March 2026

“As in the days of the apostles men tried by tradition and philosophy to destroy faith in the Scriptures, so today, by the pleasing sentiments of higher criticism, evolution, spiritualism, theosophy, and pantheism, the enemy of righteousness is seeking to lead souls into forbidden paths. To many the Bible is as a lamp without oil, because they have turned their minds into channels of speculative belief that bring misunderstanding and confusion. The work of higher criticism, in dissecting, conjecturing, reconstructing, is destroying faith in the Bible as a divine revelation.

Read Colossians 2:20–23. How do you understand Paul’s admonitions in light of the other elements discussed in this chapter?

Read Colossians 2:16–19. What Jewish-Christian practices are highlighted here by Paul?

To this day, scholars do not agree on exactly what the issues were that Paul was addressing here. What we can be sure of is that Paul’s epistle itself provides quite a bit of information on what seems to have been a Jewish-Christian divisive influence on this predominantly Gentile church (Col. 2:13). That is, the Jewish believers were pushing things that were not necessary for the members to follow.

Read Colossians 2:11–15. What issues does Paul seem to be combating here?

How often have we seen these texts, especially Colossians 2:14, misused as an argument against the law and keeping the Sabbath?

The theme of Colossians is one of the clearest maxims for living the Christian life: “As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him” (Col. 2:6, NKJV). We receive salvation by receiving a Person, not just a body of teachings. But receiving Jesus also includes accepting all His teachings, as given through the apostles and prophets of the Bible (see Eph. 2:20).

More than anything else, accepting Christ means a death to self, a complete surrender of self to the living Christ.

Job asked, “Where can wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding?” (Job 28:12, NKJV). Paul answers: in Christ, “in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Col. 2:3, NKJV; compare 1 Cor. 1:30). If we have Christ, we have everything, even the “full assurance of understanding” the purpose of life (Col. 2:2, NKJV). Through Him the mystery of God, which embraces the entire plan of salvation, has been revealed.

Read Colossians 2:1–7. What is Paul’s purpose in writing this epistle?