I. Salutation and Thanksgiving (1:1–23)
A. Salutation (1:1–2)
B. Thanksgiving (1:3–23)
1. Thanksgiving for the Reception of the Gospel in Colosse and the Whole World (1:3–8)
2. Paul’s Intercession for the Colossians (1:9–23)
a. Living a Life Worthy of the Lord (1:9–14)
b. Poetic Exaltation of Christ (1:15–20)
(1) The Image of the Invisible God, the Firstborn over all Creation (1:15–17)
(2) The Head of the Church, the Firstborn from Among the Dead (1:18–20)
c. Remaining Firm and Established in the Faith (1:21–23)
II. Letter Body (1:24–2:23)
A. Paul’s Commission, Message, and Struggle (1:24–2:5)
B. The Colossian Error (2:6–23)
1. Theme Statement: Loyalty to Christ As Lord (2:6–7)
2. First Warning (2:8)
3. The All-Sufficiency of Christ (2:9–15)
4. Rebuttal of the Errorist’s Position (2:16–23)
a. Second Warning (2:16–17)
(1) The Issues Used to Condemn Others: Food, Drink, Feasts, New Moons, Sabbaths (2:16)
(2) Paul’s Evaluation: They Are Only Shadows of a Reality Already Here (2:17)
b. Third Warning (2:18–19)
(1) The Issues Used to Disqualify Others: Self-abasement, Worship of Angels, and Visions (2:18a–b)
(2) Paul’s Evaluation: They Lead to Arrogance and Separation from the Head (2:18c–19)
c. Rhetorical Question and Answer (2:20–23)
III. Ethical Admonitions (3:1–4:6)
A. Setting Your Hearts on the Things Above (3:1–4)
B. The Old and the New Morality (3:5–17)
1. The Vices of the Old Morality That Need to Be Renounced (3:5–9)
3. The Virtues of the New Morality That Need to Be Embraced (3:12–14)
4. The New Worship (3:15–17)
C. Commands About the Household (3:18–4:1)
1. Wives and Husbands (3:18–19)
2. Children and Parents (3:20–21)
3. Slaves and Masters (3:22–4:1)
D. Commands for Unflagging Prayer and Wise Behavior (4:2–6)
IV. Final Greetings (4:7–18)
A. Introduction of the Bearers of the Letter: Tychicus and Onesimus (4:7–9)
B. Greetings from Paul’s Associates (4:10–14)
C. Greetings to Other Christians in the Area (4:15–17)
D. Salutation from Paul’s Own Hand (4:18)