Our Christian
Apparel (3:5-11)
Continued
The second imperative: “put them all aside” (3:8-9).
Paul in this second imperative moves
from the past (3:7) to the present. This
is clearly indicated by the words, “but
now” (3:8). This “introduces
temporal contrast, pointing to the fact that the Christian life must contrast
with the person's former life (cf. l:21-22).”[1] It sets up the phrase: “put them all aside.” The object of the image is metaphorical for
taking off clothes and is a Greek rather than a Hebrew metaphor.[2] However, it has a long biblical use, especially by
Paul. Paul may well have been thinking about the stoning of Stephen, whose
clothes were laid at his feet. The word used in Acts 7:58 is the same Greek
word (apotithemi) rendered “put
off” in Colossians 3.[3] It is an
aorist middle imperative indicating a call for decisive and immediate action on
our part. It denotes responsibility. The phrase does not refer so much back to
the vices Paul already gave, but is an introduction to a new list. The word all points forward. If one compares the
two lists, one can observe the first list refers to actions, but this new list
refers to the attitudes of the mind, which is expressed through our speech.
Jesus reminds us that out of the mouth comes the expression of the heart (or
mind; attitude), Matthew 15:18. The list is then given. This list is similar to
Ephesians 4:31. Most who view the list say there are five. I disagree. I see
six attitudes of the natural mind:
·
Anger (orge) which
speaks of one’s mental bent; thus has the meaning of anger, wrath, impulse,
rage, vengeance, or temper. It is the same word used for wrath of God in 3:6.
It speaks of chronic anger, one that is nursed and grows.
·
Wrath (thumos) is
related to anger, but is not quit the same. It pertains to the mind, and
indicates a strong passion; fury, anger and/or wrath. Barclay tells us; “It can describe
a quality with which no good character can flourish; it can describe a quality
which is the wrecker of personal relationships, and the destruction of
fellowship within the community.”[4] Although the two words somewhat overlap anger is a
somewhat settled feeling, while wrath speaks more of rage and a tumultuous
outburst of passion.[5] It speaks of an explosive temper. It is like a flash
in a pan, which flares up, and quickly subsides. We are to put off this type of
anger.
·
Malice (kakia)
meaning malicious spite, malignity, wickedness, evil, or depravity (cf. Romans
1:29). It denotes ill will toward someone. This ill force destroys fellowship
within the church. It accompanies the unsaved life which we all experienced,
even us who are saved (cf. Titus 3:3).
·
Slander (blasphemeo)
which means blaspheme, slander, malign, or to defame (cf. Eph. 4:31). It can be
directed toward God or man. It indicates the defaming of someone’s character.
Many times it is in the form of bringing up past events and holding them
against the person, not accounting for, or disregarding transformation that has
taken place.
·
Abusive {KJV;filthy
communication) is the Greek word aischrologia, meaning vile or obscene language. The phrase “from your mouth,” is not altogether as clear
to what it describes. The is mainly two reviews: First, is that it modifies all
5 vices as a group. Campbell holds this view, saying; “Paul is
literally telling them to stop their angry, wrathful, malicious, slanderous and
foul speaking.”[6] This is the popular understanding among scholars.
Their arguments have some merit. The two main are (1) since the final phrase of
the first list (which is idolatry)
modifies the whole list, so does this one. (2) They see support for this in
Ephesians 5:4. Second is the view that it refers to slander and filthy
speaking. I agree with Moo who holds this view.[7] The reasons are: (1) the phrase denotes the function
of speaking, the action of the mouth. (2) Not all the list fulfills this
definition or function. For example, anger, wrath, and malice are attitudes of
the heart, which may or may not be expressed in speech, but action. Moo
comments: “Anger,
rage, and malice will then refer to verbal expressions of these emotion rather
than the emotions themselves. But giving this extended meaning to these words
does not have good lexical support. More likely, then, from your lips should be attached to the end of the list as a way
of reinforcing the last two sins.”[8] To this I agree. Anger, rage, and malice may give
rise to the abusive speech, but are not necessarily actual speech. (3) The
phrase leads to the next item, which is given in the voice of a command.
·
Do not lie to one
another (3:9). While most do not see this as a continuation of the vice list, I
believe it does. Thus, it is the sixth vice. It is a natural continuation and
summation of the vice list.[9] To lie is to
deliberately tell an untruth. Like slander and abusive speech, it comes from
the mouth. It is also direct disobedience to the law (Exod. 20:16; Lev. 19:11,
18; Deut. 5:20). The act of lying is much deeper than telling a falsehood, to
lie to deny the Truth of God (Rom. 1:25, 2:8). This speaks directly to members
of the church, the body of Christ. By doing this, believers are denying the
reality of their redemption and are hypocritical of who they are in Christ.
Their life is a lie.
This list ends with this imperative. It is also
transitional in nature for it gives a conclusion to the vice list, and
introduces the next list (3:9-17). This ends the negative list and begins a positive
list as seen by the words put off and
put on. (3:9-10). It clearly marks
the reasons for believer’s abandonment of the old ways and live in the
new. The phrase, “since you laid aside the old self with its practices” (3:9). This
indicates that the believer is to have already taken off the old life or way of
living; for he has passed from death to life, from being in Adam to being in
Christ. He however must appropriate who he is in Christ and put off the
practices of the old way of life. Yet, in spite of all this, Paul finds it
necessary to command them to put off such practices. Paul recognized the
reality of sin in the believer’s life, and tells them to do away with such
sinful practices. Campbell reminds us that the “instructions to put off the old
man would be irrelevant if believers have only one nature (Eph. 4:22 cf. Rom
13:12; Eph. 4:25).”[10] Believers are not sinless, but we are to sin less;
living more and more in the new way of life instruction by Paul.
To be continued…
[1] H. Wayne House, “The Christian Life according
to Colossians,” BIBLIOTHECA SACRA, December 1994, 450.
[2] Dunn, NIGTC: COLOSSIANS AND PHILEMON, 218.
[4] Barclay, FLESH AND SPIRIT, 51.
[5] Pao, COLOSSIANS AND PHILEMON, 224.
[6] Campbell, COLOSSIANS, 135. Also see O’Brien,
188; Pao, 223.
[7] Moo, PNTC: COLOSSIANS, 262-264.
[9] Ibid,
264; O’Brien, WBC: COLOSSIANS, PHILEMON, 188
[10] Campbell, COLOSSIANS AND PHILEMON, 136.
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