This congregation, like many in the area, was a mixture of both Jews
and Gentiles with the Gentiles
being the larger group. Colossae lay on a very important trade route
andgoods had traveled both
ways for many years, along with religious ideas. Syncretism is probably
the best word to
describe the general religious belief of that area in the first century.
This means it was a mixture of
both the eastern mystical religions and the religions of both the Greeks
and Romans, plus a little
mixture of the Jewish religion. It was a religion based mainly on emotions,
fear, superstitions and not
much thought. Add to this mixture the philosophy of the ancient world,
without new thought being added,
and you had a dualist, gnostic people.
To all of this, Christianity was beginning to grow in the
area and many fears and superstitions had to be
overcome. Paul, of course, was concerned that the new Christians would
drill back into this sad religious
state, so he gave them warnings to remain true in the Word of God.
"Be not moved away from the hope of
the gospel" (Colossians 1:23). This epistle was to make them aware
that there were those who would try
and beguile them, turning them back into the world. Paul warned against
philosophy, vain deceits tradition
of men and even angel worship. May we be warned as well that these
dangers are still in our world!