04_Biblica_Collins_Layout 1 01/04/14 11:47 Pagina 75 75 COLOSSIANS 1,17 “HOLD TOGETHER”: A CO-OPTED TERM (7.11) Such is the theology of the Hebrews, instructing us that all things hold together by the creative Word of God [lo,gw| qeou/ dhmiourgikw/| ta. pa,nta sunesta,nai]: and afterwards it teaches that the whole world was not left thus desolate by Him who put it together [u`po. tou/ susthsame,nou], as an orphan by his father, but that it is for ever administered by the providence of God … The verb suni,sthmi is just right for describing God’s work of cre- ation as that of arranging and maintaining a system 28. Athanasius, Contra Gentes (dated c. 335 C.E.) 29, provides illus- trative use of suni,sthmi, sune,cw, and sugkei/mai. Like Colossians, he is clear that God is “by nature invisible” (avo,ratoj th.n fu,sin; see §35.2-3, 6-7, 14, 17). Like Pseudo-Aristotle and Athenagoras, he is also confident that (§34.29-30) “it is still possible to grasp know- ledge about God from visible phenomena (avpo. tw/n fainome,nwn)”, and that (§35.7-8, 17-18) God “might be known to humankind from his works (evk tw/n e;rgwn)”. What is particularly helpful for our discussion here is what he takes to be the import of God “holding the world together”. He uses the words of Col 1,15-18 (§41.29), indicating that he wants his readers to have that material in the background; cf. also §28.5, “that the universe holds together in him [God]’ (evn auvtw/| ta. pa,nta susth,kein), surely dependent on Colossians but referring to God rather than specifically to Christ (probably reflecting Athanasius’ own theology). In §46.51 he alludes to Col 1,16: “through him [i.e., the Word] and for him all things were made”. In the larger context (§§28-29; 36-44), Athanasius argues that we experience the world as a place made of separate parts, but whose parts all work together harmoniously. This favors monotheism over polytheism, since only one will prevails. He says of the various parts (§36.23-24): “These could never hold together (ouvk ῍ n sustai,h) by themselves because a of their mutual difference of nature”. In reply, “the world was put together (sune,sthke) with reason, wisdom, and understanding” (§40.20); “everything was put together (sune,sthke) by the Word 28 Eusebius (following 2 Pet 3,5?) uses suni,sthmi (and cognates) fre- quently for God’s work of putting the world together. 29 Greek text with translation: R.W. THOMSON, ed., Athanasius. Contra Gentes and De Incarnatione (Oxford 1971); dating discussed on pp. xx-xxiv. I have occasionally adjusted Thomson’s English translation to match the ESV.