Completing what is lacking in Christ’s passion : Colossians 1:24 and Paul’s theology of the Cross

Abstract

Together with Philippians, Ephesians, and Philemon, Colossians is considered as a prison letter. It is addressed to “… the saints and faithful brethren in Christ at Colossae” (Col 1:2). Colossae was situated in Phrygia (modern-day Turkey), in the Lycus valley, in proximity to the cities of Laodicea and Hierapolis. While in its heyday the city was described as populous and wealthy, by the beginning of the Christian era, Colossae was on the wane and was eventually surpassed by neighbouring Laodicea and Hierapolis. The believers of the community at Colossae were not converted by Paul himself. While the missionary work was directed by Paul, several churches founded in the province of Asia were founded by his co-workers. Such was the case with Colossae, Laodicea and Hierapolis, considered the result of the missionary work of Epaphras (Col 1:7-8). The population of Colossae comprised mainly native Phrygians and Greeks, together with a significant number of Jews. It has been suggested that most of the community were gentile converts due to allusions to a non-Christian past.8 In Col 1:21 it is stated: “And you, who once were estranged and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds ….” However, God “… had effected a mighty change in their lives: he had reconciled them to himself in an earth-shattering event, namely, Christ’s physical death on the cross,”