Colossians 2: 1 – Struggling at distance

For I want you to perceive what the struggle amounts to which I am having for your sakes and for those in Laodicea, and whoever have not seen my face in flesh

Paul had a tough battle to confront every person with the fact that they are complete in Christ. In this context he is referring to teachers who wanted to immerse the Colossians in philosophies and traditions (2:8). This danger also threatened the believers at Laodicea, a city less than twenty kilometers from Colossae. There was a lot of contact between the believers in both places (4:13,15,16).

Paul wanted his readers to know that he was waging a battle on their behalf. They had heard the Gospel from Epaphras (1:7), one who was one of them. At this time, however, he accompanied Paul into prison (4:12; Film.:23). He enthusiastically shared with him how the Good News had been received in Colossae, but also shared his concerns about the false teachings that threatened the Colossians. This was very dear to Paul’s heart, even though he did not know them personally. That actually made it harder for him to approach them insistently. You can bet that Paul weighed every word in this letter as if on a gold platter!

Delen: