been perturbed by a fraudulent letter which bore Paul's name. He is at some pains to establish his credentials, but he does so not to admonish them but to instruct them correctly. The letter remains useful for that to this day.