December 25th, 2021

This Sunday is the First Sunday after Christmas, and we will continue to look at the epistle texts. This week the text is from Colossians [3:12-17].
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We have been looking at how Christianity was ‘spoken against’ in the book of Acts (28:22), and near the beginning of St. Paul’s letter to the church at Colossae, he writes how the gospel has come to them, ‘as also in all the world it is bearing fruit and growing’ (1:6). Christianity is spoken against in many places, but, in stark contrast, it is also bearing fruit and growing ‘in all the world’. It may continue to be spoken against by mankind, but, because of the Lord’s doing, is still bearing fruit and growing.

And it is certainly a great thing to know how the gospel is bearing fruit and growing. But it is also good to know how it is being spoken against. The heresy that is in the church at Colossae has some similarities to the teachings of the Jews.

To get an idea of what St. Paul has to deal with when it comes to the false teaching that is going on at Colossae, it may be helpful to start when he gives his first ‘therefore’. At the beginning of the letter, he lays out the importance of Christ. And the connection that they have to this ‘anointed one’ is important. Note how important Jesus is, especially when compared to the things that people do; those things are not so important.

The following somewhat-literal translation is from 2:6-3:11. You may wish to compare it to a translation that you already have. It is a long text, but it has some great points. And it lists some specific commands that can creep into our lives and overtake the gospel with all its good news about something that was done for you.

This text is also a good ending for this week’s ‘journey’. These are the verses that are before the text for this Sunday. And since that text starts with a ‘therefore’, I thought it would be good to point out what it was there for—but actually the ESV translation has ‘then’.

Therefore, as you received the Christ Jesus, the Lord, walk in him, having been rooted and having been built up in him, and being confirmed in the faith, as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

Look, lest anyone of you will be robbing through the philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the elements of the world and not according to Christ; because in him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, and you are in him, having been filled, who is the head of all rule and authority, in whom also you were circumcised with a circumcision not made by hands, in the putting off of the body of the flesh, in the circumcision of Christ, co-buried with him in the baptism, in whom also you were co-raised through the faith of the working of the God, the one raising him from dead; and you, being dead in the transgressions and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he co-enlivened you with him, forgiving us all the transgressions; wiping out against us the handwriting in the dogma which was contrary to us, and has taken it out of the midst, nailing it to the cross; putting off the rulers and the authorities, he exposed them with boldness, triumphing them in it.

Therefore, let not anyone judge you in eating and in drinking or in respect of a feast or new moon or of sabbaths, things which are a shadow of the things coming, but the body is of Christ. Let no one give you judgment against, wishing in [false] humility and worship of the angels, things which he has seen intruding into, being puffed up in vain by the mind of his flesh, and not holding the head, from whom all the body, through the joints and bands, having been supplied and having been joined together, will grow the growth of God.

If you died with Christ from the elements of the world, why as living in the world are you subject to dogma: Do not touch nor taste nor handle, things which are all for corruption in the using, according to the commands and teachings of the men? Things which are a word, indeed having wisdom in self-chosen worship and humility and unsparing of the body, not in any honor for satisfaction of the flesh.

Therefore, if you were co-raised with Christ, seek the things above, where the Christ is at the right of the God, sitting; think the things above, not the things upon the earth. For you died, and your life has been hidden with the Christ in the God; whenever the Christ is manifested, the life of us, then also you yourselves will be manifested with him in glory.

Therefore, put to death the members, the ones upon the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, bad desire, and the covetousness, which is idolatry, because of these things the wrath of the God is coming upon the sons of disobedience; in which, indeed, you yourselves walked then, when you were living in these things; but now, you yourselves put away also all things, wrath, anger, malice, blasphemy, shameful words, out of your mouth; do not lie to one another, having put off the old man with the practices of him, and having put on the new, the one being renewed in full knowledge according to the image of the One creating him; where there is no Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave, freeman, but on the contrary, all things and in all is Christ.