- Unique Facts about Colossae in light of Archaeology
- Colossians – An Inspired Book for a Small City
The Epistles to the Colossians and Philemon present themselves as divinely inspired writings, not merely personal correspondence. Internally, Paul identifies himself as “an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God” (Col. 1:1), grounding his authority in God’s calling rather than human appointment. He further explains that the gospel and the “mystery” of Christ were revealed by God (Col. 1:26), not discovered through human wisdom.
The letter’s profound presentation of Christ’s deity and supremacy (Col. 1:15–20) reflects divine revelation concerning the identity of Jesus Christ. Externally, the New Testament also affirms Paul’s authority. In 2 Peter 3:15–16, Peter places Paul’s letters alongside “the other Scriptures,” recognizing them as part of God’s inspired Word. Together, these internal and external witnesses support the historic Christian conviction that Colossians and Philemon were verbally inspired by God, without error in their original writings, and therefore serve as the supreme and final authority for faith and life.
General Process of Inspiration
God’s Spirit moved within Paul, using his personality and circumstances to formulate the Word of God. This inspired writing came in the form of a letter to the believers in Colossae.
The book of Colossians does not explicitly state, “The Holy Spirit inspired me to write this letter.” In fact, most books of the Bible do not make such a direct claim. Nevertheless, Colossians presents itself as a message carrying divine authority.
Paul also emphasizes the work of the Spirit and God’s power, speaking of the believers’ “love in the Spirit” (Colossians 1:8), praying that they would be filled with spiritual wisdom and understanding (Colossians 1:9), and declaring that he labors with God’s energy “powerfully working within me” (Colossians 1:29). Throughout the letter, Paul speaks with apostolic authority rather than offering personal opinions. For Christians, these internal claims, together with Paul’s apostolic calling and the early church’s recognition of Colossians as Scripture, provide strong reasons to understand the letter as inspired by the Holy Spirit. In these things we see words breathed out by God and not formed by human effort.
Reading Manuscripts and Letters
“And when this letter has been read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea.” (Col. 4:16). The early house churches, when possible, read the Scriptures, and by the end of the first century, Christian churches across the region practiced this regularly. During the second century, Christian communities firmly established this tradition. Christians adopted the reading of God’s Word from synagogue routines, where the public reading of the Law and the Prophets formed the center of worship (Luke 4:16–21; Acts 13:15; 15:21).
The letters of Colossians (4:21) and 1 Thessalonians (5:27), as inspired writings, helped standardize this practice. Paul also encouraged Timothy to engage in the public reading of inspired writings, which set this practice apart from preaching and teaching the Word. Later, the Council of Laodicea ruled that churches should read only Scripture during public worship.
Reading Inspired Writings
Colossians 4:16 provides one of the earliest windows into this practice. Paul did not expect his letter to remain in Colossae. He commanded the congregation to read it publicly, then exchange it with the church in Laodicea, and to read another apostolic letter in return. From the apostolic period onward, churches treated these writings as messages intended for the gathered congregation, not merely as private correspondence. Later church councils did not invent this practice; instead, they recognized the inspired writings that the church read, copied, exchanged, and treasured in Christian worship for generations.
The Council of Laodicea (364-365 AD) selected divine writings for public worship reading but excluded a letter to Laodicea. Many scholars believe the book of Ephesians served as this letter, noting its strong similarities to Colossians, written at the same time.At this council, we can see the multiple century habit of reading the Scriptures in the worship process.
Ancient Divine Writings
Archaeologists discovered the earliest surviving copy of Colossians in Egypt, not in Asia Minor where Paul originally sent the letter. This remarkable fact shows how quickly the apostles’ inspired writings spread throughout the Roman world. Churches refused to keep these letters to themselves. They copied, exchanged, read them publicly in worship, and carefully preserved them as the authoritative Word of God.
The same Mediterranean trade routes that carried merchants, ships, and ideas also carried the gospel. Artisans transported mosaic pattern books from city to city through the Roman commercial network, while Christian believers carried the inspired Scriptures from church to church. Ports such as Ephesus, Alexandria, Corinth, and Rome became gateways through which God’s Word spread across the empire. By the time scribes copied the earliest surviving papyrus of Colossians in Egypt, the letter had already traveled hundreds of miles from the believers in Colossae who first received it. Unlike mosaic patterns, which transmitted artistic designs, the Scriptures conveyed the very words Christians knew God had inspired. The churches recognized Colossians as authoritative long before later councils formally included it in the New Testament canon.
Colossae itself eventually faded into history, but the letter that Paul sent to its ordinary believers did not. Faithful believers copied, read publicly, and carefully preserved divine writings. Their efforts carried it across seas, brought it to Egypt within a few generations, and ensured that people continue to read it around the world today. Cities rise and fall, trade routes disappear, and empires collapse, but “the word of our God will stand forever” (Isaiah 40:8).
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