Colossians Chapter 1, Part 2

In Part 2 of their conversation on Colossians 1, Delaney and Shawn focus on how Paul repeatedly distinguishes between “God the Father” and “our Lord Jesus Christ” — an emphasis that reflects the Great News Network’s rejection of traditional Trinitarian views. They explain that Paul’s references are not affirming a preexistent Jesus, but rather pointing to a man (Jesus) who received the Word of God, overcame the flesh, and was later merged with God through his victory. Delaney presses Shawn on what it means to refer to “the will of God” versus “the will of Christ,” and they explore how Jesus’ human will, once perfected, became the means by which we now relate to God spiritually.

This leads into a broader critique of the Trinity and what they call “systematic theology” — the idea that all aspects of God, Christ, the Spirit, sin, and salvation can be harmonized into one eternal, unchanging framework. Delaney has a key breakthrough moment in realizing that the primary difference between the Great News perspective and traditional Christianity is time: TGNN acknowledges that God’s revelation and actions unfolded across time periods, while traditional theology compresses everything into a single, static system. They argue that failing to account for time results in contradictions and the need to mythologize scripture to make it all “fit.”

They briefly mention how this misunderstanding extends to broader religion — including teachings on sin, hell, and heaven — and contrast the rigidity of these systems with the fulfilled, contextual, and time-based approach offered by TGNN. Delaney connects these ideas to modern discourse, where individuals pick up fragments of history or theology and assert them without the larger, contextual view. The episode ends with Shawn affirming Delaney’s growing philosophical clarity, suggesting that her insights are key to carrying the message forward in a way that resonates with today’s seekers.