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COLOSSIANS - Christ in you, the hope of glory!
Studies in the Letter of Paul to the Colossians

Part 2 - The Recognition of the Mystery of Christ Guards Against False Teaching (Colossians 2:1-23)

8. Paul´s Struggle for the Churches in Colosse and Laodicea (Colossians 2:1-3)


Colossians 2:1-3
1 For I desire to have you know how greatly I struggle for you, and for those at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; 2 that their hearts may be comforted, they being knit together in love, and gaining all riches of the full assurance of understanding, that they may know the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, 3 in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden.

Paul was both enthusiastic and troubled at the same time; satellite churches had begun springing up without him in the hinterland of Ephesus. Believers who heard his missionary lectures in the school of Tyrannus (Acts 19:9-10), in the provincial capitol of Ephesus, had begun carrying the good news further. All this was causing a rather widespread spiritual conflagration in the backlands. The apostle also knew that Satan was roaming about like a hungry lion ready to devour and destroy whomever he could lay hold of. Therefore, he was careful to especially include these believers, unknown to him personally, in his prayer of intercession. He continually wrestled with the Lord in prayer, asking that their faith might not cease and that they be enabled to shake off their tempter. In addition to the followers of Christ in Colosse, he had also taken the church in the neighbouring land of Laodicea (Rev. 3:14-22) into his spiritual realm of authority. For all these new believers, whom he had never met face-to-face, he faithfully prayed and trusted.

The first goal of Paul´s efforts, during the time of his arrest while pending trial, was to strengthen the believer´s hearts. They needed to know: the apostle has heard about us. He loves us, believes in us and prays for us. Thereby, he hoped that sensitive church members in a multi-cultural society would start to pull together, that they would begin taking social and practical responsibility for each other. They needed to practice a pragmatic, sacrificial love among themselves, and not just talk piously. Beyond that, they needed to grow into an entire understanding of the gospel, and learn the greatest of all revealed mysteries, which is: “Christ” is the One of God who has been anointed with the Holy Spirit (Psalm 45:8; Luke 4:18; Heb. 1:9). Professor Adolf Schlatter, who knew the Greek New Testament, along with its footnotes, by heart, wrote near the end of his life a book entitled: “Do we know Jesus?” He wanted to make it clear to mature Christians that our knowledge of the riches of the love and power of Christ can never come to an end. When we humble ourselves and are attentive students of the exalted and crucified One, we can expect to encounter wonder upon wonder.

Paul described the person of Jesus as “the mystery of God”. This expression conveys the truth that, despite all the wisdom we have of Jesus, this still only represents the beginning and the outer surface of His fullness. In Him remain hidden, for all of His followers scattered throughout the earth, yet untold surprises, strengths and blessings.

In the mixed cultures of the Mediterranean, under the influence of Greek culture, there often dominated the so-called “recognitions” of modern philosophers, or the “insights” into the kingdom of the mystics and necromancers. Whoever had something new and sensational to offer, was respected and heard. Paul smiled over these hopeless men of genius, for none of them knew Jesus, who is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end of all science, wisdom and knowledge. Whoever fails to recognize God remains naïve, not having known the true measure for his life or for his people and unprepared for the judgment to come. The one who denies the forgiveness of sins, through the crucifixion of Jesus, is empowered by a demon, for he closes, not only for himself but for others, the only door open to God. Whoever has not been enlightened, renewed and lead by the Holy Spirit, is still spiritually dead in his sins. He resembles a blind man who senses there is a sun, yet has never seen it. Paul had the courage to confess: “In whom (Christ) are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Col. 2:3). This tenet needs to be taught in our higher schools of learning and in our universities, so that doctoral candidates become spiritually sensible, and those searching for truth may become wise.

The apostle did not shrink from declaring that in the Lord Jesus there rests all treasures of wisdom and knowledge, for he himself had seen Christ, in His glorious splendour, before the gates of Damascus. At that time the revaluation of all his earthly values struck him like lightning, along with a spiritual reappraisal of all ideas, persons and laws. He wrote to the church in Rome: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 3:23-24). All philosophers, mystics and fanatics of the law shatter on this Bible-based theology. Liberal theology, too, with all of its interesting and sensible teachings, has nothing to offer but straw as long as it refuses to bow down before the crucified and risen One. Everyone must confess that He alone is the sum of true and wholesome theology.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, who are You and who are we? You are the fullness of love and holiness, while we remain proud midgets and incompetents. You have opened to us the way to the Father in heaven. From You we receive forgiveness for our foolishness and sin. You give us the power of Your Holy Spirit. We worship You, for in You alone rests all the fullness of wisdom and the love of God.

Question 31: How was it that Paul could write that in Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge?

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