Section 84
205Gk. ὑπὲϱ τοῦ σώματος αὐτοῦ, ὅ ἐστɩν ἡ ἐϰϰλησία. The preposition ὑπέϱ (“on behalf of”) may have the fuller sense “instead of” when the context so indicates, as it probably does here. Cf. E. K. Simpson, “Note on the Meaning of YIIEP in Certain Contexts,” The Pastoral Epistles (London, 1954), pp. 110-12; L. Morris, “Additional Note on ὑπέϱ in Galatians 3:13,” in The Apostolic Preaching of the Cross, pp. 62-64; M. J. Harris, “Prepositions and Theology in the Greek New Testament,” NIDNTT 3, pp. 1196-97. P. Benoit sees in the explanatory clause ὅ ἐστɩν ἡ ἐϰϰλησία the editorial hand of the redactor of Ephesians or of some other disciple of Paul’s (“L’hymne christologique,” p. 254 with n. 44).
206Cf. C. F. D. Moule, Colossians and Philemon, p. 76, for the view that the corporate Christ is intended here; R. Yates, “A Note on Colossians 1:24,” EQ 42 (1970), 88-92. See also p. 69, n. 140.
207Cf. Acts 3:13; Rom. 4:25; Heb. 9:28; 1 Pet. 2:22-25.