Why did Paul write Colossians?

Paul wrote Colossians to correct the Colossian believers who were drifting into Gnosticism and trying to enter the realms of angelic beings. The letter was needed to bring them back online, restoring them to the truth of their position in Christ.

Les teaches that Colossians is one of the prison epistles, grouped with Ephesians and Philippians during the second step up. The Colossian believers had problems: they were going into Gnosticism and attempting to enter the realms of angelic beings. So Colossians had to correct them and bring them back online. This correction aligns with the earlier emphasis on grace—believers are positionally accepted in the Beloved, in Christ, by His grace, not through mystical speculation or angelic access.

Colossians 3

What problem was the church at Colossae dealing with?

The church at Colossae was dealing with a drift into Gnosticism, as members sought to enter into the realms of angelic beings and so forth. This error required correction, bringing them back online to the truth they had been taught.