P. Derek Overfield PhD Thesis - Research@StAndrews:FullText

or at least its verbal form, is used also to describe
the re1ationsh~p between Christ and creation (4:11).
This means that in relating
the
author is not only emphasising the function of Christ
as head but is also drawing attention to the fact that
the .situation that exists in the Church is one that will
ultimately also appertain in the world. 31
4.4 The Significance of the Co1ossian Ke~A~ Texts
The texts at issue here are 1:18, 2:10,19.
We have already noted that ~XXA7](J(~ and 7tPw-tcJ''tOXOt;;
!X 'tliSv vexpliSv in 1:18 are redactional
and are not part of th~ original hymn. This is
significant.
It means that the author of Colossians
is giving the cosmological train of thought that was
present in the hymn a new emphasis by describing the
Church as the place where Christ exercises his authority
over the world.
. 32·
Gaugler well says IJDie Kirche ist
der Ort, wo die Schapfung zu ihrem Zie1 gekornrnen ist,
wo sie Leib des ewigen und jetzt erh6hten Hauptes
geworden istll.
The same move from cosmology to
ecc1esiology is made in Eph 1:22f.
It is significant
that the redactional elements of 1:18 also emphasise
the fact that Christ is the source of the life of both
world and Church, precisely as is said, in a more
developed manner, in Eph 4:15f.
In 2:10 the author
returns to the relationship between Christ and cosmos,
but only after making the equivalent ecc1esiological
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