A Presentation of the Supremacy and Sufficiency of the Person and Works of Christ Colossians 2:1-23 Part I
In chapter 2 of the book of Colossians, Paul denounces the false teachings that had invaded the Colossian church in Asia Minor. The false teachings that Paul combated consisted of a mixture of ideas that offered deeper wisdom, a strict moral code, and contact with the spirit world. To combat the false teachers of Asia Minor, Paul unfolded a magnificent presentation of the supreme Person and works of Jesus Christ.
Our text may be outlined as follows: I. The Supremacy of the Person of Christ – Colossians 2:1-10; II. Steadfast in the Sufficiency of Christ over False Teachings – Colossians 2:11-23.
- The Supremacy of the Person of Christ – Colossians 2:1-10
In verse 1, Paul’s concern expressed in his love was not limited to those he personally knew; however, it reached to all who had not met him personally. In combating error in Colosse, Paul was greatly concerned that the believers would not be led astray by the false teachings prevalent in the Lycas River Valley. The churches in the Lycas River Valley needed to withstand error in order to achieve the maturity Paul desired for them, and this brought great anxiety to Paul.
In verse 2, there are two things Paul desired for these believers. First, he desired “that their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love.” Comfort will come as believers are united in love, which is “the bond of perfectness” (Colossians 3:14). To combat false teaching, which thrives on disunity, believers must be joined in love and purpose. Second, Paul desired that the Colossian believers abound in spiritual insight. This insight will bring solid confidence, even in the face of false teaching. A church unified by love and equipped by discernment can withstand any false teachings! The ultimate goal of this insight is a genuine knowledge of the mystery of God, that is, Christ Himself.
The false teachers of Colosse claimed to have superior knowledge; however, Paul assured the believers that in Christ, they enjoyed full knowledge; they needed nothing the false teachers offered. Mystery in the New Testament unfolded truth previously hidden in the Old Testament but has now been revealed in the New Testament to those spiritually equipped to understand it. What Christ did for us through His death and resurrection unfolded God’s final revelation of Himself. The value of knowing Christ is incalculable, for He is the One “in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (v. 3).
In verse 4, Paul was vitally concerned that there were some false teachers who desired to deceive the Colossian believers with enticing arguments. They were trying to lead them away from the truth by faulty reasoning. In verse 5, Paul assured the Colossian believers that although he was absent from them physically, he was with them in spirit. Despite the persuasiveness of the heretics in the midst of the believers, Paul rejoiced that they were still standing firm in the faith.
In verses 6-7, Paul admonished the believers to be steadfast in the teaching about Christ that they had received when they were converted. Believers become more stable in the faith in which they have been taught. As believers are nurtured in their faith, they are to remain on alert. Paul alerted the believers not to let anyone carry them away as plunder or as captives by means of philosophy and empty deception. The heretics sought to plunder the church through “philosophy and vain deceit.” Philosophy followed “the tradition of men and the rudiments of the world” (v. 8). Tradition is merely what has been handed down from one to another. Rudiments are the elementary principles of the world. Philosophy based on the tradition of men and rudiments of the world have no value for a child of God because they are not derived from Christ!
In verses 9-10, Paul expressed that all “fulness of the Godhead dwells in Christ alone. The term “fulness” is a significant term because heretical teachers used it to describe the totality of angelic beings occupying heavenly realms and allegedly sharing divine essence. Deity is not distributed among angelic beings; it resides as a totality in Christ (v. 9). As believers, in verse 10, we are “complete in Him”, who is Head over all powers in the universe, including angelic ones – even those that serve Satan (Romans 8:38-39; Ephesians 6:12).
May God Bless!
