(The following questions have been developed to help Law and Gospel preachers assess how it is that the Word is functioning: one of the chief concerns of Law and Gospel preachers. For more on this unique genre of preaching, see my brief guide, Afflicting the Comfortable, Comforting the Afflicted, available from wipfandstock.com or amazon.)
1. How does the Word function in the text? Paul's concern is clearly that these dear Colossians not be taken "captive through philosophy and empty deceit." (vs. 8) He announces to them again how God has done all that is needed in Christ Crucified. This is a purely Gospel function, culminating in the grand announcement that "when you were dead in trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive together with [Christ]." There is no clearer gospel word than this! Of course, it is also true that there is no clearer word of Law than this: "You were dead in [your] trespasses."
2. With whom are you identifying in the text? As is usual with these epistles, we must identify with those to whom the letter is written. We are the ones who are easily led astray and taken captive "through philosophy and empty deceit," we are the ones who were dead in our trespasses before Christ came, and we are those whom God has forgiven in Christ. Alleluia!
3. What, if any, call to obedience is there in this text? The call to obedience is present in this text both at its beginning and at its end. In the opening verse, Paul exhorts his listeners to "continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith." There is no clearer call to obedience than this. Also, at the end of the passage, (vss. 16-18), Paul encourages his listeners to not let anyone condemn or disqualify them in connection with matters of little importance. This too is a call to obedience.
4. What Law/Gospel couplet is suggested by this text? Since this is a complete law/gospel text, it is not hard to suggest several couplets: dead/alive; guilty/forgiven; keeping score/erasing the record.
5. Exegetical Work: When baptism is highlighted as it is in this passage, it is not surprising to find that virtually all the reformers (Calvin, Luther, Melanchthon, Zwingli, Agricola, etc.) have commented on this passage, as well as the writers of a number of confessions. (e.g., Belgic and Schleitheim Confessions). (See the fine commentary series on the Reformers available from IV Press, Reformation Commentary on Scripture, for the complete list.) Martin Luther's concluding remarks in his article regarding Baptism in his Large Catechism will suffice as an example: "Thus we see what a great and excellent thing Baptism is, which snatches us from the jaws of the devil and makes God our own, overcomes and takes away sin and daily strengthens the new man, always remains until we pass from this present misery to eternal glory. Therefore let everybody regard his (sic, etc.) Baptism as the daily garment which he is to wear all the time. Every day he should be found in faith and amid its fruits, every day he should be suppressing the old man and growing up in the new." (Tappert, The Book of Concord, p. 446)
6. How does the Crossings Community model work with this text? Marcus Felde does a little play on words to help us understand what is at stake for us in this text. Playing on the "spiritual circumcision" we receive in Christ and the "uncircumcision of our flesh" in which we lived before Christ, Felde talks about our state as those who go from "circumscribed" (i.e. held captive, bound) to "uncircumscribed" in Christ (i.e. free, without limit). He also suggests that Paul is raising up Christ as a colossus of sorts, the One who disarms the powers and principalities. See crossings.org/text-study for the whole analysis, archived under the reference.
Blessings on your proclamation!
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