Colossians 2:1-7 – God’s Plan, Consistent Over Time

      1For I want you to know how great a struggle I have on your behalf and for those who are at Laodicea, and for all those who have not personally seen my face, 2that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself, 3in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4I say this so that no one will delude you with persuasive argument. 5For even though I am absent in body, nevertheless I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good discipline and the stability of your faith in Christ.
      6Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.

Interesting Words
encouraged

(παρακαλέω – Greek) – parakaleó ► verb: aorist passive, from para (close beside) and kaleó (to call), invite, invoke, beseech, intreat, pray – 2Cor 1:4-5, 5:20; Eph 4:1;

knit

(συμβιβάζω – Greek) – sumbibazó ► verb: aorist passive, from sun (with) and bibazo (by reduplication), to drive together, i.e. unite, to infer, show, teach – Eph 4:16; Col 2:19;

wealth

(πλοῦτος – Greek) – ploutos ► noun: from the base of pletho; full riches, wealth, i.e. money, possessions, or abundance, valuable bestowment – Mark 4:19; Rom 9:22-23, 11:33; Eph 1:18;

full assurance

(πληροφορίας – Greek) – plērophorias ► noun: from plerophoreo (entire confidence), full assurance, conviction, confidence – 1Thes 1:5; Heb 6:11, 10:22;

mystery

(μυστηρίου – Greek) – mustérion ► noun – a secret or “mystery”, from a derivative of muo (to shut the mouth), through the idea of silence imposed by initiation into religious rites – Matt 13:10-11; Rom 16:25; 1Cor 2:7-8; Eph 1:9;

treasures

(θησαυροὶ – Greek) – thēsauroi ► noun: from tithemi (a deposit), a store-house for precious things, a treasure, a store, wealth – Matt 6:19-20, 21; 2Cor 4:7;

received

(παραλαμβάνω – Greek) – paralambanó ► verb : from pará (close-alongside) and lambánō (aggressively take), receive from, admit, acknowledge showing strong personal initiative, (apparently not used of money) – John 14:2-3; Matt 1:20, 24; 2:13, 20; Col 4:17; Gal 1:12; 1Thes 2:13;

Cross References
▪︎ John 1:11-12;
▪︎ John 10:10;
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Discussion Questions
Download questions to Word document (click here). Enter your answers, then meet with some friends to discuss. You can also compare your answers to mine for a virtual discussion… answers

1. Both “encouraged” and “knit” are aorist (point-in-time past) and passive… What are the implications of these two facts?

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2. What is included in the wealth described in Col 2:2?

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3. What does “full assurance of understanding” in Col 2:2 mean?
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4. What are the implications of having a “true knowledge of the mystery of Christ”?

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5. How would you describe the treasure you have in Christ?
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6. Based on the definition above, what does it mean to “receive” Christ”?

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7. Per your answer in #6 above and Col 2:6-7, how are we to walk in Christ?

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