EXEGESIS AND EXPOSITION OF COLOSSIANS 3:17-18 Pastor William E. Wenstrom Jr. WENSTROM BIBLE MINISTRIES Marion, Iowa 2016 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries Exegesis and Exposition of Colossians 3:17-18 Colossians 3:17 Protasis of a Fifth Class Condition Colossians 3:17 Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father. (NASB95) “Whatever you do in word or deed” is composed of the following: (1) conjunction kai (καί), which is not translated (2) accusative neuter singular form of the adjective pas (πᾶς), “whatever” (3) accusative neuter singular form of the relative pronoun hos (ὅς), “whatever” (4) accusative neuter singular form of the indefinite pronoun tis (τις), “whatever” (5) conditional particle ean (ἐάν), “whatever” (6) second person plural present active subjunctive form of the verb poieō (ποιέω), “you do” (7) preposition en (ἐν), “in” (8) dative masculine singular form of the noun logos (λόγος), “ word” (8) particle ē (ἤ), “or” (9) preposition en (ἐν), “in” (10) dative neuter singular form of the noun ergon (ἒργον), “deed.” Some expositors interpret the conjunction kai as a marker of result meaning it is introducing a command which is the logical and direct result of Paul’s instructions in Colossians 3:16. If this is the case, then the command in verse 17 which required that each of the Colossians continue making it their habit of doing everything in the name of the Lord Jesus is the result of the teaching originating from and about the one and only Christ continuing to dwell abundantly among them. It would also indicate that this command in verse 17 is the result of the Colossians continuing to make it their habit of providing instruction and specifically instruction with regards to proper Christian conduct. Lastly, it would mean that this command in verse 17 is the result of the Colossians providing this instruction by means of a wisdom which is absolute, namely the gospel, and by means of psalms, hymns and spiritual songs while singing with gratitude to the Father with their entire being. However, it is better to interpret the conjunction kai in verse 17 as emphatic meaning it is introducing a command which advances upon and intensifies the previous commands and prohibitions in verses 5-16. Specifically, this word introduces a command which summarizes the commands and prohibitions in verses 5-16. This interpretation is indicated by the fact that the command in verse 17 addresses the conduct of the Colossians and the commands and prohibitions in verses 5-16 do so as well. The conditional particle ean introduces the protasis of a third class condition which offers a condition the fulfillment of which is realized in the present time. This is also called a fifth class condition. This particle introduces the protasis of a 2016 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 1 fifth class condition which offers a condition the fulfillment of which is realized in the present time. The fifth class condition is a present general condition. The protasis contains the conditional particle ean, “if” which is employed with the subjunctive mood of the verb poieō, “you do.” The apodosis contains the present imperative form of the verb poieō, which is omitted but implied due to Paul’s use of the figure of ellipsis. The protasis is “Whatever you do in word or deed” and the apodosis is “do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.” Paul is offering no indication about the likelihood of the protasis being fulfilled and there is no hint of uncertainty about this event not occurring nor some eventuality being presented. Rather, the fifth class condition is expressing a spiritual principle, that everything the Colossians do in life must be done in the name of the Lord Jesus. The subjunctive mood is employed because the subject is undefined and not because the time is future. Thus, an unidentified, hypothetical Christian in Colossae is being referred to in the protasis since Paul is not speaking of a specific individual but rather he is communicating a spiritual principle that applies to everyone in the Christian community in Colossae. The relationship between the protasis and the apodosis is cause and effect. The cause is the Colossians doing or saying anything. The effect is that they must say and doing everything in the name of the Lord Jesus. The adjective pas pertains to totality and here it refers to the totality of unspecified and indeterminate words and actions of the individual members of the Colossian Christian community. This word functions as an accusative direct object meaning it is receiving the action of the second person plural present active subjunctive form of the verb poieō. This would indicate that these unspecified and indeterminate words and actions of the individual members of the Colossian Christian community are receiving the action of being performed by them. The relative pronoun hos means “whatever” and refers to the adjective pas and thus to the totality of unspecified and indeterminate words and actions of the individual members of the Colossian Christian community. This is indicated by the fact that the word agrees in gender (neuter) and number (singular) with this adjective. This word is also in the accusative case and functions specifically as an accusative of simple apposition meaning it stands apposite to the accusative form of the adjective pas and is clarifying what Paul means by these words and actions. Paul does not care what the word or action is, the Colossians must always conduct themselves in a manner which is consistent with the name of the Lord Jesus and that this name signifies. 2016 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 2 The indefinite pronoun tis means “anything” and is used as a substantive referring to any word or action the individual members of the Colossian Christians community might perform without identifying specifically these words and action. This interpretation is indicated by the fact that the word agrees in gender (neuter) and number (singular) with the adjective pas. This word is also in the accusative case and also functions specifically as an accusative of simple apposition meaning it stands apposite to the accusative form of the adjective pas and is clarifying what Paul means by this adjective and thus what he means by these words and actions. He has any type of word or action in mind when he uses this word. The verb poieō is found as early as Homer and is generally used transitively meaning “to do, to make.” It is the basic term for all activity. The subjects belonging to the verb include both the gods and men. Sometimes the subject for the verb is inanimate such as the soil or the produce from a tree. In Greek mythology poieo describes the creative activity of the gods. The word takes on the meaning of to create, generate, and give shape to in relation to the activities of the gods. Human doing and making can refer to any kind of activity. Used intransitively poieo has the meaning of to act. Platonic texts use the verb in the sense of making every effort. In the Septuagint, poieō occurs 3199 times and translates a variety of Hebrew words. It often translates `asah, “to make, do,” and less frequently bara’, “to create out of nothing.” This verb refers quite often to the activity of Yahweh. The word denotes Yahweh’s involvement in the creation of: (1) Heaven and earth (Gen. 1:7, 16, 21, 25, 31). (2) Man (Gen. 1:26-27). It refers to His action in bringing help and salvation to His people (Ex. 13:8; 14:13), and in working miracles (Ex. 15:11; Deut. 11:3). The word is used of His intervention into human history and is used in relation to the execution of His: (1) Judgments (2) Plans. It is used in reference to logistical grace provisions and also refers to human work where man: (1) Prepares cakes (Gen. 18:6). (2) Makes feasts (Gen. 21:8). (3) Makes war (Gen. 14:2). (4) Builds altars (Ex. 20:24-25). The Lord commanded Israel to cease from all labor during the Sabbath and Passover (Ex. 12:16; 20:9-10). The verb poieō appears approximately 568 times in the Greek New Testament and has a wide range of meanings in the New Testament depending upon on its object. A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature-Third Edition: (1) to produce something, material, make, manufacture, produce (2) to undertake or do something that brings about an event, state or condition, do, cause, bring about, accomplish, prepare (3) to carry out an obligation of a moral or social nature, do, keep, carry out, practice, commit (4) to do something to others or something, do something to/with (5) do, make (6) to be 2016 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 3 active in some way, work, be active (7) make/do something, for oneself or of oneself.1 The following meanings for the word under the first category are as follows: (1) To produce, construct, form, fashion, create (2) To be the author of, to cause (3) Joined to nouns involving the idea of action or of something which is accomplished by action, so as to form a periphrasis for the verb cognate to the substantive and thus to express the idea of the verb forcibly. (4) To make ready, to prepare (5) To produce, bear, shoot forth: of trees, vines, grass, etc.