Background of Colossians
 Colossae
was located twelve miles from Laodicea and about a hundred miles east
of Ephesus in the valley of the Lycus River.
Colossae was on the main trade route and had a diverse population of Greeks,
Jews and Phrygians.
The mixture of backgrounds made the city an interesting cultural
center where all sorts of new ideas and doctrines from the East were discussed
and considered.
Because of these ungodly influences, the Colossian church was faced with
the creeping influence of false teaching. Paul’s letter stresses
the true gospel: Jesus is absolutely central.
The Colossian church was founded by Epaphras, one of Paul’s converts.
Paul’s letter was written from prison around 62 A.D.
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