[Greek] στερέωμα (stereōma), [Latin] firmamentum, [Latin] rigidius, [Latin] validus; support, firmness, steadfastness, strength, stability, bulwark (military fortification), solid front; Col.2:5
Paul’s exhorts the Colossians’ faith to be a strong defense against the false teachers. In Eph.6:16 Paul calls upon Christians to hold their faith as a shield.
Background Information:
Greek Hellenism: This term means solid body, foundation, firmness, and steadfastness.
Homer’s Odyssey 23.103: “But thy heart is ever harder than stone.”
Homer’s Iliad 23.42: “Be he steadfastly denied them, and swore an oath.”
Sophocles’ Antigone 1262: “Ah, the blunders of an unthinking mind, blunders of rigidity, yield death.”
Old Testament: The vault of heaven is depicted as a solid bowl or canopy. God called the dome the sky. God established this vault of heaven in its solidity. Eventually, God becomes associated with constancy and firmness. However, the Hebrew term raquia means “strectched-outness” or “spread-outness”, like a sail. Yet, the translators of the Septuagint seemed to have used the Greek stereoma to focus on the hardness or stability of the firmament. In a sense, the heavens are both stretched out and firm.
Colossian Church: Paul, while in prison, writes to the Colossian church. Paul was concerned about the issues facing the Colossians. Faith becomes more precisely defined by orderliness and firmness. Faith become likened to a miliary division or bulwark (wall or defense built for protection against danger, injury, or annoyance). The community’s steadfastness is belief in Christ. Paul urges the Colossians to be firm and steadfast in their faith.
Warnings against false teachers:
- The Colossians are warned and admonished to adhere to the gospel as it was first preached to them.
- They must reject any religious teachings outside the gospel.
- They are called to not be captivated (enslaved) by empty seductive philosophies, according to human tradition.
- They are called to not be captivated (enslaved) by the elemental powers of the world, not according to Christ.
Scripture:
Col.2:5: “For even if I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing as I observe your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.” (Paul encourages the Colossians to stand firm in the faith. Paul admonishes them to remain true to their faith.)
Stereotype: This term comes from the printing trade and was first adopted in 1798 by Firmin Didot to describe a printing plate that duplicated any typography. The stereotype is used for printing from the original. The reference of a stereotype as un unchanged image was in 1850. It was not until 1922 that a stereotype was used in a psychological or sociological context.
Stereophonic sound: This is a sound reproduction that creates an illusion of a multiple audio perspective. This is achieved by using two or more independent audio channels. This gives the impression of a sound heard from various directions.
Other related Greek term:
[Greek] ἀνδρίζομαι (andrizomai), [Latin] agitare viriliter: to act in a manly way, to be courageously, to conduct oneself in a courageous way; 1Cor.16:13
1Cor.16:13: “Be on your guard, stand firm in the faith, be courageous, be strong.”
Being on your guard: spiritual watching signifies a diligent abstaining from sin, temptation, worldly values, and false teachers.
Standing firm in the faith: being firm in holding and defending gospel truths
Being courageous: acting like soldiers fighting against the world, the flesh, and the devil (satanic influences).
Conclusion:
Stereo, stereophonic, firmament, firm
It should be no surprise that acting courageously and acting manly go hand in hand. Both seek to stand firm and protect.
Because of its sound wave properties, music in stereo provides a stronger and deeper sound. So, it should be no surprise that the ideas of soundness and strength are tied together. There is no direct reference to the firmament in the New Testament. However, in any age in history, there is always a need for sound teaching. In today’s age of thousands of religious organizations and denominations, this can sometimes be a very challenging prospect to have a firm foundation of faith.