Colossians 2

Christ, treasury of wisdom

Christ — the Anointed One (Greek Christos, Hebrew Messiah)

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; Colossians 2:2–3

All true wisdom and knowledge are found in Christ, who with the Father is the heart of God's revealed mystery.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him

Rooted and built up in Christ

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. Colossians 2:5–7

Having received Christ Jesus as Lord, the Saints must keep living in Him, rooted and built on Him like a tree or a house.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him

Fulness of the Godhead bodily

Christ — the Anointed One (Greek Christos, Hebrew Messiah)

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. Colossians 2:8–10

Philosophies that are not centered on Christ fall short, because all the fulness of divinity lives in Christ in bodily form; in Him we lack nothing, and He rules every power.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

Buried and risen with Christ in baptism

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: Colossians 2:11–12

Old Testament circumcision pointed to a deeper change Christ works in the heart. Baptism is a likeness of Christ's burial and Resurrection: we go down into the water and rise to new life with Him, whom God raised from the dead.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• alludes to Deuteronomy 30:6 — 'the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart'
• alludes to Romans 6:4 — 'buried with him by baptism into death ... like as Christ was raised up from the dead'

Nailed to His cross

And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Colossians 2:13–15

Through His cross Christ forgave our sins, cancelled the record of debt that stood against us, and defeated the powers of evil in open triumph.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• alludes to Isaiah 43:25 — Jehovah: 'I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions'

Law of Moses as a shadow of Christ

Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Colossians 2:16–17

Paul declares that the holy days, new moons, and food laws of the law of Moses were shadows cast ahead of the real thing — and the reality casting that shadow is Christ.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• interprets Leviticus 23:2 — the 'feasts of the LORD' read as shadows whose substance is Christ

The Head

And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God. Colossians 2:19

People who drift into false worship lose hold of Christ, the Head, from whom the whole Church receives nourishment and growth.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• the same title in Ephesians 4:15-16 — 'the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together'

Dead with Christ

Christ — the Anointed One (Greek Christos, Hebrew Messiah)

Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, Colossians 2:20

Those who have died with Christ in baptism are no longer bound by worldly rules and human traditions.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him