The 12th book of the New Testament and the seventh of the Pauline epistles.
Structure of the book:
- Greeting (Colossians 1:1-2)
- Thanksgiving and prayer (Colossians 1:3-23)
- Paul's ministry to the church (Colossians 1:24-2:5)
- Alive in Christ (Colossians 2:6-15)
- Let no one disqualify you (Colossians 2:16-23)
- Put on "the new self" (Colossians 3:1-17)
- Rules for Christian households (Colossians 3:18-4:1)
- Further instructions (Colossians 4:2-5)
- Final greetings (Colossians 4:6-18)
Tropes:
- Forgiveness: Colossians 3:13 encourages believers to forgive one another just as Jesus forgave them.
- Good Parents: Like in Ephesians 6:4, Colossians 3:21 instructs parents to not provoke their children, or they will get discouraged.
- Listing the Forms of Degenerates:
- Colossians 3:5 instructs the reader to put aside these sinful qualities.
"Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry."- Colossians 3:8 also instructs this to the readers:
"But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth." - No Ontological Inertia: "And [Christ] is before all things, and in Him all things consist. (Colossians 1:17, NKJV)" Literally, if Christ, that is, God the Son, ceased to exist (which is impossible), then the universe would also cease to exist.
- No Woman's Land: Subverted in Colossians 3:18-19. Like in Ephesians 5:22-23."Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.
Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them." - Sympathetic Slave Owner: Colossians 4:1 instructs masters to provide for slaves what's just and equal because they have a Master in heaven.
- What You Are in the Dark: The epistle instructs slaves and employees to do the work they're meant to do at all times, not only when their earthly masters' eyes are on you.
