You Are Filled in Him: Theosis and Colossians 2–3

Abstract

In Col 2:9–10, Paul makes a striking statement about Christ and those who believe in him: "in him all the fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you are filled in him." With the parallel use of πλήρωμα and πληρόω, Paul wants readers to see a connection between Christ's fullness and believers' filling. By providing a close reading of chaps. 2–3, I demonstrate that Colossians gives one of the clearest accounts in the NT of what was later termed "theosis," or deification. This deifying transformation is Christologically shaped, such that the repeated emphasis of Paul's letter is embodying Christ's death and life. After demonstrating the argument exegetically, I then explore how this reading coheres with patristic views of deification and whether it nullifies the Creator-created distinction.

Becoming god: Interpreting Pauline soteriology as deification

“…Regarding this final point, Blackwell notes that many questions remain unanswered regarding Pauline deification; while his project was ‘focused primarily on individuals…Paul is clearly interested in the role of the church as the Body of Christ’. In an article entitled ‘You are Filled in Him: Theosis and Colossians 2-3’ (2014), Blackwell extends this discussion by stating that Paul’s soteriology is not merely about a ‘reconstituted self but also the reconstituted community’ whereby they experience ‘noetic transformation’ to be reoriented to a community known as ‘Christ’s body’ where ‘Christ is all and in all (Col. 3:11)’ (p. 117).…”