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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Colossians 2:4-12

The apostle cautions the Colossians against deceivers (Col. 2:4): And this I say lest any man beguile you with enticing words; and Col. 2:8; Lest any man spoil you. He insists so much upon the perfection of Christ and the gospel revelation, to preserve them from the ensnaring insinuations of those who would corrupt their principles. Note, 1. The way in which Satan spoils souls is by beguiling them. He deceives them, and by this means slays them. He is the old serpent who beguiled Eve through... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Colossians 2:8-23

2:8-23 Beware lest there will be anyone who will carry you off as his spoil, by insisting on the necessity of a so-called philosophy, which is, in fact, an empty delusion, a philosophy which has been handed down by human tradition, and which is concerned with the elements of this world, and not with Christ; for in him there dwells the fullness of the divine nature; and you have found this fullness in him who is the head of every power and authority. In him you have been circumcised with a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Colossians 2:10

And ye are complete in him ,.... Or "filled up", or "filled full" in him; that is, are perfect in him: saints are in Christ, and all fulness being in him, they are full too, of as much as they stand in need, and are capable of containing: for these words are not an exhortation to perfection, as the Arabic version reads then, be ye complete in him, like those in Genesis 17:1 ; but are an affirmation, asserting not what the saints shall be hereafter, or in heaven, but what they now are; not... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Colossians 2:10

And ye are complete in him - Και εστε εν αυτῳ πεπληρωμενοι· And, ye are filled with him. Our word complete quite destroys the connection subsisting in the apostle's ideas. The philosophy of the world was empty, κενη , but there was a πληρωμα , or fullness, in Christ; the Colossians were empty - spoiled and deprived of every good, while following the empty philosophy and groundless traditions of Jewish and Gentile teachers; but since they had received Christ Jesus they were ... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Colossians 2:10

Verse 10 10.And ye are complete in him. He adds, that this perfect essence of Deity, which is in Christ, is profitable to us in this respect, that we are also perfect in him. “As to God’s dwelling wholly in Christ, it is in order that we, having obtained him, may posses in him an entire perfection.” Those, therefore, who do not rest satisfied with Christ alone, do injury to God in two ways, for besides detracting from the glory of God, by desiring something above his perfection, they are also... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Colossians 2:8-10

Christ's fulness the Christian's safeguard. While thus abiding and walking in Christ ( Colossians 2:6 , Colossians 2:7 ), the Colossians still needed the warning, "Be on your guard;" "Take heed," etc. In the words that follow we find— I. A SUGGESTIVE SKETCH OF THE FALSE TEACHING THAT ASSAILED THE COLOSSIANS . 1 . It came in the garb of philosophy. Real philosophy is nowhere condemned by the apostle. The term itself warns against its abuse. It is attributed... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Colossians 2:8-15

SECTION V. THE CHRISTIAN 'S COMPLETENESS IN CHRIST . The apostle has first defined his own doctrinal position in the theological deliverance of Colossians 1:15-20 , and has then skilfully brought himself into suitable personal relations with his readers by the statements and appeals of Col 1:23-2:7. And now, after a general indication in Colossians 2:4 of the direction in which he is about to strike, he unmasks the battery he has been all the while preparing, and delivers his ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Colossians 2:8-15

Christ our All. Having laid down the truth about the Trinity as the great want of the race, Paul proceeds to warn the Colossians against the so called philosophers. "There are certain men," it has been well observed, "who, because they possess somewhat more learning than others, think, when they become converts to the gospel, that they are great acquisitions to the cause; they officiously extend the shield of their learning over their more unlearned brethren, and try to prove where... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Colossians 2:8-15

Philosophy. I. FALSE PHILOSOPHY . "Take heed lest there shall be any one that maketh spoil of you through his philosophy and vain deceit." It was a real danger (as the expression bears) against which the apostle warns the Colossians. He refers indefinitely to the teachers (any one), but he strikingly describes what their work would be. The work of the Christian teachers on them in their heathen state, as described in Colossians 1:13 , Colossians 1:14 , had been a deliverance, a... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Colossians 2:8-15

The complete man. The one thought around which we may let the many, varied, and some of them strange ideas of this paragraph gather, is the conception of the complete man. The words teach us— I. THAT THE COMPLETE MAN IS NOT LED AWAY BY ERROR IN THOUGHT OR BY EVIL IN LIFE . Any one who is so led is incomplete. And the apostle is here warning his readers to be on their guard, test, having once been emancipated from such captivity, they should be... read more

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