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COLOSSIANS
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COLOSSIANS
The epistle to the Colossians is one of a group of epistles which were written by Paul from prison (see PRISON
MINISTRY) and forms one of a pair with Ephesians leaving Philippians to form one of a pair with 2 Timothy. The
relationship of the Prison Epistles can be seen by the following structural correspondence.
The Prison Epistles
A Ephesians.
The Dispensation of the Mystery.
The Church which is His Body.
The Fulness. Christ the Head.
Principalities and Powers.
B Philippians. Try the things that differ.
Strive. Press towards the mark.
Prize. Depart. Offered.
C Philemon.
A private and affectionate letter.
A Colossians. The Dispensation of the Mystery.
The Church which is His Body.
Fulness. Christ the Head.
Principalities and Powers.
B 2 Timothy. Rightly dividing the word of Truth.
Strive. Course finished.
Crown. Depart. Offered.
Colossians supplements Ephesians, gives the same teaching in somewhat more condensed form, and adds a large
central section in the nature of a warning. The warning has to do with `the prize' of Philippians, the words, `let no
man beguile you of your reward' being a translation of katabrabeuo (Col. 2:18). `The prize' of Philippians 3:14
being brabeion. At the close of this article we give a chart, setting forth the general idea of the epistle, but we will
here give the structural outline of the epistle as a whole and exhibit the arrangement of some of its parts, and follow
this with a few notes upon some outstanding features of the epistle.
Colossians
A 1:1,2.
Salutation.
B 1:3-8.
Faithful ministry Epaphras. Word of truth heard.
C a 1:9-12. Prayer for spiritual walk.
b 1:13-23. Christ before all. In Him all consist.
D 1:23-27.
The MYSTERY manifested by God.
E 1:28 to 2:1. Preaching to present PERFECT.
F 2:2,3.
HID. Treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
G 2:4-23.
BEWARE. Fivefold warning.
F 3:1-4.
HID. Your life, with Christ.
C b 3:5-15.
Christ is all and in all.
a 3:16 to 4:1. Indwelling word, spiritual walk.
D 4:2-11.
The MYSTERY manifested by Paul.
E 4:12,13.
Prayer to stand PERFECT.
B 4:14-17. Public ministry. Archippus. Epistle to be read.
A 4:18.
Salutation.
We follow this outline of the epistle as a whole, with one or two outlines of the larger correspondencies.