I say this so that no one may deceive you by specious arguments. 5 For even if I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing as I observe your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ. 6 So, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in him, 7 rooted in him and built upon him and established in the faith as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. 8 See to it that no one captivate you with an empty, seductive philosophy according to human tradition, according to the elemental powers of the world and not according to Christ.
9 For in him dwells the whole fullness of the deity bodily, 10 and you share in this fullness in him, who is the head of every principality and power. 11 In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not administered by hand, by stripping off the carnal body, with the circumcision of Christ. 12 You were buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead. 13 And even when you were dead [in] transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, he brought you to life along with him, having forgiven us all our transgressions; 14 obliterating the bond against us, with its legal claims, which was opposed to us, he also removed it from our midst, nailing it to the cross; 15 despoiling the principalities and the powers, he made a public spectacle of them, leading them away in triumph by it.
Paul warns the Colossians against deceptive arguments that could lead them astray from the true faith. Colossae was a city where various Greek philosophical ideas intermingled with local religious practices, blending different beliefs and traditions. Such syncretism threatened to distort the simplicity and sufficiency of the Gospel message. These philosophies promised wisdom or spiritual insight but ultimately diverted believers from relying fully on Christ, suggesting that something more was needed to attain spiritual fullness. Some philosophical worldviews portrayed the material world as corrupt or inferior to the spiritual realm. This view conflicted with the Christian understanding of creation as good (cf. Gen. 1:31) and the Incarnation, where Christ entered the material world, embodying “the fullness of the deity.”
Paul reassures the Colossians that his physical absence does not lessen his spiritual presence and pastoral care and commends them for the strength of their faith. He exhorts them to continuously live according to the teachings they have received in gratitude, recognizing that Christ is their foundation, so that their faith may deepen. Paul warns them against teachings rooted in human tradition rather than divine revelation. The “elemental powers” could be a reference to the spiritual beings or fundamental principles that pagans worshipped.
Paul asserts the divinity of Christ, affirming that He possesses the fullness of God. Paul is directly countering heretical claims that diminish Christ’s divinity or suggest that He is merely one among many spiritual beings. By stating that Christ possesses this fullness of God in his body, Paul emphasizes the Incarnation, where the divine and human natures unite. (John 1:14). Believers participate in Christ’s fullness, which negates the need for external spiritual authorities or rituals. The “circumcision of Christ,” refers to the spiritual transformation that occurs at baptism, which signifies a renunciation of sin and entrance into the New Covenant. “Circumcision” would have reminded the Jewish converts of the Old Covenant.
In baptism, believers symbolically die, are buried, and rise with Christ through the power of God, sharing in Christ’s victory over sin and death (Rom. 6:3-4). Even when the Colossians were spiritually separated from God (Eph 2:1-2) and outside God’s covenant, it was God who initiated a spiritual rebirth through the resurrection of Christ. God not only pardoned their sins but has actively and completely “forgiven” them, restoring fellowship with Him. Christ’s crucifixion cancels the legal “bond” or record of sin, effectively erasing humanity’s debt to God (cf. Col. 2:14). Through his death and resurrection, Christ defeated and humiliated all powers opposed to God’s plan, making a public spectacle of them. These principalities and powers, once dominant in the heavenly realm, are now fully subjugated by Christ (cf. Eph. 6:12).
Almighty God, thank You for the fullness of life we have in Christ Jesus, who forgives our sins and triumphs over every power that opposes You. Help us to stay rooted in faith, to be protected from deception, and to walk in gratitude for the grace You have given us. Strengthen us to rely solely on Christ, our Savior and Redeemer. Amen!
References
- McSorley, Joseph. An Outline History of the Church by Centuries (From St. Peter to Pius XII). 2nd ed., B. Herder Book Co., 1944.
- Orchard, Bernard, et al. A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture. Feb. 1953.
- Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
- Faculty of the University of Navarre. The Navarre Bible: New Testament Expanded Edition. Four Courts / Scepter, 2008.
- Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Prentice Hall, 1990.
- Charpentier, Etienne. How to Read the Old Testament. Translated by John Bowden, 1981.
- Komonchak, Joseph, et al., editors. The New Dictionary of Theology.
- McKenzie, John. Dictionary of the Bible. Collier Books, 1965.
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