COLOSSIANS: INTRODUCTION TO THE LITERARY STRUCTURE

Below is a condensed version of a chapter in my unpublished book The Structure of Scripture. Those wishing a copy of the entire chapter can contact me at elmerphd21@hotmail.com.

Some initial problems to consider in attempting to analyze this letter are its relatively large number of textual variations, confusion as to the exact nature of the epistle, inclusion of possible pre-Pauline liturgical passages, and a literary style which has often been less than favorably evaluated. Concerning the intended divisions within the letter, fifteen sampled commentaries yielded no two in total agreement as to demarcation points (including two different commentaries by the same author!). Also, while most of these sources agreed on major sections beginning at Colossians 1:3 and 4:7, the next most popular point of agreement was on Colossians 3:5 with only seven votes. This observation confirms the contention of Barth and Blanke that the actual divisions between individual literary sections of the letter are “somewhat fluid.”

Determining the literary structure of Colossians begins with Barth and Blanke’s statement that this epistle resembles that to the Ephesians “in form and substance.” Due to the demonstrated chiastic form of that letter (described elsewhere), we should not then be surprised to see Colossians taking the same organizational form. One such structure, pictured below, has in fact been previously proposed by Lahnemann.

Opening (1:1-2)

Doctrine and Ethics of Christ (1:3-2:5)

Polemic against False Teachings (2:6-23)

Doctrine and Ethics of Christ (3:1-4:6)

Conclusion (4:7-18)

Concerning this proposal, Barth and Blanke perceptively note, “If further labors confirm the presence of a chiastic or ring composition, their results might eventually contribute new criteria to discover so-called interpolations or omissions in the text of Colossians, and several earlier announced results might appear in a dim light.” The present proposal will perhaps serve as such a confirmation of Lahnemann’s general model, expanded as shown in Fig 1 with sections grouped roughly according to his formulation.

Figure 1: The Structure of Colossians

I. Opening Greetings (1:1-2)

II. Fruit of the Gospel and Prayer (1:3-14)

III. God the Reconciler (1:15-20)

IV. Our Holiness (1:21-23)

V. Christ in You (1:24-2:7)

                                                                        VI. False Teachings (2:8-23)

V'. Raised with Christ (3:1-4)

IV'. The Old and New Natures (3:5-17)

III'. Transformed Relationships (3:18-4:1)

II'. Living the Christian Life in Prayer (4:2-6)

I'. Final Greetings (4:7-18)

The section limits above have much in common with those found in other commentaries and translations, and the parallelism shown between corresponding sections in the first and second half of the epistle can be amply demonstrated by considering their shared words and phrases. In addition, each individual section can be shown to possess a symmetrical organization. As just one example, consider VI. Repeated use of the words “body” and “flesh” characterize this central section. This unit, with its threefold warning against false teachings, comprises a composition quite different in tone from the rest of the epistle. One can picture a detailed mirror-image organization for this unit, as shown below:

Figure 2: Structure of Section VI

            A. Christ vs. Elemental Spirits (2:8)

                        B. The Fullness of Christ (2:9-10)

                                    C. Our Identification with Christ (2:11-12)

                                    C'. Our Identification with Christ (2:13-14)

                        B'. The Fullness of Christ (2:15-19)

            A'. Christ vs. Elemental Spirits (2:20-23)

Implications of the Structure

The whole letter can be comprehended as one outward movement from this center point with:

             Christ replacing the elemental spirits of the universe (Section VI)

             with a new Spirit living within us (sections V and V')

             that transforms our lives (sections IV and IV') and

             our relationship with God and other believers (sections III and III'),

 affecting the way we deal with the outside world (sections II and II'), 

all things falling under the umbrella of God’s will and grace (sections I and I').

 

The above scheme fits in well with Hultgren’s observation that the cosmic significance of Christ is taught in several specific passages in Colossians and with Melick’s contention that “the centrality of Christ” is the predominant theme of this epistle.