Who wrote the book of Colossians? Who was the author of Colossians?

In Colossians 1:1.23; 4:18 the Apostle Paul names himself as the author. He was in prison, as can be seen from chapter 4:3.10.18. Despite the obvious conclusion, based on a long tradition, that all the so-called "prison epistles” (i.e., the epistles to the Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon) were written during Paul's two-year imprisonment in Rome, there are more recent researchers who believe that the Epistle to the Colossians was written earlier, namely during an imprisonment not mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles. This would have been on his third journey in Ephesus. This view, however, makes a speculative impression. On the other hand, historical-critical theology denies Paul's authorship at all and ascribes the letter to an anonymous author from a later period.

In the Epistle to the Colossians, the apostle Paul does not yet speak of the hope of a soon coming release as he does in the Epistle to the Philippians. It can therefore be assumed that he wrote this epistle like the ones to the Ephesians and Philemon in the early days of his imprisonment in Rome, i.e., around 61/62 AD.

There are already hints of this in earlier church fathers, in Irenaeus (around 140 - 202) the first quotation by name from the Epistle to the Colossians. Also, Clement of Alexandria (around 150 - 215) and the Muratori Canon (end of the 2nd century) recognise it as an epistle of the apostle Paul.

We can scarcely fail to be struck with the decided and unmistakable plainness of these brief but important sentences. There is no "if, or "but, or condition of any kind. The statements are clear and absolute; and the question which at once forces itself upon the mind is, To whom were those divinely-inspired words sent? The answer is supplied by the second verse of the first chapter: "To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse." We can easily see how impossible it would be to address such soul-comforting language to the inhabitants generally of an idolatrous city. We therefore find that the persons to whom this blessed epistle was written were those in that city who were "in Christ." The first verse shows that "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God," was the inspired writer; and the second verse, that "the saints and faithful brethren in Christ at Colosse" were the persons addressed.

This is generally believed to have been written by Paul during his two years' imprisonment at Rome, A.D. 61-2, notwithstanding that Meyer and other critics refer it to the imprisonment of Paul at Caesarea. The personal glory of Christ as head of the body, the church, is specially brought out. The hope before the saints is in heaven: they are viewed as risen, but not seated in the heavenlies in Christ, as in the Epistle to the Ephesians. The life of the new man is dwelt on, but the Holy Spirit is only once mentioned: 'your love in the Spirit.'

Colossians was written by Paul about the year 62 A.D., from the Roman prison, and, as stated in the introduction to the Epistle to the Ephesians was carried by the same messenger who also received the Ephesian Epistle from the hands of the Apostle. Tychicus was this messenger (Eph. 6:21; Col. 4:7-9). There is a striking resemblance between these two Epistles, which have been called "twins." Dean Alford speaks of it as follows: "in writing both, the apostle's mind was in the same frame--full of the glories of Christ and the consequent glorious privileges of His Church, which is built on Him, and vitally knit to Him. This mighty subject, as he looked with indignation on the beggarly system of meats and drinks and hallowed days and angelic mediations to which his Colossians were being drawn down, rose before him in all its length and breadth and height, but as writing to them, he was confined to one portion of it, and to setting forth that one portion pointedly and controversially. He could not, consistently with the effect which he would produce on them, dive into the depths of the divine counsels in Christ with regard to them."

But now as to closer details. Paul was an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus joins with him in addressing the saints and faithful brethren in Christ Jesus which were at Colosse, giving the usual salutation to the assemblies of grace and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

"Paul, apostle of Jesus Christ by God's will, and Timothy the brother, to the saints and faithful brethren in Christ at Colosse: grace to you and peace from God our Father." vv. 1, 2. For himself, he was not unauthorized, nor was his title human. He was an apostle, not of the Church, but of Christ Jesus by divine will; and Timothy stands with him simply as "the brother." Again, the assembly at Colosse is characterized not only as "saints and faithful," as the Ephesians were, but as "faithful brethren." It is evident that here again, while all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, this term "brethren" brings out their relations to one another, as the others suppose God's grace and their faith if not fidelity.* His own apostolic place is named with quiet dignity and with evident appropriateness for all that follows.

This Epistle unfolds the doctrine of Christ and therefore Paul speaks of himself as an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God; Timotheus is spoken of as a brother. In addressing the Philippians, the apostle spoke of himself and of Timotheus as servants and did not mention his apostleship at all. In addressing the Colossians, when error is to be refuted and truth to be revealed, he uses his title as apostle. He addresses them as saints and faithful brethren in Christ and the precious greeting to such whom God has separated from evil and unto Himself follows: "Grace be unto you and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." Grace and peace belonged to them, as it belongs to all who are in Christ. Their state could not affect what God has bestowed upon them in His Son.

Col. 1:1-2. Paul, formerly a bitter persecutor but now an apostle (a specially inspired messenger with authority to establish Churches and to make full provision for their instruction and government) of Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, Creator and Upholder of all things, who became incarnate and by His atoning death made provision for the redemption of all mankind, and who, as risen from the dead and ascended on high, has sent forth the Holy Spirit to form His Church and to unite them to Himself as Head, and who is coming again to receive them and all His people to Himself; by the will of God, and therefore not subject to human authority, nor going at his own charges or of his own volition; and Timotheus, as present at the time of writing and identified, not in authority, but fellowship with the epistle; our brother, not indeed according to the flesh, but in those divine ties which are eternal.

Commencing as an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, just as he had done when writing his letter to the Ephesians, Paul here joins Timothy with him as a brother in his salutation to the saints and faithful brethren in Christ in Colosse. In no two epistles does he begin in quite the same way. Evidently with him there was no conventional form nor set phraseology. He wrote as guided of God, the penman of the Holy Ghost. An evidence of this we have in the form of his apostolic greeting, which in this one only of all his epistles is from God the Father without the addition, though scribes have appended it, of the "Lord Jesus Christ."*

Colossians 1:1 and 2. As there is something peculiar in the opening address of every epistle, so there is in this - an apostle, by the sovereign will of God. Timothy is "the brother." They might have stood together as "servants" (or slaves) of Jesus Christ, as in the epistle to the Philippians; but not as apostles. But Timothy here is (implying special designation to the Colossians) "the brother."