The following outline on Colossians is taken from the ESV STUDY BIBLE.
I.Greeting (Colossians 1:1, 2)
II.Thanksgiving (Colossians 1:3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
III.Prayer (Colossians 1:9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
IV.Praise to Christ (Colossians 1:15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
A.Christ is Lord of creation (Colossians 1:15, 16, 17)
B.Christ is Lord of redemption (Colossians 1:18, 19, 20)
V.Reconciliation of the Colossians to God (Colossians 1:21, 22, 23)
VI.The Apostle Paul's Labor for the Gospel (1:24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29; Colossians 2:1, 2, 3)
A.Paul's suffering and stewardship of the mystery (Colossians 1:24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
B.Paul's labor for the Colossians (Colossians 1:29; Colossians 2:1, 2, 3)
VII.The Dangerous Teaching at Colossae (Colossians 2:4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16. 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
A.Warning about a deceptive teaching (Colossians 2:4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
B.Help for the danger: resources in Christ (Colossians 2:9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
C.Additional warnings about the teaching (Colossians 2:16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
VIII.The Proper Focus: Christ and the Life Above (Colossians 3:1, 2, 3, 4)
IX.Instructions on Living the Christian Life (Colossians 3:5–4:6)
A.Dealing with the sins of the past (Colossians 3:5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
B.Putting on the virtues of Christ (Colossians 3:12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
C.Living in the Christian household (Colossians 3:18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25; 4:1)
D.Persistence in prayer (Colossians 4:2, 3, 4)
E.Good behavior toward those outside the community (Colossians 4:5, 6)
X.Personal Greetings and Instructions (Colossians 4:7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
A.Remarks about the messengers carrying the letter (Colossians 4:7, 8, 9)
B.Greetings from Paul's associates (Colossians 4:10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
C.Greetings to the Christians in Laodicea (Colossians 4:15, 16, 17)
XI.Letter Closing (Colossians 4:18)
