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.
technical term, kri/nw in Col 2,16 indicates that someone within the Christian community is doing the condemning. Similarly, no one could "disqualify" (katabrabeue/tw) a fellow Christian unless they had some standing93. A charismatic prophet, citing heavenly visions of angels, could command such authority.
The author of Colossians, responding to the threat against his own authority from John and his prophetic community, tries to turn his audience’s attention away from vision of angels in the heavenly throne room. He values the established tradition handed down in the churches over prophetic visions that raise challenges to his authority on moral and theological matters.
IV.
The dispute between the two opposing groups goes deeper than the basic issues outlined in Col 2,16-23. It also includes eschatological and Christological dimensions. The source of their disagreements over what Christ has done and has yet to do is no doubt the heavenly revelations brandished by John as a source of authority and challenged by the author of Colossians. These visions include more than descriptions of angels worshiping in the heavenly throne room. They also describe "what is, and what is to take place after this" (Rev 1,19). The eschatological focus of these apocalyptic visions has become the source of ideological conflict between the apocalyptic prophets and the Pauline establishment in Colossae. Col 2,9-15 is important rhetorically because it develops the author’s christological and eschatological position in a polemical context, between the introduction and first assault against the opponents in Col 2,4-8 and the fuller attack in 2,16-2394. Thus, the positions set forth here support the more direct attacks in 2,4-8 and 2,16-23.
Two points should be noted. The first concerns what has been accomplished in Christians. Col 2,10 continues the theme of the plh/rwma (cf. Col 1,19), as the author assures his audience that they