Caught between Jewish legalism and pagan mystery religions—and evidently attracted to both—the young church in Colossae was struggling. The apostle Paul’s urgent letter to the congregation presents a singularly potent Christology as the cure for their confusion. In a companion letter to Philemon, a member of the church, Paul shows that embracing right doctrine leads to right relationships.

Richard D. Phillips’s devotional, pastoral commentary on these two letters presents a compelling view of apostolic apologetics and connects the false teaching of the past to the teaching and beliefs that surround believers on all sides today.