Colossians 2:1-7

1: For I want you to know how great a struggle I have on your behalf and for those who are at Laodicea, and for all those who have not personally seen my face,
2: that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself,
3: in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
4: I say this so that no one will delude you with persuasive argument.
5: For even though I am absent in body, nevertheless I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good discipline and the stability of your faith in Christ.

6: Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,
7: having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.

*** 

Paul’s struggle, or labor, concerning the Colossians, Laodiceans, and all those whom he had not met personally, was for them to grow in Christ and not be deceived with “persuasive arguments.” Paul was concerned about false teachers coming to them as they had elsewhere (Romans 16:18).

His desire was for believer’s hearts to be encouraged, knit together in love, and for them to attain all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding. Being fully assured in one’s understanding of Christ is a great wealth, and Paul expressed his desire for them to obtain this, which also results in a “true knowledge of God’s mystery.”

Paul called Christ the mystery here, not just who Christ is for, as in other places (Jew and Gentile), but He said Christ Himself is God’s mystery. He explained that in Christ all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden. So, if you know Him, the hidden wealth of true wisdom, knowledge, and understanding are available to you.

Even though Paul was not there physically, he was in spirit, rejoicing over their good discipline and stability of faith in Christ. They had been firmly rooted in Christ and now they would be built up and established in Him in their faith. It is by faith that we discipline ourselves to follow Christ. We hear, receive, and follow His Word, taking the necessary time and effort to study His instructions and apply them to our lives. This stabilizes our faith so we may grow up strong in Him, bearing much fruit.

Throughout Paul’s writings, we see this thought that one comes to believe in Jesus, but then must grow up in Him just as a seed planted must be nurtured and tended to so it will grow and produce fruit. Paul’s fatherly heart is evident as he desired for all new believers to grow in Christ, as a father desires the same for his children. The key was for them to walk in Christ as they had received Him—by faith, according to the Word that was preached to them, and overflowing with gratitude.



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