#BibleStudy #ColossiansNotes ### Colossians 1_1-8 - Fruit from Grace in Truth > [!Bible]- [Colossians 1:1-8 - WEB](https://bible-api.com/Colossians+1:1-8?translation=web) > 1. Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, and Timothy our brother, > 2. to the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. > 3. We give thanks to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, > 4. having heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which you have toward all the saints, > 5. because of the hope which is laid up for you in the heavens, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the Good News, > 6. which has come to you; even as it is in all the world and is bearing fruit and growing, as it does in you also, since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth; > 7. even as you learned of Epaphras our beloved fellow servant, who is a faithful servant of Christ on our behalf, > 8. who also declared to us your love in the Spirit. Verse 6 stuck out to me as important in regards to understanding the bearing of fruit. Their fruit is grown after they come to the knowledge of God in truth. I recently had a thought that knowledge and wisdom are not listed among the fruits in Galatians 5. > [!Bible] [Galatians 5:22-25 - WEB](https://bible-api.com/Galatians+5:22-25?translation=web) > 22. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, > 23. gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. > 24. Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts. > 25. If we live by the Spirit, let’s also walk by the Spirit. However, in 2 Peter, we see another list of fruits: > [!Bible] [2 Peter 1:1-8 - WEB](https://bible-api.com/2Peter+1:1-8?translation=web) > 1. Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained a like precious faith with us in the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ: > 2. Grace to you and peace be multiplied in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, > 3. seeing that his divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and virtue; > 4. by which he has granted to us his precious and exceedingly great promises; that through these you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world by lust. > 5. Yes, and for this very cause adding on your part all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence; and in moral excellence, knowledge; > 6. and in knowledge, self-control; and in self-control perseverance; and in perseverance godliness; > 7. and in godliness brotherly affection; and in brotherly affection, love. > 8. For if these things are yours and abound, they make you to be not idle or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. In this list of fruits, we see knowledge placed highly in the chain of love. Once again we also see grace linked to knowledge of God. This knowledge arises from faith and moral excellence(otherwise translated as goodness) and leads to a godly life. So, a knowledge of God in truth leads to fruit. *What is this knowledge of God that leads to grace?* From what I can see, this knowledge would be of the Father Christ has made known. Our understanding of Christ and the Father prior to the incarnation was of the God who needed appeasement. We now know that God takes an active role in the salvation of His children, and that He needs nothing from man in order to accomplish His will. The Pharisees alongside the broken rulers of Israel had corrupted this understanding of God. This was due to the missing "key". > [!Bible] [Luke 11:52 - WEB](https://bible-api.com/Luke+11:52?translation=web) > 52. Woe to you lawyers! For you took away the key of knowledge. You didn’t enter in yourselves, and those who were entering in, you hindered.” *What is this key?* Would it not be Christ? We now have a greater knowledge of God in Christ due to His teachings. He is the Great Teacher after all! If we remove Christ from the Old Testament, we are left with a graceless, and therefore loveless God. [[Knowledge]] ### Colossians 1_9-14 - Increasing in Knowledge and Wisdom and Transfer of Domains > [!Bible] [Colossians 1:9-14 - WEB](https://bible-api.com/Colossians+1:9-14?translation=web) > 9. For this cause, we also, since the day we heard this, don’t cease praying and making requests for you, that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, > 10. that you may walk worthily of the Lord, to please him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; > 11. strengthened with all power, according to the might of his glory, for all endurance and perseverance with joy; > 12. giving thanks to the Father, who made us fit to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light; > 13. who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the Kingdom of the Son of his love; > 14. in whom we have our redemption, the forgiveness of our sins; Let's start with some questions: *What does it mean to be filled with the knowledge of God's will?* We grow in our understanding of what God wants as we grow in relationship with God. It reminds me of David seeking out God's will when he fled from Saul: > [!Bible] [1 Samuel 23:9-13 - WEB](https://bible-api.com/1Samuel+23:9-13?translation=web) > 9. David knew that Saul was devising mischief against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod here.” > 10. Then David said, “O Yahweh, the God of Israel, your servant has surely heard that Saul seeks to come to Keilah, to destroy the city for my sake. > 11. Will the men of Keilah deliver me up into his hand? Will Saul come down, as your servant has heard? Yahweh, the God of Israel, I beg you, tell your servant.” Yahweh said, “He will come down.” > 12. Then David said, “Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul?” Yahweh said, “They will deliver you up.” > 13. Then David and his men, who were about six hundred, arose and departed out of Keilah, and went wherever they could go. Saul was told that David was escaped from Keilah; and he gave up going there. We are to understand that God has the knowledge of all circumstances and potentials. He also has made it so that we are responsible for our actions, even with the story already written out. [[Systemic Knowledge - A Corrected Middle Knowledge]] > [!Bible] [Psalms 139:15-17 - WEB](https://bible-api.com/Psalm+139:15-17?translation=web) > 15. My frame wasn’t hidden from you, when I was made in secret, woven together in the depths of the earth. > 16. Your eyes saw my body. In your book they were all written, the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there were none of them. > 17. How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is their sum! Are we to seek His will in the same way as David? Knowing that the situation is already resolved one way or another in eternity? We have access to the throne room, why shouldn't we ask our Father for perfect advice? *What does it mean to increase in the knowledge of God?* In its most simple definition, I believe it is scripture, the good and necessary consequences of scripture(such as the Trinity), and a contextual knowledge of how to interpret scripture in order to derive wisdom and its application in life. Galileo said: "The Bible tells us how to go to Heaven, not how the heavens go." He was, of course, correct in a way. The Bible doesn't tell us about atoms, but it does tell us: > [!Bible] [Hebrews 11:3 - WEB](https://bible-api.com/Hebrews+11:3?translation=web) > 3. By faith, we understand that the universe has been framed by the word of God, so that what is seen has not been made out of things which are visible. The view behind the curtain the Bible provides us is that there are vast complexities we cannot see, but we can understand that in God's universe, he has built everything according to His will and purposes. The knowledge of God is a knowledge of everything else as well. He is the Creator. We can see his handiwork in all things, and so, they declare His glory. When we peer into the mysteries of creation, we should do so with a correct lens, or we are the Greeks, fumbling blindly towards the truths of God. > [!Bible] [Acts 17:23-30 - WEB](https://bible-api.com/Acts+17:23-30?translation=web) > 23. For as I passed along, and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: ‘TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.’ What therefore you worship in ignorance, this I announce to you. > 24. The God who made the world and all things in it, he, being Lord of heaven and earth, doesn’t dwell in temples made with hands, > 25. neither is he served by men’s hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he himself gives to all life and breath, and all things. > 26. He made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the surface of the earth, having determined appointed seasons, and the boundaries of their dwellings, > 27. that they should seek the Lord, if perhaps they might reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. > 28. ‘For in him we live, and move, and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also his offspring.’ > 29. Being then the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold, or silver, or stone, engraved by art and design of man. > 30. The times of ignorance therefore God overlooked. But now he commands that all people everywhere should repent, With an accurate lens of the knowledge of God, we are able to peer deeper into the truth of all things. We are closer to truth about things no one has answers to, even if we haven't received the answers yet. Without the knowledge of God, we will never receive those answers. Now we have to understand where we stand as Christians in a world of strange mystery and hidden knowledge. Everyone else is searching for it too. It belongs to us, and we are the only ones with the keys to understanding it. > [!Bible] [Mark 4:11-12 - WEB](https://bible-api.com/Mark+4:11-12?translation=web) > 11. He said to them, “To you is given the mystery of God’s Kingdom, but to those who are outside, all things are done in parables, > 12. that ‘seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest perhaps they should turn again, and their sins should be forgiven them.’” Now we get into a bit more specific revealed knowledge. [[Colossians 1_9-14 - Increasing in Knowledge and Wisdom and Transfer of Domains]] ### Colossians 1_15 - The Image of the Invisible God > [!Bible] [Colossians 1:15 - ESV](https://bolls.life/ESV/51/1/) > 15. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. Christ is the key to understanding all things, and He is also the purpose, Creator, and ruler of all things. The ESV references Philippians 2 in relation to verse 1: > [!Bible] [Philippians 2:6-8 - ESV](https://bolls.life/ESV/50/2/) > 6. who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, > 7. but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. > 8. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. I think that helps us to understand the Greek word $eikon$ translated to "image". Another place this word is used is: > [!Bible] [2Corinthians 4:4 - ESV](https://bolls.life/ESV/47/4/) > 4. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. So, we have two places Christ is referred to as the eikon of God, potentially a relevant 3rd in Philippians. The word used in Philippians is "morphe" however, so there is a distinction. Aristotle utilizes $morphe$ in his theory of [hylomorphism](https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/form-matter/?ssp=1&darkschemeovr=1&setlang=en-US&safesearch=moderate), utilizing morphe as the form that matter is unified through. If we are to understand Aristotle as a primary source of Greek thought, and Paul as fluent in philosophy alongside theology, I don't think it would be a stretch for him to have read Plato and Aristotle in his research of his mission field. To the Greeks in Acts 17, once again, he acknowledges their closeness to God, but that their ignorance would no longer be ignored. I understand this as an acknowledgment of their philosophy being close to truth, but off the mark. Another useful resource might be this: [Saint Paul's Application of Greek Philosophy | VirtueOnline – The Voice for Global Orthodox Anglicanism](https://virtueonline.org/saint-pauls-application-greek-philosophy) Now, to make the point blatantly, Paul is using the Greek language to give us insight into the relationship of Christ to the Godhead. In the Platonic hierarchy of images, the eikon follows the eidos as the visible counterpart to the invisible essence of a thing. So it would follow that Christ is the eikon to the Father's eidos, and on my pursuit of this topic I found Jesus's words about the Father's form: > [!Bible] [John 5:37-38 - ESV](https://bolls.life/ESV/43/5/) > 37. And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen, > 38. and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent. The word "form" in that passage is $eidos$! Isn't that interesting? So Christ is the eikon counterpart of the eidos! Now the Platonic hierarchy of images is eidos, then eikon, and finally eidolon. They respectively represent the invisible, the invisible, and finally, the imitation. Craft no idol would translate to craft no eidolon. I will say, eidos is used in other places to indicate the physical appearance of the Holy Spirit(Lk 3:22), and the physical appearance of Jesus's face(Lk 9:37). I don't think this kills the idea(ha), but I think it should be accounted for as we move forward. Another few verses to consider in our attributing the Greek formic language are Hebrews 8:5 and 10:1. > [!Bible] [Hebrews 8:5 - ESV](https://bolls.life/ESV/58/8/) > 5. They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, “See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain.” > [!Bible] [Hebrews 10:1 - ESV](https://bolls.life/ESV/58/10/) > 1. For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near. The relation of Christ as the Father's eikon is perfectly expressed earlier in the introductory statements of the book of Hebrews: > [!Bible] [Hebrews 1:1-4 - ESV](https://bolls.life/ESV/58/1/) > 1. Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, > 2. but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. > 3. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, > 4. having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. The word used for "imprint" here is only used once in the New Testament, $charakter$. The english relative is clear, character. The Strong's concordance makes this note in the definition: > from the same root as $charax$; a graver(the tool or the person), i.e. (by implication) engraving (("character")), the figure stamped, i.e. an exact copy or (figuratively) representation: - express image. I think we are on the right track in understanding that Christ is the visible of the Father's invisible. Jesus is the character of God's nature, $hypostasis$. Hypostasis is defined by Strong and others as 'foundation' but it goes further by saying 'that which is has actual existence'. Here we see again the image of the invisible, the eikon of the eidos. Nature seems to be used as a word used to describe the foundational from whom the Three manifest. "hypo" being under and "stasis" being structure or standing. So Christ is the "engraved" "understanding" of God. Christ is the Word. I think we might be able to find a Hebrew counterpart to the theory of forms with these verses as its basis. It would seem St. Augustine might agree with me: > “I found that whatever truth I had read [in the Platonists] was [in the writings of Paul] combined with the exaltation of thy grace.” > - Augustine In this case, the shadow is also an eidolon. An eidolon is a flawed image. Not only that, but having a good understanding of forms helps us to understand very fundamental things about logic as a precedent of nature. Form before matter is the very essence of the hylomorphic theory of Aristotle. All these concepts revolve around another statement of Paul: > [!Bible] [1Corinthians 13:8-13 - ESV](https://bolls.life/ESV/46/13/) > 8. Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. > 9. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, > 10. but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. > 11. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. > 12. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. > 13. So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love. Christ is the perfect. Scripture is the partial. [[Colossians 1_15 - The Image of the Invisible God]] ### Colossians 1_16 - By Him, All Things > [!Bible] [Colossians 1:16 - ESV](https://bolls.life/ESV/51/1/) > 16. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities — all things were created through him and for him. All things find their origin in Christ. He is the originator. That Christ created the heavens tells us that He is transcendent even over the heavens themselves. He is eternal in all ways. I want to take a second to make a list of definitions. - Thrones - Earthly kings - Dominions - Governments - Rulers - This is where it starts to get interesting. The word used is $arche$. This has led to the term archon being used for primordial angels. This is due in part to the other definition of arche, which is beginning. They would be ancient beings. It is interesting to consider that this word could be understood as "preeminent authority" This is the same term used in Eph 6:12: > [!Bible] [Ephesians 6:12 - ESV](https://bolls.life/ESV/49/6/) > 12. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. - Authority - $exousia$ - This a word I have studied closely. This is the same authority that the people marveled at when Christ demonstrated it towards the demons. This is the same authority that miraculous faith is charged with (I talk more about his in my thoughts on [Fiat]([[Engineering Man's Fiat - The Intersection of Technology, Creativity, and the Divine]] )). Christ is the source of this authority. So, we see a hierarchy of authorities, with this authority being the root. No ruler has any authority unless it has been authorized by the Author. But once again, let's call back to the beginning of Hebrews where this idea serves as the foundation: > [!Bible] [Hebrews 1:1-2 - ESV](https://bolls.life/ESV/58/1/) > 1. Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, > 2. but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. ### Colossians 1_17 - In Him We Have Our Being > [!Bible] [Colossians 1:17 - ESV](https://bolls.life/ESV/51/1/) > 17. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. This verse immediately draws me back to Acts 17, a loci for me. > [!Bible] [Acts 17:26-28 - ESV](https://bolls.life/ESV/44/17/) > 26. And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, > 27. that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, > 28. for “‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said, “‘For we are indeed his offspring.’ He is what fills the space between stars and atoms. He is the Light that pierces light. He is before($pro$) all things. This means that He is ahead of all things, as well, and I think this is a better translation due to the next verse. He is ahead of everything, and they stand with Him. He is ahead and the head. He is the foundation on which the universe stands. He is YHWH. Yet again we call back to the book of shadows, Hebrews: > [!Bible] [Hebrews 1:3 - ESV](https://bolls.life/ESV/58/1/) > 3. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, I'm starting to sense a chronological connection, similar to how Peter has themes that follow into Jude and Mark. I wonder which came first? Collosians or Hebrews? Let's find out: - The book of Colossians was written by Paul around AD 60 while he was in prison in Rome. - The book of Hebrews was written in AD 68-95, based on its references to the Jewish temple and its citations by early church father Clement of Rome. So it would seem that Colossians is the older book. It's a fun thought that the author of Hebrews has a copy of Colossians as his citation material. [[Colossians 1_17 - In Him We Have Our Being]] ### Colossians 1_18 - A Flowery but Simple Verse > [!Bible] [Colossians 1:18 - ESV](https://bolls.life/ESV/51/1/) > 18. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. I have been trying to understand the Greek in the New Testament, and one thing I have noticed is an over complication in many places. Here we see *"so that he might come to have first place in everything"* which we see in Greek is only 6 words: *"hina autos ginomai proteou en pas"*. From my other studies, the simplification of this sentence would be: So he would be first in all. I don't understand where this 'might' is coming from, but maybe that's due to my lack of experience in Greek. [[Colossians 1_18 - A Flowery but Simple Verse]] ### Colossians 1_19 - The Fullness of God > [!Bible] [Colossians 1:19 - ESV](https://bolls.life/ESV/51/1/) > 19. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell Let's try to reconstruct this short verse from the Greek roots: `hoti en autos eudokeo pas ho pleroma katoikeo` Starting from the top, let's list the more simple articles: - hoti - it was - en - in - autos - him, man - pas - all, everything - Ho - the So now we have: `It was in him eudokeo all the pleroma katoikeo` Which leaves us with these three complex words: - Eudokeo - ενδοκεω - Pleased - This word can be broken down to: - eu - εν - To be well off, fare well, prosper - Dokeo - δοκεω - To be of opinion towards - The root of 'deiknyo' which means to show or expose - A person's understanding of something - How a person thinks of something - So, with an understanding of the roots, we can understand this to mean something like 'good opinion towards' so 'favor' might be a good word for it. - Let's say good pleasure is fine, but favor might be better here. - Pleroma - πληηωμα - Fullness - Τhis word has a root in pleroo - It means 'to fill' but what's interesting is that both are used as the term 'fulfill' which is funny, because it just means to 'fill fully'. - Therefore, pleroma would mean to fill fully. The 'fullness'. - Katoikeo - κατοικεω - To Dwell, To Live - Βreaks down to: - Kata - κατα - down from, away from, against, movement from higher to lower - oikeo - οικεω - dwell in - So something of lower station oikeos in a dwelling. Something of higher station katoikeos in a dwelling. - So, the verse directly translates to: `It was in Him all the fullness found favor/was pleased to dwell.` - The problem I'm having is the insertion of God or the Father in this passage. I think it's a valid assertion, but it's not what the text says. I want to look at some historical context to the translation of this passage. - However, it is interesting that the NASB20 does put any assertion in italics. I do appreciate that. - So, we see that Christ was full of something. What was He full of? - He was in-dwelt by the Spirit and therefore the Father as they are One in nature. - He was full of the power and deity of the divine nature is probably right, but I do want to understand the chronological aspect to this. Much like in Philippians, there is a state change to the Son. He was made to be a little lower than the angels, yet He never lost His divine nature. As Philippians and Hebrews say: > [!Bible] [Philippians 2:5-7 - ESV](https://bolls.life/ESV/50/2/) > 5. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, > 6. who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, > 7. but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. > [!Bible] [Hebrews 2:9-18 - ESV](https://bolls.life/ESV/58/2/) > 9. But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. > 10. For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. > 11. For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, > 12. saying, “I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.” > 13. And again, “I will put my trust in him.” And again, “Behold, I and the children God has given me.” > 14. Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, > 15. and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. > 16. For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. > 17. Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. > 18. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. - So, the state change of eternal Son to to Son in time was real. He became flesh and contained the nature of God in mortality. When He was resurrected in power, He returned to eternality. [[Colossians 1_19 - The Fullness of God]] ### Colossians 1_20 - The Reconciliation Through the Son > [!Bible] [Colossians 1:20 - ESV](https://bolls.life/ESV/51/1/) > 20. and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. - Reconciliation is the main word to break down here. It translates to *apokatallasso* - αποκαταλλασσω. - This breaks down into two words: - Apo - από - separation, away, for, from, out of - katallasso - καταλλασσω - To exchange, to reconcile, to return with favor. - This word has two roots as well: - Kata - κατα - We've talked about this word before, it means away from very similarly to apo. So perhaps that could tell us something about the extent of this reconciliation. - allasso - αλλασσω - Το change, to exchange, to transform - So maybe this can tell us about how far away we were from God to have to be not only katallasso'd but apokatallasso'd. While katalasso is to be exchanged from lower to higher, apokatallasso would be to restore completely to the way it should be. ### Colossians 1_21-23 > [!Bible] [Colossians 1:21-23 - ESV](https://bolls.life/ESV/51/1/) > 21. And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, > 22. he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, > 23. if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister. ###### v. 21 - Once we were all enemies to God. The word 'hostile' here is echthros, which is indeed translated as enemy in most other cases. ###### v. 22 - How did Jesus present us holy and blameless through his fleshly body(soma(body - used in heavenly 'bodies') sarx(flesh/carcass))? - It was through a literal sacrifice performed once, for all. All sin was placed on Him to do with as He would, and He does all the Father ordains. - Anegkletos - "above reproach" - The root word here is egkletos or "accuse". The prefix "an" makes this not-accusable. Thank you, Lord for your imputed righteousness. ###### v. 23 - Here is where I need to wrestle for a bit. I know that God has me in His hand, and He will not lose me. So. How do we see that in this verse? I want to come in with the proper presuppositions, but I don't believe that presuppositions govern the scripture, but that scripture confirms or strengthens presuppositions. - I do know that Paul is writing this letter to combat heresy, so I can mark that down as an intention for this verse. - The real question is if Paul intended for this verse to be taken as a bump in the road to check if our faith is true. - Should a Christian read this and say, "My faith has shifted, so I am no longer under the hope of the gospel."? - No. Let's come back and prove it. [[Colossians 1_21-23]] ### Colossians 1_24 - Completing the Suffering of Christ > [!Bible] [Colossians 1:24 - ESV](https://bolls.life/ESV/51/1/) > 24. Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, - The word "lacking" is bothering me, but I don't want to disregard or ignore it. - I wonder if "what is remaining" might work, but this is what I find when I look into the root word. - Hysterēma - Deficiency, that which is lacking - From "hystereo" - Behind - Late - Inferior in regards to power/rank - To fail - To lack - So is Christ's suffering late? Is it inferior in power? Is it lacking? I don't think so. I could see that the suffering of Christ could have a remainder in the suffering of the apostles. A deficit. - It is used in many other cases to refer to a lack, but once again, is Christ's suffering not complete in the sense that it bore all sin once for all? - It is also used in reference to need, but I can see that lack could be substituted there easily in this case: > [!Bible] [2Corinthians 9:12 - ESV](https://bolls.life/ESV/47/9/) > 12. For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. - In conclusion, I think that nothing is lacking in Christ's suffering from an affectations perspective, but Paul's suffering fulfills the need of Christ's ministry on Earth now that He has ascended and leaves His apostles to continue in their work. [[Colossians 1_24 - Completing the Suffering of Christ]] ### Colossians 1_25-27 - The Mystery of Christ > [!Bible] [Colossians 1:25-27 - ESV](https://bolls.life/ESV/51/1/) > 25. of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, > 26. the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. > 27. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. - Τhe Word of God - Logos Theos - λόγος φεος - That is Christ, a la John 1. This mystery kept from the ages now revealed for its purpose to be fulfilled: > [!Bible] [1Corinthians 2:8 - ESV](https://bolls.life/ESV/46/2/) > 8. None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. - The Gentiles being added to the fold is the value of this revealed secret, thus the celebration in passages like this: > [!Bible] [Galatians 3:7-9 - ESV](https://bolls.life/ESV/48/3/) > 7. Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. > 8. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.” > 9. So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. > [!Bible] [1Timothy 2:3-7 - ESV](https://bolls.life/ESV/54/2/) > 3. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, > 4. who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. > 5. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, > 6. who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. > 7. For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. ### Colossians 1_28-29 - Agonizing through Christ > [!Bible] [Colossians 1:28-29 - ESV](https://bolls.life/ESV/51/1/) > 28. Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. > 29. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me. - All things done for Christ are done through Christ. - The word struggling struck me. - Struggling - agonizomai - αγωνιζομαι - Literally to contest - To contend with adversaries - To struggle - To endeavor with strenuous zeal - To agonize towards a goal - I think this shows the level of fervor Paul is trying to express in his efforts towards the church, which I think adds to the fact that he is attributing his energy towards his labor to God. - energeia autos energeo - Power by His Power - What a beautiful work that is Christ in us, His power resounding in our good works as a source and signature of His work in us. - This of course rings of Philippians 2:12-13 > [!Bible] [Philippians 2:12-13 - ESV](https://bolls.life/ESV/50/2/) > 12. Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, > 13. for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.