Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [Colossians: Chapter 1].
[Table of Contents]
[Previous] [Next]
1:1 {Of Christ Jesus} (\Christou I•sou\). This order in the later
epistles shows that \Christos\ is now regarded as a proper name
and not just a verbal adjective (Anointed One, Messiah). Paul
describes himself because he is unknown to the Colossians, not
because of attack as in Ga 1:1. {Timothy} (\Timotheos\).
Mentioned as in I and II Thess. when in Corinth, II Cor. when in
Macedonia, Phil. and Philemon when in Rome as here.
1:2 {At Colossae} (\en Kolossais\). The spelling is uncertain,
the MSS. differing in the title (\Kolassaeis\) and here
(\Kolossais\). Colossae was a city of Phrygia on the Lycus, the
tributaries of which brought a calcareous deposit of a peculiar
kind that choked up the streams and made arches and fantastic
grottoes. In spite of this there was much fertility in the valley
with two other prosperous cities some ten or twelve miles away
(Hierapolis and Laodicea). "The church at Colossae was the least
important of any to which Paul's epistles were addressed"
(Vincent). But he had no greater message for any church than he
here gives concerning the Person of Christ. There is no more
important message today for modern men.
1:3 {God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ} (\t•i the•i patri
tou kuriou h•m•n I•sou Christou\). Correct text without \kai\
(and) as in 3:17, though usually "the God and Father of our
Lord Jesus Christ" (2Co 1:3; 11:31; Ro 15:6; 1Pe 1:3; Re 1:6).
In verse 2 we have the only instance in the opening benediction
of an epistle when the name of "Jesus Christ" is not joined with
"God our Father." {Always} (\pantote\). Amphibolous position
between \eucharistoumen\ (we give thanks) and \proseuchomenoi\
(praying). Can go with either.
1:4 {Having heard of} (\akousantes\). Literary plural unless
Timothy is included. Aorist active participle of \akou•\ of
antecedent action to \eucharistoumen\. Epaphras (verse 8) had
told Paul. {Your faith in Jesus Christ} (\t•n pistin hum•n en
I•sou Christ•i\). See Eph 1:15 for similar phrase. No article
is needed before \en\ as it is a closely knit phrase and bears
the same sense as the objective genitive in Ga 2:16 (\dia
http://www.ccel.org/r/robertson_at/wordpictures/htm/COL1.RWP.html (1 of 14) [28/08/2004 09:23:40 a.m.]
Word Pictures in the New Testament
(Colossians: Chapter 1)