Most evangelicals hold that the Apostle Paul is the author of Colossians 3:12 because Colossians is one of the letters in the New Testament traditionally attributed to Paul. Below is a concise evangelical summary about that author and the immediate context for the verse.

Who wrote Colossians 3:12 (evangelical view)
– Author: The Apostle Paul. The letter opens with the usual Pauline salutation (“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus…”), and the early church accepted Colossians as Paul’s writing and included it in the canon.
– Occasion and setting: Colossians is usually dated to Paul’s first Roman imprisonment (around AD 60–62). It is one of the “prison epistles” (along with Ephesians, Philippians, Philemon). Paul writes to the church in Colossae in Asia Minor, addressing theological errors and encouraging holy living grounded in Christ.
– Local leaders: Paul likely did not found the Colossian church personally; Epaphras is named as the local founder and a key contact (Colossians 1:7; 4:12–13). Timothy is mentioned as a coworker in the letter (Colossians 1:1; 4:7–9).

Paul — brief evangelical portrait
– Background: Born Saul of Tarsus, a Jew of the tribe of Benjamin, trained as a Pharisee (Philippians 3:5; Acts). He fiercely persecuted the early church until his conversion on the road to Damascus (Acts 9), after which he became the chief missionary and teacher to the Gentiles.
– Ministry: Traveled on several missionary journeys, planted churches across Asia Minor and Greece, and wrote many of the New Testament epistles. He emphasized salvation by grace through faith, union with Christ, the lordship of Christ, and practical Christian ethics rooted in new identity.
– Authorship and authority: Evangelicals affirm Paul’s apostleship and believe his letters are inspired Scripture (2 Timothy 3:16). Colossians is read as authoritative teaching from an apostle under the Holy Spirit’s guidance.

Why evangelicals attribute Colossians to Paul
– Internal testimony: The letter names Paul as the author and bears Pauline features—first‑person references, personal greetings, theological emphases.
– Theological and linguistic affinity: Colossians shares vocabulary, themes (union with Christ, the supremacy of Christ, ethical exhortation arising from new life), and pastoral concerns with other undisputed Pauline letters.
– Early church acceptance: The church fathers and the early Christian community accepted Colossians as Pauline and included it in canonical collections.
– Historical fit: The letter’s content and references (Timothy, Epaphras, Paul’s circumstances) fit the known pattern of Paul’s prison letters.

Context of Colossians 3:12 and Paul’s pastoral purpose
– Colossians 3:1–4 sets the theological foundation: believers are “raised with Christ,” so they are to seek the things above. Verses 8–17 and especially 3:12–14 give ethical exhortations that flow from that identity.
– Colossians 3:12 (ESV paraphrase): “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.” Paul is urging Christians to practice virtues that reflect the new identity God has given them in Christ.
– Pastoral thrust: For Paul, doctrine and ethics are inseparable—right belief about who Christ is and who believers are in him produces transformed behavior and community life.

A note on critical scholarship
– Some modern scholars question Pauline authorship of Colossians (proposing a later follower or Pauline school author) based on stylistic or theological differences with other letters. Evangelicals typically respond that differences can be explained by situational concerns, the letter’s genre/time of writing, collaborators, or the natural range of an author’s style, and they continue to affirm Paul as the inspired author.

Practical application emphasized by Paul (evangelical perspective)
– The virtues commanded in 3:12 are grounded in God’s choosing, holiness, and love. Paul’s pastoral instruction calls believers to “put on” attitudes and behaviors that manifest Christlikeness in the life of the church and the world.

If you’d like, I can:
– Provide a brief biography of Paul with key chronological markers;
– Give a verse-by-verse commentary of Colossians 3:1–17 from a conservative evangelical commentator;
– Summarize the arguments for and against Pauline authorship in more detail.