Lexical Summary Kolossai: Colossae Original Word: Κολοσσαί Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Colosse. Apparently feminine plural of kolossos ("colossal"); Colossae, a place in Asia Minor -- Colosse. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originappar. akin to kolossos (a colossus, a huge statue) Definition Colossae, a city in Phrygia NASB Translation Colossae (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 2857: ΚολασσαίΚολασσαί, see Κολοσσαί. STRONGS NT 2857: ΚολοσσαίΚολοσσαί (R T WH, the classical form), and Κολασσαί (Rst L Tr, apparently the later popular form; (see WH. Introductory § 423,and especially Lightfoots Commentary on Colossians, p. 16f); cf. Winers Grammar, p. 44; and on the plural Winer's Grammar, § 27, 3), Κολοσσων, αἱ, Colossae, anciently a large and flourishing city, but in Strabo's time a πόλισμα (i. e. small town (Lightfoot)) of Phrygia Major situated on the Lycus, not far from its junction with the Maeander, and in the neighborhood of Laodicea and Hierapolis (Herodotus 7, 30; Xenophon, an. 1, 2, 6; Strabo 12, 8, 13, p. 576; Pliny, h. n. 5, 41), together with which cities it was destroyed by an earthquake (about) Colossae stood in the Lycus River valley of Phrygia in south-western Asia Minor (modern Turkey), roughly 190 kilometers east of Ephesus and in close proximity to Laodicea and Hierapolis (Colossians 4:13). The city lay on the main trade route linking the Aegean coast with the Anatolian interior, benefiting from commerce in dyed wool and textiles. Its fertile surroundings and strategic position fostered a diverse, cosmopolitan population that included Greeks, Romans, Jews, and indigenous Phrygians. Historical Background Founded long before the Persian period, Colossae was once prominent, but by New Testament times it had declined in stature, eclipsed by flourishing Laodicea. Earthquakes were common in the Lycus valley; a catastrophic tremor in the first century likely contributed to Colossae’s further waning. Roman administrative reforms eventually merged the territory into the province of Asia, maintaining its municipal status but never restoring its earlier glory. Biblical Occurrence and Context The city is named once in the Greek text, in the salutation of Paul’s epistle: “To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace and peace to you from God our Father” (Colossians 1:2). Though the letter is addressed to the believers there, internal evidence (Colossians 2:1; 4:15–16) indicates that Paul had not personally visited the city; rather, he wrote while under house arrest in Rome (Acts 28:30–31), dispatching the epistle by Tychicus and Onesimus (Colossians 4:7–9). The Church at Colossae Epaphras, “our beloved fellow servant” (Colossians 1:7), evangelized Colossae during Paul’s extended ministry in Ephesus (Acts 19:10). Meeting likely in the home of Philemon (Philemon 2), the congregation consisted of Gentile and Jewish believers (Colossians 2:16). Paul commends their “faith in Christ Jesus and the love you have for all the saints” (Colossians 1:4) while addressing doctrinal confusion brought by syncretistic teaching that mingled ritual observances, speculative philosophy, and angel-cult veneration (Colossians 2:8, 18). Theological Themes Highlighted Through Colossae 1. Christ’s Pre-eminence: Paul presents the loftiest Christology in the Pauline corpus—“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation” (Colossians 1:15). Colossae in Early Christian Ministry and Missions Colossae’s church illustrates the effectiveness of localized evangelism led by indigenous workers like Epaphras. Paul’s partnership model—training disciples in a major center (Ephesus), then dispatching them to surrounding towns—demonstrates a reproducible missionary strategy (2 Timothy 2:2). The inclusion of Onesimus, a fugitive slave turned believer (Colossians 4:9; Philemon 10–12), testifies to the gospel’s social ramifications, challenging entrenched cultural norms without violent upheaval. Lessons for the Contemporary Church • Guard the gospel’s purity by exalting Christ above competing philosophies. Archaeological and Later Historical Notes Unlike neighboring Laodicea, Colossae remains largely unexcavated, leaving its streets, public buildings, and possible synagogue undisclosed. Byzantine records imply a continued Christian presence until at least the eighth century. The site’s relative obscurity today mirrors its New Testament portrait: a modest community entrusted with a profound revelation of Christ’s supremacy. Summary Though mentioned only once by name in the Greek New Testament, Colossae occupies a pivotal place in apostolic teaching. The letter addressed to its believers offers an enduring proclamation of the sufficiency of Christ and models a gospel-driven community whose impact outlived the city’s political and economic fortunes. |
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