Colossians 2 Overview
Paul warns against philosophy, human tradition, legalistic judgment, angel worship, ascetic rules, and other substitutes for Christ. In Christ dwells all the fulness of the Godhead bodily, and believers are complete in Him. They are spiritually circumcised, buried and risen with Him, forgiven, and freed from the handwriting of ordinances that was against them.
Before you read Colossians 2
Coming from
Paul thanks God for the Colossians’ faith and love, prays that they will walk worthy of the Lord, and presents one of Scripture’s strongest portraits of Christ’s supremacy. Jesus is the image of the invisible God, Creator and sustainer of all things, head of the church, firstborn from the dead, and the One through whose blood God reconciles.
In this chapter
Paul warns against philosophy, human tradition, legalistic judgment, angel worship, ascetic rules, and other substitutes for Christ. In Christ dwells all the fulness of the Godhead bodily, and believers are complete in Him. They are spiritually circumcised, buried and risen with Him, forgiven, and freed from the handwriting of ordinances that was against them.
Leads into
Because believers are risen with Christ, Paul tells them to seek things above, put sinful practices to death, and put off the old man’s habits. They are to put on compassion, kindness, humility, forgiveness, charity, peace, Scripture-filled worship, and gratitude. The chapter then applies Christian order to wives, husbands, children, fathers, servants, and work done unto the Lord.
Key understandingExplore deeper
‘Ye are complete in him’ is central: spiritual fullness is not obtained by adding mystical experiences or law observance to Christ.
Paul’s references to meat, drink, holy days, new moons, and sabbaths show that Mosaic calendar regulations are shadows whose substance is Christ.
Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper
Christ is fully divine
All the fulness of the Godhead dwells bodily in Him.
Believers are complete in Christ
They do not need legal or mystical supplements for spiritual standing.
The cross cancels the hostile record
Christ blots out the handwriting of ordinances and triumphs over powers.
Human regulations cannot conquer the flesh
Touch-not/taste-not rules have an appearance of wisdom but lack true power.
Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper
Galatians 4:9–11
Paul warns against returning to bondage through observing days and seasons as a legal system.
Hebrews 10:1
The law’s ceremonial features are described as a shadow.
Ephesians 2:14–16
Christ abolishes dividing ordinances and reconciles in one body through the cross.
What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper
Do not use ‘philosophy’ to condemn all disciplined thinking
Paul condemns vain deceit and human tradition rather than Christ.
Do not make circumcision or baptism additional saving works
The emphasis is union with Christ and divine operation.
Do not let ascetic rules replace dependence on Christ
Paul says they fail to restrain fleshly indulgence.
Read Colossians 2 watching for…
The repeated phrase ‘in him.’
The fulness of the Godhead bodily.
The circumcision/burial/resurrection language.
The handwriting of ordinances nailed to the cross.
The shadows versus Christ.