Colossians 3:12-17, the 2nd reading appointed for the First Sunday in Christmas in the Year of Luke, is a lovely passage to preach on in this season of gift giving. The text reminds us that our 'wardrobe' needs to match our identity as the chosen and beloved of God. It is primarily a call to the Christlike life, which will be the preacher's task; what better task for the approaching New Year.
(The following questions come from a method which seeks to unearth the way the Word functions in the text, a primary concern of Law and Gospel preachers. To understand this method more fully and to get more of an understanding of Law and Gospel preaching in general, 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? The primary function of the Word here is a call to obedience. We are invited to live in compassionate and loving ways with the neighbor because of our identity as children of God. The opening phrase, however, is a strong reminder of the Gospel. The writer reminds us that we are "God's chosen ones, holy and beloved." This identity has been bestowed on us, and our life's calling is to emulate this identity. As the writer reminds us later, we are to forgive others, because "the Lord has forgiven you." Again, our call is in response to God's action on our behalf.
2. How is the Word not functioning in the text? The Word can function as Gospel, as Call to Obedience, or as Law. In this text, the Word does not function as Law; i.e. there is no word which exposes our need for a Savior or calls us to repentence. We will have to go to other texts for that.
3. With whom are you identifying in the text? We are those who are addressed by this text. We are reminded that we are chosen, loved, forgiven, and made holy. Because of this, we are called to a life of Christlike love.
4. What Law/Gospel couplet is suggested by this text? Since the Law is not present here, we shall have to invent some couplets that stand opposite to the Gospel terms present. Some examples: unwanted/chosen; sinful/forgiven; rejected/beloved.
5. Exegetical work: The opening phrase, in the original language, includes the term oun, which is usually translated "therefore". It refers to the preceding idea. Here the preceding idea in Colossians 3 is that "Christ is all in all." What follows, then, is in response to that statement. So we might imagine an expanded translation like this: Therefore, since Christ is all in all, and you are God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves..." Again, this opening term reminds us that this entire call to live in love finds its basis in Christ's identity, and ours as God's beloved. As more than one commentator has pointed out, our wardrobe should befit a child of God. Luther, in his commentary, notes that such behavior naturally occurs in those who abide in Christ: "May our mind and heart constantly and relentlessly pour out works of compassion so earnestly that we do not even see or realize that we are being compassionate or doing good." (Reformation Commentary on Scripture, NT, vol. XI, p. 224). John Calvin reminds us that this exhortation is not for ourselves alone, but for the community: "Paul is here not discussing how humans are made perfect before God, but how they may live perfectly among themselves." (Ibid., p. 225).
6. How does the Crossings Community model work with this text? Bruce Martin, in his 2014 commentary, acknowledges the lack of Law in this text, but then provides a way of thinking about Law and Gospel. He terms it "Clothed in Disobedience" vs. "Clothed with Christ". Fascinating. See the entire analysis, archived under its reference at crossings.org/text-study.
Blessings on your proclmation!
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