Juan Manuel Granados Rojas, «Is the Word of God Incomplete? An Exegetical and Rhetorical Study of Col 1,25», Vol. 94 (2013) 63-79
The common reading of plhro/w in Col 1,25 has emphasized the apostolic task of preaching the gospel everywhere. We agree with other scholars that such a completion has not only spatial meaning but also a qualitative one. Yet, our research goes further: what kind of quality is this? The rhetorical devices of «accumulation» and «reversal» combined in 1,24-29 point to an ethical purpose. In this sense, «bringing to completion the word of God» means preaching the word, but also making everyone mature in Christ. The phrase includes both the diffusion of the gospel and the achievement of its ethical purpose.
79
IS THE WORD OF GOD INCOMPLETE?
comes down to this: the quality is ethical. Indeed, the rhetorical
pattern in Col 1,24-29 has shown that “bringing to completion the
word of God†includes both the diffusion of the gospel and the
achievement of its ethical purpose.
Pontifical Biblical Institute Juan M. GRANADOS ROJAS
Rome
SUMMARY
The common reading of plhro,w in Col 1,25 has emphasized the apos-
tolic task of preaching the gospel everywhere. We agree with other schol-
ars that such a completion has not only spatial meaning but also a
qualitative one. Yet, our research goes further: what kind of quality is this?
The rhetorical devices of “accumulation†and “reversal†combined in
1,24-29 point to an ethical purpose. In this sense, “bringing to completion
the word of God†means preaching the word, but also making everyone
mature in Christ. The phrase includes both the diffusion of the gospel and
the achievement of its ethical purpose.
© Gregorian Biblical Press 2012 - Tutti i diritti riservati
FOLLOW US