Effects of the Good News
By Jonathan Mitchell

(Observations From Colossians 1:5-6)

In this study we are investigating two verses which are the last part of Paul’s run-on sentence in the opening of Col. 1. Let us move to the text, and then consider what we see:

5. because of the expectation (or: expectant hope) - the one deposited in you (continuously lying stored away as a reserve for you, and with you folks) - resident within, and in union with, the atmospheres (or: centered in the sphere of the heavens), which you folks previously heard within the Word (Logos; Reason; message; discourse; or: this transfer and conveyance of Meaning-bearing Information, and this Flow of Information that is a Pattern-forming Influence) from, and concerning, the Truth and this Essential Essence (or: the Word of this Truth; the idea belonging to, and having its source in, this Reality; the collected and laid-out thoughts which are truth and reality) which originates in, and pertains to, this message of ease, goodness and well-being (or: from, which belongs to, and which is, the Good News)

6. of, and from, the One being continuously present alongside [and pouring] into the midst of you folks, just as He is also continuously existing within all the ordered System (within the midst of every world of culture, society, religion, economics and government; centered within the entire aggregate of humanity; inherently resident within the sphere of the whole universe; in all the [Roman Empire]), repeatedly bearing fruit of itself and constantly being grown and caused to be increasing, just as also within you folks, from [the] day in which you heard and at once fully experienced - in intimate knowing, accurate realization and added insight - the Grace of God, within Truth (or: God's Favor resident within [the] Truth; this Grace from God in the midst of Reality; or: the Favor which, in essential essence, is God).

The folks in Colossae have been given an expectation (or, an expectant hope). Paul asserts that this expectation was deposited in them, for them and with them. The three renderings of the indirect object of this deposit derive from the various functions of the dative case form of the plural personal pronoun, "you." One NT translation offers the potential function of this case as, "to you," but this seems not to fit the context. The idea of "for you" signifies that it is for their benefit. The ideas of "in you," and "with you" give the sense of location: this expectation is within them, is accessible to them and is within the midst of their community. So, let us further examine the idea of location, as given in the following phrase.

Paul tells us that this expectation was deposited: "resident within, and in union with, the atmospheres," or as otherwise translated, "centered in the sphere of the heavens." The word "heaven" can simply refer to the sky, where the winds blow and the clouds drift and the birds fly. With this meaning, the heavens touch the mountains and fill the valleys. They form the atmosphere (another meaning of the word "heaven") above the ground on which we live. Thus, we live our lives with this atmosphere. Although there are other atmospheres above this one that touches the land, since Paul informed us that the expectation is "with" us, then we should conclude that it is in our "here and now," not far away or in some future.

Next, he reminds them that this expectation was imparted to them through the Word that was spoken to them, and which they had "heard." So then, we see that the expectation actually entered into them via their hearing - and thus, was "with them." However, take note that it was in their very atmospheres, and so they could even breathe it in. It is like both hearing the wind and breathing it, at the same time.

Now this Word, "this transfer and conveyance of Meaning-bearing Information, and this Flow of Information that is a Pattern-forming Influence," which was, in fact, "the Logos" - which entered them, instigating the new creation, within them - came from the Truth (Christ) and concerned "this Essential Essence," all of which "originates in, and pertains to, this message of ease, goodness and well-being (or: from, which belongs to, and which is, the Good News)."

Wow! We did not realize that the preaching of the Gospel involved all this. Verse 5 explodes our perceptions, expanding them into a realization of the power and function of the Message: they are the very creative force of the Logos, which is God, Himself. By unpacking this verse, we are lifted into the realm of the Spirit and are given a view from a higher perspective, and now can begin to realize what Paul meant in Eph. 2:5b-6, when he said,

"He made [us] alive together by (or: joins us in common life with, for and in; [p46, B: within; in union with; cf Jn. 5:24]]) the Christ - by (with; in) the Grace and joyous Favor you continually exist, being folks having been delivered (rescued and saved, so that you are now safe and made whole)! - and He jointly roused and raised (or: suddenly awakens and raises) [us] up together, and caused [us] to sit (or: seats [us]; = enthroned [us]) together in union with, and among, the ruling heavenly people, and within the things situated upon the imposed heavens (or: centered in the full, perfected heavenlies; or: among those comprising the complete and completed heavenlies; in union with the celestial people; among the folks [residing] upon the atmospheres) within, in union with, and in the sphere of, Christ Jesus."

This is apocalyptic imagery, but it describes our current reality, as we "walk in the Spirit" (Gal. 5:16-18).

All of verse 5 is "of, and from, the One being continuously present alongside" (vs. 6, above). I inserted a participle phrase "[and pouring]" in order to join the thought of His presence to the following phrase, "into the midst of you folks," which reaches back to the topic of vs. 5 and the expectation "deposited in you folks." But Paul does not stop here. He continues his universal picture by going on to say, "just as He is also continuously existing within all the ordered System." I will not repeat what is on offer in the parenthetical expansion of this clause, but those alternate renderings add insight to what Paul presents to us. Most people do not believe this last statement. They are still waiting for Him to come, because their spiritual eyes are not opened to perceive Him.

Next, we read that, He is "repeatedly bearing fruit of itself and constantly being grown and caused to be increasing." Here, I have conflated the two potential readings of the present participle, as either a middle voice (repeatedly bearing fruit of itself - an allusion to the creation story in Gen. 1) and also as the passive voice (and constantly being grown and caused to be increasing). He pours Himself into us, into the earthen jars that we are, or He scatters Himself as Seed into our soil. Paul turns his focus from the ordered System (world) back to the local community in Colossae, adding, "just as also within you folks, from [the] day in which you heard and at once fully experienced -- in intimate knowing, accurate realization and added insight - the Grace of God, within Truth."

The parenthetical expansion of the last phrase is worthy of our consideration: "God's Favor resident within [the] Truth; this Grace from God in the midst of Reality; or: the Favor which, in essential essence, is God."

Yes, "the Grace of God" exists within the Way, the Truth, and the Life. And as we look ahead to tomorrow, and the days that lie ahead, we are filled with Expectation for what the Logos will continue producing.

Jonathan

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