Several years after the death, and resurrection of Christ, other religions cropped up. They were competing with Christianity for people’s hearts and minds. These religions notably Pagan cults and philosophies were deeply rooted in the ancient Mediterranean world. Christians were facing several struggles to keep their faith in the face of the religions that were present in the world at that time. In the city of Colosse, Christians was faced with this struggle as well, and they needed guidance.
This made Paul write them the epistle to guide them through the temptations they were going through. Colosse had been a great city of Christian faith in the past, but this was fading away with the crop of the worldly religions that were common at the time.
When Epaphras came to Rome during this time, he brought terrible news about the Christians in Colosse. He talked of how non-Christian teachings were being taught in the churches in Colosse. He said the main problem facing the Colossians was that they were combining Jewish and Gentile beliefs thus creating a teaching that did not reflect the true teachings of Christianity.
He also talked of how a Gnosticism was taking root in the Colosse community. This terrible news prompted Paul to write to the Colossians warning them to keep away from errors and look keenly at the importance of the Christian faith. In this epistle, Paul told the Colossians concentrate only on the divinity of Jesus Christ. He told them that Jesus Christ is the only Savior of mankind. Paul refuted the gnostic teachings that were spreading in Colosse by presenting Jesus as God, creator of the universe. He emphasized the importance of the cross ‘Jesus is Savior, and only by his blood we are saved.”
