Colossians 2

Click Here to Read or Listen to Colossians 2

2 I want you to know how hard I am contending for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally. 2 My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments. 5 For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how disciplined you are and how firm your faith in Christ is.

Paul's heart was always for the whole church, in this case he points out the church at Colossae, who he is writing to, and also the church at Laodicea. You may remember in Revelation, where John says that the faith of those who Laodicea is "lukewarm". The two churches were geographically close to each other. 

The cities of Hierapolis, Laodicea, and Colosse–all of which are referenced in Colossians 4:13–were located within about 12 miles (19 km) of each other along the Lycus River in the region of Phrygia. Two main Roman roads heading east joined at Laodicea and continued on to Apamea and Iconium. Though Paul almost certainly passed through this area on his way to Ephesus during his third missionary journey (Acts 18:23; 19:1; see map), apparently he never personally met the believers there (2:1). Instead Paul’s coworker Epaphras, a native of Colosse, first brought the gospel to the Colossians and perhaps to the people of Laodicea and Hierapolis as well (Colossians 1:6-7; 4:12). Even so, Paul appears to have held the same degree of concern for these believers as he did for believers of the churches he personally founded. 

The early heresies in the church were called "secret religions". They taught that one could receive special knowledge and wisdom through connecting with the spiritual world. This is why Paul explains that all of the mysteries and treasures can be found in Christ. It is through Christ that we learn everything we need to know about God and access all the treasures of his mercy and grace. 

He commends them for not falling for their "fine sounding arguments". Why was this? Because they were grounded in the word of God. That knew what they believed and why, so they were able to spot false teaching. 

There is all kinds of false teaching out there today. Some even purport to be Christian but upon further examination they don't preach Christ at all. They mix faith and works and don't fully trust in the completed work of Jesus on the cross!

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