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.
"have come to fullness" in Christ (e)ste_ e)n au)tw=| peplhrwme/noi), a strongly realized statement without any eschatological reservation 95. Then, Col 2,12 makes the strong claim that in baptism, the Colossians "were also raised with him [i.e. Christ, e)n w|| kai_ sunhge/rqhte] through faith in the power of God" 96. Col 2,12 is a striking parallel and reinterpretation of Rom 6,4, with the significant use of the aorist for sunegei/rw. The shift in the eschatological horizon is an important piece of evidence for the deutero-Pauline authorship of Colossians and is evident in other parts of the letter. Col 2,13-14 expresses this realized eschatology consistently (note the aorist perietmh/qhte, 2,11 and sunezwopoi/hsen, 2,13)97.
In contrast, the visions of the Apocalypse could be described as a strong warning against any realized eschatological claims. The messages to the seven churches each end with a future promise to "those who conquer" that they will receive a heavenly reward (dw/sw in Rev 2,7.11.17.28; 3,5.12.21). As discussed above, the message to Laodicea condemns that community for its realized eschatology: "for you say ‘I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing’" (Rev 3,17). Christ has made the Christian community into a kingdom and a priesthood (Rev 1,6; 5,10), but they will rule upon the earth (basileu/sousin, 5,10)98. The inheritance of the New Jerusalem is