Colossians 2:4Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

You see, he says, I said this so that you would not seek knowledge from men. "That he may deceive," he says, "with enticing words." What then, if someone speaks persuasively? See verse 5.

I said this, namely that all knowledge is in Christ, so that no one may deceive you. What if someone speaks eloquently? Know beforehand that if such a man does not speak according to Christ, he speaks only paralogisms and sophistries.

This love, which is from God and is God (cf. 1 Jn 5:12), can in no way be separated from itself, because it is inseparable.

When it, itself undivided, not only takes possession of people who can be separated from one another, but makes one heart and one soul out of many hearts and souls, what madness it is to say that love itself is separable.

For love is accustomed to bind separate minds with indivisible love.

Paul was certainly speaking about this when he said: “For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing and seeing your good order.”

And in the Acts of the Apostles it is written that “the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul” (Acts 4:32). This, without doubt, was done only by the Spirit of faith and love.

"In disputation" equals 1 Cor 2:4. The common property of all errors is to present the appearance of truth, but not its power. That is, they stop at words and not at the substance.

“In Him,” that is, in the knowledge of the mystery of God the Father and of Christ, “are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and understanding. This I say, lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive speech. For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit” (Col 2:3-5).

According to the course of the argument, the Apostle’s thought is that in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, and of the mystery of our salvation accomplished by Him, are contained all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, that is, the highest and most precious knowledge.

Exhorting the Colossians to be firm in faith amid temptations, the Apostle indicates how this temptation may occur, namely through deception by insinuating words. He also reminds them that he watches over them and sees that, in their present good condition, they can resist the enemies of faith and salvation.

Noting this praise of the Colossians by the Apostle, Blessed Theodoret says: “Again he mixes praises with teaching, softening their hearing and preparing free access for his exhortation.”

Considering the nearest meaning of the words with which the Apostle praises the Colossians, many commentators find in them an indication of their almost military firmness.

Speaking more directly, the Apostle explains that he wants to protect the Colossians from being carried away by false teachings. Their inventors had equipped them with every kind of dialectical and sophistical proof.

In this way they deceived persons not yet strengthened in Christian convictions. The Apostle now directly persuades them not to be deceived.

Although separated from the Colossians by a great distance, yet near to them in spirit, he can boldly declare that the Colossians have nothing to seek from the false teachers.

Their church is distinguished both by outward order, τά^.ζ, and by inward firmness, which faith in Christ gives, στερέωμα της εις Χριςτον πίστεως.

Since they owe this order and firmness to having accepted with faith the preaching of Christ as Lord of all, they must conform their outward conduct to the requirements of the Gospel of Christ. They must live in Christ.

“This,” then, what is “this”? Everything he has said. I have expressed my good wish for you, that you all remain harmonized by firm conviction in the one truth, in the knowledge of the mystery of salvation in the Lord Jesus, because in this is all wisdom.

I have said this in order to warn you against crafty deceivers in speech. I fear and suffer in soul lest they deceive you. It is as though he is entreating them.

Thus Blessed Theodoret says: “I conduct this whole discourse with you, beseeching you not to be carried away by deceptive words.”

But “this” should rather be referred to what immediately precedes, namely that all wisdom is in Christ Jesus, or in the knowledge of the mystery of salvation in Him.