Christ, The Wisdom Of God
CHRIST, THE WISDOM OF GOD
COLOSSIANS 1:29–2:3
Paul opens his heart to unite and encourage his readers.
The Greek term from which the word “asceticism” comes refers primarily to training or exercise appropriate to an athlete. The derived meaning is the discipline that is necessary for engagement in a spiritual contest (see Acts 24:16). In contrast to the false asceticism promoted by slogans at Colossae (2:21), Paul displays the true “asceticism” of the athlete of God. Though confined to a cell, he engages in an arena existence (1:24,29; 2:1; see also 4:12f.). Prayer, thought and wrestling with issues consume his energies on behalf of all the churches, but particularly those in which he has not been directly involved. The specific mention of Laodicea (2:1) anticipates the apostle’s command to send his letter to that community (4:16). Apparently the errors at Colossae had penetrated the church at Laodicea.
The purposes which move Paul to his exceptional labors are expressed in terms that echo the prayer of 1:9f. (2:2-3). The condition for realizing this goal is the unity of the church. It is as believers are “knit together in love” that God is pleased to unveil still more of his open secret. In 1:27 Paul had defined “the mystery of God” as Christ in the midst of the Gentiles achieving the fruit of his reconciling action on the cross. Here he defines that mystery as “Christ,”, the embodiment of “the wisdom of God.” In the wisdom literature of the Old Testament (especially Proverbs 8:22ff.), God’s wisdom was personified and it had four qualities:
Paul did not hesitate to designate Jesus as “the wisdom of God” (1 Corinthians 1:24,30) and to interpret his functions in these categories (Colossians 1:15-20). Now, with a view to the speculations of the Colossian teachers, he reminds his readers that the true source of wisdom and knowledge is a deeper personal knowledge of Jesus Christ. If there is a secret to be known, it will be known only through a knowledge of him.