Paul’s thanksgiving prayer lays the groundwork for the rest of the letter by giving his readers a preview of the key themes of the letter. He wants the Colossians to know that he is in consistent prayer for them. This idea of consistent prayer is expressed differently depending on the translation used: “praying always for you” (KJV and NASB), “when we pray for you” (NIV and ESV). It should be noted that Paul does not mean that he is in prayer for the Colossians every moment of every day, but that he consistently prays for them. In other words, when Paul offers up his daily prayers, he always included a prayer for the Colossians. There are several reasons given for Paul’s thankfulness of the Colossian Church: faith, love, hope, and the reproducing nature of their faith in Christ.

The Church at Colossae was located in the Lycus Valley in the south-central area of what is now known as Turkey. Founded by a man named Epaphras, it was located about one hundred miles east of Ephesus. Colossae was known for its wool and dye industry. It was located along the trading route from Ephesus to the east and had become a small market town by the time of Paul. Although the town was established in an area prone to earthquakes, the city thrived. But that all changed in A.D. 60. Colossae was hit by an earthquake that most likely destroyed the city. The city is not mentioned in any Christian or pagan writings after A.D. 61 and probably was never rebuilt. The city had a large Jewish population, and the Church was a mixture of both Jews and Gentiles.