Chapter Ten
Colossians 2:6-8 Walk His Way
After Paul had greeted the Christians in Colossae (Colossians 1:1-14), he made a case on the sufficiency of Jesus to be our Savior, followed by the importance of the gospel message (Colossians 1:15-23). Knowing their suffering, Paul wanted them to understand that some strife and struggle is part of every believer’s life, including his own (Colossians 1:24-2:3). He also warned that there would be false teachers that would use plausible arguments to attempt to mislead them away from God (Colossians 2:4-5). So now with that said, Paul lays out the concluding appeal, “Therefore…”
2:6 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him,
Just as you have accepted Jesus, the Messiah, as your Lord and Savior. Paul is saying, okay now that you have said ‘yes’ to Jesus, do something about it! Let your new perspective in life be seen by all. Christians are to always ‘walk’ in Him. This is the second time, out of a total of four in this epistle alone (Colossians 1:10; 3:7; 4:5), that Paul uses the Greek word, ‘peripateõ’ (translated here as ‘walk’), referring to a way of life or something that regulates your order of life. Paul wrote in his first epistle to the believers in Thessalonica, “Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more.” (1 Thessalonica 4:1, ESV), Paul is pointing out that our ‘walk’ should be pleasing to God, if we are going to call Jesus, ‘Lord’, then we should know Him and know what pleases Him. The Apostle John clarifies this in his first epistle, “Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.” (1 John 2:4–6, ESV) All believers should ask themselves if they have received Jesus and if so, does their walk show it?
2:7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.
Paul continues by saying that our walk should be rooted and built up in Jesus. The Greek word for ‘rooted’ refers to something (or in our case, someone) that is rendered firm, established, thoroughly grounded and strengthened (see Ephesians 3:14-19). The Greek word translated here as ‘built up’ (‘epoikodomoumenoi’) is actually a present tense participle implying a continuous action and as such, may be best translated as, “being built up,” as found in the New American Standard Bible (NASB95). Paul next says that Christians are to be established in the faith. The word Paul uses in this verse that is translated as ‘established’ is a passive participle pointing out that the ongoing accomplishment of being built up is God working in our lives, so that we can be qualified and capable to work in His kingdom (see Acts 20:32; Ephesians 2:20).
In the faith? In what faith? Paul says, just as we were taught (see Ephesians 4:21). Is it important what we believe? Absolutely! What have you done to assure that what you have been taught is correct? There is only one source of the truth and that is God’s Word, the Bible. Every other source needs to be challenged and examined in the light of the Bible. We are to always compare what we see and hear with God’s Word (see Acts 17:11).
Paul immediately appends with, “abounding in thanksgiving.” The Greek word translated as ‘abounding’ means to exceed in number. Our praise and thanksgiving should always be beyond any expected number, literally overflowing! This should be done regardless of our emotional state or mood, situation or condition.
2:8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.
This verse begins with an odd sounding Greek word, ‘blepõ’, but don’t let the word fool you into taking it lightly, it is an imperative word meaning, “SEE TO IT!” The word ‘captive’ is constructed from three Greek words referring to a person taking someone hostage or prisoner, like a kidnaping. It is our responsibility to not fall for any of the following things that can snare or trip up a person in their walk with Jesus.
The first concern Paul mentions is described with the word, ‘philosophias’, essentially meaning the “love of wisdom,” referring to human wisdom and understanding in contrast to divinely revealed knowledge. It can also be considered to be a word that describes someone who has a zeal for, or skill in, art, science or any branch of knowledge. The word still carries much of that same definition today as the word, ‘philosophy’ generally refers to the study of the fundamental nature of knowledge through the use of a particular system of thought. Human beings, in an attempt to rationalize and explain the world have, over the years, developed many philosophical systems instead of turning to or accepting the Word of God. Many philosophies attempt to negate the need for God.
The Greek word translated as ‘empty’ essentially means something that is devoid of truth, not just something being empty. Followed by the Greek word ‘apatē’, translated here as ‘deceit’, and just like the English definition, implies something intentionally deceptive and seductive (see Matthew 13:22; Ephesians 5:6). Paul warns that we are not to be taken captive by people who are only wise by human standards nor by someone who teaches what is contrary to the truth, often practiced in tradition.
What tradition? The Apostle delineates this tradition (Greek word ‘paradosin’, referring to someone “giving up” or “giving over to,” meaning that someone is no longer challenging or questioning, giving acceptance) as a ‘human’ tradition, something developed by the world. Traditions can be problem for Christians, especially when a tradition is not fully understood. Unfortunately, the traditional practice or idea can then become more important than the reason why it was done, or worse yet, it could become more important than our relationship with our Lord and Savior. Jesus made it clear that no form of ritualism is pleasing to God (see Matthew 9:13; 12:7, see also 2 Samuel 15:22-23; Psalms 40:6-8; Hosea 6:6; Hebrews 10:5-10)
Paul then adds a somewhat confusing phrase, “according to elemental spirits,” essentially meaning “according to the first things.” What first things? The word ‘spirits’ is implied in the translation; it is not in the original text. There are many scattered ideas as to what Paul is referring to, including: the God-ordained ceremonial elements of the Old Testament Law; the teaching regarding the beginning of ‘things’ or perhaps it refers to the basic elements (atoms) that construct all things physical, none of which actually makes sense in context. Others believe it is describing someone returning to a lower way of thinking after spending time to fully understand something, somewhat akin to a person obtaining a doctorate degree and then going back to kindergarten. However, in verse 20, Paul uses the phrase again, “if with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world,” combined that with the phrase that follows in verse eight, “not according to Christ” we can clearly see that the wording refers to something that is contrary to God’s Word. God has given us His Word; we are to study and grow in the Word of God. In the Word of God, we learn about who God is and we learn of His love and of His plan for our salvation. Why would we then turn to a human tradition or to human rationalization? We should instead focus on what is according to Jesus Christ.