Colossians Chapter 2

The Godhead incarnate in Christ. Christ, the fount of wisdom

2:1 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you, and for those in Laodicea, and for those who have not met me face to face.

The Greek word for "struggle" is ἀγών (gown), meaning an agonizing struggle during a grueling athletic contest. Laodicea was one of the seven churches in Asia Modern, which today is modern Turkey. In the Book of Revelation, Laodicea is a very luke-warm church. It is very wealthy in money, but very weak and useless in spiritual power. The members have compromised with the world so much, that they have become so useless, that the Lord Jesus Christ will vomit them out of his mouth. The church of Laodicea will be the church the Christ-less church that misses the Rapture and enters the Great Tribulation. Paul is agonizing in prayer over Colossians, just like he is agonizing in prayer over Laodicea. Both are in a terrible spiritual condition.

Many in Colossae had not met Paul face to face, because Paul was not the founder of the Colossian church. Paul was also in prison at the time of this writing.

2:2 My goal is that their hearts, having been knit together in love, may be encouraged, and that they may have all the riches that assurance brings in their understanding of the knowledge of the mystery of God, namely, Christ,

The Greek word for "love" is ἀγάπη (agape), meaning divine love. Paul had a goal for the Colossians. He wanted to knit together their personalities in divine love. Jesus said, "If you love me, keep my commandments." His commandments are Bible  doctrine from the entire counsel of the Word of God. One cannot keep Bible  doctrine if they do not know what they are. Divine love comes from knowing the mind of Christ. To know the mind of Christ, one must study and apply Bible  doctrine from the entire counsel of the Word of God. 

If a Colossian believer loves Christ, then he will study the Word of God at the deepest level so that he can know the mind of Christ. When he begins to apply these Bible  doctrines that he has learned, then he will experience persecution from demonic forces. When this happens, the Colossian believers will have enough Bible  doctrine in their souls to be encouraged through their sufferings. The human viewpoint of the satanic world system is to despise suffering. The divine viewpoint is to cherish and enjoy suffering, when you suffer for Christ.

The Greek word for "understanding" is σύνεσις (sunesis), meaning to connect the dots so that one can understand the complete picture. Paul wants the Colossians to connect the dots and understand the riches and assurances that God has given them.

The Greek word for "knowledge" is ἐπίγνωσις (epignosis), meaning super-knowledge.  One does not gain super-knowedge of Bible  doctrine unless he learns the entire counsel of the Word of God via a pastor-teacher. The gnostics falsely boasted that they had super-knowledge, but they had nothing.

The Greek word for "mystery" is μυστήριον (mustarion), meaning a new revelation that was not revealed in the Old Testament. The new revelation, or "the mystery of God", is the church, which namely is the body of Christ. The gnostics also boasted that they had the key to divine mysteries. However, "the mystery of God" was not contained in the teachings of the gnostics. It was contained in the body of Christ.

2:3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 

The gnostics boasted to have hidden treasures of wisdom and knowledge. However, their resources were faulty. They believed that they were receiving super-knowledge from God, but it was actually satanic in nature, as it was a mixture of truth and error. The treasures of wisdom and knowledge are found in the mind of Christ. The mind of Christ can be understood only through the study of the Word of God through gifted-pastor teachers, as mentioned in Galatians 4.

2:4 I say this so that no one will deceive you through arguments that sound reasonable.

The Greek word for "deceive" is παραλογίζομαι (paralogizomai), meaning to mislead in an erroneous way. The Greek word for "arguments" is πιθανολογία (pithanologia), meaning persuasive speech. The gnostics had some very seductive arguments, mixed with truth and error. They sounded very reasonable. Paul wrote this letter to expose the evil of this teaching.

Many pastor-teachers today want to sound intellectual, so they mix psychology and philosophy into their teachings. Psychology and philosophy are secular teachings of the satanic world system. A gifted pastor-teacher is not to compromise their teachings with the teachings of the world. Philosophy is not a friend to the believer, but a seductive enemy. Psychology is not the study of the soul, but it is a pseudo-science, based upon principles of the satanic world system. A pastor-teacher is to teach the Word of God, which is the real friend of the believer and the accurate study of the condition of the soul. Everything else is a Pied-Piper of Hamlin.

2:5 For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your morale and the firmness of your faith in Christ.

Paul could not visit the Colossians because he was imprisoned for teaching the Word of God. The satanic world system will allow the teaching of philosophy and psychology in the classroom, but not the teaching of the inspired, inerrant, and infallible Word of God. There is an active angelic warfare currently evolving throughout Satan's reign. The entire angelic forces have been witnesses to the deceptions that Satan has pulled off throughout history.

Paul was present with the Colossians "in spirit", meaning that the Holy Spirit was using him to communicate God's word to them through this letter. Paul was imprisoned, but he was rejoicing because the morale of the Colossians was high and their belief system was firm.

The Greek word for "morale" is τάξις (taxes), which was a Greek military command meaning to arrange in ordered rank. The Greek word for "firmness" is στερέωμα (stereoma), meaning to stand shoulder to shoulder in a straight line like an immovable rock mountain. The Colossians had a reputation for standing firm against opposition. Paul wanted them to continue this character trait.

Warnings Against the Adoption of False Philosophies

2:6 Therefore, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him,

The Greek word for "received" is παραλαμβάνω (paralambanow), meaning to take alongside aggressively. The Greek word for "live" is περιπατέω (peripateow), meaning to walk around in a circle. Just as the Colossians took alongside them aggressively the doctrines of Christ Jesus as Lord, now they are to walk in a circle around Christ with Christ as the center.

2:7 rooted and built up in him and firm in your faith just as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

The Greek word for "rooted" is ῥιζόω (pizza), meaning to plant a flower, plant, or tree deep in the ground so that it can mature, grow, and produce fruit. This Greek verb is perfect tense, meaning that the fruit tree was planted as a onetime completed action of the past but it will stay rooted forever. The Colossians were rooted deeply in the ground, because they were taught strong Bible doctrine. Since they were chosen by God before the foundations of the world to be rooted, built up, and made firm in the faith, then they should be thankful to God, who planted and watered the tree.

2:8 Be careful not to allow anyone to captivate you through an empty, deceitful philosophy that is according to human traditions and the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.

The Greek word for "be careful" is βλέπω (blepow), meaning to see and understand with spiritual eyes. Paul was asking the Colossians to use their spiritual eyes to understand the warning that he was about to give.

The Greek word for "captivate" is συλαγωγέω (sulagoageow), meaning to capture a prey. The Colossians were not to be taken prey by the gnostics.

The Greek word for "empty" is κενός (kenos), meaning to be worthless or amount to nothing. The teaching of the gnostics was worthless and amounted to nothing.

The Greek word for "deceitful" is ἀπάτη (apathy), meaning to deceive by trickery or fraud. The Colossians were not to be tricked by the gnostics.

The Greek word for "philosophy" is φιλοσοφία (philosophia), meaning a friend of wisdom. The Colossians were not to be tricked by the wisdom of the gnostics. Many of the modern day philosophers do not have respect for the Word of God.

The Greek word for "tradition" is παράδοσις (paradoses), meaning tradition that was passed down by word of mouth. The philosophy of the gnostics was not divine wisdom, but it was human traditions that had been passed down from man to man. The philosophy of man is inspired by demonic forces of the satanic world system. Jesus warned the Jewish religious leaders that they were teaching "the traditions of men" rather than the Word of God. The traditions of men for the Jewish religious leaders were the oral law of the Jews, which today is called the Mishnah.

The Greek word for "elemental spirits" is στοιχεῖον (stoixeion), meaning the basic fundamentals, or the ABC's. The Greek word for "world" is κόσμος (cosmos), meaning the satanic world system. The teachings of the gnostics originated from the basic fundamentals of the satanic world system. The Colossians were not to listen to these teachings of men that originated from the basic fundamentals of the satanic world system.

2:9 For in him all the fullness of deity lives in bodily form,

The Greek word for "fullness" is πλήρωμα (playroom), meaning super-abundance.

The Greek word for "deity" is θεότης (thetais), meaning the embodiment of the triune God. This Greek noun is a hapax legomenon, meaning that the Holy Spirit used this word only once in Scripture.

The Greek word for "bodily form" is σωματικῶς (somatikose), meaning the adjective description of the body. This is another hapax legomenon, meaning that the triune godhead was super-abundant in the body of Christ. 

The Holy Spirit used these two hapax legomenons to clearly demonstrate the deity of Christ. These two Greek words show that the human body of Christ possessed a super-abundance of the embodiment of the triune God. The Jehovah Witnesses teach that Jesus is not God, but He is only a created angel. However, these two little Greek words destroy this false teaching.

2:10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head over every ruler and authority.

The Greek word for "filled" is πληρόω (playroom), a nautical term, meaning for the ship to be filled to capacity. The Colossians are to be filled to capacity with Christ. To be filled to capacity with Christ, they must know the mind of Christ. The mind of Christ is found in the entire counsel of the Word of God. The Colossians were not to be filled with the so-called super-knowledge of the gnostics. Instead, they were to be filled with Christ, who is the head of every human and spiritual ruler on earth.

2:11 In him you also were circumcised – not, however, with a circumcision performed by human hands, but by the removal of the fleshly body, that is, through the circumcision done by Christ.

Paul told the Colossians to get rid of the outward flesh. The real circumcision was the new birth.  

2:12 Having been buried with him in baptism, you also have been raised with him through your faith in the power of God who raised him from the dead.

When the Colossians believed in Christ, they were baptized into His body for eternity. God had the power to raise Jesus from the dead, so He also has the power to raise the Colossians from the dead as well.

Jehovah Witnesses like to use this verse to show that Jehovah raised Jesus from the dead, meaning that Jesus is inferior to Jehovah. In this verse, God the Father raised Jesus from the dead. In John 10:17-18, Jesus said, “I lay down my life that I may take it up again…  I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”  In Romans 8:11, the Holy Spirit raised Jesus from the dead, “If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.”  This verse proves that the Holy Spirit is not an active force, but he is deity Himself, the third person of the Trinity. In Conclusion, the Triune Creator God were all involved in the resurrection of Christ.

2:13 And even though you were dead in your transgressions and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he nevertheless made you alive with him, having forgiven all your transgressions.

The Stoics taught that man must eliminate sinful desires, and instead, do good deeds of kindness. The Epircureans taught man "should eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow you die".

Paul opposed both of these Greek philosophies. He taught the Colossians that they were born in a spiritually dead condition. The outward flesh needed to be cut off. However, God by His kindness decided to make the believer alive by opening up his eyes to see the gospel. Once they believed the gospel, then they were forgiven of their sins.

2:14 He has destroyed what was against us, a certificate of indebtedness expressed in decrees opposed to us. He has taken it away by nailing it to the cross.

The Greek word for "destroyed" is ἐξαλείφω (exalisphow). meaning to wash out, wipe out, blot out, rub out, or whitewash. The Lord Jesus Christ whitewashed a certificate.

The Greek word for "certificate" is χειρόγραφον (xieragraphon", meaning a handwritten document. The Mosaic Law was a written document that condemned the sinner to the Lake of Fire forever. Jesus took the Mosaic Law which condemned all men, white-washed it, and nailed it to the cross.

2:15 Disarming the rulers and authorities, he has made a public disgrace of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

 Once the Lord Jesus Christ white-washed the Mosaic Law and hung it on the cross, then Satan and his demons were disarmed. They could no longer accuse saints of sinning. The cross humiliated the demons. This white-washing of the Mosaic Law was paraded in the streets, just like a Roman general displayed the plunder from his conquests in the street.

2:16 Therefore do not let anyone judge you with respect to food or drink, or in the matter of a feast, new moon, or Sabbath days –

Since the Mosaic Law was nailed to the cross, the dietary laws no longer had to be kept. Jews can eat ham sandwiches if they desire. No one had to keep the feasts, the sacrifices, or the Sabbath days. If a believer desires to go to church on Sunday instead of Saturday, then he has the liberty to do so.

2:17 these are only the shadow of the things to come, but the reality is Christ!

The Greek word for "shadow" is σκιά (skis), meaning a shadow or an outline of a looming presence. All of the rituals of the Old Testament were just simply shadows of a looming presence, which is Christ. 

2:18 Let no one who delights in humility and the worship of angels pass judgment on you. That person goes on at great lengths about what he has supposedly seen, but he is puffed up with empty notions by his fleshly mind.

Paul is condemning the gnostics, who boasted of their super-knowledge. The gnostics falsely taught that Jesus was a created angel. These gnostics claimed that they received their revelations from angels.

These claims of false revelation still go on today in the modern church. The Mormons falsely claim that they received their super-knowledge from the angel, Moroni. The Jehovah Witnesses falsely claim that they receive their super-knowledge from the head of their organization, who records the information in their Watch Tower magazine. The Pope falsely claims that he is the Vicar of Christ on earth and that he currently speaks for Jesus. Charismatics falsely claim that they see angels, hear from prophets, and that they die and visit both heaven and hell. 

2:19 He has not held fast to the head from whom the whole body, supported and knit together through its ligaments and sinews, grows with a growth that is from God.

Those who falsely claim to have these super-knowledge revelations outside of the written Word of God do not have their heads screwed on properly.  

2:20 If you have died with Christ to the elemental spirits of the world, why do you submit to them as though you lived in the world?

The "if" is a first class conditional, meaning "since". The Greek word for "to the elemental spirits of the world" is ἀπὸ τῶν στοιχείων τοῦ κόσμου (api town stoicheiown kosmou), which is a genitive prepositional phrase, meaning from the basic doctrines of the satanic world system. Since the Colossians have died with Christ from the basic doctrines of the satanic world system, the Colossians should not submit to the false teachings of the gnostics.

2:21 “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”

Paul was using sarcasm to drive home his point of legalism. Some gnostics add many rules to salvation, such as you are not allowed to touch this, or taste that. Seventh Day Adventists say that you are only to worship on the Sabbath. Some churches make rules about playing cards with dice, or dancing, or mixed-bathing, or wearing lipstick.

2:22 These are all destined to perish with use, founded as they are on human commands and teachings.

These kinds of add-on rules are not part of the Bible because the Word of God allows Christian liberty in issues that are not mentioned in Scripture. These kinds of add-on rules are nothing but human invention.

2:23 Even though they have the appearance of wisdom with their self-imposed worship and false humility achieved by an unsparing treatment of the body – a wisdom with no true value – they in reality result in fleshly indulgence.

When believers make up these super-duper rules, they are boasting with their outward flesh. They are saying, "Look what I am doing for God! Look how spiritual I am! I do not wear lipstick! I do not dance! I do not play games with dice! I am such a super-duper saint!"