The lectionary epistle for Trinity 6 is Colossians 2.6-15 (and the gospel is Luke 11.1–13, Jesus’ teaching on prayer). Paul continues to expand on the implications of who Jesus is for our discipleship.
He draws strong parallels in his language with the Spirit in Ephesians 5, and deploys metaphors of plants, buildings, and athletes to talk about the Colossians’ growth in faith.
We need to think carefully about what he means by the ‘elemental spirits’, but read aright, there are strong parallels here with other parts of the New Testament, and Paul reiterates the creation/new creation paradigm from chapter 1.
We find parallels with his teaching on baptism from Romans 6, and the use of the ‘triumph’ imagery from 2 Cor 1. It is a passage full to busting with theological ideas!
For the video on the gospel reading, Luke 11.1–13, see here.
And for the written commentary on Luke 11, see here.
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As you say Ian, a very rich passage, where to begin!?
Perhaps with the link between our two passages this week.
The disciples ask for Understanding about prayer
Jesus responds to their request teaching them
a kindergarten method of prayer
It’s focus is The Father [as is His prayer in John 17]
Consistent with His Mission,
“I have manifested Your name [and revealed Your very self, Your real self]
to the people whom You have given Me out of the world;
they were Yours and You gave them to Me, and they have kept and obeyed Your word. John17:6.
Interestingly there was never a religion that term their gods as Father;
Their gods required to be placated, being given to anger and vengeance
Their goddesses were more benevolent and accommodating.
Which thinking was imbibed by one arm of the Church.
Paul’s prayer[s] are consistent with his ministry,
COL. 2that they may be encouraged in heart, knit together in love, and filled with the full riches of complete Understanding, so that they may know the mystery of God, namely Christ,a 3in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Eph 1:18 The eyes of your Understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints
2;2 ……filled with the full riches of complete Understanding,
Col 1:28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
Eph 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ
I note that in Paul’s prayers the term filled and all fulness and maturity [perfection] are common themes.
One aspect of the ministry of Paul that I find intriguing
Given the prevailing headwinds from the ritualists and pagans,
the “elemental spirits;
He acknowledged and warns of their serpentine ingress into the church;
but he does not send in the attack dogs. He was not so much a defender of the faith or a defender of a/the Church;
he saw himself as “Set[appointed] for the defense of the Gospel”.
His was a great and glorious Gospel bringing folks into “the Glorious Liberty of the sons of God”.
Having a sense of the height, depth, length and width
of this Great Salvation would arm the Church against the aliens facing them.
We might with Paul pray that the Church might be given and filled with the full riches of complete understanding of this
Gospel.