In particular, Paul encouraged his readers to continue following Christ in harmony with the sound teaching that had resulted in their conversion. [1] His point was not that as the Colossians had become Christians by faith in Christ they should continue to walk by faith. This is clear from Paul"s word translated "received." It usually refers to the reception of truth through transmission (cf. Colossians 4:6; 1 Corinthians 11:23; 1 Corinthians 15:1; 1 Corinthians 15:3; Galatians 1:9; Galatians 1:12). It is also clear from the expression "as you were instructed" ( Colossians 2:7) and the context ( Colossians 2:4-5; Colossians 2:8). [source][source][source]
"Christ Jesus the Lord," a phrase that Paul used nowhere else, counteracts three false conceptions of the Savior. These are His deity ("Christ") that Judaism denied, His humanity ("Jesus") that Docetists denied, and His sovereignty ("Lord") that many varieties of false teaching denied. [source][source][source]
". . . Paul here meets the two forms of Gnostic heresy about the Person of Christ (the recognition of the historical Jesus in his actual humanity against the Docetic Gnostics, the identity of the Christ or Messiah with this historical Jesus against the Cerinthian Gnostics, and the acknowledgment of him as Lord)." [2][source]
"Since the basic sense of kurios [3] is that of superior to inferior (master to slave; king to subject; god to worshiper), with formally acknowledged rights of the former to command or dispose of the latter (see also Colossians 3:22 and Colossians 4:1), all would have recognized that acceptance of Christ Jesus as Lord included within it submission of the believer to this Christ and unconditional readiness to act in obedience to him." [4][source]
Advocates of "lordship salvation" get into trouble when they go beyond this statement. Their position is that unless a person consistently obeys-they never specify how consistent one must be-he or she never truly accepted Christ. [source][source][source]
Context Summary
Colossians 2:1-12 - Established In Their Faith
If you know Christ, you can lay your hand on the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. They are matters of daily experience. The Apostle's aim in this chapter is to put his converts on their guard against those who might divert them from their simple faith in Jesus, and their sufficiency in Him. The keynotes are Take heed and Let no one.
The first act of the Christian life is to receive Christ, and every moment afterward we must continue receiving Him. The act must become an attitude. Breathe in the love and power of Jesus. Take deep breaths. Then we shall be rooted in Him in secret, and built up in Him in our outward walk and behavior. If we have Christ, we have all God's fullness, and this is easily accessible. Like Jacob's ladder, He links us with God. What need have we for celestial beings, like those invented by the Gnostics, or for the rite of circumcision, as insisted on by the Jews? We have everything in Jesus. He has fulfilled the Law in all respects on our behalf. Let us put the waters of entire surrender and consecration between our past, our sins, and the world, and rise into His life, the life of resurrection glory and power. [source]
Chapter Summary: Colossians 2
1Paul still exhorts them to be constant in Christ; 8to beware of philosophy, and vain traditions; 18worshipping of angels; 20and legal ceremonies, which are ended in Christ
Greek Commentary for Colossians 2:6
As therefore ye received [ως ουν παρελαβετε] Second aorist active indicative of παραλαμβανω paralambanō in same sense as in 1 Thessalonians 4:1; Philemon 4:9 (both μαντανω manthanō and παραλαμβανω paralambanō) that is like μαντανω manthanō to learn (Colossians 1:7), from Epaphras and others. [source]
Christ Jesus the Lord [τον Χριστον Ιησουν τον Κυριον] This peculiar phrase occurs nowhere else by Paul. We have often ο Χριστος ho Christos (the Christ or Messiah) as in Philemon 1:15, Ιησους Χριστος Iēsous Christos (Jesus Christ), Χριστος Ιησους Christos Iēsous (Christ Jesus), ο Κυριος Ιησους ho Kurios Iēsous (the Lord Jesus, very often), but nowhere else ο Χριστος Ιησους ho Christos Iēsous and Ιησους ο Κυριος Iēsous ho Kurios Hence it is plain that Paul here meets the two forms of Gnostic heresy about the Person of Christ (the recognition of the historical Jesus in his actual humanity against the Docetic Gnostics, the identity of the Christ or Messiah with this historical Jesus against the Cerinthian Gnostics, and the acknowledgment of him as Lord). “As therefore ye received the Christ (the Messiah), Jesus the Lord.” Ye were taught right. Walk in him (εν αυτωι περιπατειτε en autōi peripateite). “Go on walking in him” (present active indicative of περιπατεω peripateō). Stick to your first lessons in Christ. [source]
Walk in him [εν αυτωι περιπατειτε] “Go on walking in him” (present active indicative of περιπατεω peripateō). Stick to your first lessons in Christ. [source]
Ye received [παρελάβετε] By transmission from ( παρά ) your teachers. [source]
Christ Jesus the Lord [τὸν Χριστόν Ἱησοῦν τὸν Κὑριον] The Christ, specially defined by the following words, thus emphasizing the personal Christ rather than the Gospel, because the true doctrine of Christ's person was perverted by the Colossian teachers. The Christ, even Jesus, the Lord. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Colossians 2:6
John 14:3And receive [παραλήψομαι] Here the future tense, will receive. Rev., therefore, much better: I come again and will receive you. The change of tense is intentional, the future pointing to the future personal reception of the believer through death. Christ is with the disciple alway, continually “coming” to him, unto the end of the world. Then He will receive him into that immediate fellowship, where he “shall see Him as He is.” The verb παραλαμβάνω is used in the New Testament of taking along with (Matthew 4:5, note; Matthew 17:1, note; Acts 16:33, note): of taking to (Matthew 1:20; John 14:3): of taking from, receiving by transmission; so mostly in Paul (Galatians 1:12; Colossians 2:6; Colossians 4:17; 1 Thessalonians 2:13, etc. See also Matthew 24:40,Matthew 24:41). It is scarcely fanciful to see the first two meanings blended in the use of the verb in this passage. Jesus, by the Spirit, takes His own along with Him through life, and then takes them to His side at death. He himself conducts them to Himself. [source]
Colossians 2:7In your faith [κατως εδιδαχτητε] Locative case, though the instrumental case, by your faith, makes good sense also. Even as ye were taught (διδασκω kathōs edidachthēte). First aorist passive indicative of παρελαβετε didaskō an allusion to εματετε parelabete in Colossians 2:6 and to εν ευχαριστιαι emathete in Colossians 1:7. In thanksgiving Hence they had no occasion to yield to the blandishments of the Gnostic teachers. [source]
Colossians 2:7by your faith [] , makes good sense also. Even as ye were taught (διδασκω kathōs edidachthēte). First aorist passive indicative of παρελαβετε didaskō an allusion to εματετε parelabete in Colossians 2:6 and to εν ευχαριστιαι emathete in Colossians 1:7. In thanksgiving Hence they had no occasion to yield to the blandishments of the Gnostic teachers. [source]
Colossians 2:7Even as ye were taught [διδασκω] First aorist passive indicative of παρελαβετε didaskō an allusion to εματετε parelabete in Colossians 2:6 and to εν ευχαριστιαι emathete in Colossians 1:7. [source]
Colossians 2:7Builded up in him [εποικοδομουμενοι εν αυτωι] Present passive participle (rooted to stay so) of εποικοδομεω epoikodomeō old verb, to build upon as in 1 Corinthians 3:10,1 Corinthians 3:12. The metaphor is changed again to a building as continually going up (present tense). Stablished (βεβαιουμενοι bebaioumenoi). Present passive participle of βεβαιοω bebaioō old verb from βεβαιος bebaios (from βαινω βαιω bainōτηι πιστει baiō), to make firm or stable. In your faith Locative case, though the instrumental case, by your faith, makes good sense also. Even as ye were taught (διδασκω kathōs edidachthēte). First aorist passive indicative of παρελαβετε didaskō an allusion to εματετε parelabete in Colossians 2:6 and to εν ευχαριστιαι emathete in Colossians 1:7. In thanksgiving Hence they had no occasion to yield to the blandishments of the Gnostic teachers. [source]
2 Thessalonians 2:15Stand fast [στηκετε] Present imperative active of the late present στηκο stēko from εστηκα hestēka (perfect active of ιστημι histēmi). See note on 1 Thessalonians 3:8. Hold the traditions (krateite tas paradoseis). Present imperative of krateō old verb, to have masterful grip on a thing, either with genitive (Mark 1:31) or usually the accusative as here. κρατειτε τας παραδοσεις Paradosis (tradition) is an old word for what is handed over to one. Dibelius thinks that Paul reveals his Jewish training in the use of this word (Galatians 1:14), but the word is a perfectly legitimate one for teaching whether oral, by word (κρατεω dia logou), or written, by epistle of ours (Παραδοσις di' epistolēs hēmōn). Paul draws here no distinction between oral tradition and written tradition as was done later. The worth of the tradition lies not in the form but in the source and the quality of the content. Paul in 1 Corinthians 11:23 says: “I received from the Lord what I also handed over (δια λογου paredōka) unto you.” He praises them because ye “hold fast the traditions even as I delivered them unto you.” The tradition may be merely that of men and so worthless and harmful in place of the word of God (Mark 7:8; Colossians 2:6-8). It all depends. It is easy to scoff at truth as mere tradition. But human progress in all fields is made by use of the old, found to be true, in connection with the new if found to be true. In Thessalonica the saints were already the victims of theological charlatans with their half-baked theories about the second coming of Christ and about social duties and relations. Which ye were taught First aorist passive indicative of παρεδωκα didaskō to teach, retaining the accusative of the thing in the passive as is common with this verb like doceo in Latin and teach in English. [source]
2 Timothy 2:19Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity [] The second inscription, concerning the purity of the church. For of Christ rend. of the Lord ( κυρίου ). Ὁνομάζων namethonly here in Pastorals. It means to give a name to, to style, as Mark 3:14; Luke 6:14; 1 Corinthians 5:11: to pronounce a name as having a special virtue, as in incantation, as Acts 19:13: to utter a name as acknowledging and appropriating what the name involves, as a confession of faith and allegiance. So here. Comp. Romans 15:20; 1 Corinthians 5:11; Isaiah 26:13. For ὄνομα namesee on 2 Thessalonians 1:12. Ἁποστήτω ἀπὸ ἀδικίας departfrom iniquity. For the verb, see on 1 Timothy 4:1. Mostly in Luke and Acts. Comp. Numbers 16:26; Isaiah 52:11. Whatever may be implied in God's election, it does not relieve Christians of the duty of strict attention to their moral character and conduct. Comp. Philemon 2:12. The gift of grace (Ephesians 2:8) is exhibited in making one a coworker with God (1 Corinthians 3:9). The salvation bestowed by grace is to be “carried out” (Romans 6:8-191) by man with the aid of grace (1713411974_58; 2 Corinthians 6:1). What this includes and requires appears in Philemon 3:10; Philemon 4:1-7; Ephesians 4:13-16,Ephesians 4:22ff.; Colossians 2:6,Colossians 2:7. [source]
1 Peter 2:5Living stones - built up - a spiritual house [] It seems as though Peter must have had in mind the conception embodied in Christ's commission to him, of a building erected upon a rock. The metaphor of a house built of living stones is violent, and sufficiently characteristic of Peter; yet it pictures, in a very striking way, the union of stability, growth, and activity in the ideal church. Note the transition from babes growing (1 Peter 2:2) to stones built up. But, as Salmond remarks, “In Paul we have even bolder instances of apparent confusion of metaphors, as when, in one breath, he represents believers as at once walking, rooted, and built up in Christ (Colossians 2:6,Colossians 2:7). [source]
What do the individual words in Colossians 2:6 mean?
Just asthereforeyou have received-ChristJesustheLordinHimwalk
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: κύριος
Sense: he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master, lord.
Greek Commentary for Colossians 2:6
Second aorist active indicative of παραλαμβανω paralambanō in same sense as in 1 Thessalonians 4:1; Philemon 4:9 (both μαντανω manthanō and παραλαμβανω paralambanō) that is like μαντανω manthanō to learn (Colossians 1:7), from Epaphras and others. [source]
This peculiar phrase occurs nowhere else by Paul. We have often ο Χριστος ho Christos (the Christ or Messiah) as in Philemon 1:15, Ιησους Χριστος Iēsous Christos (Jesus Christ), Χριστος Ιησους Christos Iēsous (Christ Jesus), ο Κυριος Ιησους ho Kurios Iēsous (the Lord Jesus, very often), but nowhere else ο Χριστος Ιησους ho Christos Iēsous and Ιησους ο Κυριος Iēsous ho Kurios Hence it is plain that Paul here meets the two forms of Gnostic heresy about the Person of Christ (the recognition of the historical Jesus in his actual humanity against the Docetic Gnostics, the identity of the Christ or Messiah with this historical Jesus against the Cerinthian Gnostics, and the acknowledgment of him as Lord). “As therefore ye received the Christ (the Messiah), Jesus the Lord.” Ye were taught right. Walk in him (εν αυτωι περιπατειτε en autōi peripateite). “Go on walking in him” (present active indicative of περιπατεω peripateō). Stick to your first lessons in Christ. [source]
“Go on walking in him” (present active indicative of περιπατεω peripateō). Stick to your first lessons in Christ. [source]
By transmission from ( παρά ) your teachers. [source]
The Christ, specially defined by the following words, thus emphasizing the personal Christ rather than the Gospel, because the true doctrine of Christ's person was perverted by the Colossian teachers. The Christ, even Jesus, the Lord. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Colossians 2:6
Here the future tense, will receive. Rev., therefore, much better: I come again and will receive you. The change of tense is intentional, the future pointing to the future personal reception of the believer through death. Christ is with the disciple alway, continually “coming” to him, unto the end of the world. Then He will receive him into that immediate fellowship, where he “shall see Him as He is.” The verb παραλαμβάνω is used in the New Testament of taking along with (Matthew 4:5, note; Matthew 17:1, note; Acts 16:33, note): of taking to (Matthew 1:20; John 14:3): of taking from, receiving by transmission; so mostly in Paul (Galatians 1:12; Colossians 2:6; Colossians 4:17; 1 Thessalonians 2:13, etc. See also Matthew 24:40, Matthew 24:41). It is scarcely fanciful to see the first two meanings blended in the use of the verb in this passage. Jesus, by the Spirit, takes His own along with Him through life, and then takes them to His side at death. He himself conducts them to Himself. [source]
Locative case, though the instrumental case, by your faith, makes good sense also. Even as ye were taught (διδασκω kathōs edidachthēte). First aorist passive indicative of παρελαβετε didaskō an allusion to εματετε parelabete in Colossians 2:6 and to εν ευχαριστιαι emathete in Colossians 1:7. In thanksgiving Hence they had no occasion to yield to the blandishments of the Gnostic teachers. [source]
, makes good sense also. Even as ye were taught (διδασκω kathōs edidachthēte). First aorist passive indicative of παρελαβετε didaskō an allusion to εματετε parelabete in Colossians 2:6 and to εν ευχαριστιαι emathete in Colossians 1:7. In thanksgiving Hence they had no occasion to yield to the blandishments of the Gnostic teachers. [source]
First aorist passive indicative of παρελαβετε didaskō an allusion to εματετε parelabete in Colossians 2:6 and to εν ευχαριστιαι emathete in Colossians 1:7. [source]
Present passive participle (rooted to stay so) of εποικοδομεω epoikodomeō old verb, to build upon as in 1 Corinthians 3:10, 1 Corinthians 3:12. The metaphor is changed again to a building as continually going up (present tense). Stablished (βεβαιουμενοι bebaioumenoi). Present passive participle of βεβαιοω bebaioō old verb from βεβαιος bebaios (from βαινω βαιω bainōτηι πιστει baiō), to make firm or stable. In your faith Locative case, though the instrumental case, by your faith, makes good sense also. Even as ye were taught (διδασκω kathōs edidachthēte). First aorist passive indicative of παρελαβετε didaskō an allusion to εματετε parelabete in Colossians 2:6 and to εν ευχαριστιαι emathete in Colossians 1:7. In thanksgiving Hence they had no occasion to yield to the blandishments of the Gnostic teachers. [source]
Present imperative active of the late present στηκο stēko from εστηκα hestēka (perfect active of ιστημι histēmi). See note on 1 Thessalonians 3:8. Hold the traditions (krateite tas paradoseis). Present imperative of krateō old verb, to have masterful grip on a thing, either with genitive (Mark 1:31) or usually the accusative as here. κρατειτε τας παραδοσεις Paradosis (tradition) is an old word for what is handed over to one. Dibelius thinks that Paul reveals his Jewish training in the use of this word (Galatians 1:14), but the word is a perfectly legitimate one for teaching whether oral, by word (κρατεω dia logou), or written, by epistle of ours (Παραδοσις di' epistolēs hēmōn). Paul draws here no distinction between oral tradition and written tradition as was done later. The worth of the tradition lies not in the form but in the source and the quality of the content. Paul in 1 Corinthians 11:23 says: “I received from the Lord what I also handed over (δια λογου paredōka) unto you.” He praises them because ye “hold fast the traditions even as I delivered them unto you.” The tradition may be merely that of men and so worthless and harmful in place of the word of God (Mark 7:8; Colossians 2:6-8). It all depends. It is easy to scoff at truth as mere tradition. But human progress in all fields is made by use of the old, found to be true, in connection with the new if found to be true. In Thessalonica the saints were already the victims of theological charlatans with their half-baked theories about the second coming of Christ and about social duties and relations. Which ye were taught First aorist passive indicative of παρεδωκα didaskō to teach, retaining the accusative of the thing in the passive as is common with this verb like doceo in Latin and teach in English. [source]
The second inscription, concerning the purity of the church. For of Christ rend. of the Lord ( κυρίου ). Ὁνομάζων namethonly here in Pastorals. It means to give a name to, to style, as Mark 3:14; Luke 6:14; 1 Corinthians 5:11: to pronounce a name as having a special virtue, as in incantation, as Acts 19:13: to utter a name as acknowledging and appropriating what the name involves, as a confession of faith and allegiance. So here. Comp. Romans 15:20; 1 Corinthians 5:11; Isaiah 26:13. For ὄνομα namesee on 2 Thessalonians 1:12. Ἁποστήτω ἀπὸ ἀδικίας departfrom iniquity. For the verb, see on 1 Timothy 4:1. Mostly in Luke and Acts. Comp. Numbers 16:26; Isaiah 52:11. Whatever may be implied in God's election, it does not relieve Christians of the duty of strict attention to their moral character and conduct. Comp. Philemon 2:12. The gift of grace (Ephesians 2:8) is exhibited in making one a coworker with God (1 Corinthians 3:9). The salvation bestowed by grace is to be “carried out” (Romans 6:8-191) by man with the aid of grace (1713411974_58; 2 Corinthians 6:1). What this includes and requires appears in Philemon 3:10; Philemon 4:1-7; Ephesians 4:13-16, Ephesians 4:22ff.; Colossians 2:6, Colossians 2:7. [source]
It seems as though Peter must have had in mind the conception embodied in Christ's commission to him, of a building erected upon a rock. The metaphor of a house built of living stones is violent, and sufficiently characteristic of Peter; yet it pictures, in a very striking way, the union of stability, growth, and activity in the ideal church. Note the transition from babes growing (1 Peter 2:2) to stones built up. But, as Salmond remarks, “In Paul we have even bolder instances of apparent confusion of metaphors, as when, in one breath, he represents believers as at once walking, rooted, and built up in Christ (Colossians 2:6, Colossians 2:7). [source]