Book of Colossians Chapter 2

Commentary on Colossians Chapter 2 with Different Biblical References

Verse 1

Text: "I want you to know how hard I am contending for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally." (Colossians 2:1, NIV)

• How Hard I Am Contending for You: This intense struggle was internal to Paul (I am contending for you). It wasn’t a conflict with others over the Colossians but a deep spiritual battle and heartfelt concern for their well-being.
  • Paul employs athletic imagery, as seen earlier in Colossians 1:29 with "labouring," and continues this metaphor here with "contending," evoking the effort of a wrestler or fighter (1 Timothy 6:12).
• For All Who Have Not Met Me Personally: Paul had likely never visited Colossae or Laodicea in person. Most of these believers had not seen him face-to-face, yet his apostolic authority and care extended to them, just as it reaches us today (2 Corinthians 10:10-11).

Verse 2-3

Text: "My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." (Colossians 2:2-3, NIV)

• That They May Be Encouraged in Heart: Paul’s concern was for their spiritual vitality. He understood that disheartened believers are vulnerable to worldly temptations, fleshly desires, and demonic influences (Nehemiah 8:10).
  • Encouraged: The Greek term "parakaleo" implies both comfort and exhortation, equipping someone to face challenges with boldness and courage (Isaiah 35:3-4). Paul desired them to be ready for valiant faith.
• United in Love: Paul was concerned about their unity, which he knew could only be fostered through genuine love, not force or obligation (John 13:34-35).
• So That They May Have the Full Riches of Complete Understanding, in Order That They May Know the Mystery of God: Paul was equally concerned about their doctrinal clarity. Unity and perseverance required not just love but also a shared growth in God’s truth.
  • Paul recognized that unity stemmed from both love and truth, uniting them in affection and in the deepening knowledge of God’s revelation (Ephesians 4:15-16).
  • The wisdom found in Christ would bind them together in love, unlike false teachings that fracture communities (Proverbs 18:1).
  • For Paul, true wealth lay in the believer’s confident assurance. Many doubt God’s goodness or their own salvation, but full assurance brings liberty and boldness (Hebrews 10:22).
• In Order That They May Know the Mystery of God: In the New Testament, "mystery" refers to truths hidden until revealed by God. Here, Paul points to the nature and person of God, unveiled through Christ.
  • “Christ” aligns grammatically with “mystery,” indicating that the mystery is embodied in Him (1 Timothy 3:16).
  • False teachers might entice with promises of hidden mysteries, but the ultimate mystery—God’s redemptive love—resides solely in Christ, and Paul longed for them to experience this as a living reality” (John 17:23).
  • Three mysteries are highlighted in Colossians 1:24-2:3:
    • The Church as Christ’s Body, for which Paul endured hardship (Ephesians 3:6).
    • Christ Indwelling believers, their hope of glory (Galatians 4:19).
    • Christ as the Source of all wisdom and knowledge (1 Corinthians 1:30).
• In Whom Are Hidden All the Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge: This central theme in Colossians counters the false teachings plaguing the church. Paul insists that all true wisdom and knowledge reside in Christ alone, not in alternative philosophies.
  • When Paul uses “hidden” (Greek “apokruphos”), he challenges Gnostic claims of secret knowledge for salvation, declaring that Christ’s wisdom is accessible to all who seek Him (Matthew 11:28-30).
  • “Hidden” here means “stored up” as a treasure, not concealed from view (Psalm 119:11).
  • Every question about God and His plans finds its answer in the crucified and risen Christ, the Messiah” (John 14:6).
  • “Christ is the profound mystery of God, awe-inspiring in His nature, yet so near that even a child speaks of Him with tender trust” (Mark 10:14).
  • By describing God’s truth as “riches” and “treasures,” Paul underscores its immense value, worthy of diligent pursuit (Matthew 13:44).

Verse 4

Text: "I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments." (Colossians 2:4, NIV)

• So That No One May Deceive You by Fine-Sounding Arguments: The false teachers enticing the Colossians with alternative wisdom were eloquent and persuasive. The allure of “deep” or “secret” knowledge can be both powerful and misleading (2 Peter 2:1-3).
• So That No One May Deceive You: Paul doesn’t claim they were already deceived, but he perceives the imminent risk and issues a stern caution (1 John 4:1).
  • Deceivers rarely present their falsehoods as obvious errors; their teachings often mimic truth closely enough to be perilous (Matthew 7:15).

Verse 5-7

Text: "Though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how disciplined you are and how firm your faith in Christ is. So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness." (Colossians 2:5-7, NIV)

• Though I Am Absent from You in Body, I Am Present with You in Spirit: Through prayer—the heart of his struggle in Colossians 2:1—Paul felt spiritually connected to the Colossians despite physical separation (1 Thessalonians 3:10).
  • Paul’s spiritual presence with distant believers was profoundly real, as seen when he declared himself present in spirit during a Corinthian church gathering while in Ephesus” (1 Corinthians 5:3).
• Delight to See How Disciplined You Are: Paul did not view the Colossian church as fully succumbed to heresy. They faced grave danger, yet maintained discipline and steadfast faith in Christ (1 Corinthians 16:13).
  • The terms “disciplined” and “firm” carry military connotations, portraying the Colossians as an army under siege but holding their ground with unbroken lines and unshaken faith (Ephesians 6:14).
• Just as You Received Christ Jesus as Lord, Continue to Live Your Lives This encapsulates a vital principle for Christian living. We cannot complete in the flesh what began in the Spirit; thus, we must walk in Christ as we received Him (Galatians 3:2-3).
  • “Receiving Christ as Lord uses a term tied to accepting a handed-down tradition. The Colossians received Christ Himself as their tradition, a safeguard against human traditions” (1 Thessalonians 2:13).
  • “Paul refers to the teachings about Christ’s person and work, central to countering the Colossian heresy, rather than Christ personally” (2 Timothy 1:13).
  • “Holiness is not gained apart from Christ; by receiving Him, we gain His attributes” (John 15:4).
• Continue to Live… Rooted and Built Up in Him: Paul blends metaphors here. As Christians, we “walk” forward, are “rooted” like trees, and are “built up” like structures. Though mixed, the message is clear: stay grounded and keep growing (Psalm 1:3; 1 Peter 2:5).
  • “This dual imagery, rare for Paul, combines a tree’s growth and a building’s construction. They must take root deep and wide as good seed, and build on the laid foundation, bearing fruit and becoming God’s dwelling through the Spirit” (Jeremiah 17:7-8).

Verse 8

Text: "See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ." (Colossians 2:8, NIV)

• See to It That No One Takes You Captive Through Hollow and Deceptive Philosophy: The false teaching among the Colossians emphasized empty philosophies rooted in human tradition, not divine truth (1 Timothy 6:20-21).
  • “Takes you captive” suggests being led away as plunder, implying robbery of their spiritual inheritance in Christ (Isaiah 42:22).
  • This philosophy blended early Gnosticism, Greek thought, local mystery cults, and Jewish mysticism. Its danger lay in its intellectual appeal, not overt sinfulness (2 Corinthians 11:3).
  • “Philosophy” originally meant “love of wisdom,” but Paul uses it to denote vain speculation, encompassing both speculative and ascetic practices of the false teachers (Titus 3:9).
  • Debate persists on the heresy’s exact nature—whether primarily Gnostic with Jewish elements or vice versa—but it clearly mixed both.
  • v. Connections to Gnosticism are evident in Paul’s responses:
    • Gnostics denied God’s direct contact with the material world; Paul affirms Jesus as God in the flesh (John 1:14).
    • Gnostics claimed creation via lesser spirits; Paul shows Jesus as Creator (Hebrews 1:2).
    • Gnostics emphasized mediators; Paul stresses Jesus as the sole reconciler (1 Timothy 2:5).
    • Gnostics revered angelic mediators; Paul warns against angel worship (Revelation 19:10).
  • Connections to Jewish mysticism appear in:
    • Emphasis on dietary laws; Paul declares freedom from such rules (Mark 7:18-19).
    • Observance of specific days; Paul asserts no obligation (Romans 14:5-6).
• Which Depends on Human Tradition: The heresy claimed legitimacy through ancient traditions, Jewish or Greek, but Paul warns that human tradition lacks the authority of God’s Word (Matthew 15:3-6).
• The Elemental Spiritual Forces of This World: The Greek “stoicheia” (elemental forces) is broad, potentially covering various meanings.
  • “Stoicheia” means “things in a row,” like alphabet letters, thus “basics” or “rudiments” (Galatians 4:3).
  • Ancient cults saw the world as threatened by elemental spirits, countered by worship or superior deities. Paul refutes this worldview (1 John 4:4).
  • It may address Gnostic ideas but extends to broader concepts common to Jews and pagans, like cause-and-effect thinking.
  • This mindset of earning good or bad based on deeds negates grace; Paul urges death to such thinking (Romans 6:11).

Verse 9-10

Text: "For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority." (Colossians 2:9-10, NIV)

• In Christ All the Fullness of the Deity Lives: This is an unequivocal statement of Jesus’ full divinity. He is not a partial or lesser deity but embodies all of God’s nature (Isaiah 9:6).
  • Deity: “Paul asserts that the Son contains the complete essence of God, not mere reflections of divine glory, but absolute Godhead” (John 10:30).
• All the Fullness of the Deity in Bodily Form: Countering early Gnostic-like teachings separating spirit and matter, Paul insists Jesus’ divinity was expressed bodily, not mystically (1 John 1:1-2).
  • Early heresies like Docetism denied Jesus’ real body, and Cerinthianism split “Jesus the man” from “Christ the spirit”; Paul refutes both (2 John 1:7).
• And in Christ You Have Been Brought to Fullness: Our completeness stems from Jesus’ divinity. Denying our fullness in Him undermines His deity (2 Peter 1:3-4).
  • United to Christ by faith, we share His fullness, negating the need for false teachings’ promises (Ephesians 1:22-23).
  • This fullness is a present reality to embrace, not a goal to attain (John 1:16).
• He Is the Head Over Every Power and Authority: Jesus reigns over all spiritual beings, countering the heresy’s focus on lesser spirits (1 Peter 3:22).

Verse 11-12

Text: "In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead." (Colossians 2:11-12, NIV)

• In Him You Were Also Circumcised: Many Colossian Gentiles were uncircumcised physically, but Paul assures them of a superior spiritual circumcision (Romans 2:28-29).
  • False teachers likely promoted circumcision for higher sanctity, not salvation; Paul clarifies they’re already circumcised spiritually by shedding sinful nature (Galatians 5:6).
  • “Putting off” (Greek compound) means stripping away and discarding, like filthy clothing (Ephesians 4:22).
  • This circumcision occurred at conversion, marking entry into New Covenant blessings (Jeremiah 31:33-34).
• Circumcised by Christ, Having Been Buried with Him in Baptism: Paul equates true circumcision with baptism for Gentile believers, not physical cutting (Acts 10:44-48).
  • Even the Old Testament distinguished physical and heart circumcision (Deuteronomy 30:6); baptism reflects the latter (Ezekiel 36:26).
• Buried with Him in Baptism… Raised with Him Through Faith: Baptism symbolizes identification with Christ’s death and resurrection, not circumcision directly (Romans 6:4).
  • Paul implies circumcision is irrelevant; spiritual transformation, shown in baptism, matters (Galatians 6:15).
  • Pushing baptism as infant circumcision overextends the analogy, ignoring New Testament baptism patterns (Acts 8:36-38).
  • The focus shifts to baptism as a symbol of burial and resurrection with Christ, not mere analogy to circumcision (1 Peter 3:21).
  • Regeneration’s power lies in faith in God’s work, not the act of baptism (John 3:16).

Verse 13-15

Text: "When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having cancelled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross." (Colossians 2:13-15, NIV)

• When You Were Dead: Before faith in Christ, all are spiritually dead, needing not just healing but a Savior (Isaiah 59:1-2).
  • We’re made alive with Christ, receiving not only life but His very presence (John 17:21-23).
• Dead in Your Sins and in the Uncircumcision of Your Flesh: Death results from trespasses—crossing God’s boundaries through sin (Psalm 51:5)
• God Made You Alive with Christ: We cannot self-revive; God alone grants life with Jesus, never apart from Him (John 5:24).
  • New life and forgiveness are New Covenant blessings, foretold in Scripture (Jeremiah 31:34).
  • “Forgave” (Greek “charizomai”) ties to grace (“charis”), showing forgiveness by grace (Ephesians 2:8).
• Having Cancelled the Charge of Our Legal Indebtedness: This “charge” is our moral debt, unpayable by imperfect humans, cleared by Christ’s perfect payment (Isaiah 53:5).
  • “Handwriting” may mean legal charges or a debt ledger; either way, it’s removed (Psalm 130:3-4).
  • “Each commandment indicts us, crying ‘broken,’ until Christ’s cross answers the charge” (Romans 3:23-24).
  • “Christ defiantly nailed this condemning document to His cross, mocking the powers holding it over us” (1 John 3:8).
  • “Cancelled” (Greek compound) means completely wiped away, like whitewashing, fully covering our guilt (Isaiah 1:18).
• Nailing It to the Cross: Jesus paid the debt, removed it, and nailed it to the cross, ensuring it no longer accuses us (Romans 8:1).
  • God, not Pilate, placed our charges

Verse 16-17

Text: "Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ." (Colossians 2:16-17, NIV)

• Therefore Do Not Let Anyone Judge You: The introductory “therefore” ties this instruction to the preceding victory of Christ on the cross. Because Jesus achieved such a complete triumph, believers should not allow others to judge them over legalistic matters like food, drink, or religious observances (Romans 14:3-4).
  • “It would be absurd for those who have benefited from Christ’s victory to willingly submit again to the control of defeated powers” (Galatians 5:1).
• By What You Eat or Drink, or With Regard to a Religious Festival, a New Moon Celebration or a Sabbath Day, Which Are a Shadow of the Things That Were to Come: Under the Old Testament law, certain regulations about diet and days are now obsolete in Christ. They were not inherently wrong but served as foreshadowing of the greater reality—Jesus Himself (Hebrews 10:1).
  • The point is evident: dietary laws and specific observances from the Mosaic Law are not binding on New Covenant believers. The shadow has passed, and the substance—Christ—has arrived. Thus, all foods are clean for Christians (Acts 10:14-15), and every day belongs to the Lord (Romans 14:7-8).
  • Believers are free to observe a kosher diet or keep the Sabbath if they choose, but they must not believe such practices bring them closer to God or judge others who do not follow them (Galatians 2:14-16).
  • “These Jewish regulations suited a time when God’s people were a single ethnic and cultural group, but they are outdated now that His family spans the globe. They were mere shadows cast by the coming new era” (Ephesians 2:14-15).

Verse 18-19

Text: "Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you. Such a person also goes into great detail about what they have seen; they are puffed up with idle notions by their unspiritual mind. They have lost connection with the head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow." (Colossians 2:18-19, NIV)

• Do Not Let Anyone Who Delights in False Humility and the Worship of Angels Disqualify You: These elements of false humility and angel worship were key components of the false teachings troubling the Colossians. Paul addresses these repeatedly in the letter, offering the remedy of focusing on Jesus, who surpasses angels, and recognizing that His completed work leaves no room for pride (Hebrews 1:4-5).
  • “The heretics likely claimed that worshiping angels instead of God directly was a form of humility on their part” (James 4:6).
  • “This false humility stems from feeling unworthy to approach God directly, leading to angel worship as a supposed intermediary” (Revelation 22:8-9).
• False Humility and the Worship of Angels Do Not Make Anyone More Spiritual: True spirituality comes from holding fast to Christ, the Head, rather than engaging in such misguided practices (John 15:5).
• Such a Person Also Goes Into Great Detail About What They Have Seen; They Are Puffed Up With Idle Notions by Their Unspiritual Mind, and Have Lost Connection With the Head: This describes the spiritual arrogance of the false teachers and their followers. Spiritual pride and self-importance are among the most dangerous traits in Christian communities (Proverbs 16:18).
  • “Goes into great detail about what they have seen” corrects a mistranslation; it should read ‘parading visions they claim to have seen.’ Gnostics boasted of exclusive visions inaccessible to ordinary believers (2 Corinthians 12:1-4, where Paul avoids such boasting).
  • “Puffed up” denotes empty pretension and intellectual arrogance; their humility is feigned, and their teachings fraudulent (1 Corinthians 8:1).
• From Whom the Whole Body: Unlike these mystical movements that appeal to an elite few, Christ’s way involves the entire body growing together, not just a select group (1 Corinthians 12:12-13).
• Grows as God Causes It to Grow: God’s design for church growth is clear—remain connected to Jesus, our Head, and He provides the increase (Psalm 92:12-13).

Verse 20-23

Text: "Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules: ‘Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!’? These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence." (Colossians 2:20-23, NIV)

• Do Not Handle! Do Not Taste! Do Not Touch!: This trio of prohibitions perfectly captures legalistic religion, defined more by restrictions than by positive action. While Christianity is a moral faith with clear boundaries, its core is active love and obedience, not mere avoidance (Matthew 22:37-40).
• Since You Died with Christ to the Elemental Spiritual Forces of This World: The antidote to legalism lies in remembering our identification with Christ’s death and resurrection, as mentioned earlier (Colossians 2:12). This union with Him, not rule-keeping, forms the basis of our Christian life (Romans 6:6-7).
  • “Destined to perish with use” means these things are temporary; food ceases to be food once eaten. These are not ultimate realities that should dominate our focus (Matthew 6:25-26).
• Based on Merely Human Commands and Teachings: A hallmark of legalism is elevating human doctrines to the level of divine mandates (Isaiah 29:13).
• Such Regulations Indeed Have an Appearance of Wisdom… But They Lack Any Value in Restraining Sensual Indulgence: This may be one of Scripture’s strongest critiques of legalism. At its core, legalistic rules fail to curb fleshly desires despite their outward appeal (Romans 7:5-6).
  • These rules may seem wise, but they are ineffective. Legalism doesn’t suppress the flesh; it subtly fuels it through pride. “The strictest asceticism often coexists with profound spiritual arrogance, one of the most stubborn works of the flesh” (Galatians 5:19-21).
  • Self-imposed worship reflects humanity’s attempt to reach God through rule-keeping, while Christianity is God reaching down in love through Christ (John 3:17).