a deutero-pauline mystery? 181
regarding Col 1:26–27, sanders claims that “[t]he word ‘mystery,’ which
appears in the quotation from i Cor 2:7, called to mind rom 16:25, where
it also occurs. similarly, the words, ‘to make known’ and ‘gentile,’ taken
from rom 16:26, called to mind rom 9:23–24, where they also appear.”15
he thinks it is almost impossible that Paul could have done this, as it
requires such perfect knowledge of two of Paul’s earlier letters. one might
respond that Paul would be as likely as anyone to be able to make such
connections based on the occurrence of key words, either because he
remembered the earlier correspondence or simply because he tended to
phrase things in the same way. sanders also notes that 1 Cor 2:7 refers to
wisdom as hidden, whereas in Col 1:26 it is the mystery that is hidden.
Finally, the word δέ, a common word in Paul’s letters, is rare in Colossians,
but it occurs here. sanders’ explanation is that the word is copied from
rom 16:25.16
however, the reference to wisdom in 1 Cor 2:7 is rather an anomaly of
1 Corinthians. this word occurs 19 times in the undisputed Pauline letters,
17 of which are in 1 Corinthians, one in 2 Corinthians, and one in romans.
(it also occurs three times in ephesians and six times in Colossians.) it is
probably the Corinthians’ insistence on wisdom that motivates Paul to
use this terminology. in general, it is more natural to speak of the mys-
tery as hidden, as Paul elsewhere refers to the revelation of the mystery
(rom 16:25). it is also worth noting that, even though he insists on speak-
ing wisdom in a mystery (1 Cor 2:7), Paul later claims to speak a mys-
tery (1 Cor 14:2; 15:51), another indication that the wording in 1 Cor 2:7 is
motivated by a particular exigency. the expression in Colossians probably
represents more standard Pauline phraseology. Finally, the occurrence of
the word δέ in Col 1:26 cannot be explained as a quotation from rom 16:25.
of the three sequential words these verses have in common, φανερωθέντος
has become ἐφανερώθη in Col 1:26, and the sequence of δὲ νῦν has been
reversed.
the most compelling evidence for conflation, according to sanders, is
found in Col 2:12–13. he claims that the author of Colossians has conflated
rom 6:4; 4:24; and gal 1:1, all of which refer to the raising of Christ from
the dead (ἐκ νεκρῶν). the author has coined the new words συνεγείρω and
συζωποιέω. he has quoted from rom 6:11, but omitted the words μέν and
δέ, which are among Paul’s favorite words, but do not occur together else-
where in Colossians. in Col 2:13, the author changes from “you” to “us” in
15 sanders, “literary dependence,” 39.
16 sanders, “literary dependence,” 39–40.
