1. The Story-Line of Christian Precreation Rhetorolect LESSON 5: CHRISTIAN PRECREATION RHETOROLECT IN COLOSSIANS AND EPHESIANS Colossians and Ephesians, two disputed letters of Paul, contain highly developed Christian precreation rhetorolect. Colossians speaks of precreation Christ as the image of God. Ephesians speaks of Christ as the mystery and plan of God before the ages.  Click to read about Paul’s precreation rhetorolect.

2. CHRISTIAN PRECREATION RHETOROLECT IN COLOSSIANS AND EPHESIANS RECONFIGURES BIBLICAL AND PSEUDEPIGRAPHICAL PRECREATION DISCOURSE ABOUT WISDOM AND THE INVISIBLE AND VISIBLE SO IT FOCUSES ON CHRIST, GOD’S BELOVED SON  Click for next slide.

3. Christian Precreation Rhetorolect in Colossians 1-2: CHRIST IS THE IMAGE OF THE INVISIBLE GOD Colossians 1-2 speaks of Christ as the image of the invisible God. Resources for the Christian precreation rhetorolect in Colossians lie in Genesis, Sirach, and Wisdom of Solomon. Resources for the Christian precreation rhetorolect in Colossians lie in Genesis, Sirach, and Wisdom of Solomon.  Click to read about the image of God in Genesis 1.

4. Hebrew Bible Resource: THE IMAGE OF GOD in Genesis 1 Genesis 1:26 God said, “Let us make the human in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the sky, and over the livestock, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 1:27 God created the human in his own image. In God’s image he created him; male and female he created them.  Click to read about precreation wisdom in Sirach 24 and Wisdom of Solomon 7.

5. Hebrew Bible Resource: PRECREATION WISDOM in Sirach 24 and Wisdom of Solomon 7 Sirach 24:9 Before the ages, in the beginning, he created me [wisdom], and for all the ages I shall not cease to be. Wisdom 7:26 For wisdom is a reflection of eternal light, a spotless mirror of the working of God, and an image of his goodness. 7:27 Though she is but one, she can do all things, and while remaining in herself, she renews all things; in every generation she passes into holy souls and makes them friends of God, and prophets; 7:28 for God loves nothing so much as the human who lives with wisdom.  Click to read about precreation wisdom in Wisdom 8.

6. Hebrew Bible Resource: PRECREATION WISDOM in Wisdom of Solomon 8 Wisdom 8:1 Wisdom reaches mightily from one end of the earth to the other, and she orders all things well. 8:3 She glorifies her noble birth by living with God, and the Lord of all loves her. 8:13 Because of her I shall have immortality, and leave an everlasting remembrance to those who come after me.  Click to read about precreation wisdom in Wisdom of Solomon 9.

7. Hebrew Bible Resource: PRECREATION WISDOM in Wisdom of Solomon 9 Wisdom 9:6 Even one who is perfect among human beings will be regarded as nothing without the wisdom that comes from you. 9:17 Who has learned your counsel, unless you have given wisdom and sent your holy spirit from on high? 9:18 And thus the paths of those on earth were set right, and people were taught what pleases you, and were saved by wisdom.  Click to read about precreation wisdom in Colossians 1-2.

8. CHRISTIAN PRECREATION RHETOROLECT IN COLOSSIANS 1-2 PRESENTS CHRIST AS THE IMAGE OF GOD, CREATOR OF ALL THINGS VISIBLE AND INVISIBLE, ONE IN WHOM ALL THINGS “HOLD TOGETHER,” AND ONE WHO MAKES PEOPLE HOLY AND BLAMELESS  Click for next slide.

9. Christian Precreation Rhetorolect in Colossians 1: CHRIST AS THE IMAGE OF THE INVISIBLE GOD Colossians 1:15 He [the Son of his love] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation, 1:16 for by him all things were created, in the heavens and on the earth, things visible and things invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things have been created through him, and for him. 1:17 He is before all things, and in him all things are held together.  Click to continue reading Colossians 1.

10. Christian Precreation Rhetorolect in Colossians 1: CHRIST AS THE IMAGE OF THE INVISIBLE GOD cont. (1) Colossians 1:18 He is the head of the body, the assembly, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. 1:19 For all the fullness was pleased to dwell in him; 1:20 and through him to reconcile all things to himself, by him, whether things on the earth, or things in the heavens, having made peace through the blood of his cross.  Click to continue reading Colossians 1.

11. Christian Precreation Rhetorolect in Colossians 1: CHRIST AS THE IMAGE OF THE INVISIBLE GOD cont. (2) Colossians 1:21 You, being in past times alienated and enemies in your mind in your evil works, 1:22 yet now he has reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and without blemish and blameless before him, 1:23 if it is so that you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the good news which you heard, which is being proclaimed in all creation under heaven; of which I, Paul, was made a servant. …  Click to continue reading Colossians 1.

12. Christian Precreation Rhetorolect in Colossians 1: CHRIST AS THE IMAGE OF THE INVISIBLE GOD cont. (3) Colossians 1:25 I was made a servant of the church, according to the stewardship of God which was given me toward you, to fulfill the word of God, 1:26 the mystery which has been hidden for ages and generations. But now it has been revealed to his saints, 1:27 to whom God was pleased to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.  Click to continue reading Colossians 1-2.

13. Christian Precreation Rhetorolect in Colossians 1-2: CHRIST AS THE IMAGE OF THE INVISIBLE GOD cont. (4) Colossians 1:28 It is he whom we proclaim, admonishing everyone and teaching everyone in all wisdom, that we may present everyone perfect in Christ Jesus. … 2:2 I want the hearts of those in Laodicea to be comforted, they being knit together in love, and gaining all riches of the full assurance of understanding, that they may know the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, 2:3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.  Click to read about Ephesians 3.

14. Christian Precreation Rhetorolect in Ephesians 3: CHRIST AS THE MYSTERY AND PLAN OF GOD Ephesians 3 speaks of Christ as the mystery of God, hidden for ages in God. Resources for Christian precreation rhetorolect in Ephesians lie in the other letters of Paul in the New Testament. Ephesians 3 summarizes earlier statements in Paul’s letters, using the terms “mystery” and “plan” to talk about Christ as God’s precreation wisdom.  Click to read about Christ as the mystery and plan of God in Ephesians 3.

15. Christian Precreation Rhetorolect in Ephesians 3: CHRIST AS THE MYSTERY AND PLAN OF GOD Ephesians 3:1 For this cause I, Paul, am the prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles, 3:2 if it is so that you have heard of the administration of that grace of God which was given me toward you; 3:3 how that by revelation the mystery was made known to me, as I wrote before in few words, 3:4 by which, when you read, you can perceive my understanding in the mystery of Christ,  Click to continue reading Ephesians 3.

16. Christian Precreation Rhetorolect in Ephesians 3: CHRIST AS THE MYSTERY AND PLAN OF GOD cont. (1) Ephesians 3:5 which in other generations was not made known to the children of men, as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit; 3:6 that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of his promise in Christ Jesus through the good news, 3:7 of which I was made a servant, according to the gift of that grace of God which was given me according to the working of his power.  Click to continue reading Ephesians 3.

17. Christian Precreation Rhetorolect in Ephesians 3: CHRIST AS THE MYSTERY AND PLAN OF GOD cont. (2) Ephesians 3:8 To me, the very least of all saints, was this grace given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 3:9 and to make all humankind see what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God, who created all things through Jesus Christ; 3:10 to the intent that now through the assembly the manifold wisdom of God might be made known to the principalities and the powers in the heavenly places, 3:11 according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord; 3:12 in whom we have boldness and access in confidence through our faith in him.  Click to continue reading Ephesians 3.

18. Christian Precreation Rhetorolect in Ephesians 3: CHRIST AS THE MYSTERY AND PLAN OF GOD cont. (3) Ephesians 3:18 [you] may be strengthened to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 3:19 and to know Christ’s love which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.  Click for a summary.

19. Good Work! In this lesson you have learned that: Colossians and Ephesians, two disputed letters of Paul, contain highly developed Christian precreation rhetorolect. Christian precreation rhetorolect in Colossians and Ephesians reconfigures biblical and pseudepigraphical precreation discourse about wisdom and the invisible and visible so it focuses on Christ, God’s beloved son.  Click to continue the summary.

20. Summary cont. Colossians speaks of precreation Christ as the image of God. Resources for the Christian precreation rhetorolect in Colossians lie in Genesis, Sirach, and Wisdom of Solomon. Christian precreation rhetorolect in Colossians 1-2 presents Christ as the image of God, creator of all things visible and invisible, one in whom all things “hold together,” and one who makes people holy and blameless.  Click to contin ue.

21. Excellent! Ephesians speaks of Christ as the mystery and plan of God before the ages. Ephesians 3 summarizes earlier statements in Paul’s letters using the terms “mystery” and “plan,” rather than “wisdom” and “image,” to talk about Christ as God’s precreation wisdom. Resources for the Christian precreation rhetorolect in Ephesians lie in the other letters of Paul in the New Testament.  Click to continue.

22. Congratulations!!!! THIS WAS THE FIFTH LESSON on the Christian Precreation Story-Line. The next lesson turns to Christian precreation rhetorolect in the Gospel of John. Wonderful job!