Colossians 2

King James Version (1769) · Tap a verse to see it in context

About this chapter

AI-assisted, sourced

Paul wants their hearts knit together in love and full of understanding of Christ, "In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge," and urges, "As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him." He warns, "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit... and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily," and they are "complete in him," forgiven, with the handwriting of ordinances nailed "to his cross." So no one is to judge them over meat, drink or holy days, which are "a shadow of things to come," or bind them with rules like "Touch not; taste not; handle not." Colossians 2:2 Colossians 2:3 Colossians 2:6 Colossians 2:8 Colossians 2:9 Colossians 2:10 Colossians 2:13 Colossians 2:14 Colossians 2:16 Colossians 2:17 Colossians 2:21 Colossians overview

Who, where, when, and the key verses

Who

Paul writes of his "great conflict" for the Colossians, for "them at Laodicea," and for all who have not seen his face. Colossians overview Colossians 2:1 Colossians 2:5

Where

Colosse, and also Laodicea, which Paul names along with it. Colossians 2:1 Laodicea Colossians overview

When

Traditionally about AD 60-62, during Paul's imprisonment in Rome. Many scholars think a follower wrote it in Paul's name, about AD 70-90; many others accept that Paul wrote it. Colossians overview

How it fits

Chapter 1 ended with Paul labouring to "present every man perfect in Christ Jesus"; here he warns against anything "not after Christ," for "in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily." Chapter 3 draws the result: "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above." Colossians 1:28 Colossians 2:8 Colossians 2:9 Colossians 3:1 Colossians 1:29 Colossians overview

Key verses

Verse 8
"Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ." Colossians 2:8
Verse 9
"For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him." Colossians 2:9 Colossians 2:10
Verse 14
God blotted out "the handwriting of ordinances that was against us... nailing it to his cross," having forgiven "all trespasses." Colossians 2:13 Colossians 2:14

Takeaway

Christ is enough: keep walking in him, and do not let human philosophy or man-made rules take the place of the one in whom you are complete. Colossians 2:6 Colossians 2:8 Colossians 2:10 Colossians 2:22

Drafted by AI from the Scripture and data shown under “Show sources,” then checked automatically and by a separate AI reader. Updated 2026-10-29.

Rooted and built up in him

¹For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; ²That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; ³In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. ⁴And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words. ⁵For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ. ⁶As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: ⁷Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

Complete in him

⁸Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. ⁹For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. ¹⁰And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: ¹¹In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: ¹²Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. ¹³And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; ¹⁴Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; ¹⁵And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

Not judged by shadows and rules

¹⁶Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: ¹⁷Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. ¹⁸Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, ¹⁹And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God. ²⁰Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, ²¹(Touch not; taste not; handle not; ²²Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? ²³Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.