“If You Continue In The Faith” (Colossians 1:21-23): An Exegetical-Theological Exercise In Syntax, Discourse, And Performative Speech -- By: Ardel B. Caneday
Journal: Southern Baptist Journal of Theology
Volume: SBJT 17:3 (Fall 2013)
Article: “If You Continue In The Faith” (Colossians 1:21-23): An Exegetical-Theological Exercise In Syntax, Discourse, And Performative Speech
Author: Ardel B. Caneday
SBTJ 17:3 (Fall 2013) p. 20
“If You Continue In The Faith” (Colossians 1:21-23): An Exegetical-Theological Exercise In Syntax, Discourse, And Performative Speech
A. B. Caneday is Professor of New Testament and Greek at the University of Northwestern in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
He is the co-editor (with Matthew Barrett) of Four Views on the Historical Adam (Zondervan, 2013) and the author of Must Christians Always Forgive? (Center for Christian Leadership, 2011). He has also written many scholarly book reviews and articles, including essays in two significant edited volumes: The Faith of Jesus Christ: Exegetical, Biblical, and Theological Studies (Paternoster, 2009) and A Cloud of Witnesses: The Theology of Hebrews in its Ancient Context (T & T Clark, 2008). Dr. Caneday is co-author (with Thomas R. Schreiner) of The Race Set Before Us: A Biblical Theology of Perseverance and Assurance (InterVarsity, 2001).
Introduction
A generation ago, when blacksmith shops were still common in villages, Robert Shank aptly observed that Colossians 1:21-23 is one of several Scripture passages over which one could affix the sign: “All kinds of fancy twistings and turnings done here.”1
Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation—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 (Col 1:21-23).
For generations whether the apostle Paul’s words imply that it is possible for reconciled believers to apostatize and perish has incited theological battles. This popular question dominates consideration of the passage in sermons, essays, and commentaries. As long we preachers, teachers, or scholars allow this question to govern our exegesis, I submit that we will fall short of addressing the proper and necessary question. The question, whether a believer can apostatize, biases our interpretation of the passage so that we erect defenses to protect our theological system. This is true whether we are Reformed Calvinists, modified Calvinists, Arminians, Wesleyans, or any blend of these. How does the question warp our reading of the passage? It prejudices interpretation by redirecting our focus away from the intended function of the passage to speculating about a questio...
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