Deeper ReflectionIN 2 THESSALONIANS 3, PAUL EMPHASISES THE CENTRALITY
of the Word of God in eschatological discipleship (v.1, 2 Thess 3:4, 6, 10, 12,
16). The Word of God must have its outward growth – to “spread rapidly”
throughout the world (v.1), and its inward growth in the life of the church.
Church growth constitutes both: “Each is incomplete and unbalanced
without the other. Both also demand time – world evangelisation on the
one hand and church formation on the other.”
31The inward growth of the Word is to happen in individual believers and as a
community. It begins with “the word of Christ dwell in you richly” (Col 3:16a).
The “word of Christ” is “the Gospel about and centred on Christ”
32 which
is not just the New Testament, but also the Old Testament, which to Jesus
is “everything written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets
and the Psalms” (Lk 24:44). The Word is to “dwell” in us – to “take up
permanent residence” in our lives as the centre and “constant reference”
33.
The Word of Christ is to “dwell” in us “richly”. It means the Word in us is
not “superficial or passing…but a deep and penetrating contemplation” by
which the Word’s “transforming power” works within us.
34 (cf. Jas 1:25).Out of the Word of Christ – “in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and
knowledge” (Col 1:3) – dwelling in us richly will be a worshipping community
“teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom” (Col 3:16b). Mark
the words “one another”. Do we see this Word-richness in our small group
meetings?
31 John R. W. Stott, 184
32 David W. Pao, Colossians & Philemon, Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament (Zondervan, 2012), 247
33 Douglas J. Moo, The Letters to the Colossians and to Philemon, The Pillar New Testament Commentaries (Apollos, 2008),286
34 Douglas J. Moo, 286
