Living under the Lordship of Christ : the ground and shape of paraenesis in the Epistle to the Colossians
This study examines the broad range of moral exhortations in Colossians. The paraenetical sections evaluated include 1.9-10, 21-23; 2.6-7; 3.1-4, 5-17; 3.18-4.1. My primary objective is to determine the ground or basis for paraenesis in Colossians. I submit that there is a clear and consistent relationship between theology and ethics in Colossaians, for paraenesis is repeatedly given a firm theological foundation. The ground for the Colossian paraenesis is primarily Christological (1.9-10, 20-23; 2.6-7; 3.11, 17-18, 20, 22-23), sometimes soteriological (2.11-12; 3.1-4, 9-10), and occasionally eschatological (3.1-4, 24-25). My secondary aim is to analyse the shape of the Colossian paraenesis in terms of the behavioural, historical, and rhetorical nature of the exhortations. Much of the paraenesis in Colossians, particularly the vice/virtue lists and the household code, is traditional paraenetical material which reflects first century Hellenistic moral exhortation. At the same time, the traditional paraenetical material in Colossians is not traditional material simpliciter, for the role of humility (3.12), the nature of love (3.13-14), the placement of the householder under the authority of Christ (4.1), and
Tracy, Steven Robert
Philosophy
Living under the Lordship of Christ : the ground and shape of paraenesis in the Epistle to the Colossians. This study examines the broad range of moral exhortations in Colossians. The paraenetical sections evaluated include 1.9-10, 21-23; 2.6-7; 3.1-4, 5-17; 3.18-4.1. My primary objective is to determine the ground or basis for paraenesis in Colossians. I submit that there is a clear and consistent relationship between theology and ethics in Colossaians, for paraenesis is repeatedly given a firm theological foundation. The ground for the Colossian paraenesis is primarily Christological (1.9-10, 20-23; 2.6-7; 3.11, 17-18, 20, 22-23), sometimes soteriological (2.11-12; 3.1-4, 9-10), and occasionally eschatological (3.1-4, 24-25). My secondary aim is to analyse the shape of the Colossian paraenesis in terms of the behavioural, historical, and rhetorical nature of the exhortations. Much of the paraenesis in Colossians, particularly the vice/virtue lists and the household code, is traditional paraenetical material which reflects first century Hellenistic moral exhortation. At the same time, the traditional paraenetical material in Colossians is not traditional material simpliciter, for the role of humility (3.12), the nature of love (3.13-14), the placement of the householder under the authority of Christ (4.1), and
living lordship christ ground shape paraenesis epistle study_examines broad_range moral exhortation section evaluate include primary_objective determine ground basis paraenesis submit clear consistent relationship theology_ethic paraenesis repeatedly give firm theological foundation ground paraenesis primarily christological sometimes soteriological occasionally eschatological secondary_aim analyse shape paraenesis term behavioural historical rhetorical nature exhortation much paraenesis particularly vice virtue list household code traditional material reflect hellenistic moral exhortation time traditional material traditional material role humility nature love placement authority christ