Paul’s Concern for Converts
Colossians 2:1–8
The apostle Paul cared deeply for his fellow believers. He labored in ministry not only for people he personally led to the Lord and churches he established, but also for Christians he had never met. This was true of the churches in Colossae and Laodicea, which were only 10 miles apart. Paul had passed by these cities but had no personal contact with the churches there.
The apostle realized the church at Colossae was full of new believers who were susceptible to the lies of false teachers. These heretics often crept into churches with their demonic doctrine and swayed the believers away from a pure commitment to Christ (Heb. 3:12–13). Though he had never met the Colossian or Laodicean Christians, Paul loved them and felt deep concern for their spiritual well-being and purity.
In the first eight verses of Colossians 2, Paul combatted the false teachings that swept through Colossae by focusing on what believers have in Christ because of His preeminence, position, priority, and power.
PAUL’S DESIRE
Paul wrote,
For I want you to know what a great conflict [striving] I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, 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, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (vv. 1–3).
Paul felt concerned for the Colossians, Laodiceans, and city of Hierapolis in the Lycus River Valley (cf. 4:13). The word conflict (2:1) speaks of Paul’s striving and anxiety in guarding believers in these cities against the rapidly spreading false doctrine of Gnosticism, which combined Jewish legalism with worldly philosophies.
This type of striving refers to an athletic contest, either in a track meet or wrestling match. The apostle most likely spoke of a wrestling match; and since he had not met the believers in these churches, he entered into a spiritual battle for these cities through prayer at the throne of grace.
Paul’s purpose in struggling in prayer for them was “that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love” (v. 2). The revelation of God in Christ cannot be properly understood without divine encouragement and unity in love among believers. Only when the believers enjoyed these things would they fully understand the truth found in Christ. The apostle wanted the Colossians to be assured that what they possessed in Christ was all they needed and that their salvation was perfect.
Concerning Christ, Paul said, “In whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (v. 3). The only way to know fully the treasures of God’s wisdom and understand His knowledge is through Christ. True knowledge and wisdom reside only in Christ, not in worldly insights, philosophical beliefs, or cultic religions.
PAUL’S DEFENSE
Paul provided the reason for his concern: “Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words” (v. 4). The words now this refer to the hidden “treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (v. 3) residing in Christ.
If the Colossian believers departed from the all-encompassing truth found in Christ, they could become deceived by the crafty arguments of false teachers whose eloquent speech sounded rational at first but actually assaulted Christ’s deity. If they embraced such doctrine, disorder would set in quickly, causing confusion and doubt and eventually destroying the church.
Although Paul was physically absent from the Colossians, he rejoiced over their steadfast faith in Christ: “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” (v. 5).
Since Paul was in a Roman prison chained to a soldier, he could only be with the Colossians “in spirit” (v. 5). Yet, Paul assured the Colossians he was “rejoicing,” or delighted, in how orderly and firmly they kept their faith in Christ. The word order (Greek, taxis) means a fixed succession of rank or character used especially of troops arrayed for battle. Steadfastness (Greek, stereóma) indicates something that has been made firm. Thus, the apostle could rejoice because the Colossians stood firm and steadfast against all attacks on their faith.
Paul continued his warning with an exhortation: “As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him” (v. 6). Having placed their faith in Christ, the Colossians were instructed to continue in their Christian commitment by trusting what they had been taught and patterning their lives after Jesus.
To do so, the Colossian believers were called to be “rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving” (v. 7). Like a tree planted in the earth receives nourishment and growth from its roots, the Colossians were firmly planted—”rooted” in Christ—at the time of their salvation.
Paul described their spiritual growth as being continually “built up” by studying God’s Word, which nourished and strengthened them. Being rooted and built up in Christ “established [them] in the faith.” Thus, their faith in Jesus became securely anchored, or firm. As a result, the Colossians continually expressed thanks while growing in Christlikeness.
PAUL’S DICTUM
The apostle strongly warned against man’s philosophy: “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” (v. 8).
The word beware is a command in the present tense. Paul used it to caution believers against the imminent danger of false philosophies that could sweep in and spoil their commitment to Christ by taking them captive and corrupting or damaging their faith. Thus, Paul urged the Colossians to be constantly vigilant against the false philosophies Satan designed to deceive and control them by his diabolical power.
The Lord Jesus warned His disciples about wolves who would seize and scatter the true believers (Jn. 10:1–21). In his farewell massage to the Ephesian elders, Paul instructed them to be on guard concerning savage wolves both inside and outside the church. They would rise up, speaking perverse things to lure away disciples. The apostle also reminded the Ephesians that for three years, night and day with tears, he cautioned the leaders to be vigilant for such men (cf. Acts 20:28–31).
Paul described their philosophy as “empty deceit” (Col. 2:8), or devoid of content and truth. It added nothing to God’s revelation in Christ. In fact, it often contradicted God’s Word.
The apostle identified this empty philosophy in three ways:
1. Its source is “according to the tradition of men” (v. 8). Sinful men produced the philosophy, which was handed down from generation to generation and often accepted as truth.
2. Its substance is “according to the basic principles of the world” (v. 8). The word principles (Greek, stoicheion) means the rudimentary or basic principles of this world’s system. The false religious teaching was not profound or advanced in knowledge but simplistic and immature, full of speculations, ideologies, and philosophies of the satanic world system.
3. Its system was “not according to Christ” (v. 8). Jesus was not the author, substance, or head of this system of devilish heresy.
Paul did not specifically identify the false doctrine. Some believe the heretics were primarily Jewish. Others say the heresy was a heathen form of Gentile Gnosticism. Still others believe it was a mixture of both factors. It was probably a syncretism of Jewish religion and Gentile worldly philosophies, with a strong emphasis on Gnostic teaching. One thing is certain: It was not from Christ, who should be preeminent in all things (1:18).
