Letter of St. Paul to Colossae
Title: The epistle/letter to the
congregation of Colossae. Colossae was a flourished city in 5 century BC
onward, but by the time of St. Paul its glory departed – Colossae turn into a
small provincial town. The closest large city was Laodicea (about 9 miles
north-west from Colossae). It is usually thought that Paul never visited the
town, but somehow he knows about the guestroom that Philemon might prepare for
him.
Date of
writing: Usually it
is taken that St. Paul wrote it during his time in Rome, while waiting for the
trail. The letter to Philemon mentions Paul’s intention to visit his house
church. It is “assumed” that Philemon and Onesimus are from Colossae (4:9, cp. Philemon 1:1-2,10). This
means that either his trial was successful, or Paul expected a positive
decision on his case soon after the letter (prior is more plausible 4:3-4).
Structure:
a. 1:1-2, Greetings
b. 1:3-12,
Thanksgiving and prayer
c. 1:13-23, He
is … (preeminence of Christ)
d. 1:24 – 2:5,
Paul’s ministry to the Church
e. 2:6-15, Christ
vs. philosophy
e’. 2:16-23,
Biblical tradition vs. human tradition
d’. 3:1-17,
your actions in Christ
c’. 3:18 – 4:1, Christ revealed in the
relationships
b’. 4:2-6, be
thankful
a’. 4:7-18,
Final greetings
Main
themes: Very high
Christology – embodiment of the Divine, and preeminence of Christ over
everything.
St. Paul
introduces the theme of philosophy – as an obstruction for acceptance of the
Gospel. The addiction to philosophy might have led to the lukewarmness of the
congregation (cp. Rev. 3:14-22, Laodicea is the closest congregation to
Colossae).
Tradition(s)
is an important theme that St. Paul presents as an opposition of godly
traditions (shadows of Christ) which point to him to the human/esoteric
traditions (ascetic practices, worshiping of angels etc.), which have no
biblical foundation.
Main
Characters: Paul,
Timothy, Epaphras, Tychius, Onesimus, Aristarchus, Mark (cousin of Barnabas,
cp. Acts 15:36-41), Luke, Demas, Jesus/Justus. Saint and faithful brothers in
Christ at Colossae. Brothers in Laodicea and Nympha and her house church.
Reflection
in other parts of the Bible: The theology of incarnation – known as high Christology – begins in the
Gospel of John and his other writings.
To
understand the opposition of biblical vs. human tradition it is important to
think of the liturgical calendar (Lev. 23, cp. Gen 1:14).
Paul uses the
same tri-part structure of a society: husbands-wives, parents-children,
masters-servants as in Galatians 5 and 6. The theme of servants
(bondservants/slaves) is developed even deeper in the letter to Philemon.
Lutheran
teaching: Trinitarian
theology and the teaching on incarnation based on Col. 2:9 is presented in LC
II:6; FC Ep. VIII:34; FC SD VII:36 etc.
The theology
of infant baptism finds is support and declaration in Col. 2:11-15 (FC Ep.
XII:8; FC SD XII:13).
Lutheran
hymnody:
LSB 690 –
Hope of the World (Col. 2:13-15)
LSB 732 –
All Depends on Our Possessing (Col. 3:1-4)
Relevancy
of the Book: The letter shows us the unity of the
believers through the Gospel, and only through the ministry of apostles. Paul
never visited the congregation, yet he deeply cares for its faith and
godliness. He wants them to be properly founded in the Word Incarnate – Jesus
Christ, who is all in all: in teaching, in worship, in conduct, in care for
each other. This gives us a proper perspective that we do not need to chase
after the famous or illuminated “preachers” or extravagant teachers of
philosophy. God cares for every congregation and a believer through the
ministers that He called and ordained to preach the full counsel of God – the
Scriptures – and administer the Sacraments.
Memory
verses:
3:16 – Let
the Word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another
with all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with
thankfulness in your heart to God.
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