*Colossians 2:1-15
Paul teaches the Colossians that true wisdom comes from Christ, not from human philosophies or religious traditions.
- Paul’s Struggle for the Believers:
- Paul expresses his struggle for the Colossians and those in Laodicea, desiring that they be encouraged in heart and united in love.
- He aims for them to have full understanding and assurance that comes from truly knowing Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
- Warning Against Deception:
- He warns them about being deceived by fine-sounding arguments.
- Although Paul is absent in body, he is with them in spirit, rejoicing to see their good order and firmness of faith in Christ.
- Exhortation to Continue in Faith:
- Believers are urged to continue living in Christ, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as they were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
- Warning Against Human Traditions:
- Paul cautions against being taken captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and elemental spiritual forces of the world rather than on Christ.
- Fullness in Christ:
- He emphasizes that in Christ, all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ, believers have been brought to fullness.
- Christ is the head over every power and authority.
- Spiritual Circumcision and Baptism:
- In Christ, believers were circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. This spiritual circumcision involves putting off the sinful nature.
- They were also buried with Him in baptism and raised with Him through their faith in the power of God, who raised Christ from the dead.
- Freedom from the Spiritual Deadness:
- Paul reminds them that they were dead in their sins and in the uncircumcision of their flesh, but God made them alive with Christ, forgiving all their sins.
- He canceled the charge of their legal indebtedness, which stood against them and condemned them. This He did by nailing it to the cross.
- Triumph Over Spiritual Powers:
- By disarming the powers and authorities, Christ made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
Colossians 2:1-15 teaches us to stay strong in our faith and not be fooled by false ideas. Jesus has given us everything we need—He has forgiven our sins and given us new life. We don’t have to rely on human rules or traditions to be right with God; we just need to trust in Jesus. We can apply this by keeping our focus on Him, standing firm in what we believe, and remembering that through Jesus, we are completely forgiven and free.
Colossians 2:1-15 (WEB)
2:1 For I desire to have you know how greatly I struggle for you and for those at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; 2 that their hearts may be comforted, they being knit together in love, and gaining all riches of the full assurance of understanding, that they may know the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, 3 in whom all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden. 4 Now I say this that no one may delude you with persuasiveness of speech. 5 For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in the spirit, rejoicing and seeing your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.6 As therefore you received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, even as you were taught, abounding in it in thanksgiving.8 Be careful that you don’t let anyone rob you through his philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the elemental spirits of the world, and not after Christ. 9 For in him all the fullness of the Deity dwells bodily, 10 and in him you are made full, who is the head of all principality and power. 11 In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, in the putting off of the body of the sins of the flesh, in the circumcision of Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead. 13 You were dead through your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh. He made you alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 wiping out the handwriting in ordinances which was against us. He has taken it out of the way, nailing it to the cross. 15 Having stripped the principalities and the powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.