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Today, I’m bringing you the receipts. I’ll prove that Paul’s previous four, densely packed verses were not a jumbled salad of theological dogma, but the deepest heart of a man desperately trying to use words to say something that’s almost unsayable. Paul isn’t advocating for the Christian religion, nor the bible, nor Gnosticism, all of which didn’t exist. Despite these claims of commentators, who in my estimation, have not fully appreciated Paul’s message, my biggest concern isn’t that these have forsaken Paul’s message of embodied Christology, but WHY they continue to do so.

My conclusion is that this myopia is the effect of “light pollution” due to proximity to the Religious Industrial Complex. I’ll explain.

The confusion over today’s verses still exists in that even Clint Arnold, who serves on the bible translation committee for the ESV, admits there are at least nine views that are held in his discussion with Sean McDowell, professor at BIOLA. (Watch their discussion HERE.) Even Dr. Arnold explanation requires support from Isaiah to make his case, indicating that for him, the text itself isn’t doesn’t substantiate his interpretation. In my research, I’ve NOT found ANY commentary that makes the claim that Paul is explicitly reminding Colossae (and us) that Christ exists in and as our existence.

How is my claim so divergent from modern evangelicalism, when it has a higher fidelity to the text, and other Pauline teachings? Let’s marinade in Paul’s words: (transliterated from Greek)

²⁴ Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and I am completing what is lacking of the sufferings of Christ in my physical body,  for the sake of his body, that is, the church, ²⁵ of which I became a servant according to the plan of God that was given to me on your behalf, to fully proclaim word of God, ²⁶ the mystery kept hidden since all time and through generations but now revealed to his holy people. 

I agree with most scholars, that Paul is NOT saying that Christ’s suffering was deficient and requires Paul to complete Jesus’ work, however, Paul’s “embodied Christology” is obvious. Paul is clearly saying that his suffering in a Roman prison IS not just his, but is the living active experience of Christ suffering, IN and AS his own suffering. For Paul this is the divine mystery: that Christ’s life exists in the existence of all human history, even though it was hidden from them. For Paul, embodied Christology predates Jesus life.

As you can see, Paul clearly understands “the mystery kept hidden” (mustérion àpokrúpto) is precisely this, that the word of God is not the Bible (which didn’t exist) but is Christ Himself (John 1:1) who is presently living, existing in the physical form (in my “sarkos” physical body for his “sóma” physical body) within our existence IN AND AS the Church. Christ is always hiding in plane sight, but now it’s being revealed to the “àgios” (the holy) whom he previously named this community.

²⁷ To whom God desired to make known what the riches of the glory of this mystery among the heathens, that means Christ in you, the hope of glory. ²⁸ whom we proclaim throughout, instructing every person in all wisdom so that we may cause every person to be mature in Christ.²⁹ For which I also work hard, making every effort according to His working, that is at work in me with power… (Colossians 1:24-29)

Yes even Clint Arnold who aided in writing the ESV has inserted a bias when laying the text next to the Greek. Is the problem because Paul’s cosmic, living Christology is becoming “fully known” among the “èthnos/ èthen” (nations or heathens)? Is the modern Evangelical interpreter reading this and thinking: “Now that can’t be true?.?.?” Paul reveals how much God desires to show his “dóxa”(amazing power, glory) through this mystery “ó éstin Xristòs èn ùmĩn” (that means Christ in you). Paul is saying to Colossae, and by extraction to each of us: “Each and every person, the holy and the heathen, are the hope of Glory…the hidden reminders that God’s power exists as our existence.” Christ living in us is not a choice, nor an invitation, but a fact, and faith is the gift of this mystery being revealed as it is for us, not just as it is.

Yet modern religion teaches us that only subscribers have Christ and everyone is “without Christ.” It’s the foundation of Christianity’s evangelicalism, but it’s NOT the basis for Paul’s evangelism. Religion is seeking converts, Paul is proclaiming that Christ is closer to us that we are to ourselves. Paul’s gospel is about completion, not conversion.

Again, Paul doesn’t mince words here. His ministry, which is powered by Christ’s “ènérgeia” (work, energy, function) with “dunàmis” (power, might, ability) is “àgonizomai” (making every effort, agonizing) causing “panta ànthropon” every person to “télios” (become real, genuine, complete, mature, perfect). When Jesus’s said: “Be “telios” as your Father in heaven is “telios” He was saying: “Be real as your Father is real.” Paul’s theology doesn’t invite Christ to dwell within us, rather we awaken to the fact He’s always been there, hiding in plain sight.

Our fictional pretense gives way to authenticity in the light of Christ. Paul agonizes trying to wake people up to their existence in God. This becomes obvious in chapter two when he takes on “convincing arguments” which try to replace experiential knowledge of the embodied Christ.

The receipts are all here, everywhere we look. The mystery of God is that Christ appears in and as and through all people, without exception. This builds up the community be helping all comers realize we are never alone, that Christ is our very life. Paul’s gospel isn’t how to get to heaven when we die, it’s how to live from heaven here and now. No wonder commentators who derive a living from the system can’t or won’t see it.

One fun fact that no commentary mentions. The book of Laodiceans (what some call Gnostic) says:

“And cause this epistle to be read unto them of Colossae, and the epistle of the Colossians to be read unto you.” (1:20)

This letter which is a supplement to this book echos this clear theme of Paul’s gospel:

“For verily to me life is in Christ, and to die is joy.” (1:8)

“For it is God that works in you.” (1:1)

What must change in us in order to hear Paul’s inclusive message? It cost Paul everything to tell every soul who would listen that Christ is embodied within us all. The difference is whether we possess the faith to believe it’s true for us. Paul teaches there aren’t innies and outies, Jews or gentiles, just those for whom the mystery is revealed and those for whom the mystery remains hidden.

May we contemplate the mystery.

When I began testing Paul’s thesis, it transformed how I understand the work of evangelism. Once I applied Paul’s strategy the gospel became such good news. The threat of retribution was gone, the promise of a life of power, peace and joy, where we turn a broken world into heaven on earth, became something the world has been waiting to hear. This means that those who reject the gospel…have never heard it.