Colossians 2:1-5: a reflection

1For 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; 2that 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, 3in whom all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden. 4Now I say this that no one may delude you with persuasiveness of speech. 5For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in the spirit, rejoicing and seeing your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.

Paul labors for the believers that they may know Christ fully, in whom, he says, all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden. In Christ, and nowhere else, are found all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge; he is the storehouse of true wisdom, and there is no need to look elsewhere, to other teachers or persuasions, for what is found in fullness in him. Paul says this precisely so that no one may delude them with persuasive speech, drawing them away from Christ to some other supposed source of wisdom. Because all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are in Christ, we need not be led astray by persuasive-sounding alternatives; the wisdom we seek is found in him, fully. Christ is the treasury of all true wisdom and knowledge, and looking to him, we need not be deluded by other persuasions that would draw us away.

Notice where Paul locates all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge: in Christ. Not partly in Christ and partly elsewhere, but all of them hidden in him. He is the storehouse of true wisdom; what we most need to know is found in fullness in him. And Paul says this for a reason: so that no one may delude the believers with persuasive speech, drawing them away from Christ to some other supposed source of wisdom. There are always persuasive voices offering wisdom apart from Christ; but because all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are in him, we need not be led away by them. The wisdom we seek is not scattered among competing teachers but found, fully, in Christ. To know him is to have access to all the treasures of true wisdom; and knowing this guards us against being deluded by persuasive alternatives. What we most need is found in Christ, not elsewhere.

That is worth resting in, for all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are found in Christ, and knowing this guards us against being deluded. We can be drawn by persuasive voices offering wisdom apart from Christ, wondering whether we must look elsewhere for what we need; but Paul says all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Christ, so that no one may delude us with persuasive speech. The wisdom we seek is found in fullness in him, not scattered among competing alternatives. Knowing this keeps us from being led astray. Do not be drawn away by persuasive voices offering wisdom apart from Christ; all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are found in him. Rest in the truth that all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are found in Christ, so that you need not be deluded by persuasive alternatives, as Paul labored for the believers to know Christ, in whom all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden; for the wisdom we seek is not scattered among competing teachers but found in fullness in him, and knowing this guards us against being drawn away by persuasive-sounding voices that would lead us from Christ to some other supposed source of wisdom.

Lord, Paul labors for the believers that they may know Christ fully, in whom, he says, all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden. In Christ, and nowhere else, are found all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge; he is the storehouse of true wisdom, and there is no need to look elsewhere, to other teachers or persuasions, for what is found in fullness in him. Paul says this precisely so that no one may delude them with persuasive speech, drawing them away from Christ. Because all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are in Christ, we need not be led astray by persuasive-sounding alternatives. Show me where Paul locates all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge: in Christ. Not partly in Christ and partly elsewhere, but all of them hidden in him. He is the storehouse of true wisdom; what I most need to know is found in fullness in him. And Paul says this for a reason: so that no one may delude the believers with persuasive speech. There are always persuasive voices offering wisdom apart from Christ; but because all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are in him, I need not be led away by them. The wisdom I seek is not scattered among competing teachers but found, fully, in Christ. Let me rest in that, for all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are found in Christ, and knowing this guards me against being deluded. I can be drawn by persuasive voices offering wisdom apart from Christ, wondering whether I must look elsewhere for what I need; but Paul says all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in him. Keep me from being drawn away by persuasive voices offering wisdom apart from Christ; help me rest in the truth that all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are found in him, Lord, so that I need not be deluded by persuasive alternatives.