History of Colossae

In the history of Colossae the place was indeed an ancient city in Phrygia, Asia Minor, and it held significance as one of the renowned cities in Southern Anatolia. The Epistle of the Colossians, an important early Christian text, attributes its authorship to Paul the Apostle and is directed towards the Christian community in Colossae. This epistle is a vital part of the New Testament and provides insights into the beliefs and teachings of early Christianity, making it a significant historical and religious document.

location

According to Bible scholars, the distance to reach Colossae is 192 km from the east. While some say it’s 200 Km

Today’s Location

The road can be found from Efe Santikkenti (Dr Sabri -Highway from Ancient Ephesus ) and continues on the highway. From there, going forward T – Road is seen, from there turn right and drive forward then within three hours, can reach the Colossae. During the Fifth Century itself, Coloassae had its’ commercial trade with others. It’s about 208 Km. The old highway was repaired by the Turkish Government. The people of Colossae church used to come to Ephesus and Ephesus people travelled to Coloassae through this same route only. From Ephesus, one can reach Jerusalem by sea -route through the island of Cyprus. Laodicea and Hieropolis were located near the Colossus church. Today, all this place is under the control of Turkey.

Lycus River

The Lycus is a river that runs right next to Colossae and Laodicea. On the side of this river stands Hierapolis, on a hill six miles to the Northwest. To the West of Colossus m, a tributary of the Meyer flows. The Lycus River joins the Meyer River. Near the confluence of the rivers, both these rivers meet, there is a bathing pier named after St. Michael the Archangel. The Greeks saw the Lycus as a river in Phrygia since ancient times. There are Christians who still consider the Lycus and Menger as tributaries. The Lycus River originates from the Eastern part of the mountain. (More information will be available as you study further)sum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.

Cosmic Powers

Air, water, fire, thunder and storms were worshipped by the Ancient Romans as spiritual forces. Votive offerings were given to these powers for doing anything necessary for human life. They did not call these powers the powers of the Gods or Goddesses. Millions of Gods and Goddesses came to be believed when the influence of Greek Gods came to the Romans, before whom they were seen as forces of nature. They used to believe that the Stars and planets too had souls. They feared that the air and the storms had demons and ghosts. They also believed that natural disasters and the protection came from the natural forces.

Akkadian Tribe

Even before the time of Terah, Abraham’s father, Mesopotamia – was ruled by many tribes that had changed, turned, fought and conquered. Akkad was the first ancient city in the Mesopotamia and was a large empire. Before B C 2000 itself, there were the Akkadian Tribes even before they defeated the Sumerian tribes that ruled east of Mesopotamia and brought all Akkadian and Sumerian speakers under one rule

The Mesopotamian Culture, written language and paintings, as well as the witchcraft, and sorcery were shaped by the Akkadian Tribes. Later the Sumerian tribes came and reclaimed their place and drove out the Akkadians. In 1792 BC, Hammurabi wiped out both groups and drove the Akkadians out of Mesopotamia. The Akkadians were eastern Semitic speakers, and the Akkadian Semitic languages slowly began to disappear as the influence of the Aramaic language became stronger on the people. By about 500 BC the Akkadian tribe’s overall power began to decline.

Understanding the Akkadian tribes will be useful while studying the Colossian Epistles.

WHAT IS FALSE TEACHINGS?

The teachings that state whatever teachings the Lord didn’t do or say when is proclaimed are telling a lie, so it is also called False preachings (evil counsel)

“Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil concerning thee.” ( 1 Kings 22: 23 cf )

The birth of Jesus through the Holy Spirit till the resurrection of Christ; were all taught by the Apostles and created contrary against their teachings – that is called False preachings. Those who for their worldly desire advise others in the wrong principles and thoughts to become more popular and wealthy also come under the offence of disobedience in following the Lord’s commandment ( 2 Samuel 13 cf )

In this, all the lust for wealth and fame comes. Lord Jesus also speaks about such false preachers in the Gospel.

“But I have a few things against thee because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.” (Revelation 2: 14 )

Argument That The Epistles Was Not Written By Paul

There were many scholars who said that this article was not written by St.Paul.They pointed out that from other writings, they do not have the content related to the Christology of Judgements, the law of justifications through Christ the salvation through Christ and the salvation through Jesus Christ. Also, they hold fast arguing that the epistles of Ephesians, were not written by St.Paul.

They suggest that Epistles of Colossians has a different style, ideas, and wording than that of the rest of Epistles written by St. Paul. They are asking that the Gnostics entered the Church from the 2nd century, then how in AD 60-62 St.Paul wrote about the Gnostics in his Epistles of Colossians.

For eg: there was an epistle to Laodicea and the three epistles to the Corinthians that appeared under the name of St. Paul, which was rejected by the early Church as claiming that it was written by someone else after Paul’s time. Whereas some scholars are of the opinion that is not Canonical.

The Original Author Of Colossians

When the Epistles is prepared by understanding the particular circumstances of a congregation, it is written in relation to that subject. St.Paul claimed Christ-centred mysteries in favour of the Church in the problems related to the events faced by the Colossian Church. He puts forward that there is no need to insist it is related to the idea of other articles.

Philemon wrote in his epistles regarding the conditions faced by the slaves of Philemon along with the slaves of the Colossians in the jail. That’s why in his epistles he highlighted -How according to the Law of Christ, the relationship between the Master and the Slave should be maintained.

If one insists that, it contains words that are not Paul’s; then there are abundant words seen in this epistle. Luke, Aristarchus, Mark, and Jesus Youstos were present when St. Paul wrote the Coloassian Epistle. In this one, Luke and Mark were the Gospel writers and St.Paul wrote with chains in his hand. It is not possible to think that Paul wrote all the Epistles in one sitting. Paul said and they knew how to write and they probably wrote and helped. That is why it is clear while reading the Colossians that the Greek style has crept into these epistles in some places, but the idea of the Gospel style has crept into these epistles in some places, but the idea of the Gospel has not been scratched. But when St.Paul testifies that the salutations of the Saints were written by his own hand, it can be thought that he got the help of others to write the beginning of this article.

As a very qualified person, when St. Paul writes an article, it doesn’t mean that all the article’s writing skills should be in the same pattern. IT’S NOT WRONG IN THINKING THAT St.Paul had the wisdom to utilize different words and ideas.

In Ephesus, Caesarea, and Rome, there was imprisonment. Some argue that St. Paul wrote it while he was in prison, in Ephesus. It is more likely that he was in R ome as he had the freedom to write in prison.

‘And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves.” ( Acts 28:29 )

And St.Paul also got the freedom to evangelize others in the prison. Therefore, we can safely believe that Colossians were written by St.Paul in prison, in Rome without any doubt.

Churches Of Phrygia

According to the Bible, there are five churches in Phrygia Colossae, Laodicea, Hierapolis, the Church in the House of Philemon, the Church in the House of Philemon, and the Church in the House of Nimeah. The churches proceed in the house of Nymph and Philemon (Phili 1)

The People Of Phrygia

At the time of Paul’s writing to the Colossians, most of the people were Phrygians and also, and there were some Greeks too. During the reign of Epiphapus, ( BC 223 – 187 ) they were brought here and settled. Jews from Babylon and Mesopotamia were resettled( historian Josephus )

Like Phyrigia, In India, the people lived in a mixture of different religions and cultures. There were various religious cultures, passions and devotions here. Various religious cultures, passions and devotions existed here.

For Indians, the Colossians epistle’s advice is relevant. We should understand that they were also in the same condition as ours but still, they changed and devoted themselves to living in holiness.

The Hittites

They belonged to the Indo–European population of the ancient Middle East. They existed before 2000 BC. The Hittites lived in a city called Anatolia in the Middle East. They were (BC 2000) conquered by – Syria ( known as today’s), but in 600 BC the Hittites under the leadership of King Mursilas conquered and ruled Babylon. Phrygia went to war with the Hittites in 1200 BC. Although the Hittites were gone, the local kings of the Hittites still ruled in some places. In 717 BC the Assyrian King Sargon captured the rest of the Hittite territories. With, all the power of the Hittites’ territories, With that, all the power of the Hittites disappeared.

Abraham’s tomb is today in Hebron, Israel. Abraham bought it from Ephron the Hittite to bury Sarah.

“The wives of Esau married were Hittites. Uriah, whom David killed, was also a Hittite. When Israel enters the land of Cannan, it is said that all the land of Hittites will be given to them.” ( Deuteronomy 23: 10 )

“From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast.” ( Joshua 1: 4 )

In ancient times in certain places, there was the rule of the Hittites followed. When Hittite was destroyed completely, God called that place – Canaan.

Philemon’s House Church

Philemon was a Christian in the Valley of Colossus when Paul was evangelizing in Ephesus( Phil: 19 )

With Paul when he addressed Philemon as his fellow worker. It can be understood that he worked as a partner in the Gospel preaching. ( Philp: 1)

Philemon, who was a good disciple of the teacher, came back to the city of Colossus and built a hall for the church in his House. (Philp :1 )

And the church was working in the hall. Onesimus was one of his slaves.

“That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ, Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places;” ( Phil 1: 10 – 13 )

The slave escaped from Philemon and came before Paul who was in prison when Paul wrote the letter to Philemon.

“But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;” ( Phil 1: 12 )

The letter is given to Philemon requesting him to consider Onesimus as a brother and Paul’s son.

“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” ( Phil 1: 16 )

Philemon was a man of great estate and wealth in that land. Philemon was also the person who prayed daily for Paul to be released from prison. St. Paul suggested to Philemon to build a house for Him ( St. Paul ) to live when he came to Colossae. (Philip 1: 22 )

Later, by the end of the 2nd century, all these churches had disappeared from Colossae. ( More information will be in the study. )

The Church In Nymph’s House

Nympha was a wealthy woman from Laodicea, near Colossus. Just like Philemon, Nympha who heard the gospel through Paul’s intercession built the church, in her house itself. She was a widow, whose husband had died, or a person who had not been enlightened in the midst of marriage. Whenever St.Paul wrote his salutation to the worshipers and Nympha, he mentioned only Nympha’s name and not her husband’s name. According to Paul’s character, if he had a husband, his name would have been written in some way.

About The Colossae Church

Greeks called the Colossae as Colosseum was located in Phrygia. From Ephesus approx. this place is 208 K.m. east. Since 5th century BC this place was famous for its red silk wool sale. Colossians is popular as the twelfth book, in the New Testament. It was written when St. Paul was a prisoner in Rome.

“Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:” ( col 4 : 3 ) It was written most probably between AD 60 and AD 62.

Formation Of Colossae Church

St. Paul did not go to Colossae and started a church. Before the conversion of St. Paul, the Christian Churches must have been formed here. Phyrgians were among those who were converted after hearing Peter’s first sermon.

“Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,”( Acts 2 : 10 ) and one of them must have founded the entire church at Colossae. Some believed that Epaphras started the Church here because the disciple Epaphras preached the gospel truth about Christ at the request of St. Paul

GNOSTICISM IN History of COLOSSAE

St. Paul had a good impression regarding the Churches of Colossae as they were living in the truth of Christ’s gospel. During the growth of the Church, the evil teachings of the Gnostics, the Jews, and the worshipers of nature began to creep into the Church. Epaphras informed Paul about this incident in the prison in Rome. The moment he came to know that the false teachers entered the church, St. Paul’s main goal was to bring back the true Gospel of Jesus and the great mystery about Christ. The purpose of the Colossians epistles is to take the practices of Hammurabi’s code of slavery from the mythical laws and teach them to live according to the principles of Christ.

Highlighting how the true Christian should be

Colossians is the first epistle that Christians should memorize. The depth, breadth, height, and length of the Colossian epistles, if studied impartially in the same sense, serve to save us from the false tradition and false doctrines that have been handed down to us. It will help you a lot to become a brother/sister attached to the heart of Jesus Christ.

HOLY / THE HOLY ONE – The word Holy is used in Greek in the New Testament.

1. HAGION – Used to refer to the Saints in the Christian Church.

“Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.” ( Romans 12: 13 )

“For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:” ( Eph 4: 12 )

“ Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but citizens with the saints, and of the household of God;” ( Eph 2: 19 )

“For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God;” ( 2 Cor 9: 12 )

All these words are used for Saints in the Church. Hagion is a word written in two ways in Greek.

In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto a holy temple in the Lord ( Eph 2: 21 )

“Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;” ( Eph 6: 18 )

“And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.” ( Eph 4: 30 )

“I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they are of the same mind in the Lord.” ( Phil 4: 2 ).

All these are the words that meant holy, Saints ( holy persons), holy things

2. HAGIOUS – HOLY, HOLY –

“ According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love ( Eph 1: 4 )

“Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia:” ( 2 Corn 1 :1 )

“Praying us with much entreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.” ( 2 Corn 8: 4 )

“For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you:” ( 2 Corn 9: 1 )

3. HAGIOIS – SAINT –

“Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:” ( Eph 1: 1 )

“I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,)” ( 1 Cor 16: 15 )

“Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.” ( 1 Cor 16: 1 )

4. HAGIO/ HAGIOS – THE MOST HOLY –

This is the word used to describe the Holy Spirit as the most holy.

“For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.” (Romans 14: 17 )

Seal with the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit is God’s seal on His people, His claim on us as His very own.

“Salute one another with a holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you.” (Romans 16:16 )

“In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,” ( Eph 1: 13 )

“By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,” ( 2 Cor 6: 6 )

HAGIOS – Holy is the word applied to God.

“And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him, and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.” ( Rev 4: 8 )

“Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ and shall reign with him a thousand years.” ( Rev 16: 5 )

Those who are part of the resurrection are all called Holy-HAGIOS. This is the word used to refer to them.

5. HAGIA – The Holy

This word can be pronounced in many ways – HAYIA, AYIYA, AGHIA, HAGIYA. Hagia is mostly used for female figures.

“For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.” ( 1 Cori 7: 14 )

“There is a difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.” ( 1 Cori 7: 34 )

“ That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” ( Eph 5: 27 )

6. HAGIOI – SAINT – ( Phil 4 : 22)

“ Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? And if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?” ( 1 Cor 6: 2 )

7. HAGIOU The saints will salute you.

“All the saints salute you.” ( 2 Corn 13: 13 )

Where it says, “ Abound in the power of the Holy Spirit “ is Hagio to the Holy Spirit.

“Now the God of hope fills you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.” ( Romans 15: 13 )

Temple of the Holy Spirit.

“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?” ( 1 Cor : 6: 19 )

TRANSLATIONS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

1. Greek Septuagint

2. Aquila’s Hebrew translation.

3. Revised Septuagint of Theodosius

4. Aquila’s translations in the new version of Sinope.

5. Origenis Hexaplorum – versions in 6 languages.

FOUR MAIN INSCRIPTIONS TRANSLATED BASED ON GREEK SEPTUAGINT

6. A. Alexandrian Inscription

7. B. Vatican Inscription

8. C. The Sinai Inscription

9. D. Ephraim Inscription

10. Aramaic Translation

11. F. Syriac Petisha

12. Latin Walgate ( written before St. Jerome )

13. Latin Walgate ( St. Jerome )

14. Latin reformed Walgate ( due to some irregularities Roman Bishop reformed by Demus. AD 366- 384 )

PAUL THE APOSTLE

St. Paul was the Apostle of the early church, the first scholar of theology and an evangelist who stood firm in the true faith.

According to the Christiology of the early Churches, stated that to become a Christian one should become a Jew, this principle was totally eradicated from the Churches through St. Paul; when He came to the faith. All the 13 articles of the Bible are known to be of St. Paul.

Before becoming a Christian, Paul’s name was Saul. He was called Saul – in Aramaic, and the Latin word is Paul. He changed his name to Latin after his Conversion. When passing from the old man to the new man, it was customary for the Jewish Christians to change their nicknames as well. Otherwise, they would have added a new name along with their old name.

Paul was born in 10 AD in Tarsus, a major city in Cilicia.

“But Paul said, I am a man which is a Jew of Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city: and, I beseech thee, suffer me to speak unto the people.”( Acts 21: 39 )

Raised in the Hellenistic culture, Paul had the knowledge and erudition of the Greek language. Outside of Palestine is Tarsus in Cilicia. Therefore, the Jews living there had no obstacle to obtaining Roman citizenship by birth.

Paul was a descendant of the tribe of Benjamin who was circumcised on the eighth day according to Jewish law.

“Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;”( Phil 3: 5 )

Paul was called by the Jews as “RABI “; which was really worth it. Also, he was a member of the Senril group.

Studying and teaching the Jewish Law book was a part of Pharisees’ life. It was under the guidance of Gamaliel, that St.Paul studied the theology of the Old Testament from a young age.

St. Paul worked with Aquila and Priscilla and was involved in the leather and tent making. ( Acts 18 : 3 )

During the early Church period, a Jewish Christian and deacon Stephen, angered other Hellenistic Jews in Jerusalem. St. Paul kept the clothes safely, of those who witnessed the murder of Stephen, the first martyr of the early church.

“And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul.”( Acts 7: 58 )

He was at the forefront of killing and persecuting Christians with his zeal for the Jewish religion. He was also the person who received authority to bring some of the Christians to Jerusalem and execute them.

“And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.” ( Acts 9 : 1-2 )

“ For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it: And profited in the Jews’ religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.” (Gal 1: 13 -14 )

“For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.” ( 1 Corn 15: 9 )

Paul was a person with a powerful gift of Revelation. Because of this revelation, it was possible to go up to the third heaven and receive secrets about Christ.

“It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the LordI knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such a one caught up to the third heaven

And I knew such a man, (whether in the body or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)

How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

Of such a one will I glory: yet of myself, I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.

For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.” ( 2 Cor 12: 1-6 )

And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

For this thing, I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will ( 2 Cori 12:7 – 9 )

Many interpretations came, thinking that St.Paul had severe headaches, some said it was malaria while others said it was an eye disease. But some thought as it may be Paul’s occasional temper tantrum. He considered all the sufferings that Paul suffered for good.

Paul was a person who could not find any fault in obeying the law of Moses.

“Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.” ( Phil 3: 6 )

Jesus Christ appears on the way to Damascus to persecute Christians with his religious fervour.

“And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,” ( Acts 9: 1)

“Am I not an apostle? Am I not free? Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? Are not ye my work in the Lord?” ( Cor 9: 1 )

“And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.”( Cor 15: 8 )

By grace, Paul was able to understand the joy of seeing Messiah in person. He repented and was baptized for salvation.

“And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.” ( Acts 9: 18 )

Paul began his mission from Jerusalem and went to the Gentiles with the Gospel. He is also the teacher of many disciples known in the Bible. Imprisoned in Rome in AD 64 during the reign of Nero and was beheaded in Rome and thus died as a martyr for his faith in AD 65 – 67.