Colossians 2:1-5

Colossians 2:1-5

Having set forward the sound doctrine of the person in the work of Christ, Paul turns to his concerns for and the needs of his audience. Anywhere the people of God lived, Paul cared for them, so even though he did not personally know the church at Colossi and Laodicea, he cared for them. False teachers who tried to blend Gnostic philosophy with Christian faith endangered the church. As with all false teaching, they diminished Christ as they offered an alternative faith. They thought that Jesus was not truly God, and they proposed a secret knowledge that offered more than Christ. In response to this false teaching, Paul wants the Colossians to have their hearts encouraged. In the language of the New Testament, “heart” is more than emotion, as it is for us. Heart meant the emotions, and the mind, and the capacity to be determined to act—what we might say is the will. When a Christian community has correct moral/ethical teaching and the right emotions, and it is determined to live out these teachings, rest assured that comes out of knowing who Christ is. Paul uses three words that were very important to the false teachers of Gnosticism: “wisdom,” “mystery,” and “knowledge.” These were what the Gnostics sought and claimed they had found or could find apart from Jesus. Paul says the real treasure of “wisdom, mystery, and knowledge” is found only in Jesus.

Paul presumes that there is a concerted effort to delude and deceive Christians. Believers must live with the constant awareness that false teachings are constantly going to try to lead us astray. It usually begins by means of an addition. The false teachers will start by adding to the faith some “holy“ cause. But ultimately this results in the “addition” taking priority by making Jesus a means to accomplish their end or agenda. “Jesus and the environment,” “Jesus and social justice,” “Jesus and tax reform,” and “Jesus and pass interference” are all equally foolish. The result is that, sooner or later, that which comes in as a second becomes the top priority. Paul is simpler than that; he wants faith in Christ alone. It is unlikely that Paul’s comment about being “with you in spirit” is a mystical thing. More likely it is that he shares the same conviction and heart in spite of the miles that separate them. 

In verse 4, Paul expresses his concern about the danger and possibility of someone deluding them. He used two military terms in verse five to make the point. The words “good discipline” and “stability” could have come from any NCO. Like soldiers ready for a fight, the church is in a battle array and position. And like soldiers facing a fight, to run in the face of the enemy is disastrous. In ancient war, if you turned to run, you were exposed to the enemy; you also prevented the man behind you from being able to fight, but worst of all, you would encourage desertion by other soldiers. This is the most disastrous thing that can befall an army: to have soldiers in the face of the enemy break ranks and flee. “Good discipline” and “stability” were vital to keep the soldiers from running. For believers, a correct understanding of who Christ is and what He accomplished develops these characteristics. Note also that Paul presumes conflict and assumes that our strength is because of our faith in Christ. We will not run in the face of the enemy.

“Lord, help me to be strong in the face of the enemy. AMEN”