Introduction to Colossians: Authorship, Date, Audience - Crain Home

Interpretation 2
He then urges them to walk worthily of their calling:
Col 2:6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord,
so walk ye in him:
Col 2:7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the
faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with
thanksgiving.
In back of this admonition is the possibility of relapse into old systems and
old ways. The rest of the chapter then lists a number of teachings unworthy
of Christ and the gospel. The fellowship of Colosse and the Laodiceans are
warned against false teachers, and Paul reminds them the fullness of the
divine is in Jesus (9). In Christ is full perfection (10), indeed, everything
that is needed (11-15). In Christ is the circumcision not made with hands
(11), a co-burial and resurrection (12). The chasm between Jew and gentile
is removed (14). Salvation comes by holding fast to Christ (18). Condemned
practices include empty words, the teaching of men, and all that is opposed
to God (8). Evils to be avoided include self-inflicted suffering (18), angel
worship (18), mere human wisdom (18), and austerities (21). The
Intervarsity Press Commentary structures the rest of chapter two into two
main sections of theological and ethical argument:
http://crain.english.mwsc.edu/colossians/interpretation_2.htm (6 of 18)6/17/2003 8:17:57 AM
Following this pattern, Colossians contains two sharp
discussions. The first discussion is theological (2:4-23): Paul
challenges the legitimacy of the theological convictions that
underlie the competing understanding of Christian faith in
Colosse. The second discussion is mainly ethical (3:1--4:1):
Paul draws upon moral tradition (paraenesis) to describe the
character of Christian life that is now imperiled by the false
teaching.
The polemical and theological discussion is divided into two
subsections, each presenting an argument against a principal
ingredient of the false teaching. In 2:4-8, the apostle
introduces the first problem that threatens the readers' faith. I
call it sophistry: the use of an elegant vocabulary in finesounding
arguments to deceive an unsuspecting audience
(2:4). According to Paul, certain Christian teachers at Colosse
promote a philosophy of religion that consists of human
traditions and centers on the basic principles of this world