Colossians Introduction Series

Colossians Introduction

INTRODUCTION

I. THE TOWNS OF THE LYCUS VALLEY

About one hundred miles inland (Med. Sea) from Ephesus in the valley of the River Lycus, near where it joins the Maeander, there once stood three important cities: (1) Laodicaea (remember 30 years later the 7 letters in Revelation (96 AD) 3:14 – 18 14- And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; 15- I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16- So then because thou art lukewarm (Laodicea stood midway between the hot springs of Hierapolis and the cold waters of Colossae), and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. 17- Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 18- I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.), The proximity of Colossae to the 7 churches in Asia could imply that they were dealing with some of the same false doctrines of those churches. (2) Hierapolis, and (3) Colosse. They stood almost in sight of one another. Hierapolis and Laodicaea stood on either side of the valley with the River Lycus flowing between, only six miles apart and in full view of each other; Colosse straddled the river twelve miles farther up. This was Asia Minor which now is modern Turkey. This letter to Colossae was also intended for Laodicaea and Hierapolis.

Colossians 4:13 “For I bear him (Epaphras) record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis.”

They were instructed to pass it around:

Colossians 4:16 “And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of

the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea.”

II. A WEALTHY AREA

A. The ground was fertile and produced excellent pasture land. On these pastures there were great flocks of sheep and the area was perhaps the greatest center of the woollen industry in the world. Laodicaea was specially famous for the production of garments of the

finest quality.

B. The waters that flowed through Colosse was chalky. There was some quality in those

chalky waters which made them specially suitable for dyeing cloth, and Colosse was so famous for this trade that a certain dye was called by its name.

III. THE UNIMPORTANT CITY

A. Originally the three cities had been of equal importance, but, as the years went on, their ways parted. Laodicaea became the political centre of the district and financial headquarters of the whole area, a city of splendid prosperity.

B. Hierapolis became a great trade-centre and a notable spa. In that volcanic area there were many chasms in the ground from which came hot vapors and springs, famous for their medicinal quality; and people came in their thousands to Hierapolis to bathe and to drink the waters.

C. For some reason the glory departed from Colosse. Though mounds remain to this day to distinguish Laodicaea and Heirapolis, there is not a stone to show where Colosse stood and her site is only to be guessed at.

D. These cities were overthrown by an earthquake in the times of emperor Nero. Accordingly, not

long after this letter was written (about a year).

E. City has been extinct for more than 1800 years. The city which was raised in the place of former

was called Chonos or Konos.

IV. THE JEWS AT PHRYGIA

These three cities stood in an area in which there were many Jews. Many years before, Antiochus the Great had transported two thousand Jewish families from Babylon and Mesopotamia into the regions of Lydia and Phrygia.

Acts 16:6 “Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were

forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,”

Acts 18:23 “And after he had spent some time there, he departed, and went over all the country of

Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples.”

Colossians 2:1 “For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at

Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;”

So did they see Paul or not?

V. THE CHURCH AT COLOSSE

A. Not founded by Paul and had never been visited by Paul. It was the work of Epaphras,