the Third Week of Advent
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Bible Commentaries
Abbott's Illustrated New Testament Abbott's NT
Preeminence of Christ; Paul's Ministry.Chapter 2
Freedom from Legalism; Fullness in Christ.Chapter 3
New Life in Christ; Relationships.Chapter 4
Prayer and Conduct; Final Greetings.
- Colossians
by John & Jacob Abbott
WHILE Paul was suffering the imprisonment at Rome spoken of at the close of the book of the Acts, he availed himself of the opportunity afforded by the journey of Tychicus, who conveyed the Epistle to the Ephesians to its destination, to write also to two other churches of Asia Minor, namely, those of Colosse and Laodicea. (Colossians 4:16.) These places were near each other, some distance east of Ephesus. Paul had not personally visited these churches. (Colossians 2:1.) Epaphras is mentioned (Colossians 1:7) as their minister. In the exhortations and instructions which the Epistle contains, it resembles that addressed to the Ephesians, which was sent by the same conveyance. Onesimus, the servant of Philemon, who appears to have lived at Colosse, returned at the same time, (Colossians 4:9) bearing the letter which Paul wrote to his master, known in the sacred canon as the Epistle to Philemon.
