Colosso was an important city in Asia Minor, not far from Laodicea and Hierapolis. The church there had been planted by Epaphras, perhaps during Paul’s residence at Ephesus. The Apostle, apparently, had not visited it himself, 2:1, but was deeply interested in it through the report of his friend.

This Epistle was written during Paul’s imprisonment at Rome, 1:24; 4:18, and apparently about the same time as those to the Ephesians and Philemon; for the three letters were sent by the hands of the same persons, Tychicus and Onesimus, 4:7, 9; Eph. 6:21, 22. The Church was suffering from the teaching of a false philosophy which combined Oriental mysticism with Jewish ritualism, and turned the disciples from simple faith in Christ. The object of this Epistle, therefore, is to set forth the majesty and glory of our Lord’s person and character.