2 I want you to know how great a struggle I have in your behalf and for those who are at Laodicea, and for all those who have not personally seen my face, ² that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and that they would attain to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God’s mystery, (pertaining to) Christ, ³ in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. ⁴ I say this so that no one will deceive you with persuasive arguments. ⁵ For even though I am absent in body, I am nevertheless with you in spirit, rejoicing to discern your orderly manner and the stability of your faith in Christ. ⁶ Therefore, as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, ⁷ having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude. ⁸ See to it that there is no one who takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception in accordance with human tradition, in accordance with the elementary principles of the world, rather than in accordance with Christ. ⁹ For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form [Col2:1-8].

More references to “mysteries” in this passage – in particular, God’s mystery pertaining to Christ (v2). And according to Paul, in the incarnated Word is hidden “all treasures of wisdom and knowledge”. As the apostle goes on to explain, the reason he is making this point is so that the Colossian believers should “be built up in (Christ) and established in their faith, just as they had been instructed” (v7). In terms of how they had been instructed – keep in mind that will have been by Paul himself and/or men he had appointed; not by reading the New Testament which had yet to be compiled.

Paul cautions they should be aware of philosophers who deceive with “human traditions” – the “elementary principles” of the world”. This is a term (Greek: στοιχεῖα) Paul uses several times – in Gal4:3&9; Col2:20 and here in Col1:8. In all these contexts it tends to be used in a derogatory sense of “rudimentary teachings”, whereas the teaching of Christ goes beyond the rudimentary and in some cases subvert it.

In terms of the Faith, perhaps the most encompassing of these teachings is the idea that the Christian must lose his life in order to find it (Mt16:25) – no human philosophy would support that. Relatedly, Paul’s assertion that  “the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world” (Gal6:14). Why so, Paul? It was because of “the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ”. That was said in the context of Paul’s conflict with the Judaisers, who were insisting on Christians being circumcised – another “elementary principle” in Paul’s eyes. What really mattered, he said was to become “a new creation in Christ”.

Finally, Paul describes Christ as One in whom “all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form” (v8). That is perhaps not surprising given that the Lord is the incarnated Word of God.  What is more startling is that His followers can themselves become partakers of the divine nature (2Pet1:4). Or rather, Peter says, we become such “having escaped the corruption that is in the world on account of lust”. As I have been explaining, and more to the point, so has Paul – that is something that requires the believer’s cooperation with grace and a measure of self- discipline.

As the apostle said of himself in the context of competing for the “prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil3:14), “I strictly discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified!” (1Cor9:27). Paul’s language concerning races, prizes, winning and disqualification in the gospel context may mystify some readers – it was covered in a recent post on Philippians chapter three…

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