Colossians 2:1-3

Colossians 1:24 to Colossians 2:3 . Paul’ s own Relation to them and to the Gospel.— At this very time, in the midst of his sufferings, Paul is rejoicing for their sakes, and in return for their loyalty he fills up the cup of whatever tribulation he must still endure in his own person as Christ’ s servant on behalf of His body, i.e. the Church, whose servant he was constituted in virtue of the Divine stewardship which was given him toward the Gentile world. This is the duty of fulfilling God’ s word— that secret purpose long hidden from ages and generations, but now disclosed to His holy people, to whom God desired to make known how rich was the glory of this purpose amongst the Gentiles; to wit, Christ in them, the hope of glory. Christ is the subject of the preaching at least of Paul and of his associates: and their admonitions and teachings, moreover, are addressed to all men equally; there is no reserve of wisdom held back for a favoured few; their object is the presentation of all men equally as complete initiates in Christ. To that end Paul labours even to weariness, striving, like an athlete in the arena, up to the full measure of the mightily-working energy of Christ that is in him. He is anxious that they should realise how great is the stress which he is undergoing on behalf of Colossians and Laodiceans and others not personally known to him. May they be comforted, knit together in love, unto all wealth of fulness of understanding and knowledge of the Divine “ mystery,” viz. Christ, in whom are all God’ s treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden.

Colossians 1:24 . fill up on my part: the word means “ fill up in return.”— afflictions of Christ: probably “ afflictions which befall me as a follower of Christ” ( cf. 2 Corinthians 1:5; 2 Corinthians 4:10, Php_3:10 ). Perhaps, however, Paul regards Christ’ s own personal sufferings as incomplete, and holds that the tale of them is made up through the sufferings of himself and others in the Body mystical.

Colossians 1:26 . Cf. Ephesians 3:9.

Colossians 1:27 b. The indwelling Christ is both a present glory and a pledge of glory to come. The sense of “ in you” should not be watered down to “ amongst you” or “ in your midst.”

Colossians 1:28 . we proclaim: “ we” is emphatic. A contrast is suggested between the teaching of the Pauline mission and that of the new Colossian pundits. The thrice-repeated “ every man” has the same implication, and so also the phrase “ all wisdom.” The word “ perfect” is such as would be used of complete initiation in a pagan “ Mystery.” Here this suggestion is combined with that of ethical “ perfection” and spiritual maturity.