Exhortation to Grow in the Faith, Col 2:6-7

We start our study of chapter 2, verse 6 and 7 with something from Norman Geisler,

These two verses conclude the argument begun in 1:15. Paul’s point may be summarized thus: Divine exaltation belongs to Christ (1:15–20); in Him are found (a) reconciliation to God (1:21–23), (b) the revelation of the mystery of Christ (1:24–27), (c) believers’ perfection (1:28–29), and (d) education (wisdom) (2:1–5). Therefore believers should continue to live in Him (vv. 6–7). [1]

Giesler points out that for believers we are to find everything in Christ. We are to be reconciled in Christ, all of our understanding about who God is can be found in Christ, that believers are made perfect and complete in Christ, and finally that our knowledge is found in Christ. And since we have all of these things because of our faith and trust in Christ, walk, live, and abide in Him,

As Max Anders puts it,

Believers can avoid the deception of verse 8 not by just maintaining a solid front but by moving forward with steady progress. When we stop going forward, we stall; when we stall, we can fall. We received Christ Jesus as Lord. Now we are to continue to live with him as our Lord. Live literally means walk. Step by step, day by day, we are to conduct our affairs in conscious submission to the lordship of Jesus Christ. Life is a journey, and we are not expected to sprint through it. We are just to make steady progress. [2] [emphasis added]

(6) Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, (7) having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude. (2:6-7)

‘Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord’ –

• Define: ‘received’ – The Greek word, paralambano { par-al-am-ban’-o } means to take or to join to one’s self; to receive something transmitted, to receive with the mind by the instruction of others, or “to take or bring someone along with” [3].
• Although this is a direct reference to the Colossians receiving the Gospel of Jesus Christ, Paul’s wording here implies something much stronger. It is not merely the words about Christ that they had received, but Jesus Christ Himself. It is not a mental assent, as in the knowledge about the subject of the Gospel, but an embracing of the person of Christ in the heart of man by faith “in His offices as prophet, priest and King,” [4], as John Gill put it. Jesus is not just the subject of all Christian teaching, but the sum of it all. Without Him, there is no message to proclaim, and nothing to receive. And wherever His message of love and forgiveness is received, He dwells. Although, He dwells whether His message is received or not.
• The objective of Paul in this verse is to persuade them to never swerve off of the path, never to doubt the truths that they had already learned. They had heard the right message which was delivered to them by Epaphras; they didn’t need any new enlightenment.
• The Colossians had received Jesus as the Lord of their lives – gladly, willingly and joyfully. They had submitted to His word as prophet, His authority as their King and the focus of their worship as their high priest. (Mt 10:40; John 1:12-13; 13:20; 1 Co 1:30; Heb 3:14; 1 John 5:11-12, 20; 2 John 1:8-9; Jude 1:3)

‘so walk in Him’ –

• Define: ‘walk’ – The Greek word, peripateo { per-ee-pat-eh’-o } means to make one’s way, progress; to make due use of opportunities. In the Hebrew it means to regulate one’s life, to conduct one’s self. And that is the sense in which Paul seems to be using the word in this verse. The words literally mean “in Him be continually walking.” [5]
• Most commentators point out that Paul’s meaning here seems to be about holding fast to the truth that the Colossians had already received. Don’t turn to the left or the right; keep your eyes fixed on Him. According to Albert Barnes, “The meaning is, simply, ‘Since you have received Christ as your Lord as he was preached to you, hold fast the doctrine which you have received, and do not permit yourselves to be turned aside by any Jewish teachers, or teachers of philosophy.’ ” [6] But as we see from the above word definition, there is something more. (Jas 1:6-9)
• Paul is also exhorting the Colossians to let the truths they received modify their daily conduct. We should live our lives in union with Christ, and maintaining a lifestyle patterned after His. If we really believe something to be true, then we will act like it’s true. If we believe that sin hurts God, then we will try not to sin so as not to hurt God.
• It is not only about ‘holding fast to the doctrines of Christ’, but being imitators of Him in all things: in our exercise of grace towards others, in our patience, humility and meekness towards others.
• We should derive our strength from Him by leaning on Him, since He is our source. To walk in Christ is to walk by the power of His spirit, under His influence and being led by Him. To walk in Christ is to abide in the doctrines of Christ as the only way, the only truth and the only life we need. We should make it our primary goal to continually seek to know Him more and more each and every day of our lives. (Isa 2:5; Mic 4:2; John 14:6; 2 Co 5:7; Ga 2:20; Eph 4:1; 5:1,2; Php 1:21, 27; 1 Th 4:1; 1 John 2:5-6)

‘having been firmly rooted’ –

• Define: ‘firmly rooted’ – The Greek word, peripateo { per-ee-pat-eh’-o } means to cause to take root, to strengthen with roots, to render firm, to fix, establish, cause a person or a thing to be thoroughly grounded. The word is past tense implying that the action took place in the past, but continues to have an influence on the present. [7]
• Paul now continues with the second of the three metaphors on what it means to have a steadfast faith in Christ. Paul compares the believer to a plant, specifically its root structure. Paul’s metaphor insinuated that good seed had been sown into good soil (Mat 7). Roots do anything required to draw their nourishment from the soil in which they are planted. But roots also give a plant stability. The root structure underground is usually as large and expansive as what can be seen above ground. This provides a firm foundation against the wind. The top part of the plant may bend but it doesn’t uproot from the assault because the root structure provides a counterbalance many times greater than the force of the wind. (Jer 17:8)
• In the same way, the Christian is to be rooted or planted in Christ. To be rooted in Christ is to be solely dependent upon Him and Him only. Our knowledge of God comes from His word, not from society or philosophy or special inner revelations, as the Gnostics were teaching. As roots do whatever is required to obtain nourishment, so the Christian will do whatever is necessary to know Christ. As roots never stop growing and expanding, so to the Christian is to never stop seeking to know his master, and his master’s will. That way, when the winds of Satan blow, and everything around him crumbles and is torn from its foundation, the Christian stands firm. He may be battered and he may be bruised, but he still stands in Christ. (Rom 11:17-18; John 15:4-5)
• Paul’s plant illustration also implies that it is the soil (Christ) that is the foundation, not the roots (the believer). Without the soil, there would be no root structure, no growth. It is the soil that holds the plant’s roots so firmly that the winds above ground do very little damage to the plant, even when a major limb is damaged or broken off. (Eph 4:14-15)

‘and now being built up in Him’ –

• Define: ‘being built up’ – The Greek word, epoikodomeo { ep-oy-kod-om-eh’-o } means to strengthen, make more able, to build up, to build further or build on something. The word is present tense and describes an ongoing process.
• With the third metaphor, ‘being built up’, Paul uses a building to symbolize what Christian teaching is supposed to do for the believer. Teaching or instruction both creates a foundation, and builds upon that established foundation. To create a wall for a building, the builder joins various components to create a structure, whose final state is stronger than their separate states would be. A brick wall uses water, cement, and crushed rock to create a mortar mix that is used to bind the interleaved bricks to each other. However, without a firm foundation to build upon, the resulting wall will crack and crash to the ground after only a couple of years of exposure to the freezing and thawing cycle. But a proper foundation does not move as a result of the changes in season, and increases the strength of the wall by its mere presence. (Mat 7:24-25; Eph 2:21-22; Acts 20:32)
• In addition, there seems to be an order to the metaphors being used. A building cannot stand without a good foundation, and the previous metaphor describes the Christian’s foundation, and how he is to be rooted in Christ to create that foundation. But a foundation without a building is meaningless.
• The Greek word for ‘rooted’ is the perfect tense, and describes a past event, something that has already taken place. But the Greek word for ‘being-built-up’ is present tense and describes an ongoing process. So here Paul is exhorting the believers to continue what was already started in the past. He is saying that believers have had growth (rooted) but they need to continue to grow (being built up) in their Christian faith.
• As mentioned above, being built up refers to a building. Keep in mind, believers are called the ‘temple of the Holy Spirit’, which is a dwelling place for God. (1 Pet 2:5) Nothing said in Scripture is accidental.
• The phrase ‘being built up’ insinuates patient and continuous labor. It’s not something that just happens, but takes purposeful effort to complete. We are being built up by Christ, stone upon stone, inch by inch, minute by minute. We are life-long projects, who sometimes need to be partially dismantled when we build upon ourselves, and correctly restored by the master builder, Jesus Christ.

‘and established in your faith’ –

• Define: ‘established’ (‘strengthened’ NIV) – The Greek word, bebaioo { beb-ah-yo’-o } means to make firm, establish, confirm, make sure, strengthen, increase in inner strength.
• In this statement, Paul is summing up the previous 3 metaphors. They had ‘received’ Christ and were being instructed to continue ‘walking’ in Him; they were ‘rooted’ in Him; and being ‘built up’ in Him. The purpose was so that they would be ‘established’ in their faith. This is meant to convey to them the Colossians were not to be easily swayed, but settled and grounded, and thoroughly instructed in the doctrines of the gospel. Paul wanted them to be immovable, so that whatever occurred in their lives would not cause them to question their faith or doubt their conviction. (1 Cor 15:58; 2Th 2:15-17; 1Pe 5:10; 2 Pet 3:17-18; Jas 1:2)
• The channel by which this occurs is faith. And the faith here seems to refer to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, in which they had been instructed. And again as Keathley stated, “this is a call not to merely hold to ‘the faith,’ but to grow in the knowledge of the faith as it reveals the person and work of Christ so that we might experience God’s power over the world and the sinful nature that we all have.” [8] (Act 20:32)
• As Paul has plainly stated in 1:6, and again in the first part of 2:7, he reaffirmed that their faith had been established in Christ, but it was also in need of further strengthening. Paul was encouraging them to continue to ‘fight the good fight’, but it is not by the power of the will that this strengthening occurs, but by the power of God who saved them to begin with. It is upon Him that we must depend for spiritual growth, and not upon ourselves or others. (Rom 16:25; 2 Pet 3:18; Jude 24-25) To paraphrase one commentator, to become a Christian is only the beginning, not the end. [9]

‘just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.’ –

‘just as you were instructed’ –

• Once again, Paul refers back to Epaphras as the one that had instructed them, and that they shouldn’t even consider listening to the false teachers attempting to ‘shipwreck’ their faith. (Col 1:7; Gal 3:3; 2 Th 2:15; Tit 1:9)
• It is amazing that, at times, we are so easily persuaded to doubt our faith. Someone can spit in our face or cuss us out, and that doesn’t affect us at all. But something as mild as a subtle ridicule or a sarcastic comment can throw us into total confusion and start the process of doubt. We need to guard our hearts and take every thought captive, and remember what we already know, which is exactly what Paul is referring to by this phrase. Remember verse 6 and 7 – we received Christ, have been rooted in Him, being built-up in Him, which causes us to be established when we continue to walk in Him.

‘and overflowing with gratitude.’ –

• As was discussed in 1:12, gratitude and thanksgiving should be a cornerstone of our character. Ingratitude is very frequently the reason why we have trouble projecting the love of Christ and the light of the gospel. With all that God has graciously given us, nothing should ever be taken for granted in our lives. As Christians we can never thank God enough for what He has done for us. (Col 1:11-12; 3:15, 17; 4:2; Ro 1:21; 14:6; 2 Cor 1:11; 4:15; 9:11-12; Eph 5:19-20; 1 Tim 2:1; 1 Th 5:16-18; Heb 13:15)
• Define: ‘overflowing’ (‘abounding’ KJV) – The Greek word, perisseuo { per-is-syoo’-o } means to exceed a fixed number of measure, to be abundantly furnished with, to have in abundance, abound in (a thing), to be in affluence.
• Paul wasn’t just telling them to be thankful, but to be abounding or overflowing in thankfulness. As Calvin put it, Paul was telling the Colossians to be more than just immovable in their thankfulness, but to be growing in thankfulness each and every day of their lives. [10] As Christians we have been given the ultimate gift that should never be taken for granted. To abound or overflow in gratitude implies a continual attitude of habitually practicing the presence of Christ as well as continually reminding oneself of His gifts toward us. This is a thankfulness that makes us eager to obey God, and repentant when we sin. Ingratitude has the exact opposite effect on us and robs us of our understanding of and our faith in the Gospel. (1Co 15:58; 2 Pet 1:1-11; Php 4:4-6)

(6) Therefore as you have received [with the mind by the instruction of others] Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in [union with] [make use of opportunities in] Him [reflecting His character in the things you do and say—living lives that lead others away from sin], (7) having been deeply rooted [rendered firm, fixed, established, to be thoroughly grounded] [in Him] and now being continually built up [being made more able] in Him and [becoming increasingly more] established [increased in inner strength] in your faith, just as you were taught [instructed], and overflowing [exceeding a fix amount, abundantly furnished] in it with gratitude. (Col 2:6-7)

Footnotes

1. Norman L. Geisler, “Colossians,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 676.
2. Max Anders, Galatians-Colossians, vol. 8, Holman New Testament Commentary (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1999), 304.
3. Johannes P. Louw and Eugene Albert Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains (New York: United Bible Societies, 1996), 202.
4. John Gill’s Commentary on Colossians, p/o the Online Bible, Computer Program, © 1987-2005.
5. J. Hampton Keathley III, Paul’s Letter to the Colossians: An Exegetical and Devotional Commentary, Part 11: Heretical Problems in the Light of Union With Christ Part I, Exhortation Against False Teachers (Col. 2:4-8)
6. Albert Barnes’ New Testament Notes on Colossians, p/o the Online Bible, Computer Program, © 1987-2005.
7. J. Hampton Keathley III, Paul’s Letter to the Colossians: An Exegetical and Devotional Commentary, Part 11: Heretical Problems in the Light of Union With Christ Part I, Exhortation Against False Teachers (Col. 2:4-8)
8. Ibid.
9. James Burton Coffman, Commentary on Colossians, p/o the Online Bible, Computer Program, © 1987-2005.
10. John Calvin, Commentary on Colossians, p/o the Online Bible, Computer Program, © 1987-2005.

The primary sources for this study use J. Hampton Keathley III, Paul’s Letter to the Colossians: An Exegetical and Devotional Commentary, from bible.org, Copyright ©1996-2020 Bible.org, and all attributions are reprinted with permission granted by bible.org, and John MacArthur, The MacArthur New Testament Commentary: Colossians & Philemon, (Moody Bible Institute: ©1992).

This study uses many of the commentaries, dictionaries and the Greek Lexicon which are all part of 'The Online Bible', Computer Program, © 2023, Larry Pierce, http://www.onlinebible.net/, unless otherwise referenced. See Colossians Bible Study for full attribution.

Johannes P. Louw and Eugene Albert Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains (New York: United Bible Societies, 1996), p/o Logos Bible Software, Faithlife, LLC, © 2023.

All Scriptures quotes are from the New American Standard Bible, 1995 Revision, unless otherwise noted. Verse links from Blue Letter Bible, https://www.blueletterbible.org/