Lesson 04 Rhetorical Issues

Lesson 04
Col. 1:24-2:5
Rhetorical Issues last revised: 1/7/05
To display the Greek text contained in this page, download and install the free BSTGreek True Type fonts from Bible Study Tools. The Greek text is based upon the United Bible Societies The Greek New Testament, fourth revised edition. By rhetorical issues is intended the internal literary scructure of the pericope, along with some attention to the literary setting of the pericope. The above hyperlink takes you to the page "Steps to a Literary Structural Analysis of the Greek Text," in which you will want to take note of the section "Semantic Diagraming" that grows out of the Block Diagram of the pericope. This provides the starting point for the consideration of rhetorical issues present in the pericope.
Don't forget to use the online sources available in iPreach (above hyperlink) as important secondary sources. Note: some of these questions are tied into the more historical/theological questions in the Exegetical Issues section; answering these in tandom with one another will work easier.

1. Assess the literary structure of this pericope, in light of the block diagram.
Develop an Exegetical Outline following the Guidelines.
Use commentaries for additional insights. Peter T. O'Brien, Colossians, Philemon, vol. 44 in the Word Biblical Commentary series, pp.73-75, has some helpful insights.

2. From the Block Diagram, summarize the development of the idea of the Word of God as "Mystery" in this pericope.
Use commentaries for additional insights.

3. From the Block Diagram, summarize the development of the idea of the ministry as detailed in this pericope.
Use commentaries for additional insights.