“For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you, and for those in Laodicea, and for those who have not met me face to face. My goal is that their hearts, having been knit together in love, may be encouraged, and that they may have all the riches that assurance brings in their understanding of the knowledge of the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I say this so that no one will deceive you through arguments that sound reasonable. For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your morale and the firmness of your faith in Christ.”
(Colossians 2.1-5)
After the conviction of v.1 the wider passage sets out Paul’s motivation and goal in praying so fervently for the readers of his letter: encouragement. Paul is praying that his readers – and us by extension – are encouraged because of the assurance we have now that we understand the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Simply, Paul is praying that his people are encouraged by knowing Jesus.
We now know things about God that we simply could not before Jesus’ incarnation (Philippians 2.5-7) and we read that this is a mystery. The way this is written tells us that Jesus is that mystery. Jesus is all we need to see, know, and hear from God. Stored up and displayed in Jesus are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Particularly pertinent to the Colossians the false teaching they were facing, this is so very applicable for us, too. N.T. Wright wrote that
“Everything we might want to ask about God and his purposes can and must now be answered – this is the force of the verse – with reference to the crucified and risen Jesus, the Messiah.”
(The Epistles of Paul to the Colossians and to Philemon, P.95)
If there is something you want to know about God, look to Jesus. Read your Bible and see Him prophesied and predicted, see Him born, worshiped, ministering, serving, loving, being crucified, rising, and ascending. Simply, Jesus is the key to understanding all we want to understand about God.
James Travis 