Colossians 2:1 - Meaning and Application

We can see here how deeply Paul cared for the Colossians and the other churches he had never met in person. The apostle had never been to Colosse, and the church there was not one he had started. Even so, he cared for them as tenderly as if they were under his own direct care (Colossians 2:1). He says, “I want you to know how hard I am working for you, and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not seen me face to face.”

Notice two things. First, Paul’s concern for the church was so strong that it was like a struggle or conflict. He felt deep burden and constant concern over what would become of them. In this, he followed his Master, who suffered deep agony for us and was heard because of his reverent fear.

Second, faith, hope, and holy love can keep Christians united even when they have never met. We can think of one another, pray for one another, and care about one another from far away. Those we have never seen on earth we may yet meet in heaven.

What did Paul want for them? He wanted their hearts to be encouraged, as they were joined together in love (Colossians 2:2). He was concerned for their spiritual good. He does not say that they may be healthy, cheerful, rich, important, or successful, but that their hearts may be comforted. The best kind of success is the health and growth of the soul, and that should be our main concern for ourselves and others.

This is what soul prosperity looks like. It grows when our knowledge becomes a clearer understanding of the mystery of God, of the Father, and of Christ. In other words, when we come to understand the truth of Jesus in a clear, orderly way, the soul is strengthened. This mystery may mean what was once hidden but is now made known about the Father and Christ. It may also point to the mystery already mentioned, God’s calling of the Gentiles into the Christian church. We should not only repeat these truths from memory or catechism. We should enter into their meaning and purpose. That is the kind of knowledge we should seek.

Soul prosperity also grows when faith becomes full assurance and a bold confession of the gospel. Full assurance means a settled conviction, based on proper evidence, that the great truths of the gospel are true. We receive them without doubting and with full satisfaction, as faithful sayings and truths worth accepting fully. Bold confession means that we not only believe in our hearts, but are also ready to speak openly when called to do so. We are not ashamed of our Master or of our holy religion, even when enemies oppose it. This is called the riches of full assurance and understanding. Great knowledge and strong faith make the soul rich. That is being rich toward God, rich in faith, and having true riches (Luke 12:21; Luke 16:11; James 2:5).

Soul prosperity also includes abundant comfort within. “That their hearts might be encouraged.” The soul prospers when it is filled with joy and peace (Romans 15:13), and when it has an inward satisfaction that outside troubles cannot destroy. Even when other comforts fail, it can still rejoice in the Lord (Habakkuk 3:17-18).

The more closely we are joined with fellow Christians, the more the soul prospers. Paul says they are “knit together in love.” Holy love binds Christian hearts together, and both faith and love deepen our comfort. The stronger our faith and the warmer our love, the greater our comfort will be.

When Paul mentioned Christ (Colossians 2:2), he pauses, as he often does, to honor him further (Colossians 2:3): “In him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” He had already said that all fullness dwells in Christ (Colossians 1:19), and here he points especially to his wisdom and knowledge. There is a fullness of wisdom in Christ because he has perfectly revealed God’s will to people. These treasures are hidden, not from us, but for us, in Christ. If we want to be wise and understanding, we must come to him. We must draw from the stock stored up for us in him and use the treasures hidden in him. He is the wisdom of God, and God has made him our wisdom (Colossians 1:24, Colossians 1:30).

Paul repeats his concern for them in another way (Colossians 2:5): “Though I am absent from you in body, I am with you in spirit, rejoicing as I see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.” We can be present in spirit with churches and Christians we are not physically with, because the fellowship of believers is a spiritual thing. Paul had heard that the Colossians were orderly and steady. Though he had never seen them, he could still imagine himself among them and take pleasure in their good conduct.

The orderly lives and steady faith of Christians bring joy to ministers. They rejoice when they see good order and a firm hold on Christian teaching. And the firmer our faith in Christ is, the better ordered our whole life will be. We live and walk by faith (2 Corinthians 5:7; Hebrews 10:38).