The Epistle to the Colossians

This class looks at the Epistle to the Colossians. One of the so-called ‚Äúprison letters‚Äù written by St. Paul, it was composed while he was incarcerated in Rome. In this brief letter, Paul instructs the Christians in Colossae on many important matters: the nature of Christ, the role of the Law, and the behavior appropriate to a Christian community. Though he had never visited Colossae, Paul’s active interest in their well-being and correct understanding of the faith is reflected in the warmth of the epistle and his emphasis on clarifying ‚Äúthe truth of the gospel.‚Äù The class meets on the fifth floor.

Midway through the second chapter, St. Paul emphasizes to the community in Colossae that other religious practices are “a shadow of things to come” and thus only provisional. He warns them off from false teachers and implores them to maintain their faith in Christ alone. Since they are “risen with Christ” they should “seek those things which are above.”

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