Overview of Colossians

A. INTRODUCTION (1:1-12)

• Paul’s introductory greeting (1:1, 2)

• Paul thanks God for the Colossians’ faith (1:3-8)

• Paul prays that the Colossians grow spiritually in order to walk worthily of Jehovah (1:9-12)

B. CHRIST’S CENTRAL ROLE IN THE OUTWORKING OF GOD’S PURPOSE (1:13-23)

• Spirit-anointed Christians transferred by God into the kingdom of his beloved Son (1:13, 14)

• Christ Jesus is the firstborn of all creation and the one God used to create all other things (1:15-17)

• Christ is “the one who is first in all things” and through whom all things are reconciled to God (1:18-20)

• Reconciled Christians need to continue in the faith (1:21-23)

C. PAUL’S STEWARDSHIP TO MAKE KNOWN THE SACRED SECRET (1:24–2:5)

• Paul works hard to fulfill his stewardship for the benefit of the Colossian congregation (1:24–2:1)

• The accurate knowledge about God’s sacred secret, Christ (2:2, 3)

• Warning against deceptive teachings (2:4, 5)

D. HOW TO GO ON WALKING IN UNION WITH CHRIST (2:6-23)

• Christians need to be rooted and built up in Christ, as well as stabilized in the faith (2:6, 7)

• Beware of empty deception; the fullness dwells in Christ (2:8-12)

• God has nailed the handwritten document to the torture stake (2:13-15)

• The “shadow of the things to come” replaced by “the reality” that “belongs to the Christ” (2:16, 17)

• “Let no man deprive you of the prize” (2:18-23)

E. PUT ON THE NEW PERSONALITY, AND SUBMIT TO CHRIST’S AUTHORITY (3:1–4:6)

• “Keep your minds fixed on the things above” (3:1-4)

• Deaden unclean desires of the flesh; put away wrong attitudes and speech (3:5-11)

• “Clothe yourselves with love, . . . a perfect bond of union” (3:12-14)

• “Let the peace of the Christ rule in your hearts” (3:15-17)

• Advice to Christian households (3:18–4:1)

• “Persevere in prayer” (4:2-4)

• Walk in wisdom toward those outside the congregation (4:5, 6)

F. CONCLUDING REMARKS AND GREETINGS (4:7-18)

• Tychicus and Onesimus sent to Colossae to give a report from Rome (4:7-9)

• Paul and his coworkers send greetings (4:10-17)

• Paul’s concluding greeting and wishes (4:18)