v1-3: Paul expresses his desire for the Christians in Colosse, Laodicea, and elsewhere. Being away from them, Paul could pray, write, encourage their leaders, etc. There was perhaps disappointment or frustration that he had not seen them.

Pauls longs for spiritual growth, in the unity of love, in the assurance of understanding, and in the knowledge of Christ. We must be conscious that heresy brings division. Our full assurance in God reflects the fact that God is true.

In Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge; Ps 36.8 refers to finding full satisfaction in Him. References to "mystery" and "hidden" reflect the problem of Gnosticism. False teachings claimed wisdom and knowledge, used persuasive words (v4), and philosophy (v8; 1 Cor 1.22); Paul tries to expose such teachings for what they are.

The city would have respected wisdom; the city was at the Greek end of Turkey, and would doubtless have had much Greek influence.

v4: Beware the persuasive and fine sounding words of those who seek to deceive. Verse 8 repeats this warning. Paul does not explain the content of heresy in detail, but it would have been very clear to his readers and hearers.

This is the first of a series of warnings; against being deceived, being taken captive (v8), being judged, or condemned (v16), being defrauded, or disqualified (v18). False teaching thus robs us of the experience of the blessings of Christ.

v5: His commendation; it seems the whole church had NOT been carried away by heresy. He therefore commends them for their good order, and the steadfastness of their faith in Christ. By implication, Paul encourages them to continue in these ways. Faithfulness today does not guarantee faithfulness tomorrow; we may be led astray by error.

v6-7: The importance of continuing in the way we started; see Gal 3.3;

• continue to live in Him (1.10); lead a life worthy of the Lord; obedience;
• rooted and built up in Him (1.11); strengthened with all might; progress;
• established in the faith (1.9); filled with the knowledge of His will; spiritual understanding and doctrine;
• overflowing in thanksgiving (1.12); giving thanks to the Father; praise.

We recognise that Christ is sufficient; this is the apostles' doctrine, and it enables us to discern error and truth. We can, and must, test all things. Christ Jesus is "Lord," demanding loyalty.

v8: See that no one takes you captive; or cheated, or spoiled, or defeated by an insurgent force; this is a reference to false teaching infiltrating the church. Philosophy, however it is dressed up, is still human teaching and tradition. True teaching is according to Christ.

v9: Jesus Christ is complete; the whole Godhead dwelt in one man. We can add nothing to Him; He is sufficient and pre-eminent. We spot error that diminishes the person of Christ.

v10: We have been given fullness, been made complete, in Him, Eph 1.3; Phil 1.6. We must realise what God has already done in our lives, and what He promises to do. His helps us to see other things in a better perspective, and to identify error, which promises something more.

Christ is the Head over every authority and power, including those that would bring us into bondage to legalism, or trapped in false teaching. The same phrase is picked up in v15, teaching us that Christ has disarmed those authorities and powers.

v11-23: An answer to the error of legalism. This error fails to recognise what happened on the cross. Paul does not just declare a teaching to be wrong, but he explains why. He describes the spiritual nature of our salvation. As we realise and understand what Christ has done for us, we will appreciate the folly of turning to legalism or Gnosticism.

v11: The circumcision of Christ, made without hands. The sinful nature is put away, or cut off, and we are set apart for God. There is therefore no necessity for physical circumcision.

v12: We are buried with Christ, and raised with Christ. We have put our faith in God, who raised Christ from the dead, Eph 1.19-20. Here is the source of power in our lives.

Paul links circumcision with baptism; both being 'initiation.' Yet the faith of Christ requires baptism, not circumcision.

v13: Our flesh, or sinful nature, is an offence to God. We are, by nature, unworthy of any blessings from God. It was whilst we were in this state that God made us alive with Christ, Eph 2.1.

v14: It was through Christ's work on the cross that the hand-writing of requirements, our wrong-doing, was borne away. There is no contribution from us, of good works, or of circumcision, for the work of salvation was completed by Christ.

v15: The spiritual enemies are disarmed and defeated at the cross; this is different from the appearance of a man dying in excruciating pain, with people shouting and crying out. The enemies of Christ, and of the Christian, are defeated. The illustration is of a returning emperor, bringing the defeated kings and captains with him.

What Christ achieved on the cross is truly perfect and complete. It is also a "public spectacle," something for all to see.

The victory of Christ applies across to all cultural contexts;' Jesus is seen above all else as the Christus Victor (Christ supreme over every spiritual rule and authority). This perception arises from Africans' keen awareness of forces and powers at work in the world that threaten the interests of life and harmony. Jesus is victorious over the spiritual realm. particularly over evil forces and so meets the need for a powerful protector.' (Kwame Bediako, Jesus and the Gospel in Africa).

v16: The false teachers brought in new rules, and then criticised those who transgressed them, Gal 4.10, 17. Observation of rules, and special feasts and days is dangerous legalism.

v17: The law of Moses, or any set of rules made by man, are only a shadow of the reality. Legalism is the making of rules about something that is passing away, but ignoring the reality; Paul uses the phrase, "the basic principles of the world" (v8, 20), to describe these rules. In contrast the reality, or body, or substance, is Christ.

Paul brings a challenge, Do you want the reality, or a shadow?

v18-19: The appearance of godliness through false humility. Such criticise our 'arrogance' or 'presumption' when we speaking of knowing Christ, or having a sure salvation. Some Jews, fearing God, directed their worship to angels; but this is not commanded in Scripture, and is therefore disobedience, not humility.

Their claim is that obedience to certain rules, or asceticism, is true godliness, as in Luke 18.12. The result is hypocrisy, which was condemned by Christ. They are thieves and robbers (John 10.8). They are ignorant of true Christianity, yet they are proud, thinking that they have something better. See Is 65.5; they claim holiness, but God says they are "smoke in my nostrils".

They do not hold fast to the Head, who is Christ; they seek to establish their own righteousness; they claim faith, but neglect the Author and Perfector of faith. And, as a result, they are divisive, breaking down the body of Christ.

v20-23: Since we died with Christ (see v12), we are identified with Him, Rom 7.1-4. We are seated in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. Since our citizenship is in Heaven, we must not live as though living in the world. The commandments and doctrines of men, concerned with things that are physical and temporary, Matt 15.17-20

Such doctrines have no real effect in defeating the power of sin, the indulgence of the flesh. For example, even the separated monk or hermit still has temptations. There is an appearance of godliness, but only an appearance. Where this is prescribed, it becomes a deceit.