Colossians 2:8-15

B. The true doctrine of Christ 2:8-15

Paul revealed what his readers enjoyed in Christ in this pericope to encourage them to remain faithful to the true revelation they had received and believed.

"The apostle now makes his most direct attack against ’the Colossian heresy.’ The entire passage bristles with exegetical difficulties, and calls for closer attention to its wording and argument than any other part of the Epistle." [Note: Vaughan, p. 197.]

"Colossians 2:8 functions as a heading and initial statement of the section’s theme, in chiastic form:

Colossians 2:8 a polemical denunciation 16-23

Colossians 2:8 b in accordance with Christ 9-15" [Note: Dunn, p. 144.]

"The one thing that is clear is that the false teachers wished the Colossians to accept what can only be called additions to Christ." [Note: Barclay, p. 161.]