*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.
2:1 For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; 2:2 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; 2:3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
2:4 And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.
2:5 For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.
2:6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: 2:7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
2:9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
2:10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: 2:11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: 2:12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
2:13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; 2:14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; 2:15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.