{"id":542,"date":"2010-09-02T05:42:42","date_gmt":"2010-09-02T12:42:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jkitchen.org\/?p=542"},"modified":"2011-01-14T05:00:50","modified_gmt":"2011-01-14T12:00:50","slug":"where-the-scripture-dwells-part-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jkitchen.org\/?p=542","title":{"rendered":"Where the Scripture Dwells (Part 2)"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cLet the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and <\/em>hymns and <\/em>spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.\u201d<\/strong><\/span> (Colossians 3:15)<\/span><\/p>\n

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Let me pick up our observations on this important verse.\u00a0 Check the previous post here<\/a> for context of the opening words.<\/p>\n

Paul follows up with two participles: \u201cteaching and admonishing.\u201d<\/span><\/strong> Some contend that these participles receive imperatival weight from the previous imperative (\u201cLet . . . dwell,\u201d cf. NRSV)[1]<\/a>, yet this seems doubtful[2]<\/a> and it is best to find their meaning in subordinate relationship to that imperative.\u00a0 Just what is that relationship?\u00a0 They could indicate the means by which we are to let the word of Christ dwell in us richly,[3]<\/a> or the mode in which this dwelling becomes reality[4]<\/a>, or they could indicate the result of letting that word so dwell within us.[5]<\/a> There is obviously a evenly divided split in opinion regarding the function of these participles in the sentence.\u00a0 All in all the best option seems to view them either as expressing means or mode, the difference in meaning being negligible.<\/p>\n

These two actions have already been used to describe Paul\u2019s personal ministry in 1:28, though in reverse order.\u00a0 Now they are to characterize what the local believers are to practice with \u201cone another.\u201d<\/span><\/strong> The plural form of the reflexive pronoun (\u201cone another\u201d) can function also in a reciprocal manner and pictures the back-and-forth nature of the fellowship intended.[6]<\/a> In speaking of \u201cteaching\u201d<\/span><\/strong> Paul uses a word which is used at times to speak of official teaching of doctrine within the church and the scope of those who are to undertake this ministry is limited (1 Tim. 2:12).\u00a0 But here the word is clearly broadened to include all members of the body of Christ.\u00a0 The word \u201cadmonishing\u201d<\/span><\/strong> comes from a word which in turn comes from a compound of \u201cmind\u201d and \u201cto place\/put.\u201d\u00a0 Thus the literal sense of the word is \u201cto put in mind.\u201d[7]<\/a> It means to admonish, to warn, or to instruct in the sense of \u201cgiving instructions in regard to belief or behavior.\u201d[8]<\/a> Being coordinate (\u201cand\u201d) with one another they present a positive (\u201cteaching\u201d) and more negative (\u201cadmonishing\u201d) side to the total ministry of the word among the believers.<\/p>\n

As one can quickly see this ministry must be undertaken \u201cin all wisdom.\u201d <\/span><\/strong> This is the third time this precise phrase has been used in Colossians (1:9, 28; 3:16).\u00a0 Most telling is its use in 1:28 where it similarly tells us the manner in which Paul undertook these same two ministries.\u00a0 Wisdom is a significant theme in this letter (1:9, 28; 2:3, 23; 3:16; 4:5), playing a more prominent role than it does in Ephesians (1:8, 17; 3:10).\u00a0 This may be due to a special emphasis on wisdom among the false teachers in Colossae (2:23).\u00a0 Paul has in view \u201call\u201d<\/span><\/strong> or every form or expression of God\u2019s wisdom.<\/p>\n

[1]<\/a> Lightfoot, 222; Lohse, 150; Robertson, 4:505.<\/p>\n

[2]<\/a> Wallace, 652.<\/p>\n

[3]<\/a> Harris, 168.<\/p>\n

[4]<\/a> Moo, 228; O\u2019Brien, 207.<\/p>\n

[5]<\/a> Alford, 3:238; Wright, 144.<\/p>\n

[6]<\/a> Robertson, Grammar<\/em>, 690.<\/p>\n

[7]<\/a> Thayer, 429.<\/p>\n

[8]<\/a> Friberg, 273.<\/p>\n

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