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.
glorious epiphany of Christ (with the believers, 3,4) but he does not anticipate any future battles between Christ and the powers of this world102.
Revelation, in contrast, describes nothing but future battles with the a)rxa/i kai_ e)cousi/ai of the world, which in Revelation are the "kings of the earth" and the other allies of Satan, in particular the two beasts. In Rev 12,18–13,18, John describes a vision of two "beasts" being given complete mastery over all social, political, religious, and economic activity on earth103. The passage is typical. John envisions a series of climactic struggles before Satan is finally chained once and for all (Rev 20,1-4.7-10). Most importantly, the earthly powers and authorities have yet to be finally defeated (Rev 16,12-21; 17,14; 18,21-24; 19,11-21). Where the author of Colossians describes God’s victory through Christ as completed in the past, John describes these battles between the heavenly and demonic forces in the future (e.g., polemh/sousin, 17,14; luqh/setai, 20,7). The triumphal militarism of Col 2,15 could well be a response to violent imagery of visions such as we find in Revelation. The author of Colossians would not be responding to the written text but to the prophetic activity of John and his circle in the Asian churches, activity that included "dwelling on visions" of such future battles with the a)rxa/i kai_ e)cousi/ai of the world.
V.
Millennial views have caused disruptions in established Christian churches throughout history, from the "New Prophecy" of Montanus and his followers in the second century to the split between the Seventh Day Adventists and the Branch Davidians in the past century. It is highly plausible that the same sort of disturbance occurred in the Pauline churches of the Lycus valley, with the introduction of a radical apocalyptic Christian theology after the Roman war. Such a clash of theological perspectives would result in a powerful ideological struggle. Religious divisions arise, both in antiquity and in modern