The letter to the church at Colosse was a prison epistle of the apostle Paul. He also wrote Ephesians and Philemon at the same time, and they were sent by Tychicus. (Ephesians 6:21, Colossians 4:7-9, and Philemon 10-12.) The theme of the letter is the supremacy and sufficiency of Jesus Christ. As is Paul's custom, the first half of his letter (chapters 1 & 2) covers doctrine, and the last half (chapters 3-4) covers how we are to live out the truths of that doctrine. Paul covers the Mystery of the Gospel, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory, (1:27). He taught that in Christ are all treasures of wisdom and knowledge, and as believers in Christ, we are free, full, and alive in Christ. As Christians, we are to set our minds on things above, rid ourselves of sin, clothe ourselves in Christ. Paul gives relationship directions with husband and wives, parents and children, and slaves and masters. This letter has a lot in common with the letter to the Ephesians. The key verse is 2:9-10, "For in Him all the fulness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority."
