BSERVATIONS OF THE PASSAGE
1. My initial paraphrase of the passage is:
v. 24 Now I am rejoicing in my suffering for you and I am filling up what is lacking from the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for the body which is the church.
v. 25 Which I have become a servant according to the plan of God that was given to me for you to make the word of God fully known,
v. 26 the mystery that has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been made known to his saints.
v. 27 To whom God wanted to make known what the riches of glory of this mystery to the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
v. 28 Which we are proclaiming, warning everyone and teaching everyone in all wisdom, in order that everyone may be presented …show more content…
Maturity comes from being taught, believers must be willing to learn and be corrected.
j. If God calls a person, he will empower them to fulfill thier calling.
5. My questions about the passage are:
a. What suffering was Paul undergoing?
b. What does it mean to fill up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions?
c. How was the term “servant” understood?
d. Why was the mystery hidden?
e. What connotations does the word “mystery” carry for the original audience?
f. Why was is revealed in history at that time?
g. What does it mean to be “mature in Christ”?
h. Is full maturation possible in this life?
i. Must Christians suffer for Christ in order to be faithful to his calling?
j. How should the use of both “toil” and “struggle”, instead of just one or the other, be understood?
II. CRITICAL STUDY OF THE PASSAGE
1. Background of the book and …show more content…
Historical/cultural setting of passage:
i. Religious: Colossae was a city of relaxed religious views. Since Colossae was located at a crossroads, it likely became a place where many different ideas were being traded as well (Lea and Black). Thus, it is possible that the heresy that had begun to take hold among the Christian believers that was likely a syncretism of various Jewish and Greek beliefs that had begun to also mix in Christian beliefs. Such teachings were likely presented as advanced information for the elite. Thus, the believers in Colossae were being urged to go beyond the gospel they had received into further mysteries (ISBE). ii. Political: Colossae was a Roman city in the Lycus Valley in the territory of Phrygia which was located in the province of Asia Minor (ISBE). iii. Economic: At one point in its history, Colossae was a prominent city, but began was eventually overtaken in importance by neighboring cities. One of its main industries was textiles where they produced a unique purple colored wool (ISBE). Colossae also benefited from being on major trade routes
1. My initial paraphrase of the passage is:
v. 24 Now I am rejoicing in my suffering for you and I am filling up what is lacking from the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for the body which is the church.
v. 25 Which I have become a servant according to the plan of God that was given to me for you to make the word of God fully known,
v. 26 the mystery that has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been made known to his saints.
v. 27 To whom God wanted to make known what the riches of glory of this mystery to the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
v. 28 Which we are proclaiming, warning everyone and teaching everyone in all wisdom, in order that everyone may be presented …show more content…
Maturity comes from being taught, believers must be willing to learn and be corrected.
j. If God calls a person, he will empower them to fulfill thier calling.
5. My questions about the passage are:
a. What suffering was Paul undergoing?
b. What does it mean to fill up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions?
c. How was the term “servant” understood?
d. Why was the mystery hidden?
e. What connotations does the word “mystery” carry for the original audience?
f. Why was is revealed in history at that time?
g. What does it mean to be “mature in Christ”?
h. Is full maturation possible in this life?
i. Must Christians suffer for Christ in order to be faithful to his calling?
j. How should the use of both “toil” and “struggle”, instead of just one or the other, be understood?
II. CRITICAL STUDY OF THE PASSAGE
1. Background of the book and …show more content…
Historical/cultural setting of passage:
i. Religious: Colossae was a city of relaxed religious views. Since Colossae was located at a crossroads, it likely became a place where many different ideas were being traded as well (Lea and Black). Thus, it is possible that the heresy that had begun to take hold among the Christian believers that was likely a syncretism of various Jewish and Greek beliefs that had begun to also mix in Christian beliefs. Such teachings were likely presented as advanced information for the elite. Thus, the believers in Colossae were being urged to go beyond the gospel they had received into further mysteries (ISBE). ii. Political: Colossae was a Roman city in the Lycus Valley in the territory of Phrygia which was located in the province of Asia Minor (ISBE). iii. Economic: At one point in its history, Colossae was a prominent city, but began was eventually overtaken in importance by neighboring cities. One of its main industries was textiles where they produced a unique purple colored wool (ISBE). Colossae also benefited from being on major trade routes