Colossians and Philemon

Murray J. Harris

The Exegetical Guide to the Greek New Testament: Colossians and Philemon is the first book in a projected series of twenty volumes that seeks to bring together classroom, study, and pulpit by providing the student or pastor with the information needed to understand and expound the Greek text of the New Testament. Author Murray J. Harris aims to close the gap between grammatical analysis and exegesis, leading the reader into an in-depth understanding of the New Testament Greek text by guiding him or her through the processes of thorough exegesis flowing into sermon construction.

Each volume provides the following for the biblical book or books on which it is written:

• Brief introduction on authorship, date, occasion, and purpose

• List of recommended commentaries

• Extensive exegetical notes

• Translation and expanded paraphrase of the whole book

• Comprehensive exegetical outline

• Glossary of grammatical and rhetorical terms

III. Error and Its Remedy (2:4–3:4)

A. WARNING AGAINST SPECIOUS PHILOSOPHY (2:4–8)

STRUCTURE

In this paragraph Paul warns the Colossians of two dangers confronting them: (a) that of being deluded by beguiling sophistry (v. 4), and (b) that of being carried off as booty by empty, delusive philosophy (v. 8).

(a) Τοῦτο λέγω ἵνα μηδεὶς the danger of

ὑμᾶς παραλογίζηται being deceived

ἐν πιθανολογίᾳ by persuasive argument

ἐν αὐτῷ περιπατεῖτε the protection available:

ἐρριζωμένοι living in Christ, and

ἐποικοδομούμενοι four characteristics

βεβαιούμενοι of this life

περισσεύοντες

(b) βλέπετε μή τις the danger of

ὑμᾶς . . . ὁ συλαγωγῶν being kidnapped

διὰ τῆς φιλοσοφίας καὶ by meaningless,

κενῆς ἀπάτης deceptive philosophy

κατά the origin and content

}

κατά of this philosophy

οὐ κατὰ Χριστόν

VERSE 4

Τοῦτο λέγω ἵνα μηδεὶς ὑμᾶς παραλογίζηται

Μηδείς is nom. sg. masc. of the subst. and adj. μηδείς, μηδεμία, μηδέν, nobody, no. Ἵνα μηδείς, “in order that no one,” “to make sure that no one” (NJB) is equivalent to μή τις, “lest anyone” (v. 8). Παραλογίζηται is 3 sg. pres. mid. subjunc. (after ἵνα) of dep. παραλογίζομαι, deceive/delude by false reckoning or reasoning (see MM 487; see MH 319 on παρα-, “aside”).

It is possible that ἵνα is impv. and τοῦτο prospective: “What I mean is this: let no one deceive you” (sim. NEB mg., GNB; Moule 145). On impv. ἵνα see BDF §388; Moule 144–45; T 94–95, 102; Z §415; for prospective τοῦτο, cf. 1 Cor 1:12; Gal 3:17. More probably, however, ἵνα is telic and τοῦτο retrospective (as in John 5:34): “I am telling you this so that no one talks you into error” (REB; sim. most EVV and commentators). Λέγω refers to the present written communication (BDAG 590a) and the antecedent of τοῦτο is either vv. 1–3 in general, or v. 3 in particular (viz. the all-sufficiency and finality of Christ as God’s disclosed mystery).

ἐν πιθανολογίᾳ

᾽Εν is instr.—either “by (means of)/“by resorting to” (Cassirer), or “with” (= “using”). Πιθανολογία (-ας, ἡ ), from πιθανός (“persuasive”) and λόγος (“word, argument, speech”), was used in CGk. in a positive sense of (the use of) probable argument rather than conclusive proof (ἀπόδειξις; cf. 1 Cor 2:4). Here it is used in a pejorative sense and variously rendered “beguiling speech” (RSV), “plausible sophistry” (Weymouth), “arguments that sound reasonable” (NET), “specious arguments” (BDAG 812d; REB, NJB; Barth-Blanke 3 [see 285 there for LXX usage]—taking the noun as a generic sg.) or “persuasiveness of speech” (RV).

VERSE 5

εἰ γὰρ καί

This verse affords evidence (γάρ, “for”) of Paul’s concern for his readers’ spiritual welfare (1:29; 2:1) or supplies the reason why they are not really candidates for deception (v. 4). Εἰ . . . καί (here “although,” “even if,” not “if indeed”) introduces a concessive clause whose apodosis begins with ἀλλά, “yet,” “certainly,” “at least” (cf. BDF §448[5]).

τῇ σαρκὶ ἄπειμί ἀλλὰ τῷ πνεύματι σὺν ὑμῖν εἰμι

1 sg. pres. act. indic. of ἄπειμι, be absent, be away. Some tr. (Weymouth, Goodspeed, TNIV) supply “from you” (ἀφ᾽ ὑμῶν) to balance “with you” (σὺν ὑμῖν). The τῇ σαρκί—τῷ πνεύματι antithesis is not moral but physical: “in body” (= τῷ σώματι, 1 Cor 5:3)—“in s...

Table of contents

• Exegetical Guide to the Greek New Testament
• General Introduction
• Abbreviations
• Preface to the First Edition
• Preface to the Second Edition
• Introduction
• I. Introduction
• II. Christ’s Work and Paul’s Mission
• III. Error and Its Remedy
• IV. Exhortation to Holiness
• V. Personal Notes
• Translation
• Expanded Paraphrase
• Exegetical Outline
• Introduction
• Translation
• Expanded Paraphrase
• Exegetical Outline
• Glossary of Grammatical and Rhetorical Terms