Abstract
In Colossians 1:5, Paul (who is assumed to be the author for the purposes of this article) writes of ‘the hope stored up for you in heaven’ (New International Version [NIV]). This text appears to present hope (ἐλπίς) as an objective reality, which can be ‘stored up’ in heaven, rather than a description of the subjective attitude of Christian believers. This article attempts to clarify the content of the term hope in this particular text by means of careful attention to the immediate context of the verse (particularly the connection between ‘hope’ and ‘gospel’). Attention will also be paid to the use of the term ἐλπίς on two further occasions (Col 1:23; 1:27) and to other texts, which might be understood to be conceptually related to ‘hope’ without using that explicit terminology (particularly the reference to Christ appearing in 3:1–4). It is also argued that further light can be shed on Colossians 1:5 by considering texts in 1 Peter (particularly 1:3, but also 1:13, 21 and 3:5, 15 where ἐλπίς or the cognate verb is used). I will then reflect on any similarities and/or differences between the presentations of the concept of hope in these two canonical documents and draw some conclusions for New Testament theology.
Highlights
The most striking characteristic that distinguished the early Christians from their pagan neighbours was their hope. (Witherington 2007:79)Hope is the proper response to the promises of God. (Nelson 1996:356)What oxygen is for the lungs, such is hope for the meaning of human life. (Brunner 1954:7)Hope is recognised by many authors as an important aspect of Christian thought
It is the case that hope is generally understood as the subjective attitude of Christian believers
Several texts, which relate to the concept of hope from two New Testament documents, Colossians and 1 Peter, will be considered
Summary
The most striking characteristic that distinguished the early Christians from their pagan neighbours was their hope. (Witherington 2007:79)Hope is the proper response to the promises of God. (Nelson 1996:356)What oxygen is for the lungs, such is hope for the meaning of human life. (Brunner 1954:7)Hope is recognised by many authors as an important aspect of Christian thought. I take hope’s association with the proclamation of the gospel combined with the reference to it being kept to support an objective reading ( see Bird 2009:61 who comments that Paul urges the Colossians in 1:5 not to depart ‘from the hope laid up for them in heaven’).
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