The Message Remix (355 page)

INTRODUCTION
COLOSSIANS

 

Hardly anyone who hears the full story of Jesus and learns the true facts of his life and teaching, crucifixion and resurrection, walks away with a shrug of the shoulders, dismissing him as unimportant. People ignorant of the story or misinformed about it, of course, regularly dismiss him. But with few exceptions, the others know instinctively that they are dealing with a most remarkable greatness.

But it is quite common for those who consider him truly important to include others who seem to be equally important in his company—Buddha, Moses, Socrates, and Muhammad for a historical start, along with some personal favorites. For these people, Jesus is important, but not central; his prestige is considerable, but he is not preeminent.

The Christians in the town of Colosse, or at least some of them, seem to have been taking this line. For them, cosmic forces of one sort or another were getting equal billing with Jesus. Paul writes to them in an attempt to restore Jesus, the Messiah, to the center of their lives.

The way he makes his argument is as significant as the argument he makes. Claims for the uniqueness of Jesus are common enough. But such claims about Jesus are frequently made with an arrogance that is completely incompatible with Jesus himself. Sometimes the claims are enforced with violence.

But Paul, although unswervingly confident in the conviction that Christ occupies the center of creation and salvation without peers, is not arrogant. And he is certainly not violent. He argues from a position of rooted humility. He writes with the energies of most considerate love. He exhibits again what Christians have come to appreciate so much in Paul—the wedding of a brilliant and uncompromising intellect with a heart that is warmly and wonderfully kind.

 

 

From:
Paul was in jail awaiting trial for disturbing the peace with his teaching. Still, he was glad to hear of the troubles of Christians he hadn’t met and to send his thoughts in a letter. Although Jewish, he was by then familiar with the fear of Fate that dominated the lives of non-Jews. And though he’d had the One God in his bones since birth, he knew non-Jews were accustomed to mixing religions buffet-style.

 

To:
Colosse was a small city in the province whose capital was grand Ephesus. The church in Colosse was probably planted by Epaphras, who met Paul in Ephesus. When the Colossian church got stuck, Epaphras sought Paul’s advice. Most people of that day believed the air around them was thick with unseen spirits that humans ignored at their peril. Scrolls of spells for controlling or protecting against these powers were known as “Ephesian letters.” The Colossians were terrified that if they didn’t appease the spirits, they laid themselves open to disease and poverty. Who was Jesus when compared to such powers?

 

Re:
The early 60s A.D. Until A.D. 59 Nero’s reign went well, because the prefect Burrus and the philosopher Seneca ran the empire for him. He reduced taxes and banned sports involving death in the arena. But things changed when he murdered his mother for treason in 59. Burrus died in 62; Nero may have poisoned him. At that, Seneca asked to retire—he had made a fortune and wanted to live to enjoy it. But the more political mistakes Nero made, the more he scapegoated others. Paul and Peter were executed during this period. Nero finally accused Seneca of conspiracy in A.D. 65 and made him commit suicide.