In the Apostle Paul’s letter to the saints at Colossae (1:1), he included a greeting (1:2), a thanksgiving (1:3-8), and a prayer (1:9-14).  After including these things which was customary of letters written in first century Greek culture, Paul got to the heart of the matter for which he wrote.  Evidently, the Colossian believers were being exposed to false teachers who did not give Jesus Christ pre-eminence in their belief system.  The apostle called the teaching “philosophy and empty deceit” that was not according to Christ (2:8).  It seems these religious philosophers advanced a view that people needed more than Christ in order to be saved.  Paul began right away to refute this deceitful doctrine in Colossians 1:15-20 by declaring Christ to be God; He is the Creator of the physical universe and the Head of the new creation, the church.  Therefore, Jesus Christ is all a person needs to have a perfect relationship with God.  Nothing else is needed to be completely acceptable in the sight of God!  This truth is summed up nicely in chapter 2:9-10.  For in Him all the fulness of Deity dwells in bodily form, ¹⁰ and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority (Colossians 2:9-10).