Heretical Problems facing the Colossians (2:1-3:4)
B. The Peril of Error and the Sufficiency of Christ
(2:4-23)
2. Protection from error (2:6-7)—“Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus
the Lord, [so] walk in Him, having been firmly rooted [and now] being built up
in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, [and]
overflowing with gratitude.”
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound
of cure. Stability leads to perseverance in the faith. O’Brien points to these
verses as pivotal in a twofold way: First, they set forth positive instruction
that serves as the basis for the attack on heresy being confronted by the
Colossians; second, they summarized much of what has preceded in the
Christological statement.[1]
Paul gives an exhortation to live in
accordance to their faith. It springs first and foremost by receiving Christ.
Two truths should be seen in the word received
(paralabete) literally in the Greek means to take
to one’s side or received for one’s self. Next it is in the aorist tense which
speaks of an instantaneous completed transaction. The readers have received
Christ. Believers are called to be faithful to the truth they have received
through the gospel. Verses 6-7 are structured between eloquence and parallel
incentives—I diagram it as such:
You have received
Christ ________ just as you were instructed.
|
Walk in Him
|
(four participles
describing
the components of
walking in Him)
Rooted
Built up
Established
Abounding
The diagram indicates the fact [received
Christ]; the means [were instructed]; the exhortation [walk]; and the features
[rooted, built, established, and abounding].
Now these verses are not without
conflict among Bible students. Do we take this exhortation to advance in the
life of faith?[2]
Or do we take it to refer to the form in which they received Christ in the
gospel, and advance in the faith or doctrine?[3] In
others words, is Paul referring to the principle
of faith or the form of faith?
No one denies the principle of faith
(cf. 2 Cor. 5:7). They are to advance in the life of faith. Dunn observes that
the combination of our walk, is motivated from within (the principle of faith)
the receiving of truth (form of truth) that Jesus as Lord.[4] The
immediate context however points to the form of faith, not the principle of
faith as the primary defense against error. This is supported by the following:
(1)
Paul is exhorting them to conform their conduct to the standard of the
gospel. Bruce tells us:
this short sentence [verse 6] introduces us
to the concept of tradition....The idea of tradition, together with the
terminology used to express it, is common in Judaism, where it especially
designates the handing down of the oral law and its interpretation from one
generation to another.[5]
This is support by the word received (paralambano)
which primarily uses in the New Testament as the reception and transmission of
truth (cf. 4:6; 1 Cor. 11:23; 15:1, 3; Gal. 1:9-12). Eadie says it used “emphatically to appropriate wisdom or
instruction”[6] It indicates
in this context to both believing in his person, and a commitment to the
instruction concerning Christ.[7]
(2) The form of this receiving is
reinforced by the phrase “just as you
were instructed” (2:7). We have a receiving—instruction eloquence here.
Education edifies. The instruction is the form of the receiving the truth.
There is no question that which was received by instruction, according to the
context, was the full understanding of the knowledge of God’s mystery (cf.
2:2). It was Christ the source of wisdom and knowledge (cf. 2:3). The emphases
of Paul is to instruct believers what they are to believe and how that are to
live in accordance with that belief.
(3) Correct teaching and instruction is
used in contrast to false teaching in this context. This is clearly the
negative exhortation of verse 8 and is a part of the admonition against false
teaching in verses 4-8. Because of this true understanding and instruction in
which they are to walk, they are not to fall into the captive of false philosophy.
As a result of true instruction they
are exhorted to “walk” in Christ in
accordance to the truth of Christ (2:6). “In Him is emphatic stressing that He
is the sphere that is to occupy our walk. This is the second time Paul gave
this exhortation (cf. 1:10-12), however there is a difference between the two.
In the first, it marks the conduct of the walk— in fruitfulness, knowledge,
strength, and thanksgiving. Paul now turns to the elements of construction of our walk.
|
Walk Worthy – Col. 1:10
|
Walk in Him – Col. 2:6
|
|
· Bearing fruit
|
· Firmly rooted
|
|
· Growing
|
· Built up
|
|
· Gaining strength 1:11
|
· Established 2:7
|
Giving
Thanks 1:12, 2:7
One can see at once the different
emphasis between the two passages. It is a difference between active obedience
and that which establishes our walk, culminating in thanksgiving.
The present tense stresses what are to
be the permanent elements of our walk. It speaks of our conduct. There are
certain elements that protect the believer from error. The focus is to remain
firm against the error by the education or edifying elements of our walk. Paul
gives the means through which believers can protect themselves from the errors
around them. The components are given by a series of participles joined by the
word and (kai):
(1) “Having
been firmly rooted” (2:7); i.e. rooted in the truth. The word rooted denotes that which is fixed or
firm. Lenski says of the grammar of the phrase is:
Properly a perfect passive, for the
Colossians were rooted in Christ the moment they received him. This participle
reaches back to that moment, goes forward to the present day, and continues on
into the future. Yet it is passive, for the Colossians did not root and do not
now root themselves in Christ. Another did and does this: God or God’s Spirit.[9]
Paul uses this verb only twice, here
and Ephesians 3:17. Together they indicated the two vital elements that
believers are to be rooted in—education (doctrine) and love. Being rooted in
Christ means being planted both in truth and love.
(2) “Being
built up in Him” (2:7). While the first metaphor is agricultural, this one
is architectural. Moo calls it a construction metaphor.[10] Here is
a passive participle meaning to build up, or build on something. In the Greek
it is a compound word (ep [upon] and oikodomeo [build]. We are built on the foundation of the truth of
Christ (cf. 1 Cor. 3:10-14; Luke 6:48; 2 Tim. 2:19, Eph. 2:20). The tense is
present and describes a process and the passive voice tells us that this is
God’s work in us. We are the recipients of this grace. The metaphor reinforces
the importance of the founding traditions (cf. 2:6), which are the guidelines
provided in the living experience of the believer—“just as you have been instructed.” There is a common connection
between our walk and what we have been taught. One should notice the almost
identical phrases, both which point to the eloquence of reliable tradition of
the Christian faith:
--“as you have received” (2:6)
--“as you were instructed” (2:7)
(3) “Established
in your faith” (2:7). The word established is the Greek verb bebaioo, which means to make firm. It is a legal word. It speaks
of “a legal guarantee.”[11] It
speaks of being firm and established. Paul often uses the word in the sense of
confirming (cf. 1 Cor. 1:6; 2 Cor. 1:21). In the context of 2:7 it emphasizes
the firmness of the believers walk in the faith. This metaphor is in connection
and helps establish their stability in the gospel that they received and were
taught. The KJV is more accurate in translating this as “in the faith.” It speaks of a body of truth, not subjective faith,
and is naturally connected to teaching. It refers to walking in or according to
the knowledge of the faith as revealed in the sphere of the person and work of
Christ. It is a passive, as are the other two metaphors thereby stressing God’s
grace and activity.
(4) “Overflowing
with gratitude” (2:7). The Greek word is perisseuo
meaning to be over and above, overflow, or abundant. The Majority text has the
words in it between abundant and with
gratitude, which is not found in most modern translations (including NASB,
NIV), but is found in the KJV[12] and
NKJV. There is uncertainty as to why this was omitted, it could have been an
accident, or it may have been on purpose to conform to the words “in him.”[13] Lack of
hard evidence convinces me that it should be included in the text. Thus, the
text should read, “overflowing in it
[therein] with gratitude.” It is a prepositional phrase which refers back
to the faith. This is affirmed in Ephesians 5:20. “With gratitude or thanksgiving” is how we are to respond to these
participles. This last participle is a present active participle, indicating
continual action and actively engaging in thanksgiving. Thanksgiving directs us
away from ourselves and circumstances to humility and servitude. It directs our
thoughts to God and praise. It leads to the mind of Christ (cf. Phil. 2:5-8).
One cannot be misled whose mind is in the faith.
[1] Peter T. O’Brien, WBC: COLOSSIANS, PHILEMON,
105.
[2] The view is held by C.F. Baker, UNDERSTANDING
THE BODY OF CHRIST, 132. Marry J. Harris, EGGNT: COLOSSIANS AND PHILEMON, 80.
[3] This view is held by F.F.
Bruce: NICNT: COLOSSIANS, PHILEMON AND EPHESIANS, 92-94. James D. Dunn, NIGTC:
COLOSSIANS AND PHILEMON, 138-43. Peter T O’Brien, WBC: COLOSSIANS, PHILEMON,
104-109. David W. Pao, ZECNT: COLOSSIANS & PHILEMON, 151.
[4] James D. Dunn, NIGTC:COLOSSIANS AND PHILEMON,
140.
[5] F.F. Bruce, NICNT: COLOSSIANS, PHILEMON AND
EPHESIANS, 92-93.
[6] John Eadie, COLOSSIANS, 125
[7] Douglas Moo, COLOSSIANS & PHILEMON, 177
holds that this is the only occurrence were the word receive speaks of a
personal object.
[8] Thomas Constable: NOTES ON
COLOSSIANS, 35.
[9] R.C.H. Lenski, INTERPRETATION OF COLOSSIANS,
THESSALONIANS, TIMOTHY, TITUS AND PHILEMON, 93.
[10] Douglas J. Moo, PNTC: COLOSSIANS AND
PHILEMON, 180.
[12] However, the NEW SCOFIELD REFERENCE BIBLE:
KJV, omits it
[13] Bruce Terry, TEXTUAL VARIANTS,
Biblecentre.net, Col. 2:7.
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