The epistle to the Colossians was written by the apostle Paul to the church in Colosse, Asia Minor, around 60-62 AD, and today it is in Turkey. The letter's main focus is the supremacy and sufficiency of Jesus Christ.
Paul starts chapter 1 thanking God for the Colossians' faith and love. He further comments how the gospel is producing fruit and growing "all over the world". He refers to Epaphras, the church's founder, "who is a faithful minister of Christ" who has told Paul of the church's "love in the Spirit". Hence Paul prays for the Colossians that they might be filled with "spiritual wisdom and understanding... bearing fruit in every good work... and having endurance and patience... to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light". Paul then erupts into a glorious Christological passage saying that Christ "is the image of the invisible God... through him and for him all things were created... he is before all things and holds everything together... and he is the head of the church... the firstborn from the dead... and all fulness dwelt in him... to reconcile everything in him... you were alienated from God but now you are reconciled in Christ... and are without blemish and free from accusation... as long as you continue in the faith and the hope of the gospel". Finally then Paul rejoices in his suffering as an extension of Christ's suffering... and God has commissioned him, Paul says, "to present to you the word of God in its fulness... for God has chosen to make known his riches to the Gentiles... which is Christ in you, the hope of glory... and we admonish and teach everyone so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ".
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