Colossianschapter 2

A.All the Treasures of Wisdom Hidden in Himvv. 1-7

1 For I want you to know how much I am struggling for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me face to face, 2 that they may be encouraged in heart, knit together in love, and filled with the full riches of complete understanding, so that they may know the mystery of God, namely Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I say this so that no one will deceive you by smooth rhetoric. 5 For although I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit, and I delight to see your orderly condition and firm faith in Christ. 6 Therefore, just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to walk in Him, 7 rooted and built up in Him, established in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

B.The Bond Against Us Nailed to the Crossvv. 8-15

8 See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, which are based on human tradition and the spiritual forces of the world rather than on Christ. 9 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity dwells in bodily form. 10 And you have been made complete in Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority. 11 In Him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of your sinful nature, with the circumcision performed by Christ and not by human hands. 12 And having been buried with Him in baptism, you were raised with Him through your faith in the power of God, who raised Him from the dead. 13 When you were dead in your trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our trespasses, 14 having canceled the debt ascribed to us in the decrees that stood against us. He took it away, nailing it to the cross! 15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

C.Shadows, Angel-Worship, and Rules That Cannot Restrainvv. 16-23

16 Therefore let no one judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a feast, a New Moon, or a Sabbath. 17 These are a shadow of the things to come, but the body that casts it belongs to Christ. 18 Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you with speculation about what he has seen. Such a person is puffed up without basis by his unspiritual mind. 19 He has lost connection to the head, from whom the whole body, supported and knit together by its joints and ligaments, grows as God causes it to grow. 20 If you have died with Christ to the spiritual forces of the world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its regulations: 21 “Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!”? 22 These will all perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. 23 Such restrictions indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-prescribed worship, their false humility, and their harsh treatment of the body; but they are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.

Commentary on this chapter: read the Exposition

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Chapter summary

Paul's great conflict for them that they might have full assurance of understanding.

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Paul's great conflict for them that they might have full assurance of understanding. Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. In him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily; ye are complete in him. Buried with him in baptism; raised with him by faith. The handwriting of ordinances was blotted out, nailed to his cross. Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink. Henry reads the chapter as the counter to a first-rank Christological heresy.

Drawn from Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory, Matthew Henry, Complete Commentary, John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the New Testament and John Calvin, Commentaries.

Context

Epistle · Paul — Colossians overview

A. 1–7 All the Treasures of Wisdom Hidden in Him
B. 8–15 The Bond Against Us Nailed to the Cross
C. 16–23 Shadows, Angel-Worship, and Rules That Cannot Restrain

Top cross-references8 chapters ▾

Colossians 15 verses
- Colossians 1:10so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,
- Colossians 1:16For in Him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities. All things were created through Him and for Him.
- Colossians 1:19For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him,
- Colossians 1:27To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
- Colossians 1:29To this end I also labor, striving with all His energy working powerfully within me.
- Read Colossians 1 →
Colossians 24 verses
- Colossians 2:8See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, which are based on human tradition and the spiritual forces of the world rather than on Christ.
- Colossians 2:14having canceled the debt ascribed to us in the decrees that stood against us. He took it away, nailing it to the cross!
- Colossians 2:18Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you with speculation about what he has seen. Such a person is puffed up without basis by his unspiritual mind.
- Colossians 2:23Such restrictions indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-prescribed worship, their false humility, and their harsh treatment of the body; but they are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.
- Read Colossians 2 →
Ephesians 24 verses
- Ephesians 2:1And you were dead in your trespasses and sins,
- Ephesians 2:5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our trespasses. It is by grace you have been saved!
- Ephesians 2:14For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has torn down the dividing wall of hostility
- Ephesians 2:20built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone.
- Read Ephesians 2 →
Romans 143 verses
- Romans 14:5One person regards a certain day above the others, while someone else considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.
- Romans 14:10Why, then, do you judge your brother? Or why do you belittle your brother? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat.
- Romans 14:13Therefore let us stop judging one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s way.
- Read Romans 14 →

4 more chapters this one speaks with

1 Corinthians 12 verses
- 1 Corinthians 1:24but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
- 1 Corinthians 1:30It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God: our righteousness, holiness, and redemption.
- Read 1 Corinthians 1 →
Ephesians 32 verses
- Ephesians 3:17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. Then you, being rooted and grounded in love,
- Ephesians 3:19of the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
- Read Ephesians 3 →
John 12 verses
- John 1:14The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
- John 1:17For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
- Read John 1 →
Romans 62 verses
- Romans 6:3Or aren’t you aware that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?
- Romans 6:6We know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body of sin might be rendered powerless, that we should no longer be slaves to sin.
- Read Romans 6 →

Cross-references from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and OpenBible.info.