Colossians 2: Complete in Christ Alone
Paul warns the church not to be robbed by empty philosophy or rule-keeping, because in Christ dwells all the fullness of God and in him they are made full.
Colossians 2 (WEB)
1 For I desire to have you know how greatly I struggle for you, and for those at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;
2 that their hearts may be comforted, they being knit together in love, and gaining all riches of the full assurance of understanding, that they may know the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ,
3 in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden.
4 Now this I say that no one may delude you with persuasiveness of speech.
5 For though I am absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, rejoicing and seeing your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.
6 As therefore you received Christ Jesus, the Lord, walk in him,
7 rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith, even as you were taught, abounding in it in thanksgiving.
8 Be careful that you don’t let anyone rob you through his philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the elements of the world, and not after Christ.
9 For in him all the fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily,
10 and in him you are made full, who is the head of all principality and power;
11 in whom you were also circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, in the putting off of the body of the sins of the flesh, in the circumcision of Christ;
12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.
13 You were dead through your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh. He made you alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses,
14 wiping out the handwriting in ordinances which was against us; and he has taken it out of the way, nailing it to the cross;
15 having stripped the principalities and the powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
16 Let no one therefore judge you in eating, or in drinking, or with respect to a feast day or a new moon or a Sabbath day,
17 which are a shadow of the things to come; but the body is Christ’s.
18 Let no one rob you of your prize by a voluntary humility and worshiping of the angels, dwelling in the things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
19 and not holding firmly to the Head, from whom all the body, being supplied and knit together through the joints and ligaments, grows with God’s growth.
20 If you died with Christ from the elements of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to ordinances,
21 “Don’t handle, nor taste, nor touch”
22 (all of which perish with use), according to the precepts and doctrines of men?
23 Which things indeed appear like wisdom in self-imposed worship, and humility, and severity to the body; but aren’t of any value against the indulgence of the flesh.
Colossians 2 (KJV)
1 For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;
2 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;
3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
4 And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.
5 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.
6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
8 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.
9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
11 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:
12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
16 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:
17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
19 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.
20 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,
21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not;
22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?
23 Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.
Colossians 2 (ASV)
1 For I would have you know how greatly I strive for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;
2 that their hearts may be comforted, they being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, that they may know the mystery of God, even Christ,
3 in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden.
4 This I say, that no one may delude you with persuasiveness of speech.
5 For though I am 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.
6 As therefore ye received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him,
7 rooted and builded up in him, and established in your faith, even as ye were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.
8 Take heed lest there shall be any one that maketh spoil of you through his philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ:
9 for in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily,
10 and in him ye are made full, who is the head of all principality and power:
11 in whom ye were also circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, in the putting off of the body of the flesh, in the circumcision of Christ;
12 having been buried with him in baptism, wherein ye were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.
13 And you, being dead through your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, you, I say, did he make alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses;
14 having blotted out the bond written in ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us: and he hath taken it out of the way, nailing it to the cross;
15 having despoiled the principalities and the powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of a feast day or a new moon or a sabbath day:
17 which are a shadow of the things to come; but the body is Christ’s.
18 Let no man rob you of your prize by a voluntary humility and worshipping of the angels, dwelling in the things which he hath seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
19 and not holding fast the Head, from whom all the body, being supplied and knit together through the joints and bands, increaseth with the increase of God.
20 If ye died with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, do ye subject yourselves to ordinances,
21 Handle not, nor taste, nor touch
22 (all which things are to perish with the using), after the precepts and doctrines of men?
23 Which things have indeed a show of wisdom in will-worship, and humility, and severity to the body; but are not of any value against the indulgence of the flesh.
Summary
Paul tells the Colossians how hard he struggles for them and for the believers at Laodicea, longing that their hearts be encouraged, knit together in love, and assured of the full riches of understanding, so that they may know the mystery of God, namely Christ, in whom all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden. He warns them not to be deluded by persuasive words. As they received Christ Jesus the Lord, so they are to walk in him, rooted, built up, and established in the faith, overflowing with thanksgiving. He cautions them not to be taken captive by hollow philosophy and human tradition that follows the elemental spirits of the world rather than Christ, for in Christ all the fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily, and in him they are made full, the head over all rule and authority. In Christ they were circumcised by a spiritual circumcision, buried and raised with him in baptism through faith in the God who raised him from the dead. Once dead in trespasses, they were made alive with Christ, their debt of ordinances wiped out and nailed to the cross, where Christ disarmed and triumphed over the powers. Therefore no one is to judge them about food, festivals, or Sabbaths, mere shadows of which the substance is Christ, nor disqualify them by false humility and angel worship. Such rules, with their show of wisdom and severity to the body, have no value against the indulgence of the flesh; what matters is holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body grows.
Key Figures
- Paul — The apostle who struggles in prayer for the church, warning them against empty teaching and urging them to hold fast to Christ the Head.
- Christ Jesus — The Lord in whom all the treasures of wisdom are hidden and in whom all the fullness of God dwells bodily, who triumphed over every power at the cross.
- The false teachers — Those who would rob the church through philosophy, human tradition, legal observances, and the worship of angels.
- The church at Laodicea — A neighboring congregation Paul also labors for, sharing in his concern for steadfast faith in Christ.
Key Verse
Colossians 2:9 (WEB)
For in him all the fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily,
Lessons Learned
- All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are found in Christ, not in human philosophy.
- Because the fullness of God dwells in Christ, those joined to him lack nothing and are made full.
- The cross cancelled our debt and disarmed every power that stood against us.
- Rules and rituals are only shadows; the substance and reality belong to Christ.
- Wisdom is found in Christ, not elsewhere. In Christ “are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden” (Colossians 2:3, WEB). We need not look beyond him for what truly satisfies the mind and heart.
- Beware teaching that draws you from Christ. Paul warns against being robbed “through his philosophy and vain deceit… and not after Christ” (Colossians 2:8, WEB). Any wisdom that leads away from Jesus is empty.
- The believer is made full in Christ. “In him you are made full, who is the head of all principality and power” (Colossians 2:10, WEB). Joined to Christ, we lack nothing for life before God.
- The cross cancels our debt. God wiped out “the handwriting in ordinances which was against us… nailing it to the cross” (Colossians 2:14, WEB). The record of our guilt is gone for good.
- What does Paul desire for the Colossians and the Laodiceans, and why does he link it to knowing Christ?
- What kinds of teaching does Paul warn against in this chapter, and what do they have in common?
- What does it mean that all the fullness of God dwells in Christ and that we are “made full” in him?
- Paul says rules about food and festivals are a “shadow,” but the substance is Christ. How does that change the way we view religious rule-keeping?
- Are there ways you have tried to add something to Christ for your acceptance or security? What would it mean to rest in him as enough?
- Paul longs that their hearts be encouraged and knit together in love, assured of understanding, so they may know Christ, in whom all wisdom is hidden (2:2-3). He ties their stability to knowing Jesus more deeply. Encourage the group to pursue Christ himself, not just information.
- He warns against hollow philosophy and human tradition (2:8), legal judgments about food and days (2:16), and false humility with angel worship and harsh self-denial (2:18, 23). All share one flaw: they add to Christ and draw the heart away from him.
- It means deity dwells fully in Jesus, and that those united to him share in his completeness (2:9-10). We are not partly accepted, awaiting more; we are full in him. Help members feel the rest this brings to anxious, striving hearts.
- Shadows point to a reality; once the reality, Christ, has come, clinging to the shadow misses the point (2:17). This frees us from anxious rule-keeping as a means of standing before God. Stress that obedience flows from Christ, not toward earning him.
- This is a personal-application question. Gently invite members to name the add-ons they reach for—performance, approval, religious effort—and to consider resting in Christ's sufficiency. As leader, model honesty and point repeatedly to the fullness already ours in him.