Heidegger's Bible Handbook: Colossians: Inscription

1. The Epistle is inscribed to the Colossians. Colossæ was a city of Phrygia Pacatiana in Asia Minor. It was sometimes called Χώνα/Chonæ. They were converted, not by Saint Paul, but by others. This Epistle was also intended for the Laodiceans.

This Epistle was written τοῖς ἐν Κολοσσαῖς ἁγίοις καὶ πιστοῖς ἀδελφοῖς ἐν Χριστῷ, to the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which ar at Collose, Colossians 1:2. Who they were, and where they dwelt among the peoples, the opinion of all is not united. Nevertheless, to many it appears that Colossæ was a city of Phrygia Pacatiana in Asia Minor, near to Laodicea and Hierapolis, Colossians 2:1; 4:13. Already of old Chrysostom, Œcumenius, and Jerome so thought, and also all of the most learned recent men. Theophylact mentions that in his time that city was called Χῶνας/Chonæ. Now, the Colossians were not converted by Paul, since they were never seen by him, Colossians 2:1, otherwise than Gentianus Hervetus, the Interpreter of Theodoret,[1] and others also think; but, according to the teaching of Paul, by Archippus, Onesimus, Tychicus, Epaphroditus, and especially Epaphras. Moreover, although this Epistle was inscribed to the Colossians alone, the same work was also intended for the Laodiceans, as it is gathered out of Colossians 4:15.

[1] Gentianus Gervetus (1499-1584) was a French Romand Catholic theologian and Patristic scholar. He attended the Council of Trent, and was active against Calvinism.