123: The Virtue of Spiritual Simplicity (haplotēs) (Colossians 3:22; Ephesians 6:5)
On two occasions Paul gives specific instructions for Christians who are slaves (douloi). In both instances (Colossians 3:22; Ephesians 6:5) he urges them to engage their responsibilities “with sincerity of heart” (en haplotēti kardias), fearing (or reverencing) the Lord (Colossians), or as they “would obey Christ” (Ephesians), as translated in the New International Version (NIV). [...]
121. “Redeeming the Cursed and Redeeming Time” (exagorazein) (Galatians 3:13; 4:5; Ephesians 5:16; Colossians 4:5)
Four times in his letters Paul incorporates the compound verb exagorazō – twice in Galatians and once each in Ephesians and Colossians. In his letter to the Christians in Galatia Paul used the verb to describe what the impact of the Messiah’s life and death upon “us,” i.e. those under curse (3:13), and upon those [...]
119. The Messiah’s Triumph in the Cross (thriambeuō) (2 Cor. 2:14; Col.2:15)
While there is debate in the case of Col. 2:15, it seems most probable that in both the Colossians passage and 2 Cor. 2:14 God is the subject of this verb thriambeuō in Paul’s letters. These are the only contexts in the New Testament where this verb occurs. The translators and writers of the Greek [...]
118.”Reconciling (apokatallassein ) all things to himself” (Col. 1:20)
Paul is the New Testament author who explores the concept of reconciliation most fully, using the verb katallassō[1]and the cognate noun katallagē[2] to express this concept in his letters to the Roman and Corinthian churches. The meaning of the simple verb allassō is to change or exchange and when applied to political or relational situations [...]
117. God’s work that “Makes us Qualified” (hikanoun) — Colossians 1:12
The verb hikanoun occurs only two times in the New Testament and in both cases Paul was the author (2 Corinthians 3:6; Colossians 1:12). Paul incorporates the cognate noun hikanotēs once into the 2 Corinthians 3:5-6 context. The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke-Acts, alongside of Paul’s letters also employ the adjective hikanos quite frequently, [...]
115. God at work–Paul’s Concept of the Verb energein and Cognates (Philippians 2:12-13)
One of the more unusual notions that frequently occurs in Paul’s letters is that God is “working in” people and situations. The verb that expresses this most consistently is energein 1 (“put one’s capabilities into operation”) and its cognate nouns energeia 2 (“state or quality of being active”), energēma3 (“activity as expression of capability”), and [...]
112. Fathers, Anger, and Discipling Children (parorgizein Ephesians 6:4 and erethizein Colossians 3:21)
Embedded in the closing section of Ephesians and Colossians, a set of instructions to Christian fathers forms part of a so-called “household code” (Ephesians 5:21-6:9; Colossians 3:18-4:1). In the Ephesian segment Paul urges fathers to “bring them [children] up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord”1 (Ephesians 6:4). No positive exhortation is given in [...]
83. Apekdusis – A metaphor for Jesus’ Work on the Cross and Our Personal Transformation in Christ (Colossians 2:11, 15; 3:9)
In his letter to the Christians in Colosse Paul used a noun (apekdusis) and its cognate verb (apekduomai) which do not occur elsewhere in the New Testament. In fact the noun and its related verb first occur in Greek literature within the Colossian letter.1 The formation of this word with two prepositional prefixes (apo, ek), [...]