Final answer:
The correct option is 2. The book of Colossians in the New Testament does not directly oppose Paul, Gentiles, or marriage; it instead provides guidance to early Christians. Early Christian teachings, like those in the Epistle and the Acts of Thecla, challenged Roman societal norms and familial obligations.
Step-by-step explanation:
The book of Colossians within the New Testament is often interpreted as opposing certain practices and ideologies of the times, but it does not specifically oppose the apostle Paul, Gentiles, or marriage. In fact, Colossians is traditionally attributed to Paul himself, although some modern scholars question the authorship. The epistle addresses early Christians, providing guidance in contrast to certain philosophical and religious teachings, particularly forms of Jewish mysticism and specific pagan beliefs that may have been influencing the church in Colossae. The Acts of Thecla is an apocryphal text that describes the radical transformation of a young woman named Thecla after hearing Paul's teachings, which challenged traditional Roman values and familial obligations.
Early Christian teachings such as those found in Colossians and the Acts of Thecla promoted a spiritual doctrine that did not always align with existing familial and social norms, hence drawing criticism and opposition from the broader Roman society and eliciting responses from philosophers like Celsus. While early Christians engaged in critical thinking and could be considered to have practiced a form of philosophy, they often stood in opposition to Platonism and other philosophical schools that were seen as conflicting with their understanding of spirituality and the path to God. This is evident in Christian criticisms of Platonism and the rhetorical strategies of figures like Paul, as they presented Christianity as a superior spiritual path.