Colossians, Theology of

Introduction. Although short in length and written to a church Paul did not plant, Colossians stands tall in highlighting the centrality of Jesus Christ as the mediator of God's saving activity. It emphasizes that those who belong to Jesus need only draw on the resources God provides through Jesus in order to find blessing. This letter is known as one of the "Prison Epistles" (along with Ephesians, Philemon, and Philippians). Although some believe it was written by a student of Paul, it has traditionally been associated with Paul and his imprisonment at Rome, dating from around a.d. 61 to 62. Its major concern was to exhort the Colossians in the face of false teaching, which emphasized ascetic practice as a means of experiencing God's presence in a more meaningful way. Paul outlines the blessings of a God who Acts through the Mediator-Enabler Jesus, who is the Lord. By doing so, he refutes the false teaching and lays the basis for articulating the call of the church. So we look at Paul's teaching about God, Jesus, the heresy, and the task of the church. These four themes are the center of Paul's teaching in this book, as the apostle seeks to carry out the ministry God has given him.

The Active God Who Saves. The letter begins with a note of thanksgiving for the Colossians, who reflect the faith and love that draw their vitality from the sure hope that God has provided in the gospel ( 1:3-8 ). This gift reflects God's gracious activity ( 1:6 ). Now Paul describes this activity in more detail after his note of thanksgiving. God directs the saving process. Paul uses the language of warfare, as he notes that God "rescued" believers out of Satan's dark domain and "transferred" them into the kingdom of his beloved Son ( 1:13-14 ). It was God's pleasure to work through the mediatorial effort of his Son, who is made in his image and in whom all the fullness of deity resides ( Colossians 1:15 Colossians 1:19 ; 2:9 ). In fact, God's desire was that the Son have preeminence in all things, as seen in the Son's work in creation and redemption (as evidenced especially by his own resurrection 1:15-20 ).

God's work extends beyond rescue to transformation. He is also active in filling believers with the fullness of life that he graciously bestows to those in Christ ( 2:10 ). This transfer is pictured as a "circumcision" God performs as he buries us in baptism and raises us to new life through faith ( 2:11-12 ). This highly symbolic description of salvation really portrays the "new birth" and "new life" that God gives and effects. Thus, God "makes alive" by forgiving the sinner, cancelling out the debt of sin, and defeating those who stand opposed to humanity through Christ and the cross ( 2:13-15 ). As a result all growth comes through one's relationship to Christ and not through any series of rules or religious disciplinary practices ( 2:19 ).

Paul says it another way, when he stresses that the believer's life "is hidden" in God ( 3:3 ). This is why Paul can exhort the readers as "God's elect, " since God is the active agent in their salvation from start to finish. This is also why God should be praised ( Colossians 1:3 Colossians 1:12 ; 3:16 ) and is the object of intercession for boldness ( 4:2-4 ). God's power, provision, and sovereignty are central for Paul.

Of course, God is active in another way. He is the one who directs Paul's ministry ( Colossians 1:1 Colossians 1:25 ). So Paul is called to reveal along with others, the riches God has made available to the saints, and especially to Gentiles ( 1:26-29 ). Paul calls these riches a mystery, the hope of glory, which is Christ in the believer ( 1:26-27 ). Christ is the center of God's work and it is through Christ that both maturity and glorification come ( 2:2 ; 3:3-4 ).