Analysis
The Greek words used in Colossians in which we will be studying are as follows:
ἅγιος: 1. as adjective pertaining to being dedicated or consecrated to the service of God
- in the cultic sense dedicated to God, holy, sacred, i.e. reserved for God and God’s service:
ἁγιασμός: personal dedication to the interests of the deity, holiness, consecration, sanctification. Kittle: sanctifying, i.e. a process.
ἁγιωσύνη: Holiness. Kittle: “This rare word, formed from the adjective ἅγιος by extension of the o to ω after a short syllable as an abstract term of quality, in the same way as δικαιοσύνη is formed from δίκαιος, is not found in pre-biblical Greek. It means ‘sanctification’ or ‘holiness’ rather than ‘sanctifying’, but as a quality rather than a state.”
ἁγιάζω: 1. set aside something or make it suitable for ritual purposes, consecrate, dedicate of things. 2. include a person in the inner circle of what is holy, in both cultic and moral associations of the word, consecrate, dedicate, sanctify. 3. to treat as holy, reverence. 4. to eliminate that which is incompatible with holiness, purify
ὁσιότης: state of proper attitude toward God as exhibited in action, devoutness, piety, holiness.”
Passages where Paul calls the Philippians “holy ones”.
Colossians 1:2 To God’s holy people ἁγίοις in Colossae, the faithful brothers and sisters in Christ: Grace and peace to you from God our Father.
4 because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people ἁγίους
12 and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people ἁγίων in the kingdom of light.
26 the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people ἁγίοις.
Holiness Passages:
Colossians 1:21 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. 22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy ἁγίους in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— 23 if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.
In our studies up unto this point, it has been known that only God can make one holy. Here, Paul points out that it was Jesus’ death that makes one holy. Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice for sin. Paul also points out from where the Colossians have come as they used to be “alienated from God” in their “evil behavior” Of course, that “evil behavior would have been Paganism or Judaism.
The Colossians remain holy, without blemish and free from accusation only if they do not move from the Gospel. Of course the big question is “what does it mean to move from the hope held out in the Gospel?” Paul himself will tell us below.
Colossians 3:5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11 Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy ἅγιοι and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
And here it is, as in all of Paul’s letters, Paganism! We’ve suggested that the sin that God detests is rooted in Paganism, that is, idol worship. Indulging in sin associated with Paganism is worshipping idols! Paul suggests that they are τὰ μέλη τὰ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς (the parts which are on the earth) as opposed to the “parts with are in heaven”. This is why Christians shouldn’t do them. God’s wrath is coming on those who practice idolatry! Let’s take a closer look at verse 5.
Paul writes out a list of sins that are tied to sexual immorality, the fist on the list.
πορνείαν ἀκαθαρσίαν πάθος ἐπιθυμίαν κακήν, καὶ τὴν πλεονεξίαν, ἥτις ἐστὶν εἰδωλολατρία (sexual immorality, impurity, sexual passion, evil lust, and THE greed which is idolatry). “The greed” is defined by BDAG as “the state of desiring to have more than one’s due”. Here, it sums up the list of sexual sins. “THE” is capitalized because of the article τὴν in Greek. It makes “greed” specific or a certain kind of greed. In this case, it is probably the “greed” associated with wanting more of the first parts of the list.
Verses 12-17 represent what the “chosen”, the “holy and beloved” should do! Note that the Colossians are considered “holy and beloved” before they are told what to do.
Inferred Holiness
Colossians 2:6-23
This entire passaged deals with the Jewish law and how the Colossians should not try to complete their salvation by doing the works of the Law. Paul tells them that Jesus embodies all of the Deity in bodily form and in him, they have been brought to fullness and he is the head over every power and authority. Performing the law gains them nothing. If fact, in verse 19, Paul says that the people who want the Colossians to perform the law have lost connection with the head (Christ).
In 2:18, a very “hard” statement is made.
18 Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you.
It is the last part that I wish to comment on: θρησκείᾳ τῶν ἀγγέλων (“in” worship of angels/messengers). In Judaism, there were strict laws against worshipping “the host of heaven” (Deut. 4:19; 17:3). So, “people” worshipping angels in this context must be ruled out. This phrase should be understood as “the angels’ worship to God”. Evidence of this exists in the Dead Sea Scrolls where the Essenes coveted to be able to worship God as the angels did. They also thought that they were so holy that angels were in their presence (James Dunn, “The Epistles to the Colossians and Philemon’, 181).
Colossians 3:18-4:1
These passages represent how households should act towards one another. This includes wives, husbands, children, fathers, slaves, and slave masters.
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