Which epistles are grouped together as prison epistles?
Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians are grouped together as prison epistles. Colossians is noted for correcting Gnosticism and angelic worship, bringing believers back online. These epistles are part of a second step up, emphasizing grace and positional acceptance in the Beloved.
Les explains that Colossians is another prison epistle, part of the second step up, along with Ephesians and Philippians. He notes the Colossians had problems with Gnosticism and were trying to enter into the realms of angelic beings, so the letter corrected them and brought them back online. Earlier, he emphasized that grace is the means by which believers are accepted in the Beloved, and that this is all by God's grace, not our own merit.