Robert M. Royalty, «Dwelling on Visions.On the Nature of the so-called ‘Colossians Heresy’», Vol. 83 (2002) 329-357
This paper argues that Revelation provides a social-historical, theological, and ideological context for the reconstruction of the Colossian opposition. The proposal is that the author of the Apocalypse arrived in Asia after the Jewish-Roman war; his "dwelling on visions" and prophetic activity challenged the emerging hierarchy within the churches, provoking a response in Paul’s name from the church leadership. Correspondences and parallels between the description of the opposition in Colossians and Revelation are developed exegetically, showing that eschatology and Christology were key issues in the dispute. This paper reexamines the heresiological rhetoric of Colossians, raising methodological questions about other scholarly reconstructions of the opposition as non-Christian.
traditions"16. But this is a description of all the "Christianities" of the NT, including that of the author of Colossians. Early Christianity combined elements of Second Temple Judaism (itself highly diverse and syncretistic), Greco-Roman religions, Hellenistic philosophy, and native religio-magical elements. Since "syncretistic" is equally descriptive for all the Christianities that developed in Asia Minor during the first two centuries of the common era, the term does not bring precision to delineating the opposing groups referred to in the epistle.
This paper will explore the possibility that Colossians was written by a follower of Paul after 70 CE, when John and his apocalyptic circle came to Asia Minor following the Jewish war with Rome. The debate between "Paul" (a name chosen to enhance the authority of his position) and opposing Christian prophets has a theological, moral, and an ideological dimension. The theological debate centers on the realized achievements of Christ and the relation of Christians to angels and other heavenly and earthly powers; thus, the author of Colossians argues Christology at length. The moral argument focuses on the observance of Jewish law and customs, such as Sabbaths, new moon festivals, and dietary requirements. There are important ideological underpinnings for these moral and theological issues. The author of the Apocalypse arrived in Asia after the Jewish-Roman war, "dwelling on visions" and describing heavenly angels. His prophetic authority challenged the emerging church hierarchy, whose authority derived from received Pauline tradition rather than charismatic revelation. Rev 2–3 contains significant evidence of disputes between the author John and the Asian Christian communities over matters of interpretation and praxis17. John’s apocalyptic visions were controversial from their introduction into Asia through their eventual reception into the canon18.
This proposal rests upon three assumptions about Revelation. First, the author of the Apocalypse, the seer John of Patmos, was an itinerant, charismatic prophet who came to Asia from Palestine after