Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations— “Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,” which all concern things which perish with the using—according to the commandments and doctrines of men? These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh. If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. (Col 2:20–3:7)
I like to read and listen to audiobooks, and my interest in reading and appreciating the English language and words has grown over the years. Honestly, I regret not paying more attention to my English classes during my school and college days. Due to my lack of prioritizing education back then, I now have to catch up on proper English grammar and word usage after many years. Admittedly, my knowledge of the original text of the Bible is limited, so I often read English translations of those texts slowly, paying more attention to words and grammar. And thank God for some of the modern tools we have to aid our Bible study and for friends that can assist with difficult passages, especially those relating to Greek or Hebrew.
Today, we will examine a larger portion of text, specifically 2:20 verses chapter 3:7. It may surprise those new to reading the Bible or just getting acquainted with the biblical text that these texts in the original languages did not have chapters, verses, or punctuation. In the case of Greek, while upper- and lower-case letters exist, most Greek text related to the New Testament is generally capitalized.
Bible translators do their best to insert chapters and verses to make navigating the New Testament text easier and interpreting it in English. So, with direct translation into English, punctuation is necessary to make sense of the text. I mention all this to make a point: the best way to read the New Testament epistles is in one sitting, ignoring the chapter divisions and trying to understand the flow of thought.
Today, as we reflect on this Scripture passage, let's focus on a few particular words: "therefore," "if," "why," and "then." When reading Paul's epistles, or any epistles for that matter, I pay attention to these words as they are significant.
The word "therefore" is often used as a transitional word to indicate a logical conclusion or a consequence based on previous information. When the word “therefore” is used to start a new paragraph, and signals that the upcoming content is closely related to the previous paragraph and provides a conclusion or summary of the ideas presented before. In this way, "therefore" helps to connect ideas and improve the coherence and flow of the overall text. It can also signal to the reader that the writer is presenting a solution, recommending, or drawing a conclusion.
"if" is a conjunction typically used to introduce a condition or a hypothetical situation in a sentence. It indicates that something is being presented as a possibility, and the outcome depends on a particular condition being met. "if" can also be used to express uncertainty or ask a question indirectly. For example, in the sentence "I'm not sure if I can make it to the party," the word "if" indicates uncertainty about attending the party. In the sentence "Do you know if she's coming to the meeting?", the word "if" is used to ask a question indirectly.
In Colossians 2:22-3:7, Paul uses the words "therefore," "if," "why," and "then" to present a series of logical arguments and instructions to the Colossians.
First argument: In 2:22, Paul uses the word "therefore" to draw a conclusion based on his previous arguments. And what were they? He explains that because the things of the world are temporary and will eventually perish, the Colossians should not be bound by the religious rules and regulations that the false teachers were promoting.
Second Argument: In 3:1, Paul uses "if" to present a hypothetical situation. He encourages the Colossians to set their minds on things above "if" they have been raised with Christ; by using "if," Paul implies that some of the Colossians may not have fully embraced their new life in Christ yet.
Third Argument: In 3:5-6, Paul uses the word "why" to explain the reasoning behind his instructions. He tells the Colossians to put their earthly desires and practices to death, such as sexual immorality and greed, because these things are contrary to God's will and will lead to judgment.
Fourth Argument: Finally, in 3:7, Paul uses the word "then" to indicate the consequence of following his instructions. He says that when the Colossians put off their old selves and put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator, "then" they will experience the fullness of life in Christ.
Although today’s blog was a little less devotional, I felt that understanding the flow of thought and paying attention to keywords such as "therefore," "if," "why," and "then" can significantly aid in comprehending biblical texts such as Colossians 2:20-3:7. As a student of God’s word attempt to read the New Testament epistles in one sitting, ignoring chapter divisions and seeking to understand the flow of thought.
Comments