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Ethos in Colossians 1:24-2:5
Prof.
Jerry L. Sumney
Ethos plays an important role in the rhetoric of Colossians, though not as obvious a role as that seen in many ancient speeches and writings. Colossians gives attention to the ethos of the readers, the teachers who are rejected, other ministers, and Paul. While noting the importance of the ethos drawn for each of these groups, this paper will focus on the ethos constructed for Paul. I will argue that the most important element of this ethos is Paul’s suffering for the readers. This suffering is a part of the presentation of Paul from the beginning of Colossians to its very end and is particularly accentuated in 1:24-2:5. The suffering of Paul is emphasized to demonstrate his goodwill toward the readers, but more is involved with it here. I will argue that there is a mimetic element to this suffering, even though the readers are not themselves suffering.
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