Paul: You Colossians Already Have It All

Tracing Out a Single Strand in Paul’s Letter

 

His Argument

 

I. The Colossians’ Position in Christ

1. The Colossians have faith and love (1:4).
2. They heard the gospel and fully understood and recognized (ἐπιγινώσκω) the grace of God in truth (1:6).
3. They learned this true gospel from Epaphras, a faithful minister of Christ (1:7).
4. They are no longer estranged (1:21) but are now reconciled and will be presented by God holy, blameless, and irreproachable before him (1:22),
5. IF they continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel they heard (1:23) (and again in 2:6).
6. They currently have good order and firmness of faith in Christ (2:5).

 

THEREFORE: (2:6)

 

II. Exhortations

 

A. As you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so live (walk) in him (2:6) (Having come full circle–inclusio–this verse repeats 1:23).

• How? (2:7)
  • rooted in Christ
  • built up in Christ
  • established in the faith (as you were taught in the gospel by Epaphras)
  • overflowing with thanksgiving

 

B. Don’t do this:

• Don’t let others deceive and draw you astray into their cul-de-sac of false belief (2:8),
• Because you don’t need them:
  • Christ is everything (2:9)
  • and you have been:
    • filled in Christ (he is the presence with which you have been filled)  (he is the agent) (you are located in him) (2:10)
    • spiritually circumcised in Christ(2:11)
    • buried and raised with Christ (2:12)
    • made alive with Christ (2:13)
    • forgiven (2:13)
  • You are debt free (2:14)
  • Your creditors have been defeated and publicly shamed by God through Christ (2:15)

 

C. Don’t let this happen:

• That anyone should pass judgment on you in regard to food, drink, festivals, new moons, or Sabbaths (2:16).
• Because
  • You died with Christ (cf. 2:12) to all these worldly things (2:20)
  • and have been raised with Christ (cf. 2:12) (3:1).

 

D. But do this:

• Seek the things that are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God (3:1).
• Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth (3:2).
• Because
  • you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God (3:3) [!!!!!]
  • when Christ our life appears, you will appear with him in glory (3:4).

 

III. Paul Continues Explaining in Detail How the Colossians Should Live (3:5-4:6)