COLOSSIANS: OVERCOMING SYNCRETISM THRU CHRIST

Part IV: Christ’s Sufficiency And Supremacy Over Philosophy

(Colossians 2:6-10)

I. Introduction

A. Recent research indicates that the average American adopts beliefs and practices from approximately nine distinct worldviews, what produces a jumble of often contradictory philosophies known as syncretism.

B. The epistle to the Colossians handled a mixture of Jewish legalism, Greek philosophy and Oriental mysticism (Ryrie Study Bible, KJV, 1978, p. 1690, “The Colossian Heresy”), so it applies to the syncretism we face.

C. Colossians 2:6-10 presents Christ’s Sufficiency and Supremacy over philosophy, what we view for our insight, application and edification (as follows):

II. Christ’s Sufficiency And Supremacy Over Philosophy, Colossians 2:6-10.

A. Paul urged his readers to live their lives in Christ just as they had received Him by faith in the Gospel, Colossians 2:6. Paul’s readers had come to believe that eternal life was based in Christ that they might be saved, and since their faith for that salvation resided in Christ alone, they were to look to Him alone and not to any competing entity for spiritual fulfillment.

B. Believers are rooted in Christ’s Gospel when they believe it, and they are to be built up and strengthened in that faith in Christ, producing an overflowing thanksgiving to God for their blessings in Him, Colossians 2:7.

C. Having reminded his readers of their origin in Christ at salvation, Paul directed them to beware of false human philosophy that challenged this foundation of their faith (Colossians 2:8a). We explain (as follows):

1. The phrase “the rudiments of the world” in Colossians 2:8, 20 KJV “is rendered by (the Revised Standard Version as) ‘the elemental spirits of the universe’ and most likely refers (as in Gal. 4:3, 9) to angelic powers which were thought of, in ancient cosmological systems, as the rulers of the heavenly bodies and so in control of human destiny upon earth. These star-gods were held to exercise power over men who were victims gripped by a pitiless fate and helpless to break free . . . (A) special way to ‘salvation’ was promised by seeking fellowship with some angelic power which might raise its proteges above the hopeless round of fate and determinism and above the region controlled by the powerful astral deities . . . (A)ccess to God” was available by “spanning the gulf between the universe and His presence, this inter-stellar space” being “called ‘the fulness’” (pleroma), which spanning was possible “only by a recognition of and reverence paid to these ‘elemental spirits’ . . .” (Zon. Pict. Ency. Bib., vol. One, p. 915-916)

2. Paul realized the intense deception that believers faced in such false philosophy, so he warned his readers to beware of falling prey to its error instead of remaining committed to Jesus Christ, Colossians 2:8.

3. To explain the vast superiority and sufficiency of the believer’s position versus the alleged deliverance offered in angelic powers as taught by the false teachers, (a) Paul taught that in Christ dwells all the “fulness” (pleroma) of “deity” (theotetos), “a strong word used only here in the NT for Christ’s essence as God,” Bible Know. Com., N. T., p. 677. The alleged inter-stellar space – the “fulness” (pleroma) the false teachers taught had to be bridged by angels for their followers that they might gain union with God – dwelt in Christ Who is God Incarnate, and with Whom believers were already united, Col. 2:9! (b) Also, Jesus had bridged the gap to the Father by being sent from Him to die on the cross to provide redemption for those who trusted in Him that they might have immediate spiritual union with the Father. (Eph. 2:12-13)

4. Also, Paul’s believing readers themselves had already been permanently “brought to fulness,” the Greek term being pepleromenoi, the perfect passive participle of the verb pleroo, “make full” (U. B. S. Grk. N. T., 1966, p. 697; The Analyt. Grk. Lex. (Zon.), 1972, p. 316, 329), Col. 2:10. In summary, Paul referred to the view the false teachers had about an alleged “fulness” of inter-stellar space between man and God that supposedly could only be bridged by angelic intermediary help and taught that (a) Christ had bridged that gap, that (b) not only in Him was all the “fulness” of deity so that believers were spiritually fulfilled in Him, but that (c) that believers themselves were permanently (perfect tense), passively (by God alone) made spiritually full! No philosophy could begin to offer the spiritual wealth believers already possessed!

Lesson: We believers in Christ must understand that we must keep being committed to Christ just as we received Him by faith at salvation, for in Him is full deity and spiritual fulfillment, and we who are spiritually in Christ are also permanently and by God alone made positionally spiritually fulfilled. No philosophy can compare with that!

Application: May we continue to be committed to Christ and grow up in Him as strong, steadfast believers!