Colossians in context:
In Colossians St Paul addresses an emerging heresy in a church not of his founding. He wrote from Rome, where is was being held, around 60AD.
The 'problem' of Colossae was an assumption that in Paul's warning to the Colossians to beware a "hollow and deceptive philosophy" (2:8) signified an Hellenic philosophical sect. Based on this, Clement of Alexandria (ad 150-215) proposed that it was the Epicureans; Tertullian (ad 160-220) thought the same, and commentators have followed suit ever since. Neo-Platonic thought has also been proposed as the underlying problem at Colossae, as well as a mixture of Eastern and Western philosophy, but all on the basis that the term 'philosophy' applied to a Greek or Greek-influenced sect.
But from the text itself (2:8-23), scholars can deduce at least some if not the main elements of this heresy:
1 A denial that the fullness of the Godhead dwelt bodily in Christ (2:9),
2 A denial that the Christian was complete in Christ (2:10).
In the case of the latter, it would seem that certain practices were being introduced as a means by which one might 'enhance' one's spiritual power. Paul alludes to:
1 Physical circumcision (verse 11),
2 The acknowledgement of 'principalities and powers' – a spiritual hierarchy (15),
3 Dietary restrictions – eating, drinking (16),
4 The observance of a cosmological calendar – new moons, sabbaths, etc. (16-17),
5 The practice of a false humility (18),
6 The worship of angels (18),
7 Ascetic restrictions (19-23).
The above points indicate that the heresy was not denying the value of Christianity nor was it endorsing a departure from the Church at Colossae, rather, the implication is of a denial of the adequacy of Christ (points 1 and 2), that more was required for salvation than faith alone, or more than what Christ had to offer. Paul's observation (2:18-19) that these teachers were "puffed up" and had "lost connection with the Head" tells us they were Christians, had they not been, Paul would have said simply that they had rejected Christ and dismissed them as unbelievers.
The teaching of circumcision signifies a teaching of Hebrew heritage. The Jewish philosopher Philo (10 b.c.-ad 50) wrote of “the philosophy of Moses” and also referred to Judaism as “the philosophy of our fathers” and as “Judaic philosophy”. Similarly, Josephus wrote of the three Jewish sects as “three philosophies” – three schools of philosophy. Likewise the worship of angels was neither Greek nor Phrygian, but a tenet of Judaism that had evolved since the exile. Angel worship developed in the Gnostic schools of the 2nd century (eg Cerinthus and Valentinus).
The idea seems to have been the Christian’s need to reach beyond Christ to a Supreme God through the mediation of angelic beings. The believers who sought to reach God directly or through one mediator, Christ, were presumptuous and needed a measure of self-abasement that would enable them to begin lower down on the scale. They could seek gradual completeness by invoking the mediation of lower, but more readily accessible, beings. This self-imposed humility, along with extreme physical ascesis, would enhance their spiritual capacity and the quest for completeness.
Paul's evaluation of the Colossian heresy was that it did not amount to true humility, but to a type of pride, the "appearance of wisdom" (2:23).
The discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls has shed much light on an Hebraic gnosis practiced by the Essenes. Josephus’ description of the Essenes speaks of a non-Hebraic dualistic approach in the life of the Qumran community. They believed that "coming forth from the most rarefied ether they are trapped in the prison-house of the body ... but once freed from the bonds of the flesh, as if released after years of slavery, they rejoice and soar aloft" which runs contrary to orthodox Hebrew anthropology. (The Jewish War, p 374).
The Essene practiced a rigourous process of initiation and ongoing purification. The rule of the sect was preserved with great care, "and in the same way the names of the angels". An accidental touch or even a look could render the Essence impure. All secular conversation was forbidden, and the Essence was ever on the knife-edge of ritual impurity. Ascetic practice included abstinence from certain foods such as oil, meat and wine. Sabbath-keeping was the strictest possible. The Essenes avoided any physical pleasure, they prohibited marriage, the possession of wealth or property, even the changing of shoes and clothes.
It seems then, that the Collosian heresy was not Greek in origin, but at source Hebrew, Essenic, and essentially cosmological.
Thomas
In Colossians St Paul addresses an emerging heresy in a church not of his founding. He wrote from Rome, where is was being held, around 60AD.
The 'problem' of Colossae was an assumption that in Paul's warning to the Colossians to beware a "hollow and deceptive philosophy" (2:8) signified an Hellenic philosophical sect. Based on this, Clement of Alexandria (ad 150-215) proposed that it was the Epicureans; Tertullian (ad 160-220) thought the same, and commentators have followed suit ever since. Neo-Platonic thought has also been proposed as the underlying problem at Colossae, as well as a mixture of Eastern and Western philosophy, but all on the basis that the term 'philosophy' applied to a Greek or Greek-influenced sect.
But from the text itself (2:8-23), scholars can deduce at least some if not the main elements of this heresy:
1 A denial that the fullness of the Godhead dwelt bodily in Christ (2:9),
2 A denial that the Christian was complete in Christ (2:10).
In the case of the latter, it would seem that certain practices were being introduced as a means by which one might 'enhance' one's spiritual power. Paul alludes to:
1 Physical circumcision (verse 11),
2 The acknowledgement of 'principalities and powers' – a spiritual hierarchy (15),
3 Dietary restrictions – eating, drinking (16),
4 The observance of a cosmological calendar – new moons, sabbaths, etc. (16-17),
5 The practice of a false humility (18),
6 The worship of angels (18),
7 Ascetic restrictions (19-23).
The above points indicate that the heresy was not denying the value of Christianity nor was it endorsing a departure from the Church at Colossae, rather, the implication is of a denial of the adequacy of Christ (points 1 and 2), that more was required for salvation than faith alone, or more than what Christ had to offer. Paul's observation (2:18-19) that these teachers were "puffed up" and had "lost connection with the Head" tells us they were Christians, had they not been, Paul would have said simply that they had rejected Christ and dismissed them as unbelievers.
The teaching of circumcision signifies a teaching of Hebrew heritage. The Jewish philosopher Philo (10 b.c.-ad 50) wrote of “the philosophy of Moses” and also referred to Judaism as “the philosophy of our fathers” and as “Judaic philosophy”. Similarly, Josephus wrote of the three Jewish sects as “three philosophies” – three schools of philosophy. Likewise the worship of angels was neither Greek nor Phrygian, but a tenet of Judaism that had evolved since the exile. Angel worship developed in the Gnostic schools of the 2nd century (eg Cerinthus and Valentinus).
The idea seems to have been the Christian’s need to reach beyond Christ to a Supreme God through the mediation of angelic beings. The believers who sought to reach God directly or through one mediator, Christ, were presumptuous and needed a measure of self-abasement that would enable them to begin lower down on the scale. They could seek gradual completeness by invoking the mediation of lower, but more readily accessible, beings. This self-imposed humility, along with extreme physical ascesis, would enhance their spiritual capacity and the quest for completeness.
Paul's evaluation of the Colossian heresy was that it did not amount to true humility, but to a type of pride, the "appearance of wisdom" (2:23).
The discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls has shed much light on an Hebraic gnosis practiced by the Essenes. Josephus’ description of the Essenes speaks of a non-Hebraic dualistic approach in the life of the Qumran community. They believed that "coming forth from the most rarefied ether they are trapped in the prison-house of the body ... but once freed from the bonds of the flesh, as if released after years of slavery, they rejoice and soar aloft" which runs contrary to orthodox Hebrew anthropology. (The Jewish War, p 374).
The Essene practiced a rigourous process of initiation and ongoing purification. The rule of the sect was preserved with great care, "and in the same way the names of the angels". An accidental touch or even a look could render the Essence impure. All secular conversation was forbidden, and the Essence was ever on the knife-edge of ritual impurity. Ascetic practice included abstinence from certain foods such as oil, meat and wine. Sabbath-keeping was the strictest possible. The Essenes avoided any physical pleasure, they prohibited marriage, the possession of wealth or property, even the changing of shoes and clothes.
It seems then, that the Collosian heresy was not Greek in origin, but at source Hebrew, Essenic, and essentially cosmological.
Thomas
