Philemon also lived in Colosse and received the letter bearing his name. Other people who also lived in Colosse were Apphia, Archippus and Onesimus. The latter was a runaway slave that Paul converted and sent back to Colosse and his former owner Philemon.
Most of what is said concerning proclamation and conversion in the letters
to Colosse is theological reflection in light of false teachings present
in the area rather than describing what was actually taught or how the
people actually responded.
| Text | Observations |
| COL 1:3 We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, [4] since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which you have for all the saints; [5] because of the hope laid up for you in heaven, of which you previously heard in the word of truth, the gospel, [6] which has come to you, just as in all the world also it is constantly bearing fruit and increasing, even as it has been doing in you also since the day you heard of it and understood the grace of God in truth; [7] just as you learned it from Epaphras, our beloved fellow bond-servant, who is a faithful servant of Christ on our behalf, [8] and he also informed us of your love in the Spirit. | The oustanding feature of the Colossians' initial Christian
experience was their "faith in Christ" and their "love for all the saints."
The Colossians heard the gospel of the grace of God from Epaphras and it "bore fruit" (had a result) in them from the begining just as it does elsewhere. Conversion is a reult of the gospel. They are said to have "understood" (Greek aorist tense) the grace of God in truth. |
| COL 1:12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. [13] For He delivered us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, [14] in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. | The Colossians (and Paul) were qualified to have their
inheritance by God.
Conversion is expressed as being delivered from the domain (basileia, kingdom) of darkness and being "transferred" to the kingdom of the Son. An interesting feature of the Greek text of these passages is the aorist verbs "delivered" and "transferred." These suggest actions at a point in time, presumably conversion time. Key results of conversion mentioned here are redemption and forgiveness of sins. However, in this discussion there is no mention of the specific proclamation or response. |
| COL 1:21 And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, [22] yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach-- | Conversion takes place as a reconciliation done by Christ through connection with the death of Jesus. "Reconciled" here is an aorist tense verb, like those in 1:13. |
| COL 1:27 to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. [28] And we proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, that we may present every man complete in Christ. | Part of the proclamation to the Gentiles was Christ himself, with a view towards spiritual maturity in Christ. |
| COL 2:6 As you therefore 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. | Another trait of proclamation and conversion here is receiving Jesus as Lord. |
| COL 2:12 having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. [13] And when you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, [14] having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us and which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. | Here we see the "burial/resurrection with Jesus" elements
connected with baptism. Aorist tense verbs 2:12 "buried" (participle),
"raised"; 2:13 "made alive", "forgiven" (partciple); 2:14 "cancelled",
"nailed" (to the cross. The idea here is that by baptism the Colossians
were joined to the burial and resurrection of Christ.
Being "made alive" is also connected with the forgiveness of sins. |
| COL 2:20 If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as, [21] "Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!" | This conditional sentence raises a question based upon a presupposition: that the Chritians in of Colosse "died with Christ" to the elementary principles of the world. Again, "died" (with Christ) is an aorist tense verb. |
| COL 3:1 If then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. [2] Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. [3] For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. | Another reference to them being raised up with Christ, now as a motivation for continued spiritual improvement. "Raised up" is an aorist tense verb. |
| COL 3:9 Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, [10] and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him. | "Laid aside" and "put on" are also aorist verbs (participles), again pointing to a finite past action. Part of conversion was laying aside the old self and putting on a new self; Paul now presents this as a motivation for ongoing moral change. |
| COL 3:12 And so, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; | Conversion also has to do with the choosing of God. |
| PLM 1:10 I appeal to you for my child, whom I have begotten in my imprisonment, Onesimus, [11] who formerly was useless to you, but now is useful both to you and to me. | Paul converted Onesimus and referred to him as a "begotten child." |
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Comments Copyright © 2002 John Engler. All rights
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