Colossians, Philemon, and Ephesians Sent Simultaneously (Plus the Letter to the Laodecians?)

COLOSSIANS, PHILEMON, AND EPHESIANS SENT

SIMULTANEOUSLY  (plus the letter to the Laodecians?)

Virgil Warren, PhD

1.     All come from an imprisonment: Ephesians 3:1; 4:1; Colossians 4:3, 18; Philemon 1, 9-10

2.   The subject matter and style of language in Colossians and Ephesians are closer than any other two epistles of Paul.

      a.  Household teaching: Ephesians 5:21-6:9; Colossians 3:18-4:1

      b.  Putting the members to death

3.   The bearers are connected.          

                                                                     6:21  Ephesians

                          Tychicus

                                                                     4:7  Colossians  4:9

                                                                                                               Onesimus

                                                                          Philemon  10                                    

4.   The destinations are near one another: Philemon (from Colossae)  and

      Colossians and Ephesians  (= Epistle to the Laodiceans?).

5.   Greetings come from several of the same people:

                     Ephesians                          Colossians                            Philemon 

                     Paul                                   Paul                                      Paul

                                                               Timothy                               Timothy

                     Tychicus  6:21                  Tychicus 4: 7                      

                                                               Onesimus 4:9                       Onesimus  10

                                                               Aristarchus 4:10                  Aristarchus 24

                                                               Mark 4:10                            Mark 24

                                                               Barnabas 4:10                     

                                                               Jesus Justus 4:11

                                                               Epaphras 1:7; 4:12               Epaphras  23

                                                                  labored in Hier-

                                                                  apolis, Colossae,

                                                                  and Laodecia:4:13

                                                               Luke 4:14                             Luke  24

                                                               Demas 4:14                          Demas  24

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