Title: The Full Christ / Colossians 2:8-10
Content Paul has finished a rather lengthy introduction and now gets to the heart of the matter. So far, he has only hinted at the error that threatens the Colossian church, giving thanks to God, exhorting and encouraging the Colossians. He has not yet revealed the identity of this error, but he has been preparing a countermeasure. So, Paul was weakening the power of the Colossian church before attacking it. So when Paul took off the mask of this false error, the masked protagonist was already helpless.
We discern error by the light of truth. If the room is dark, how will it be cleaned? Only open the curtains or turn on the lights to expose the dust and clean it. However, it seems that we lack wisdom when dealing with spiritual matters. We often try to correct those who are not conscious of the existence of evil or error. Condemning a sin is not enough for the sinner to realize and repent of the sin. You can't hide black and white in the dark. Those who walk in darkness are unaware of sin.
So Paul first lets the light in and then refines the error. First, he treats and then makes a diagnosis. It's an odd sequence, but it's a great psychotherapy!
Paul at the outset showed the glorious majesty of Christ and the inexhaustible resources of Christians. Now he will soon attack the error of Colossians by pointing out the error and keeping his readers focused on Christ as the great truth. 'In Christ' all things are revealed and all victories are won.
Two ideologies of two religions are in opposition to each other. One is a man-made philosophy that is empty, deceptive, and fruitless. The other is the incarnate God in the person of Jesus Christ. The Christian is united to him by faith and shares with him the riches of God.
human philosophy
The errors of the Colossian church came in in the garb of philosophy. The Colossians must have been quite attracted to the name of this philosophy. Paul does not condemn philosophy itself. Originally, the word philosophy means 'love of wisdom'. The word was first used by Pythagoras. But he was the one who taught that only God is wise and that no one else is wise. So, the idea of philosophy arose out of a feeling of human lack and the need for divine revelation. With such an idea, there would be no reason to reject it. But what Paul condemned was 'a vain and deceptive philosophy dependent on human tradition' (see NIV 2:8). This is a crafty and futile abstraction as a religious system created by humans. In this system in which the Colossians have been deceived, the throne of Christ is reduced to an angelic power in another spirit realm, and Christ's function is but one of many intermediaries between God and his creatures.
Whatever the details of this scheme, it was a 'vain trick'. It was 'vain' compared to the fullness in Christ who is the sum of all knowledge. It was also a 'deceiver' because it actually taught people to approach God with words while taking them away from God. This is the essence of a dangerous philosophy based on 'human inheritance (tradition)' rather than the truth revealed in the Bible. Perhaps this philosophy was circulated in secret under the pretext of supernatural revelation, and then re-emerged in various heresies during the early generations. In the heresies that threatened the churches of Asia Minor in Colossae and Rome (cf. Timothy and the Epistles of John) we get a glimpse of the esoteric and abstraction of the angels and spirit realm prevalent in later Gnosticism. Anything can happen and any error can be justified if we step outside the solid foundation of the Bible and rely on personal revelation!
Paul goes on to point out that this teaching was transmitted by men and was associated with 'the elementary sciences of the world' (2:8). The meaning of this text is not easily understood by us. Some scholars think this may be a 'guideline' for new believers. If so, it means that the Colossians misunderstood what was rudimentary A B C as a very advanced teaching. Neither the ceremonies recommended by their false teachers nor legalism or asceticism helped their spiritual progress. Rather, they were just obstacles. How could human effort be such a small addition to the spiritual perfection of a Christian in union with Jesus Christ? To think that we can add anything to the work that Christ has already accomplished is to undermine the character and work of the Son of God.
On the other hand, the term in this text is more likely to be a religious term at the time when the Colossians clearly understood its meaning. This is probably related to the myths and astrology prevalent in Asia Minor. In this case, the 'elementary science of the world' refers to the cosmic energy, the influence of the stars, or similarly related powers that are believed to influence people's luck. However, this was not the first time Paul had fought against these kinds of 'elementary studies'. The recipients of Paul's very moving Galatians were slaves who had been obsessed with such elementary studies before coming to Christ. After being freed from such powers by God's grace, they were faced with the danger of being bound by another similar yoke. This yoke was a legal religious system advocated by some influential Judaists. So, only the front lines were different, but the battles were class every day. Paul had to fight all the forces that would take away the freedom Christians enjoy in Christ (Galatians 4:3-10).
Whatever the original meaning of 'elementary study', Paul's emphasis is that those powers, whether kings or governments, or any other influential powers, are all under Christ. Not only that, but Christ overcame all these forces on the cross. Christ is not a 'principle' or a universal force. He is the Creator of all things above this world. He is not just a mediator between God and humans, like the angels. He is God Himself, the 'fullness of God'. Paul develops this topic in earnest in the following passages.
Christ, the fullness of God
Against this empty philosophy and false spirituality, Paul asserts the fullness of God enjoyed by all Christians who are united in Jesus Christ.
Eternal truth was known in many forms thousands of years before the coming of Christ. The Old Testament is the treasury of this truth. The inspired words of the Old Testament illuminate the truth in symbolic acts, their objects, and life's hopes. But the divine light in the Old Testament was dim. This light of truth did not shine until centuries later. Of course, it was not completely unveiled, but it was nevertheless revealed in its fullness without darkness. This light of truth appeared in the form of a tangible, physical human being. 'The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth... We all received from his fullness, grace upon grace... No one has ever seen God, but the only-begotten God, who is in the bosom of the Father, has made him known??(John 1:14-18).
'In him all the fullness of the divinity dwells bodily' (2:9). He is the long-awaited 'Emmanuel', the God Himself among men (Matthew 1:23). The perfect truth is contained in Him. The truth is, he himself is the truth. Christianity is a religion based on this great fact. If this is false, the world will become an empty place, faith will have no footing, and the gospel will be just a hoax. But Jesus Christ is the final and complete revelation (Hebrews 1:2). Christ came into this world to complete all the revelations of God in the past. He became the last, perfect and only sacrifice, eternally reconciling the world to its Creator (2 Corinthians 5:19).
This divine absolute revelation reveals the truth of all human endeavors. They wander in the dark seeking wisdom, vain fantasies, futile asceticism, and the glorification of fallen men. Mediators between man and God are nothing in the light of the fullness of God revealed in Christ.
We must be careful not to be misled by the philosophies invented by men, and not to compromise with the system of emerging religions that degrades or renders the person and work of Christ relative. Reliance on anything other than the full revelation of Christ (church traditions or personal revelation and private precepts) or preoccupation with other means of salvation (sacraments, self-denial, legalism, asceticism or good works) derails.
'You also are filled in him, who is the head of all principalities and powers' (2:8).
Jesus Christ did not come into this world simply to meet humans and reveal Himself to them. He came into this world to lead human lives together, to become one with them, and to share his spiritual nature with those who received him (2 Pt 1:4).
Through this mysterious union, man finally meets his God. If by faith a Christian is 'in Christ', he has all the resources of God through Christ, who dwells in all its fullness. So we are made perfect in Christ. All our needs, hopes and desires are fully satisfied in Christ.
In the light of this marvelous truth, it is blasphemy to God to attempt to reinforce the full revelation of Christ through human traditions or any spiritual discipline (even in the spirit of humility). If we knew the boundless abundance we are 'in Christ', it would put an end to all our grievances and complaints forever.
'All principalities and powers' were removed, including all intermediaries placed between God and man. If we can receive everything from God Himself, why would we go before our descendants and beg them to take care of them?
We now come to the heart of this letter. 'You are also filled in him' If we can recognize this fact and feel it deeply in our lives, we will no longer seek out other miraculous revelations or extraordinary experiences. God has given us everything. How can human beings fill themselves with the measure that God has given them? We are infinitely rich in Christ. Therefore, we must no longer blaspheme God, his gospel, and his church through false religious activities of begging like a beggar. We need to let the fullness of Christ flow into our lives and overflow around us.