Thursday, April 9, 2015

Exegesis Colossians 2:6–7



Paul's Letter to Colossae

The author is Paul and the situation in Colossae seemed to be an invasion of lots of different ideologies and philosophies including semi-Jewish plus other Greek notions. Similar to Paul's letter to the Galatian churches, the variety of these philosophies were not set up in opposition to Christianity, it was being suggested that they enhance Christianity.  Paul wanted to affirm that Christ is sufficient.  Adding human philosophies to Christ actually robs Christ of His glory.  Paul wrote while in prison about the same time as he wrote Ephesians.  There is a similarity between the two letters. "Ephesians speaks of the Christian being in Christ; Colossians speaks of Christ being in the Christian."[1] The purpose of Paul's letter to Colossae was confront these false ideas and present Christ in the Gospel as of greater value and worth.

Context

In Chapter 1, Paul emphasizes the Person and the Work of Christ.  The greatness of Christ therefore enables Paul to launch this appeal to not depart from the Gospel: “And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.” (Colossians 1:21–23, ESV).

Paul, then tells the Church how the hope of Christ enables him to struggle through opposition and trials. Paul's whole ministry can be described as that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.” (Colossians 2:2–5, ESV)

It is Christ who has all the superlative wisdom and knowledge.  Don't let even good sounding arguments move you from this truth.  Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.” (Colossians 2:6–7, ESV).

English Translations


Colossians 2:6–7 (AV)
Colossians 2:6–7 (NIV)
Colossians 2:6–7 (NASB95)
Colossians 2:6–7 (NLT)
6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: 7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
6 Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.
6 And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. 7 Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.

Analysis

Ὡς οὖν or "therefore"  "just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord" (summarizing the first part of the letter).  "Paul has spotlighted the person of Christ, ruler of both the old creation and the new (1:15–20), substance of the “mystery,” God’s plan for human history (1:27; 2:2), and repository of all wisdom and knowledge (2:3). And he has reminded the Colossians that they have responded to the message about this new Lord of the universe and given themselves to his service (1:5–8, 21–23)."[2] 

"The Colossians had received Christ in a certain manner: as the Anointed of God ("Christ"), as the historic Savior ("Jesus"), and as the sovereign ("Lord")."[3]

If that is true, the Apostle writes, then "walk in Him;" or "live your lives in Him;" or "continue to follow Him." In Greek: ἐν αὐτῷ περιπατεῖτε.   Pronounced per·ee·pat·eh·o  a verb written in the present active, that is, "continue to live in that same way." The present imperative περιπατεῖτε (peripateite) implies, in this context, a continuation of something already begun.  In the same manner we trusted Christ – we are to live.  Here's some examples of how Paul uses this idea of walk:

& Ephesians 4:17 (ESV) 17 Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds.
& Romans 6:4 (ESV) 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
& Ephesians 2:10 (ESV) 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

In Greek Paul uses 4 participles to describe the walk in Christ.   A participle in a sentence describes the verb.  So these participles are answering the question, "How do we walk?"  They are:

      A.      Eρριζωμένοι or firmly rooted.  Having been rooted because it is written in the perfect passive tense.  Live in agreement with the fact that someone/something has permanently rooted you. This is a settled condition.  You have been planted in Christ.
      B.      Eποικοδομούμενοι or built up.  This is present passive in the Greek reflecting the idea of "you are being built up. Eν αὐτῷ, in Him – in Christ.
      C.      βεβαιούμενοι τῇ πίστει strengthened, established in the faith.  Again this is present passive.  "The Faith" or "that body of truth – the faith system[4] -- as you were taught. The noun ("confirmation") is found in Phil. 1:7; and Heb. 6:16. The verb implies "to confirm" or "to verify".  Christ is confirming/verifying you, in The Faith.
      D.      Pερισσεύοντες ἐν εὐχαριστίᾳ -- continuing to abound/overflow with thanksgiving. This verb is active.  Something we do.  "The allusion to what the Colossians have already been taught interrupts the flow of participles, causing overflowing with thankfulness to stand by itself as almost an afterthought. But we should not thereby underestimate its significance. As we have noticed already, thanksgiving plays a prominent role in Colossians, Paul apparently being convinced that true gratitude for God’s grace is an important “offensive” measure against the false teaching (see the notes on 1:12).[5]

"The three participles rootedbuilt up, and firm belong together and reflect three different metaphors. The first participle “rooted” (perfect tense) indicates a settled condition on the part of the Colossian believers and refers to horticulture. The second participle “built up” (present passive) comes from the world of architecture. The third participle “firm [established]” (present passive) comes from the law courts. With these three metaphors (as well as the following comment on thankfulness) Paul explains what he means when he commands them to continue to live their lives in Christ. The use of the passive probably reflects God’s activity among them. It was he who had rooted them, had been building them up, and had established them in the faith (cf. 1 Cor 3:5-15 for the use of mixed metaphors)."[6]

Paraphrase

"Christ is supreme in all ways; superlative in all His Being and His work.  You received Him by faith as Lord, Savior and the Christ.  By grace He rooted you, has been building you up, and has established you in the faith.  So live in Him the same way, by faith as Savior, Lord and Christ; abounding in thanksgiving."  - Paul.

Homiletical Outline

       I.        Illustration:   Are You Smarter Than A Fifth-Grader?

      II.      Where Do I Get That? (Colossians 2:6-7)

      III.    Lessons From Salvation
a.       What did you believe when you became a Christian?
b.      What does it mean when you believe Jesus is Lord?
c.       So how do we grow as a Christian?  Stay right there!

      IV.    Why Do We Stay in the Schoolhouse of Christ's Lordship?

#1.   He has firmly rooted me there.   
#2.   He is building me up.   
#3.   Thirdly, He has and is establishing me in The Faith.  "
#4.   Fourthly, it ought to produce a life abounding/overflowing with thanksgiving.   

      V.      How Do We Do That?

"As you received … so walk."  How did you receive Christ?   Answer?  By faith!   

      VI.    What Does That Simplicity Look Like?

A life of faith is a life directed by God’s Word – empowered by His Spirit.  It doesn't get any more complicated than that.  We never leave Grade One. 

 





[1] Hindson, E. E., & Kroll, W. M. (Eds.). (1994). KJV Bible Commentary (p. 2453). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
[2] Moo, D. J. (2008). The letters to the Colossians and to Philemon (p. 175). Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Pub. Co.
[3] Expositor's Bible Commentary, The, Pradis CD-ROM:Colossians/Exposition of Colossians/III. The Ministry of Paul (1:24-2:7)/D. A Ministry of Exhortation (2:6, 7), Book Version: 4.0.2
[4] Expositor's Bible Commentary, The, Pradis CD-ROM:Colossians/Exposition of Colossians/III. The Ministry of Paul (1:24-2:7)/D. A Ministry of Exhortation (2:6, 7), Book Version: 4.0.2   
[5] Moo, D. J. (2008). The letters to the Colossians and to Philemon (pp. 182–183). Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Pub. Co.
[6] https://net.bible.org/#!bible/Colossians+2:6

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