But the text puts it in past tense: "...which was preached to every creature"
Hi Brother,
My argument centers around the meaning (and use) of the word ηρυχθέντος. The word can be translated as both proclaim and preach, however, proclaim and preach can have different usages or meanings. In Col. 1:23 the most likely meaning is proclaimed because the gospel has not been preached to every creature but has been proclaimed to every creature.
For example, Jesus tells us in Mat. 24:14 that "This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come." The end has not come so the gospel is yet to be preached to the whole world. Secondly, if the gospel of the kingdom shall be preached (future indicative) then the gospel will continue to be preached. If everyone has heard the gospel then this verse would stand in tension.
In Luke 16 Jesus tells us that The Law and the Prophets
were proclaimed until John; since that time the gospel of the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it." Since John (John the Baptist) the gospel has been preached. The gospel of the kingdom stands here in contrast to the law and the line of demarcation is John. In other words, since John the proclaimed gospel (the gospel of Jesus Christ) is the official gospel (proclaimed). Secondly, the verse tells us that everyone is "forcing" (rendered in the present- an ongoing action) his way into it. The verse does not say that everyone has forced (past tense) into it, therefore the preaching of the gospel is ongoing.
The book of Acts is filled with examples of the disciples and the apostles continuing to preach the gospel (Acts 5:42, 8:4,25, 10:42, 14:7, etc.). If everyone had already heard the gospel then there would not have been a need to continue to preach it.
Lastly, Paul charged Timothy with preaching the gospel. Paul tells Timothy that "I solemnly charge
you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season
and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with [
a]great patience and instruction (2 Tim 4:1-2)." This charge would not have been necessary if the gospel had already been preached to all of humankind.
Since the preaching of the gospel is ongoing then it stands to reason that Col. 1:23 is not saying that the gospel has been preached to all but that the gospel has been proclaimed (made official) for all.