Definition

1. Proper noun:
   • A book of the New Testament: "Colossians" refers to the twelfth book of the New Testament in the Christian Bible, presented as an epistle (letter) written by the Apostle Paul.
   • The Epistle to the Colossians: It is specifically a letter addressed to the Christian church in the ancient city of Colossae, located in the region of Phrygia (in modern-day Turkey).

Usage Examples

• Proper noun:
  • The pastor's sermon was based on a passage from Colossians.
  • In Colossians, Paul emphasizes the supremacy of Christ.
  • She is studying the themes of forgiveness and grace in the Book of Colossians.

Advanced Usage

• "The Colossian heresy": A term used by biblical scholars to refer to the specific false teachings or syncretic beliefs that Paul was countering in his letter to the Colossians.
  • Paul's arguments in Colossians are directed against the Colossian heresy.

Variants and Related Words

• Colossae (Proper noun): The name of the ancient Phrygian city to which the epistle was addressed.
• Colossian (Adjective): Pertaining to Colossae or the Epistle to the Colossians.
  • The Colossian church was a young Christian community.

Synonyms

• The Epistle to the Colossians: The full formal title of the book.
• The Letter to the Colossians: A common alternative name.

Notes on Meaning

• As a proper noun, "Colossians" almost exclusively refers to this specific biblical book. It is not used with an indefinite article ("a Colossians"). It is typically used with the definite article "the" when referring to the book itself (e.g., "the Book of Colossians").

Noun

1. a New Testament book containing an epistle from Saint Paul to the Colossians in ancient Phrygia