The following is an exegetical paper on Colossians 3:1-11 entitled “Having Taken Off the Old Man and Put on the New: An Exegetical Analysis of Colossians 3:1-11.” I wrote this paper in partial fulfillment for a Greek Exegesis course at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.[1] Fair warning–This paper is a bit more technical than our typical blog posts. If you are not acquainted with New Testament Greek you may find some parts unintelligible although the occasional summary statements should clarify things. But either way, whether you are a Greek scholar or not, I trust the theological discussions in this paper will prove to be beneficial for you.
A Summary of Dispensationalism and Covenant Theology
If you’ve had some theological education, or have been around someone who else who has, you may have heard of the terms dispensationalism or covenant theology (or reformed theology). But maybe you’re not entirely sure as to what they mean, to what they refer, or what these systems of theology propose. Maybe you are somewhat familiar with these systems, or one of them, and might benefit from a concise and precise summary. Or, maybe these terms are foreign to you and your curiosity has been tickled.
Heaven is Not My Home; I’ll Just Be Passing Through
You may be familiar with the lyrics, “this world is not my home; I’m just a passing through.” But despite its popularity, these words are not theologically accurate. Rather, as Doug Wilson suggests, we would be better off saying something along the lines of “heaven is not my home; I’ll just be passing through.”
Carson on the Tension Between the Singleness, Imminence, and Signs Preceding Christ’s Coming
In class Dr. Don Carson presented what I think is a very simple and helpful diagram/explanation about the tensions that exist between three Biblical realities that relate to the return of Christ. Dr. Carson did not present a resolution to the tension (unless I totally missed it). But nonetheless, the diagram is helpful, if nothing else, for understanding the difficulties that differing eschatological (referring to “last things” or end times) views face and must try to resolve. Without diving into the debate, allow me to simply share with you his diagram/explanation in hopes that it helps you better understand the views and the tensions that they face.
Three Views on the Extent of the Atonement: A Brief Introduction
Concerning the theological debate on the extent, nature, and purpose(s) of Christ’s atonement, from my own experience I have found that many Christians have misrepresented ideas about what the main views basically propose. I am not about to engage in a theological and/or exegetical discussion on extent of the atonement at this point (nor will I do so in the comments below). But I have decided to craft a simple graph that I hope helps you to become more informed and to more accurately understand the main views, namely, those other than your own.
Kirk E. Miller 