Who Wrote Colossians? And Does It Matter?

Not everyone gets excited about biblical authorship debates. Fair enough. But sometimes, asking who wrote what can open up something important—maybe even beautiful.

Recently, I spoke about the letter to the Colossians, one of the so-called disputed letters of Paul. Some scholars doubt that Paul himself wrote it. The language, they argue, is too poetic, too cosmic, too polished to be Paul. But for me, that critique doesn't diminish the letter. In fact, it deepens my appreciation for how early Christians worshipped, shared ideas, and expressed their faith.

What if Paul wasn't composing every word? What if he was quoting hymns, poetry, or worship songs already shaping the community? What if those cosmic lines were the actual liturgy of the church, embedded in his letters? Whether Paul authored every phrase or was shaped by the same worship we now read, the heart of the message remains: this faith stretches from the cosmos all the way to how we treat our neighbors.

The Letters and the Labels

There are thirteen letters ascribed to Paul in the New Testament. Of those, seven are "undisputed": Romans, 1 & 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Philippians, 1 Thessalonians, and Philemon. Most scholars agree these were written by Paul himself.

Then there are three known as the "pastoral epistles"—1 & 2 Timothy and Titus—which are often considered pseudepigraphal. That means they might have been written by a disciple of Paul, later in the first century, in Paul's name. But this wasn't deception; it was a common literary practice meant to faithfully represent the teachings of a revered figure.

The remaining three—Ephesians, Colossians, and 2 Thessalonians—are sometimes called the "disputed" or "deutero-Pauline" letters. Here, opinions vary more widely.

Personal Cards on the Table

I’m open to, though not fully convinced by, the pseudepigraphal arguments regarding the pastoral epistles. But I find the case against Pauline authorship of Ephesians and Colossians much weaker.

Take Colossians 1:15-23—the passage we’re focusing on in our series. It's exactly this section that fuels much of the authorship debate. The argument goes: it's too cosmic, too poetic, too developed. And yes, it does feel different. But what if that’s the point?

What if Paul was quoting the worship of the early church—lifting language already being sung in homes and gatherings—to ground the theology he was communicating? We've seen this before.

Old Songs, New Light

Years ago, we did a series called The Old Songs, exploring biblical passages that may have been early Christian hymns. Ephesians 2 speaks of peace and unity in language that feels lifted. Philippians 2 offers a poetic vision of Christ's humility and exaltation. Hebrews opens with a cosmic Christology that reads like a hymn.

These passages stretch higher than their surrounding texts. They soar with grandeur. And they often carry a rhythm, a cadence, that suggests they were meant to be recited, even sung.

This is how language works. I speak differently when I pray, when I quote someone I admire, when I aim to inspire. We use elevated language when we need to reach beyond ourselves. It's not deceptive. It's human. It's sacred.

And religion is at its best when our highest ideals about the universe crash into how we treat our neighbor. That’s what Colossians offers us.

The Vocabulary Argument

Another argument against Pauline authorship is the vocabulary. About 30% of the words in Colossians don’t appear in Paul’s other letters. But that could be due to dictation. Paul often used an amanuensis—someone who wrote as he spoke. Timothy might have been that person here, possibly influencing the vocabulary.

Also, topic dictates language. I ran a lexical analysis of my own sermons: in this sermon alone, I used 22% unique words compared to the last series—and that’s including a recap! Without that recap, the number jumps to 26%.

Colossians is just 1,500 words. That small sample size makes any shift more pronounced. And, maybe Paul was just better at being concise than I am.

So Where Does That Leave Us?

Personally, I don’t find the arguments against Pauline authorship of Colossians particularly convincing. More importantly, I find the theology within deeply resonant with Paul’s larger vision. Yes, it’s broader. Yes, it’s more cosmic. But it's also grounded in the same Christ who meets us in humility, who binds communities together, and who calls us to neighbor-love.

Whether Paul wrote it all, quoted others, or collaborated with his community, the letter remains a beautiful artifact of faith. One that lifts our eyes upward—so we might see more clearly how to live with those beside us.