when was the church at colossae founded

Full Answer

Was there a church in Colossae?

Whether Paul himself fanned out in missionary activity throughout the province or whether some of his converts did so, a church was planted in Colossae. It is likely that Epaphras founded the Colossian church ( Col. 1:7 ), and from 1:21 we assume that the church was composed mainly of Gentiles.

How did Colossae become a village?

Between the Roman road and the earthquake, Colossae became a village as people immigrated to Laodicea and Hierapolis until it was abandoned in the 8 th century AD. Colossae had people of various backgrounds living in and traveling through it.

When was the first mention of Colossae made?

(February 2016) The first mention of the city may be in a 17th-century BC Hittite inscription, which speaks of a city called Huwalušija, which some archeologists believe refer to early Colossae.

What happened to Colossae in the Bible?

Rebuilt after each earthquake, Colossae never regained its early prominence, and by 400 the city no longer existed. The Apostle Paul had spent two years planting a church in Ephe­sus, and in Acts 19:10 we learn that, radiating from that center, “all the residents of Asia, both Jews and Greeks, heard the word of the Lord.”

Who founded the church in Colossians?

Letter of Paul to the Colossians, also called Epistle of St. Paul the Apostle to the Colossians, abbreviation Colossians, twelfth book of the New Testament, addressed to Christians at Colossae, Asia Minor, whose congregation was founded by St. Paul the Apostle's colleague Epaphras.

When was Colossae founded?

The first mention of the city may be in a 17th-century BC Hittite inscription, which speaks of a city called Huwalušija, which some archeologists believe refer to early Colossae.

What is the historical background of Colossians?

The letter to the Colossians was written by the apostle Paul. It is likely that Paul wrote the letter of Colossians in the late AD “50's or 60's,” while he was imprisoned. This letter was written to a gentile church plant located in Colossae, a city of Rome.

Why did Paul wrote to the Colossian church?

Paul wrote his Epistle to the Colossians because of a report that they were falling into serious error (see Bible Dictionary, “Pauline Epistles”). False teachings and practices in Colossae were influencing the Saints there and threatening their faith. Similar cultural pressures pose challenges for Church members today.

What does the word Colossae mean?

Colossae. / (kəˈlɒsiː) / noun. an ancient city in SW Phrygia in Asia Minor: seat of an early Christian Church.

Did Paul ever go to Colossae?

Paul referred to a local member named Epaphras as “a faithful minister of Christ” (see Colossians 1:7–8). This man may have been converted by Paul in Ephesus during Paul's third missionary journey (see Acts 19:10). It is believed that Epaphras took the gospel home to Colosse and it spread throughout the region.

Why is Colossians so important?

Colossians addresses problems in the church and challenges believers to examine their lives and be transformed through the love of Jesus. Colossians addresses problems in the church and challenges believers to examine their lives and be transformed through the love of Jesus.

Who really wrote Colossians?

Paul the ApostleThe Epistle to the Colossians is the twelfth book of the New Testament. It was written, according to the text, by Paul the Apostle and Timothy, and addressed to the church in Colossae, a small Phrygian city near Laodicea and approximately 100 miles (160 km) from Ephesus in Asia Minor.

What are the three main points that Paul made in Colossians?

What are the three main points that Paul made in Colossians?...Terms in this set (46) All the fullness dwells in the preeminent Christ. Believers are complete in Christ.Believers should seek to know more of Christ in his fullness by seeking the things above where he dwells, not the things of the earth.

Where is Colossae today?

TurkeyAncient site of Colossae is located 25 kilometers (15 miles) east of Denizli province in Turkey, and 2 kilometers north of Honaz district.

What is the city of Colossae?

The City Of Colossae. Cities grow as they develop commercial centers that provide jobs for their residents. The ancient city of Colossae was built on a major trade route through the Lycus River Valley in the Roman province of Asia Minor (in the southwest corner of modern-day Turkey).

When was Colossae destroyed?

The two towns, along with neighboring Hierapolis, were destroyed by earthquakes in AD 17 (in the reign of Tiberius) and again in 60 (in the reign of Nero). Rebuilt after each earthquake, Colossae never regained its early prominence, and by 400 the city no longer existed.

What did Paul say about the Colossians?

From prison, Paul had heard that the Colossian Christians, who had at one time been strong in their faith, were now vulnerable to deception about the faith (2:4, 8, 16, 18, 21–23). He wrote to refute each of the theological errors the Colossians were tempted to embrace.

Who wrote the letters to the Colossians?

The letters to the Colossians and to Philemon are believed to have been written by Paul from prison sometime circa 60 to 62. At that time, Nero was the cruel and insane emperor of the Roman Empire who could ignore the claims of Paul’s Roman citizenship.

Where did Paul plant his church?

The Apostle Paul had spent two years planting a church in Ephe­sus, and in Acts 19:10 we learn that, radiating from that center, “all the residents of Asia, both Jews and Greeks, heard the word of the Lord.” Whether Paul himself fanned out in missionary activity throughout the province or whether some of his converts did so, a church was planted in Colossae. It is likely that Epaphras founded the Colossian church ( Col. 1:7 ), and from 1:21 we assume that the church was composed mainly of Gentiles.

What was the name of the church in Colossae?

The Byzantines also built the church of St. Michael in the vicinity of Colossae, one of the largest church buildings in the Middle East.

When was the Colossae church destroyed?

Colossae's famous church was destroyed in 1192/3 during the Byzantine civil wars. It was a suffragan diocese of Laodicea in Phyrigia Pacatiane but was replaced in the Byzantine period by the Chonae settlement on higher ground.

What is the name of the city in the 5th century BC?

Writing in the 5th century BC, Xenophon refers to Colossae as "a populous city, wealthy and of considerable magnitude". It was famous for its wool trade. Strabo notes that the city drew great revenue from the flocks, and that the wool of Colossae gave its name to colour colossinus.

What is the origin of the name Colossae?

Another proposal relates the name to the Greek kolazo, "to punish". Others believe the name derives from the manufacture of its famous dyed wool, or colossinus.

Where is Colossae located?

Colossae was located in Phrygia, in Asia Minor. It was located 15 km southeast of Laodicea on the road through the Lycus Valley near the Lycus River at the foot of Mt. Cadmus, the highest mountain in Turkey's western Aegean Region, and between the cities Sardeis and Celaenae, and southeast of the ancient city of Hierapolis.

Where is the ancient city of Colossae?

Ruins of Colossae. Acropolis of Colossae. Colossae ( / kəˈlɒsi /; Greek: Κολοσσαί) was an ancient city of Phrygia in Asia Minor, and one of the most celebrated cities of southern Anatolia (modern Turkey ). The Epistle to the Colossians, an early Christian text which identifies its author as Paul the Apostle, is addressed to the church in Colossae.

Where is the Epistle to the Colossians?

The Epistle to the Colossians, an early Christian text which identifies its author as Paul the Apostle, is addressed to the church in Colossae. A significant city from the 5th century BC onwards, it had dwindled in importance by the time of Paul, but was notable for the existence of its local angel cult.

Why did Paul write the Epistle to the Colossians?

Paul wrote his Epistle to the Colossians because of a report that they were falling into serious error (see Bible Dictionary, “Pauline Epistles”). False teachings and practices in Colossae were influencing the Saints there and threatening their faith. Similar cultural pressures pose challenges for Church members today.

Where was the Epistle of Paul written?

It was written, according to the text, by Paul the Apostle and Timothy to the Church in Colossae, a small Phrygian city near Laodicea and approximately 100 miles (160 km) from Ephesus in Asia Minor.

What is the Colossians book about?

Colossians presents the all-supremacy, the all-sufficiency, the uniqueness, and the fullness of the person and work of Jesus Christ as the God-man Savior, the Creator and Sustainer of the universe and the total solution for man’s needs both for time and eternity. It is a cosmic book, presenting the cosmic Christ: the Creator/Sustainer who is also the one and only Redeemer/Reconciler of the universe.

What was the heresy facing the Colossians?

This teaching sought to undermine the person and work of Christ and the sufficiency of the salvation believers have in Him. More will be discussed regarding the nature of the heresy.

How far was Colossae from Laodicea?

Colossae was about ten miles from Laodicea and thirteen miles from Hierapolis. At one time Colossae had been a large and populous city, but when Paul wrote to the Colossian church, it had become just a small town in contrast to its nearest neighbors, Hierapolis and Laodicea.

Who subordinates the soteriological to the cosmological?

Regarding this issue Johnson has a timely answer: It has also been said that the author of Colossians subordinates the soteriological to the cosmological (Francis W. Beare, “The Epistle to the Colossians. Introduction and Exegesis,” The Interpreter ’ s Bible, XI, 144), or salvation truth to truth about the universe.

Was Colosse a great city?

Colosse had been “a great city of Phrygia,” but it was in the afternoon of its influence and importance when Paul wrote the house-church there. And yet the message to Colosse, so bright with the light of the apostle’s highest Christology, has become amazingly relevant in the middle of the twentieth century.

Who said Paul was always flinging out scouting parties into unexplored theological territory?

James S. Stewart has put it this way: “Paul was always flinging out scouting parties into unexplored theological territory” (Lecture in New College, Edinburgh, January 19, 1961). New and fresh insights into God’s truth on every page are the rule, not the exception, in the letters of Paul. 10.

Was the church at Colossae a Pauline church?

The Church at Colossae. 1. It was a Pauline church in that it was indirectly the result of Paul’s ministry. As far as we know Paul never visited Colossae, at least not at the time he wrote this epistle; he had only “heard” about the church at Colossae (1:4, 9; 2:1).

What was the Church at Colossae?

Colossae had people of various backgrounds living in and traveling through it. These people brought assorted philosophies, faith systems, cultural backgrounds, and traditions. The people of Colossae experienced cultures, thoughts, and faiths like any major metropolitan city in the 21 st century.

Who was the founder of the church in Colossae?

Epaphras was probably the founding pastor of the churches in Colossae, Laodicea, and Hierapolis (1:7). Epaphras, short for Epaphroditus, was Greek and so the church most likely was Gentile with possibly Jewish believers, too.

What issues did Paul write to the Colossians?

Paul expands for the readers of the Letter to the Colossians what issues the Colossae church experienced. He wrote about Christology to the Colossian Christians, specifically, the deity of Christ and fullness of life in Him. This Bible study will teach about the location and history of Colossae, the church at Colossae, ...

What was Paul's purpose in writing to the Colossians?

Paul’s purpose for writing to the Colossian church consisted mostly of addressing the Colossian heresy as not ed above in “The Church at Colossae”.

When was Colossae destroyed?

An earthquake destroyed Colossae in the early 60s AD, turning it into a village that never regained its economic stature in the region. Between the Roman road and the earthquake, Colossae became a village as people immigrated to Laodicea and Hierapolis until it was abandoned in the 8 th century AD.

What did Paul teach the people of Colossae?

Paul, when writing to the church at Colossae, set forth Christ in a cosmic context. He taught that Christ is not way above us and unreachable.

Where is Colossae located?

The Location and History of Colossae. Colossae was a thriving multicultural city in the southwest quadrant of Asia Minor on the Lycus River in what is now Turkey. It was about 9 miles from Laodicea and 6 miles from Hierapolis.

Where is the city of Colossae?

The City of Colossae. Colossae or Colosse was an ancient city in the Lycus River valley, about 100 miles east of the great, cosmopolitan capital city of Ephesus, located in the Roman province of Asia, in present-day Turkey. Colossae was the smallest of three cities in the Lycus Valley -- along with Laodicea (12 miles west) and Hierapolis ...

When was the letter to the Colossians written?

However, most scholars who accept Pauline authorship date the Letter to the Colossians during Paul's first imprisonment in Rome, approximately 60-62 AD (Acts 20:31-32). That makes the most sense to me.

Why is the Colossae tell dark?

The Peoples of Colossae. The tell or acropolis of the Colossae has not been excavated. It appears darkened because the vegetation had been burned off recently. Photo copyright by HolyLandPhotos.org. Used by permission. The population of Colossae was probably quite diverse -- especially in light of the nearby highway.

What is the difference between Colossians and Pauline?

While Colossians bears differences from other Pauline epistles, it includes the Pauline touch through and through. The arguments positing a different author than Paul are extremely speculative and, frankly, create more problems than they purport to solve.

Where did the Jews relocate their families?

As a way to quell a rebellion in Phrygia and Lydia, Antiochus III ordered that Jewish families be relocated from Babylon (where they had been exiled in the sixth century BC) to the area of Phrygia, in the general area where Colossae is located .

Where did Paul preach?

Paul had been preaching in the "big city" of Ephesus, about 100 miles west of Colossae from 53 to 55 AD. His ministry was quite effective, first in the synagogue and later in the rented lecture hall of Tyrannus. "This went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord.".

Is Colossians written for Jews?

Colossians is apparently written primarily to Gentile Christians. We observe: Paul's description of their conversion in terms more appropriate to Gentiles, rather than to Jews (1:12, 21) He mentions the mystery revealed "among the Gentiles" (1:27) The sins mentioned are more typical of Gentiles, than of Jews (3:5)

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Origin and etymology of place name

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