The letter to the Colossians, was written by the Apostle Paul in the late AD “50’s or 60’s,” while he was imprisoned. This letter was written to a gentile church plant located in Colossae, a city of Rome. Colossians 2:1–5 explains the entire purpose behind Paul’s letter to the Christians in Colossae. Paul’s desire is to fight — spiritually — for these fellow believers, but this is difficult from a distance, and from prison.
While Paul is happy to hear that the Colossians are standing strong in their faith, he sees potential problems.
Colossians and Laodiceans Were Listening to False teachings.
Colosse and Laodicea were 11 miles apart, and Paul wanted this letter to be read in Laodicea, too. As Paul’s missionary co-workers spread the gospel in this area, Paul wanted to help the new Christians be well grounded in their beliefs so they would not fall for some counterfeit message.
I Am Contending For You (Colossians 2:1)
Paul writes this letter to strengthen their faith against particular false teachings. These deceptions are mostly based in attractive, but untrue, arguments. This passage is Paul’s springboard into a defense against the tricks being used against his readers.
Know the Mystery of God
The “hidden wisdom of God” is found in Jesus. After mentioning the mystery, Paul notes that Christ is the one “in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3). Treasures, hidden for the sake of keeping them safe, and the knowledge and wisdom are kept in Christ, but made available to those who believe in Him.
Do Not be Deceived
In chapter two, Paul warns Christians not to be taken in by deceptive arguments. The claims were attractive, but were merely tricks: they sound true, but they are not. Arguments for self-denial, including strict fasting, legalism, visions, and other practices only look good, but none of them are the real source of spiritual growth. Greek “mystery religions” were popular in the first century, offering special rituals and passwords to advance to different levels in the spiritual world. The “Colossian heresy” was a syncretistic combination of several religious systems. The teaching included elements of Jewish legalism (Colossians 2:16, 17), Oriental mysticism (Colossians 2:18, 19), and Greek asceticism (Colossians 2:20-23).
Apparently, the Colossian Christians wanted to understand mysteries, to have wisdom and knowledge — but in their eagerness to have special teachings, they were listening to false teachings. The truth is not found in some cultic religious leader, nor secret formulas, nor philosophies. It is Christ! It is Christ indwelling in His people. He is the grounds for the expectation of glory.
Warning
Paul warned the Colossians to “be not moved away” from the gospel they had been taught. False doctrines were being spread by Jewish Christians who wanted gentile members to live according to the law of Moses (Colossians 2:16, 17).
Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ. (Colossians 2:8) Paul warns against believing any false philosophy or tradition of men, including worshipping angels and going to extremes in denying oneself basic physical needs as a form of spiritual discipline. (Colossians 1:24–2:23) Angels are real and they serve God, even on this earth. But they are creations of God. They are not Gods. You can, and should, believe in angels, but do NOT worship them
The Real Substance: Jesus. Follow Him.
Above all, remember the way Christ accomplished everything we need to be justified before God. Thus, there is no reason for believers to pursue these false, shallow ”shadows.”
We are saved by grace through faith. So, we should walk daily as Christians by grace through faith. We need to develop a daily walk of dependency on God.
In conclusion, the Daily Bread email message sent on 10/24/2022 says,
Colossians 2: 2-4 – 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, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I say this so that no one will delude you with persuasive argument. (NASB)
Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ. (Colossians 2:8)
Paul warns against believing any false philosophy or tradition of men, including worshiping angels and going to extremes in denying oneself basic physical needs as a form of spiritual discipline. (Colossians 1:24–2:23)
We have the real substance: Jesus, so we should follow Him. Spiritual growth is not found in some cultic religious leader, or secret formulas, or philosophies. It is Christ! It is Christ indwelling in His people. He is the grounds for the expectation of glory.
Above all, remember the way Christ accomplished everything we need to be justified before God. Thus, there is no reason for believers to pursue these false, shallow ”shadows.
We are saved by grace through faith, that means we should walk daily as Christians by grace through faith. We need to develop a daily walk of dependency on God.
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