Read the following from Colossians. Note the similarities and differences with
Ephesians as you read. It was apparently written at the same time as Ephesians and
Philemon while Paul was in prison. Like Ephesians, it falls naturally into two
divisions: an expository section and a hortatory one.
1:7 the earthly founder of the Colossian church
1:13-24 the person and work of Christ
v. 13--transfered to the kingdom of his beloved Son
v. 14--image of the invisible God
v. 18--head of the body
v. 19--in him all the fulness of God was pleased to dwell
v. 23--gospel preached to every creature
v. 24--complete what is lacking in Christ's sufferings
2:1 church at Laodicea
2:8-23 the heresy addressed
v. 8--captive by philosophy according to human tradition
v. 9--whole fulness of deity dwells bodily
v. 12--buried and raised with him in baptism
v. 14--nailed the IOU to the cross
vv. 16-17--holidays only a shadow
vv. 20-23--the lack of value of human rules
3:5-21 ethical considerations
v. 10--renewed in knowledge after the image of the Creator
v. 16--singing
v. 17--do everything in the name of the Lord
4:7-9 the bearers of the letter
4:16 the letter to/from Laodicea
