Colossians 2:1-10 (NKJV) For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
4 Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words. 5 For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.
6 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.
8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; 10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.
V1 “For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh…” (Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary)” [Laodicea] a city in the Lycus Valley of the province of PHRYGIA where one of the seven churches of Asia Minor was situated (Rev. 3:14). About 65 kilometers (40 miles) east of Ephesus and about 16 kilometers (10 miles) west of Colossae, Laodicea was built on the banks of the river Lycus, a tributary of the Maeander River.” What is the conflict? The Greek word for conflict is (G73) ἀγών agṓn which means a struggle and mastery/perfecting in the sense of games, contests, etc. “A struggle, contest, contention (Php 1:29-30; Col 2:1; 1Th 2:2). In the NT, it is presented as the life task of the Christian” (Word Study Dictionary). The Christian life is the school God enrolls us in to make us more holy. It is a basic training of sorts preparing us for eternity’s service to God. It is to burn the dross, change us, develope in us stamina, patience, loyalty, steadfastness, love, obedience, and the true character traits that God wishes for us. It develops knowledge, understanding, and wisdom (experience). The specific issue is found in verse 2.
V2 “…that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ…” He wishes for them to be encouraged, not discouraged. He wants them to develop stronger trust in God, His character, His deliverances, His promises, etc. We are a family, so all Christians need to encourage and pray for each other, support one another for whatever we are going through, listening, sharing the Scriptures, sharing meals, service to each other, helping one another in practical things (helping widows/widowers, single parents, the sick and home bound) etc. This is part of “knitting together in love.” Assurance is riches. We have many promises in the Scriptures that will prove true. God does not lie. The more we know, the more we must study for understanding, and then apply those truths to gain wisdom (experience). God is both Father and Son. Paul doesn’t mention the Holy Spirit here, but he does elsewhere. The mystery of God refers to His essence and character traits. He wants to be known. He has revealed what we need to know to the Apostles and prophets, and they wrote these things down for us to read. The specific purpose of instruction is to beware of the false teachers and prophets roaming the streets finding Christians to deceive. It is hard to believe, but they felt is was their mission. They may have been Judaizers, teachers of the world’s empty philosophy, or Emperor worship, etc. The Holy Spirit helps us to be united in love, warn us of error, encourage us, and chasten us if needed. Truly God is the Great Shepherd.
V3 “…in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” We are to seek wisdom. We seek wisdom by studying the Scriptures, praying, hearing good teachers (who conform and teach the Bible in its plain, normal sense). The treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hard for our limited minds to understand, but as we live our lives, we learn by experience a portion of these riches. Many false teachers have charisma, able to teach clearly and excitingly even (but with error), and use philosophical techniques to trick us. They can lie, misrepresent, slander, etc. without any guilt as long as they deceive and sway us to their views. A quote: (Holman Commentary) “A loving, learning community will produce believers who are settled in their understanding of the truth. Believers who link themselves with fellow believers, who care for one another, and who grow in their understanding of Jesus Christ will stand a good chance of remaining stable and confident.” Some want to turn us to mysticism, rituals, hidden knowledge (to make us curious), and authority figures of commanding presence.
V4 “Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words.” The Greek word for “persuasive” is (G4086) πιθανολογία pithanologia which means persuasive and enticing words. Their arguments often appear flawless and unless we know the Scriptures well, we can be fooled. One commentary states: (Holman Commentary) “False teaching promotes itself through “smooth talk,” but it’s still just “high sounding nonsense.” We need to be careful of lies that come all dressed up in persuasive speech when all they do is hide naked error.”
V5 “For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.” Good order refers to helping each other, etc. and not having great disagreements, church splits, etc. Steadfastness of faith refers to the believers have been well taught and are continuing in what they have learned.
V6 “As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him…” We received Christ by faith, so we must maintain our Christian walk in faith. Walk = living our lives. It includes what we think, say, act, engage with others, worship, everything of our life. We are now servants of the living God. See Romans 8.
V7 “…rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.” Rooted = a firm grip on who Jesus is, what He did and will do, God’s essence, God’s character traits, God’s worldview, God’s lifestyle, God’s rules, and God’s promises. The Scriptures are the only food for our soul (Matthew 4:4, AKJV “But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.”). Established = continued growth and water (the assisting grace of the Holy Spirit, for that to happen, we must be striving to live blamelessly). We are not able to live sinlessly in this life. Please, don’t try and feel condemned. These believers have been taught, which is a duty of missionaries, pastors, elders, and teachers, yes, indeed, all believers. We need to be discipled. We must always be thankful. The situations might be terrible, but we can rejoice in God, our salvation, prayer, other blessings, and His promises.
V8 “Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.” Beware is a serious word, for there are many through deceiving and skillful lies through philosophy, logic, personality, appeal to lust, etc. work diligently to destroy our faith. These include some pastors, teachers, boyfriends, girlfriends, etc. Empty deceit = lies and promises that will never and with no intention of ever being fulfilled. Satan’s promise to Eve was wisdom, and we know what happened there. Tradition of men can be philosophy, Judaizers, etc. Basic principles of the world = worldly thinking rather than the Scriptures. These deceivers also interpret the Bible according to their twisted interpretation methods and technical dictionary that no one uses except them. Thereby they can use the same words which have a different meaning. These things are not from Christ but the enemy.
V9 “For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily…” This speaks of Jesus’s deity. Jesus is the God-man, 100% God and 100% man, and the description from the Chalcedonian Creed. The Godhead = the Trinity. This is one God in three persons.
V10 “…and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.” Everything we need for a successful Christian life is in the Bible (sufficiency) and the assisting grace of the Holy Spirit.