Colossians 2:1-3 - Homilies By T. Croskery.

Nature and objects of the apostle's struggle on behalf of the saints.

"For I would have you know how great a struggle I have for you and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh." His object is to justify his urgency in writing to a people whom he had not known personally.

I. THE APOSTLE 'S CONFLICT . It marks:

1 . His intense anxiety on their account. "Fears within as well as fightings without."

2 . His anxious labours in defending the simplicity of the gospel against the corrupting devices of false teachers.

3 . His striving in prayer for the saints. ( Colossians 4:12 .) Ministers who "please not men, but God," have often a great "fight of affliction" on behalf of their flocks, especially when they have to encounter men who "resist the truth" and "withstand the words" of faithful men and "do much evil" ( 2 Timothy 3:8 ; 2 Timothy 4:14 , 2 Timothy 4:15 ). The Judaeo-Gnostics had inspired him with a deep concern for the religious integrity of the Colossians, the Laodiceans, and, perhaps, the Christians of Hierapolis, who all dwelt in the valley of the Lycus. What a blessing to them that they had the prayers and the labours of an apostle who had never seen one of them in the flesh!

II. THE OBJECT OF THE APOSTLE 'S CONFLICT . "That their hearts maybe comforted, they being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, that they may know the Mystery of God, even Christ, in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden." He thus indicates how the threatened danger was to be averted. Their hearts were to be comforted and strengthened so that they might stand fast in the faith.

1 . The manner in which the comfort was to reach them. "They being knit together in love."

2 . The end of the consolation and the object of the union in love. "And unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, that they may know the Mystery of God, even Christ, in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge."

(a) The knowledge of Christ is the first and the last thing in religion. The apostle counted all things but loss for "the excellency" of this knowledge ( Philippians 3:8 ). Eternal life is involved in it ( John 17:3 ; Isaiah 53:11 ). It is the knowledge of him which leads to great boldness and sincerity. "Nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed" ( 2 Timothy 1:12 ).

(b) Access to Christ gives access to all his treasures. The treasures of the Gnostics were hid from nil but the initiated; the treasures hid in Christ are made accessible to all, so that we can know "the heavenly things" which he alone knows "who is in heaven" ( John 3:12 , John 3:13 ). It is thus he reveals to us the Father, brings life and immortality to light, and enriches the Church with "the revelation of Jesus Christ" ( Revelation 1:1 ). The treasures are twofold.

( α ) Wisdom. There is "a word of wisdom" as well as "a word of knowledge" given by the Holy Spirit ( 1 Corinthians 12:8 ). Wisdom reasons about the relations of things, and applies to actions as well as doctrines. Christ is made to us "Wisdom" ( 1 Corinthians 1:30 ). The wisdom that is "from above" has many noble qualities ( James 3:17 ), essentially moral in their nature. What but ignorance of Christ leads men to listen to deceivers?

( β ) Knowledge. This is more restricted than wisdom applying to the apprehension of truths. "Though I understand all mysteries and all knowledge" ( 1 Corinthians 13:2 ). This was the very word that the Gnostics took as their watchword, but the apostle here significantly makes it secondary to wisdom. It is a right thing for believers to sound forth the praises of Christ's wisdom and knowledge.—T. C.