Colossians 2

With many thanks to Mike Lewis for the use of the graphics

DESCRIPTION

This is a study of Colossians 2

REQUIREMENTS

There are no prerequisites it is suggested you follow up by going over the material again and checking what I say here for accuracy.

MATERIALS NEEDED

A bible and a lexicon and concordance.

OBJECTIVES

To see what more we are told after our study of chapter 1 and The Headless Christian

GRADING SCALE

I leave the grading to God

We  still need to remember what it says in 2 Timothy 3:16,17

16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God (theopneustos), God Breathed,  and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness

The Greek word used as for is the preposition pros. It means to head in a direction. “I’m going for some nails.”  You know I was headed in the direction of you don’t know if I got there. If they had used the word eis which can also be translated for your, entire bible would fall apart because it means “I looked for and bought some nails.” There is no assurance that if you study you will get the correct doctrine, reproof, and correction that is up to you, You have to let the word speak for itself. The last for is not the same word in Greek as the other three. it is the word en and can and should be translated as which is.

17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

The word perfect is artios a ship that is fully equipped for anything it may encounter. This is it’s only usage in the bible. It is defined as perfect, complete, fitted, ready. The word thoroughly furnished could be translated thoroughly perfected since it’s root word is also artios or if you use complete it would be completed.

Colossians 2 from the

King James version

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;

Since our first word is a conjunction we will need to go back into Colossians 1 to get the general context.

Colossians 1:24 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church:

We need to define who who is.

We need to look back at Ephesians to learn who is

Ephesians 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

As you can see that is was the devil and his cronies who were celebrating. There was another time they had a wild party that was right after they had murdered Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 2:8 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

In the end they quit partying again because the written word came about because Paul was imprisoned. .

25 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation (oikonomian) of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;

I really like the Aramaic to Plain English translation of this verse.

25 Of which I am a Minister, according to the administration of God which is given to me among you, that I would fulfill the word of God,

Administration is a far better translation than dispensation.

26 Even the mystery (mystērion) which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:

A mystery is something that cannot be solved. A secret on the other hand is something that can be known if it is shared which is what God did in Ephesians 3:8. THe Sacred Secret is how many believe this word should be translated.

27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:

The word warning would be better translated admonishing.

The word Perfect is the word teleion. It is used 7 times, The following is from EW Bullinger THE SPIRITUAL SIGNIFICANCE OF NUMBERS.

Seven.  Denotes spiritual perfection.  It is the number or hall-mark of the Holy Spirit's work.  He is the Author of God's Word, and seven is stamped on it as the watermark is seen in the manufacture of paper.  He is the Author and Giver of life; and seven is the number which regulates every period of Incubation and Gestation, in insects, birds, animals, and man.

29 Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.

Colossians 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;

This is in opposition to the word ginóskó which means to know by experience.

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;

Now remember that the context of the body of Christ is one of the distant contexts. So when you think of knitting it isn’t like a sweater it is more like when you cut yourself, if you don’t get stitches or if you get the right kind of stitches once the skin finishes knitting itself back together you won’t be able to see where the cut was. (PE Surgery)

Our hearts are comforted when we are knit together in love.

The word understanding is the word synesis. It means coming together of understanding it is used in secular literature of the point where rivers come together. Like where the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers converge and form one river.

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.

I want to show you verse 8 from the NLT

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.

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

Let’s look at the NLT once more.

9 For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body.

That is the best translation I have ever seen of that verse. It is God dwelling in a human body the body of our Lord. So God was in Christ, Christ is in according to chapter one us. So it is God in Christ in us.

Let’s take a look at Ephesians 4

7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?

10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)

11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

13  Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

14  That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

15  But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

16  From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which  every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

That is the measure we received and we bring with us to the body of Christ.

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

Let’s look back at Romans 2

29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

Back to Colossians 2

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.

The greek word for baptism is baptisma it means to be immersion. You cannot squeeze any water out of it. Look at what Jesus Christ himself said about it.

Acts 1:5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.ater; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

Ephesians 4:4  There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;

5  One Lord, one faith, one baptism,

Unless words have no meaning it is very clear.

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;

15And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

Isaiah 40:2 Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the LORD'S hand double for all her sins.

This has now been accomplished. The difference between Isaiah and Colossians is instead of nailing that which was against us to the wall near the entrance to the city it was nailed to Christ’s cross.

16Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday (heortēs) means a feast, or of the new moon (nouménia) time of a feast, or of the sabbathdays (day of the week):

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

18Let no man beguile(umpire against you) 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.

There you have the headless Christian again.

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,

Aramaic Bible in Plain English

For if you have died with The Messiah to the principles of the world, why are you just as if you live in the world

21(Touch not; taste not; handle not;

Namely, “Do not touch”, “Do not taste”, “Do not hold”,

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

Which are the things that need to be destroyed, and are the commandments and the teachings of the sons 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.

And they appear to have in them a word of wisdom in the appearance of humility and worship of God and without sparing the body, not in things of honor, but in those things which are physical needs.

This is again try to cleanse from the outside in instead of having been already cleansed we accept God’s grace.