Colossians 2

King James Version

Full text for Colossians Chapter 2

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;

2That 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;

3In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

4¶ And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.

5For 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.

6As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, [so] walk ye in him:

7Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

8Beware 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.

9For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

10And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

11In 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:

12Buried 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;

14Blotting 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]:

17Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body [is] of Christ.

18Let 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,

19And 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.

20Wherefore 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;

22Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?

23Which 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.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Paul expresses deep concern for the Colossians, urging them to remain steadfast in Christ and beware of deceptive philosophies and human traditions. He emphasizes that in Christ dwells the fullness of the Godhead, and believers are complete in Him, having been freed from the law's ordinances and triumphed over spiritual powers. Therefore, they should not be judged by external rituals or angel worship, but rather hold fast to Christ, the Head.

Medium Summary

Paul conveys his earnest struggle for the Colossians and others, desiring their hearts to be comforted, united in love, and fully assured in the understanding of God's mystery in Christ, where all wisdom resides. He warns them against being led astray by enticing words, vain philosophy, and the rudiments of the world, which are not centered on Christ. The apostle asserts that in Christ dwells the entire fullness of the Godhead bodily, and believers are made complete in Him, who is supreme over all spiritual authorities. Through Christ, they have experienced a spiritual circumcision, a burial and resurrection in baptism, and forgiveness of sins. God has nullified the legal demands of the Mosaic Law by nailing them to the cross and publicly triumphed over spiritual principalities and powers. Consequently, believers should not allow themselves to be judged by regulations concerning food, drink, holy days, or sabbaths, as these were mere shadows of Christ. He further cautions against false humility, angel worship, and adherence to human doctrines that distract from Christ, the true Head of the Church.

Long Summary

The Apostle Paul begins by expressing his profound concern and struggle for the Colossians, the Laodiceans, and all who have not personally seen him, desiring their hearts to be comforted, knit together in love, and to attain the full assurance of understanding the mystery of God, which is Christ Himself. In Christ, all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden. Paul issues a strong warning against being beguiled by persuasive but deceptive words, assuring them of his spiritual presence and joy in their steadfast faith and order. He exhorts them to continue walking in Christ Jesus the Lord, just as they received Him, becoming deeply rooted, built up, and established in the faith, abounding with thanksgiving. A crucial warning is given against anyone who might "spoil" them through philosophy and vain deceit, which are based on human tradition and the elementary principles of the world, rather than on Christ. Paul declares that in Christ dwells the entire fullness of the Godhead bodily, and that believers are made complete in Him, for He is the head over all spiritual principalities and powers. He explains that believers have undergone a spiritual circumcision, "made without hands," by putting off the sinful nature through Christ's work. Furthermore, they have been symbolically buried with Him in baptism and raised with Him through faith in God's powerful operation. God, in His mercy, quickened those who were spiritually dead in their sins and uncircumcised flesh, forgiving all their trespasses. He dramatically cancelled the "handwriting of ordinances" – the Mosaic Law with its legal demands that stood against humanity – by nailing it to Christ's cross. Through this act, Christ openly triumphed over and disarmed the principalities and powers. Therefore, Paul instructs the Colossians not to permit anyone to judge them concerning matters of food, drink, specific holy days, new moons, or sabbath days, as these observances were merely a "shadow of things to come," with Christ being the ultimate reality. He also warns against being defrauded of their reward by those promoting false humility, the worshipping of angels, or presumptuous speculation into unseen things, which stem from a fleshly mind and fail to hold fast to Christ, the Head. The body, nourished and knit together by Christ, grows with the increase of God. If they have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, they should not subject themselves to human ordinances like "touch not; taste not; handle not," which are destined to perish with their use. These human commandments, though appearing wise in self-imposed worship and asceticism, ultimately offer no true honor or satisfaction to the flesh, nor do they align with Christ's liberating truth.

Core Concepts

  • Mystery of God in ChristThe profound truth that all wisdom and knowledge, and the very fullness of the Godhead, are hidden and revealed in Christ.
  • Completeness in ChristBelievers are made whole and lack nothing spiritually because they are united with Christ, who is the head over all spiritual authorities.
  • Freedom from LegalismThe Mosaic Law and its ordinances, which once stood against humanity, have been nullified and nailed to the cross by Christ, freeing believers from their legal demands.
  • Triumph over Principalities and PowersChrist, through His cross, openly disarmed and triumphed over all spiritual rulers and authorities, demonstrating His supreme power.
  • Spiritual Circumcision and BaptismBelievers experience a non-physical circumcision in Christ, signifying the putting off of the sinful nature, and are spiritually buried and raised with Him through faith in baptism.
  • Warning Against False TeachingsPaul strongly cautions against deceptive philosophies, human traditions, angel worship, and ascetic practices that detract from Christ's supremacy and sufficiency.
  • Christ as the HeadChrist is the supreme Head from whom the entire body of believers receives nourishment, unity, and growth, emphasizing His central and authoritative role.