 |  |
A | 1: 1, 2. Salutation.
B | 1: 3-8. Faithful ministry. Epaphras. The word of truth heard.
C | a | 1: 9-12. Prayer for spiritual walk.
b | 1: 13-23. Christ before all things, and in Him all things consist.
D | 1: 23-28. The mystery manifested by God.
E | 1: 28 - 2: 1. Preaching to present perfect.
F | 2: 2, 3. Hid--the treasures of wisdom and knowledge--in Christ.
G | 2: 4-23. BEWARE. A five-fold warning.
F | 3: 1-4. Hid--your life--with Christ.
C |
b | 3: 5-15. Christ is all and in all.
a | 3: 16 - 4: 1. Indwelling Word for spiritual walk.
D | 4: 2-11. The mystery manifested by Paul.
E | 4: 12, 13. Prayer to stand perfect.
B | 4: 14-17. Fulfil ministry. Archippus. Epistle to be read.
A | 4: 18. Salutation.
The full justification of this structure must of necessity await the evidence which
detailed study alone can supply. Some of the marks of correspondence, however, are
sufficiently obvious to establish the general trustworthiness of the whole. For example,
no long argument is needed to prove the intimate correspondence suggested by the two
members F | 2: 2, 3. and F | 3: 1-4.; in both the key word is "Hid". Then
again, the members C | b | 1: 13-23. and C | b | 3: 5-15. contain a number
of common features, among them the balance indicated in the outline, and also such items
as "creation", "image", &100: The two members E | 1: 28 - 2: 1. and E | 4: 12, 13.
have "perfection" in view, beside both using the words "agonize" and "Laodicea". With
these parallels established, we trust the reader will either seek out the proofs of the
remainder, or rest assured that they are forthcoming as the time arrives.
The important feature of the epistle is undoubtedly the great central section, labeled
"Beware". While all the rest of the epistle is vital truth, we shall realize that it is relative
to the warning which is the principal theme. With this introduction to our study we must
here stay, trusting that the ministry of the Word that will arise out of the exposition of this
great epistle will be blessed to all readers, old as well as new.