Greek & English Title of the Books
The Greek title of the book of Colossians in the Bible is Προς Κολοσσαείς (Pros Kolossēis), which translates to "to the Colossians".
The Greek title of the book of Philemon in the Bible is Philḗmōn (Φιλήμων) which translates to “To Philemon”.
Authorship and Setting Traditional View
Both letters are conventionally believed to have been written by Paul during his imprisonment in Rome (approximately between 60-62 AD). The letters themselves claim that the author of the letters was Paul within the first verse: “From Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,” (Colossians 1:1) and “' From Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon, our dear friend and colaborer,” (Philemon 1:1).
Most of the contemporary critical scholars are of the opinion that Colossians was not written by Paul but by one of his followers in the 70-80s CE. They claim that Colossians has a different style and theology from the other letters of Paul, the following: more developed Christology and different vocabulary and style, concerns of a later church, and a different eschatological perspective. However, it is impossible to make a decision based on what Paul “would” or “would not” have written and, importantly, no doctrine in Colossians is contrary to what Paul wrote in his other letters. Nevertheless, there are many Colossians and Paul’s letters have many similarities in terms of style and theology. The early Church Fathers, including Irenaeus, Tertullian, Clement of Alexandria, and Justin, all unanimously supported Pauline authorship. Although there are some unique features and expressions in Colossians (with a clear resemblance to Ephesians), these are in line with Paul dealing with certain heresies in a certain region and using terms familiar to the heretics. Some people have suggested that Timothy, who is co-author or secretary according to the introduction of both letters, may be the reason for some differences in the style. Furthermore, the doubts concerning the authorship of Ephesian, which is sometimes denied to be of Paul, may have contributed to the scholars’ doubts regarding Colossians due to the similarity between the two letters. The letter of Philemon, which is widely considered to be a genuine letter, also supports the authorship of Colossians by Paul.
The authorship of Philemon has not been called into question as it is a private letter and has a rather different tone. Paul addressed his letter to Philemon, a Christian and the owner of a slave in the same city, while the author was in prison (v. 1, 9-10, 13). It is believed that he wrote Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and Philemon during his imprisonment in Rome. From AD 60-61 he was under house arrest in guarded accommodation in Rome (Acts 28:30).
History of Interpretation
The interpretation of Colossians and Philemon has changed over the years. The early Church Fathers such as Origen and Augustine also understood the significance of these letters and discussed matters such as the divinity of Christ and the Christian relationships. These letters were used by the magisterial Reformers such as Martin Luther and John Calvin to develop the concept of grace and social morality. Luther stressed the deity of Christ and Calvin on the practicalities of Christian living.
The Christological hymn in Colossians (1:15-20), which describes Christ as the image of the invisible God and the creator of all things, was of great significance in the formation of early Christian theology and Christological theories. During the medieval period, the focus was on the cosmic position of Christ and the hierarchy of the church, with bishops being the representatives of Christ’s power. Current focuses include the “Colossian heresy,” the relation to Ephesians, and the evolution of early Christianity. Despite the fact that these letters are significant in the theological, ethical, and social aspects of early Christianity, they still remain important for the development of Christian doctrine and its application in real life.
The history of the interpretation of Philemon has been rather complex, particularly concerning the issue of slavery. This letter has been used to support different positions on the institution of slavery over the years. During the antebellum period in the United States, some used Philemon to justify slavery, arguing that Paul’s language revealed slavery as an acceptable part of the social order and that his suggestion that Philemon should treat Onesimus as a brother did not necessarily mean that he was calling for the end of the slave master-slave relationship. On the other hand, the abolitionists saw Philemon as a potent weapon for liberation, focusing on Paul’s call to Philemon to receive Onesimus with love and as an equal, which they saw as a challenge to the institution of slavery. Others have seen it as a proof of how Christianity can bring about changes in society, showing that people of different social status should be treated with respect. This perspective reveals the potential of Christian ethics to foster kindness and fairness in people’s interactions.
As for Philemon, the interpretation is not a controversial one given that nobody has ever questioned the authorship of the letter or its structure. However, the historical background of the letter is still under discussion. Among the issues of concern is the unity of Colossians and whether the letter was written as a whole or developed from different sources. Others have pointed out that the sharp changes in the mood and the manner of speaking suggest that there were two authors. The problem of the debate is, in turn, linked to the following parameters: the language of Colossians, which has 34% of its vocabulary that is different from that of the other letters; the style, which is more intricate and includes longer sentences than the other Pauline epistles; and the theology, which has a more developed Christology and ecclesiology. All these elements are still under discussion and are relevant to the discussion about the authenticity of the text.
Critical Issues
Despite general acceptance of both letters' authenticity, some critics question the historical context of the letters. Those debates reveal the problems of deciphering ancient texts and using them to make conclusions about early Christian communities. Scholars have noted that Colossians is a unified letter, and the question is whether it is one work or a collection of works. Some have pointed out that the changes in the tone and the structure of the two letters are evidence that they were written by different authors. The authenticity debate is based on three main aspects: The language of the Colossians, which has 34 verbalities that are only found in this letter; the style, which is characterized by longer and more complex periodic sentences than the other letters of Paul; and the theology, which has an advanced Christology and ecclesiology. These factors are still being discussed and written about regarding the actual authorship of the text and its origins.
Philemon is widely recognized as a standalone letter with no controversy surrounding its authorship or structure. Still, the historical background of the letter remains a subject of discussion. Some of the issues include: Onesimus' status in the law and whether is he a slave or in a different position under Roman law, the nature of his offense (possibly theft, running away, or some other offense), and the exact nature of Paul's request to Philemon, which could be for forgiveness, emancipation of Onesimus or otherwise. Also, the place of Paul's imprisonment is not well established and could be Rome, Ephesus, or Caesarea. These questions still raise questions on the social, legal, and theological implications of the letter in the early Christian community.
Annotated Structure of the Epistle
Colossians:
Greetings, Prayers, and a Hymn to Christ (1:1-23)
Paul extends his greetings to the believers in Colossae and expresses his gratitude to the positive reports he receives about the Colossian Christians. He offers a prayer that they will continue to honor the Lord and remain steadfast in their faith in Christ. Verses 15-20 are believed to be an early Christian hymn that outlines the identity and accomplishments of Jesus.
~ A Prayer of Thanks (1:3–8)
~ The Person and Work of Christ (1:9–23)
Paul Teaches the Truth about Christ (1:24–2:23)
Paul warns the Colossians against being deceived by false teachers who were attempting to lead them into following certain rituals, observing specific feasts, or worshipping stars and angels. He asserts that such false teachings no longer have any power over those who have "died with Christ.”
~ Paul’s Service to the Church (1:24–2:5)
~ Christ Brings Real Life (2:6–19)
~ Christ Brings New Life (2:20-23)
Living the New Life in Christ (3:1-4:6)
Paul urges the Colossians to understand the significance of being raised to new life with Christ. This transformation will influence how they live together as God's people. This part also offers guidance on family life and the relationship between slaves and masters.
~ Some Rules for Christian Living (3:18–4:6)
Final Greetings and Advice (4:7-18)
Paul shares that he will send his companions to update the Colossians on what has been happening to him. He also sends greetings from other believers who are with him and whom the Colossian Christians know.
Philemon:
Greetings and a Prayer for Philemon (1-3)
Paul extends his greetings to Philemon and the members of the church that gathers in Philemon's home. As is customary in many of his letters, Paul follows his greeting with a prayer for Christ's blessing of peace.
Message to Philemon about His Slave, Onesimus (4-22)
Paul now addresses the main reason for his letter. He informs Philemon that he is returning Onesimus, a slave who had fled from Philemon's household. Since Onesimus has been of great assistance to Paul and has become like a son to him, Paul hopes that Philemon will welcome Onesimus back as a fellow believer in the Lord. Paul even offers to compensate Philemon for any money Onesimus might have taken.
~ Philemon’s Love and Faith (4-7)
~ Paul Speaks to Philemon about Onesimus (8-22)
Final Greetings and a Prayer (23–25)
Paul ends his letter by extending greetings on behalf of several fellow believers who were with him in prison.
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