

Greg Beale | The Use of the Old Testament in Colossians
Jan 17, 2025
In this conversation, Greg Beale, a New Testament professor at Reformed Theological Seminary in Dallas, unpacks the Old Testament's profound influence on Paul's letter to the Colossians. He discusses Paul's rebuttal to syncretistic teachings and Christ's supremacy as the true temple. Beale shares insights on identifying Old Testament allusions and how Colossians relates to Ephesians. The dialogue also touches on practical applications for today's church and the intersection of AI and theological education.
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Using Software for Allusion Identification
- Use software like Accordance to analyze texts for potential Old Testament allusions.
- These tools can identify combinations of words and their occurrences in other texts.
Debate on Allusions in Colossians
- Some scholars minimize Old Testament allusions in Colossians, while others see many.
- Beale's method involves finding unique word combinations in both testaments, then considering thematic consistency.
Debate with Edinburgh Professor
- Beale debated with a professor from Edinburgh who criticized his method for identifying allusions.
- The professor argued for minimal allusions in Colossians, while Beale defended his approach.