Colossians 1:1-4:18

I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you. (Colossians 4:18)

As he writes to the Christians at Colossae, Paul the Apostle is captive somewhere. In this particular chronological arrangement the editors agree with the assumption that Paul is in Rome. What Paul writes lends credence to this assumption. He writes from the perspective of a mature faith. He writes about universal, cosmic topics, and he writes to give practical advice to the Christian community at Colossae. 

Then, too, Paul is in chains. At the close of the Bible's book of Acts, Paul is in Rome, waiting for his trial to come before Caesar. But he is preaching the good news to anyone and everyone who will listen. He is chained in the Roman system of justice, and he is chained to the cause of Christ.