Section 56
68E. Percy observes that none of the distinctively Pauline terms, such as justification or the nonreckoning of trespasses, would suit the solemn liturgical diction of this passage so well as ἂφεσɩς τѽν ἁμαϱτɩѽν (Die Probleme der Kolosser-und Epheserbriefe [Lund, 1946], pp. 85-86). Besides, there may have been a special reason for bringing redemption and forgiveness of sins so closely together here if the Colossian theorists anticipated others who, according to Irenaeus (Haer. 1.21.2), distinguished “forgiveness of sins” as a preliminary stage and “redemption” as the perfect stage, the former being received in the baptism instituted by the “human” Jesus, the latter coming from the “divine” Christ that descended on him.
69Gk. ἀϱϰή, to which P46 B and a few other witnesses prefix the article ἡ.
70Gk. πϱωτóτοϰος ἐϰ τѽν νεϰϱѽν. P46 ℵ* and one or two other witnesses omit ἐϰ (cf. Rev. 1:5, ὁ πϱωτóτοϰος τѽν νεϰϱѽν).