The Warning In Colossians 1:21–23 -- By: Charles C. Bing

Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 164:653 (Jan 2007)
Article: The Warning In Colossians 1:21–23
Author: Charles C. Bing


The Warning In Colossians 1:21–23

Charles C. Bing

Charles C. Bing is President, GraceLife Ministries, Burleson, Texas.

Colossians 1:21–23 has been used by some to support an Arminian theology and by others to support the Reformed Calvinist theology of perseverance of the saints.1 Both of these views affect the Christian’s assurance of salvation, because if salvation can be lost (the Arminian view) or must be proved genuine (the Reformed view), it would seem to undermine the idea that the Christian can know with certainty that he or she is saved forever. Colossians 1:21–23 relates specifically to one’s concept of hope, assurance, and the Christian’s accountability. This in turn informs one’s understanding of the gospel itself.

Though the certainty of salvation is usually discussed in connection with the subject of assurance, the word “assurance” is not often used in the New Testament in relation to salvation. However, the idea of assurance of salvation is often referred to in the New Testament. The understanding of faith as persuasion or confidence about something argues that some measure of assurance of salvation is inherent in faith in Jesus Christ as one’s Savior.2 It seems

obvious that if one has believed, then by definition he has become persuaded that something is true, even if for a moment. “Unbelieving faith” or “false faith” is by definition self-contradictory and therefore nonsensical. Faith, even in the amount of a mustard seed, claims a promise as trustworthy and true.

But a theological perspective of assurance may not always translate into experience, for one’s assurance can be lost or compromised by sin, false doctrine, legalism, errant philosophy, or some other threat that reduces one’s confidence in the Lord. The Colossian believers lived under such threats. Paul warned them in Colossians 1:21–23 that they were in danger of losing something. What did his warning mean and was it real or hypothetical? What were the Colossians in danger of losing?

The Setting of Colossians

Two important issues about the letter to the Colossians should inform one’s interpretation of 1:21–23. To whom did Paul write? What was the nature of the danger they faced?

The state of the readers

Were it not for the passage under cons...

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