Understanding The Bible |
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BY THE AUTHOR
Dr. Clarence E. Mason, Jr.
Philadelphia College of Bible
1968
COLOSSIANS
"Colossae (or Colassae), a town on the borders of Phrygia, near Laodicea, does not seem to have been ever visited by St. Paul. The church was apparently founded by Epaphras, a native, who visited Ephesus during the apostle's period of activity there.
"During Paul's imprisonment, Epaphras visited Rome, and from him the apostle
heard of the intrusion of a new form of error into the church. It seems to have
been the first presentment of what was in after generations developed into
Gnosticism. Half Jewish and half Oriental, its mystical character had a certain
charm for these inhabitants of a country which had ever been the chosen home of
mystic and magical cults. The new heresy affected both the faith and the
practice of the church. It taught that God was inaccessible, only to be
approached through a long gradation of celestial intermediaries (of whom Jesus
was but one), emanations (aeons) from His Essence, and all combining to compose
His Divine 'Plenitude' (Pleroma). Hence these celestial hierarchies must be
adored; and, as matter was polluting, and the body a degradation,
self-abasement and rigid asceticism must be practiced as a necessary preliminary
to invoking the intercession of such pure beings. Various features of the ritual
and restrictions of Judaism were introduced to equip these fancies with a
working system of outward observances. The obligations of life's duties and of
social relations were thrust into the background.
"As two friends, Tychicus of Ephesus and Onesimus of Colossae, were leaving Rome
for the East, Paul entrusted to them a letter for this church, the main object
of which is to establish the principle that in Messiah Jesus alone dwells the
Plenitude of the Godhead, that He is the only Mediator, the only Saviour, the
Head of the Church, the Source of its life: that whatever celestial beings exist
are subjected to Him. Hence practices--whether of ritual, of self-abasement, or
of asceticism--founded on false beliefs are to be scouted. Instead of these,
there must be love and mutual helpfulness, and the fulfillment of the duties of
daily life." Arthur S. Way in The Letters of St. Paul ("Ephesians")
Thus, the general letter to the province will not meet the specific need of
Colossian Christians, and so a special letter (Colossians) is written to meet a
special condition. However, the exhortational portion (Chs. 3-4) closely
parallels Ephesians 4-6, and in addition they are instructed to mutually share
letters with the nearest church, Laodicea (4:16), which is, of course, the
general provincial letter called "Ephesians."
Ephesians emphasizes the Church, the body of which Christ is the Head;
Colossians emphasizes Christ, the Head of the body which is the Church.
"Mason's Notes"
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