Atsuhiro Asano argues that the author of the letter to the Colossians helps the Christ-following community in Colossae to create and celebrate a communal memory of Christ as its head, in order to contend against both the pressure of the imperial theology and its worldview, and against the rivalry teachings of the neighbouring Jewish synagogue. The believers thus develop a locus where equality is realized under the headship of Christ between ethnic and social classes, particularly focusing on the relationship between slaves and their masters.
By employing various theories of social identity, such as social memory and liminal theory, Asano explores three main issues dealt with in the letter: a rivalry worldview presented by the Emperor worship and the imperial theology, excessive and lopsided apocalyptic experiences leading to problematic conducts, and unequal and discriminatory relationships. This book is foremost a commentary to the text of the letter to the Colossians, yet it is also designed to be a social commentary to modern society, giving a vital perspective to understand and engage in various issues commonly observed in many parts of the contemporary world.
