ACC ~ Colossians 1 v22b

PERFECTION POSSIBLE? THEODORE OF MOPSUESTIA: In a similar fashion to his treatment of the subject in the letter to the Ephesians, Paul speaks here of the primacy in Christ, such that there is a joining of the church to that which has already been accomplished in him. … The effect is that there is in Christ a bearing away of our mortality in the gift of immortality … so that every uprighting act which is worked by him is contained in the promises, which foresaw the future renewal in a future time. COMMENTARY ON COLOSSIANS.

PELAGIUS: [With regard to 1:22-23] you should observe that Paul does not know or teach anything that he believes to be impossible for human beings to do. PELAGIUS’S COMMENTARY ON THE LETTER TO THE COLOSSIANS.

AUGUSTINE: He, however, is not unreasonably said to walk blamelessly, not who has already reached the end of his journey but who is passing on towards the end in a blameless manner, free from damnable sins, and at the same time not neglecting to cleanse by almsgiving such sins as are venial. For the way in which we walk, that is, the road by which we reach perfection, is cleansed by clean prayer. That, however, is a clean prayer in which we say in truth, “Forgive us, as we ourselves forgive.” So that, as there is nothing censured when blame is not imputed, we may hold on our course to perfection without censure, in a word, blamelessly. ON MAN’S PERFECTION IN RIGHTEOUSNESS 9.20.

WORK COLOSSIANS 1:24-2:5

OVERVIEW: The apostle Paul in his suffering and preaching continues the reconciling work of Christ (CHRYSOSTOM, THEODORE, SEVERIAN, THEODORET, AMBROSIASTER). Paul represents all Christians, and ultimately the church itself, as a corporate continuation of the reconciling work of Christ (AUGUSTINE). The special responsibility of Paul is to make known the mysterious unfolding of God’s plan in salvation history (CHRYSOSTOM, AMBROSIASTER), a mystery hidden in Scripture (ORIGEN), in the divine nature of Christ (AMBROSE) and in the working of grace (AUGUSTINE). Indeed, the gospel is a treasure that God employs on many levels for our benefit, even if some aspects remain hidden by divine design (JEROME) or remain ineffable (JOHN OF DAMASCUS).

Col