ELNORA’S BIBLE STUDY WITH FAMILY & FRIENDS, Colossians 2, Saturday, November 1, 2025

    

Context for Chapter 2

Chapter 1 introduced Christ as supreme over all of creation. Chapter 2 refines this argument by showing how the salvation offered through Jesus is superior to false, alternative systems. Paul specifically refutes several ideas, such as legalism, asceticism (self-denial), and mysticism. These are not how God intends us to grow, spiritually. Later chapters will contrast these false, external attempts with the true, inner spiritual growth which comes only by faith in Christ.

A Source: https://www.bibleref.com/Colossians/2/Colossians-chapter-2.html

1. Standing Firm Against Deception, Verses 1-10, KESHIA

¹I want you to know how much I have agonized for you and for the church at Laodicea, and for many other believers who have never met me personally. ² I want them to be encouraged and knit together by strong ties of love. I want them to have complete confidence that they understand God’s mysterious plan, which is Christ himself. ³ In him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. ⁴ I am telling you this so no one will deceive you with well-crafted arguments. ⁵ For though I am far away from you, my heart is with you. And I rejoice that you are living as you should and that your faith in Christ is strong. ⁶ And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. ⁷ Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness. ⁸ Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers^[a] of this world, rather than from Christ. ⁹ For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body.^[b] 10 So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.

SECTION QUESTIONS: 

1. What kind of struggle was Paul referring to in verse 1? 

2. What goals did Paul have for them?

3. Explain the power we have to defend ourselves and others against deceitful attacks. 

4. How can we be firmly rooted?

2. Christ is the Center, Verses 11-23, DESTINY

¹¹ When you came to Christ, you were “circumcised,” but not by a physical procedure. Christ performed a spiritual circumcision—the cutting away of your sinful nature.^[c] 12 For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead. ¹³ You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. ¹⁴ He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. ¹⁵ In this way, he disarmed^[d] the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross. ¹⁶ So don’t let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink, or for not celebrating certain holy days or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths. ¹⁷ For these rules are only shadows of the reality yet to come. And Christ himself is that reality. ¹⁸ Don’t let anyone condemn you by insisting on pious self-denial or the worship of angels,^[e] saying they have had visions about these things. Their sinful minds have made them proud, ¹⁹ and they are not connected to Christ, the head of the body. For he holds the whole body together with its joints and ligaments, and it grows as God nourishes it. ²⁰ You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the spiritual powers of this world. So why do you keep on following the rules of the world, such as, ²¹ “Don’t handle! Don’t taste! Don’t touch!”? ²² Such rules are mere human teachings about things that deteriorate as we use them. ²³ These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self-denial, and severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering a person’s evil desires.

SECTION QUESTIONS: 

5. Describe the meaning of "Circumcision Without Hands."

6. What is the meaning of "buried and raised with Christ?"

7. Talk about the meaning of "canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands."

8. Verse 17 says, "These things are a Shadow of things to come, the substance belongs to Christ. What is the meaning of this statement?

9. Verse 20 speaks to dying to elementary principles. What does this mean?

 

Legalism, Asceticism (self-denial), and Mysticism Defined

Legalism is the strict adherence to the letter of the law or a religious/moral code, often to an excessive degree. In Western contexts, it can refer to a theological or religious attitude of depending on good works or strict rule-following for salvation. 

Asceticism is a lifestyle characterized by self-denial and abstinence from worldly pleasures for the purpose of achieving spiritual or intellectual goals. It involves practices like fasting, prayer, and renunciation of material comforts, with the aim of gaining a higher state of being, purification, or a stronger connection with the divine. 

Mysticism (1) belief that union with or absorption into the Deity or the absolute, or the spiritual apprehension of knowledge inaccessible to the intellect, may be attained through contemplation and self-surrender. (2) vague or ill-defined religious or spiritual belief, especially as associated with a belief in occult forces or supernatural agencies.

Commentary Share from Study and Obey, reflective of verse 8. 

We are bombarded with these lies and propaganda all around us. Schools teach us there is no God and we evolved from monkeys. Universities teach students to believe in themselves and to pursue material wealth. Governments spread propaganda across a wide range from allowing men to beat their wives in the Middle East to pushing homosexual agendas in the West. Media and Hollywood spread many lies such as “sex outside of marriage is innocuous and fun” and “homosexuality is normal” and “cursing and crudity are funny.” Cult members will seek to infiltrate churches to draw away believers. The devil is busy! It’s so important that we remain rooted and steadfast in our commitment to the knowledge of God and His way of doing and being because the enemy is out to destroy us as a body and to dismantle all that we have accomplished in God. I understand why prayer is so important and why supporting each other is so very important in the kingdom. The devil is fighting us tooth and nail any way he can to impair our spiritual progress because our spiritual progress is infectious. When we share our fruit with others there is absolutely no limit to the impact the Holy Spirit can have in the lives of other people. We must remember that we are not alone. God is with us in the person of Holy Spirit. https://studyandobey.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Hand-of-Word.png

Confessions for Colossians, Chapter 2

³ In him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. ⁴ I am telling you this so no one will deceive you with well-crafted arguments. ⁸ Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers^[a] of this world, rather than from Christ. (Colossians 2:3-4, 8)

Lord, because we are planted in the knowledge of you, we will not be drawn to empty philosophies, high-sounding nonsense, and human thinking rather than the fullness found in You.  Looking for wisdom and knowledge in the world's systems and arguments can be deceptive and lead me astray. We seek fulfillment and understanding from the One in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, the Lord Jesus Christ.

 ¹³ You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. ¹⁴ He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. ¹⁵ In this way, he disarmed^[d] the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross. (Colossians 2:13-15)

I believe and confess that in Christ, I am made complete. All the fullness of God lives in a human body in Him, and I am united with Him, who is the head over every ruler and authority. I thank You that my old sinful nature has been cut away through Christ's spiritual circumcision, and I have been buried and raised to new life with Him through baptism and faith in Your mighty power. I praise You that You canceled the record of the charges against me and took it away by nailing it to the cross, triumphing over the spiritual rulers and authorities.

²⁰ You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the spiritual powers of this world. So why do you keep on following the rules of the world, such as, ²¹ “Don’t handle! Don’t taste! Don’t touch!”? ²² Such rules are mere human teachings about things that deteriorate as we use them.  (Colossians 2:20-22)
Father, we declare and decree in your strength and power we will not subject ourselves to human rules, regulations, and self-imposed piety, believing these things might make us more spiritual or help us conquer our evil desires, as others believe. We do not put our trust in outward discipline, but rather than the inward work of the Holy Spirit. For we follow not after mere human teachings that provide no real help against spiritual wickedness.

Source: https://prayer.knowing-jesus.com/Colossians