Paul expresses his conflict for those at Colossae and Laodicea who have not seen his face, desiring their encouragement in love and full assurance of understanding the mystery of God in Christ, in whom are hidden all treasures of wisdom and knowledge. He warns against philosophy and empty deceit according to human tradition and elemental spirits rather than Christ, in whom the fullness of Deity dwells bodily, and against those judging regarding food, drink, festivals, or sabbaths (shadows whose substance is Christ), or promoting false humility and angel worship.
Read Colossians Chapter 2 Summary
Original
Characters in This Chapter
Places in This Chapter
Position in Book
Thanksgiving and PrayerChapters 1:1-14
Gratitude for faith, prayer for spiritual wisdom.
Christ's SupremacyChapters 1:15-2:5
Christ supreme over creation and church.
Against False TeachingChapters 2:6-23
Complete in Christ, not rules and philosophy.
New LifeChapters 3:1-4:1
ConclusionChapters 4:2-18
Bible Bites
Written While Paul Was in Chains
Paul wrote Colossians from prison in Rome around AD 60-62, calling himself an ambassador in chains. It's one of four Prison Epistles, along with Ephesians, Philippians, and Philemon.
Colossians 4:3A letter to strangers
Paul wrote to the Colossians despite never visiting their church. In Colossians 2:1, he mentions his 'struggle' for those who 'have not seen my face in the flesh,' making this a letter to believers he knew only by report, likely founded by Epaphras.
Colossians 2:1