Col. 2:1-3 - That All May Know Christ

True Wealth in Christ

Vs. 1 - For I want you to know how great a struggle I have on your behalf and for those who are at Laodicea, and for all those who have not personally seen my face

- Knowing how humble Paul felt about his salvation (1 Tim. 1:15-16), it always stops me a little when I read a portion of scripture when he brags. Paul was letting them know he was working really hard for them. Paul may have been referring to the spiritual struggle he had, praying and worrying about these believers.

"on your behalf" - refers to the saints and faithful brethren at Colossae. This letter is intended to start with that church, butnthen passed on to he other churches in the region. These are the people he is addressing: (1) the saints at Colossae; (2) the saints in Laodicea; (3) and the saints in both places who have accepted Christ and are in these churches, but who have not personally met Paul. This latter group is probably 2nd or 3rd generation Christians as a result of the witnessing of the believers in these cities. Paul did not start the church in Colossae, perhaps Epaphras did (see Col.1:7). Paul may have started the church in Laodicea, although Acts does not indicate Paul was there. He did pass through the area. Some think the church may have been started by either Mark, Timothy, or Epaphras.

Vs. 2 - that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God's mystery, that is, Christ Himself,

“that their hearts may be encouraged” - Paul is telling them he is working for them so they might be encouraged in the telling. People need encouragement. They need to know they are not by themselves, not working alone. Not only was the letter to encourage, but to help them to see they have a common bond of love which could draw them closer together - a unity of believers.

This long run-on sentence can be broken down thusly: He worked hard to encourage them. The encouragement is to build their love for each other and their growing knowledge and understanding of Jesus Christ. (Now there are lots of adjective and adverb descriptors thrown in, but that is the sentence - boiled down.)

"wealth... full understanding" - If a Christian does not know or understand his spiritual heritage, there is no way he can hope to grasp or realize the abundant Christian life. A full and true realization of what "Christ in you" means - brings to bear a change in the way of living, brings a freedom, a joy of assurance that can be had in no other way.
The 'wealth' is the 'riches of this glory'. The glory is Christ’s - He earned it, we share in it. The riches are Christ’s, because He is God and the whole universe is His; the unstoppable infinite love is His. Jesus Christ is the person about whom God the Father said, “This is My Son, in Whom I am well pleased.” We are Christ's, and everything that is His, is ours. We are joint heirs with Christ - it boggles the mind to try to imagine all that is available to us.

“resulting in a true knowledge“ - the letter is written to encourage, to bring together in love, and to provide a full understanding - these things will enable the readers to come to an intimate, intuitive, personal knowledge of Christ Himself. See: Matt 13:11, 19:11, 20:23; John 6:65; 1 Cor. 2:10; 1 John 2:20, 27.
There is no way we will be sucked into false doctrines and practices when we understand the knowledge and power available in us. (Perhaps we don't even need to fully understand - we can grow into that.) That power is from God Himself through His Son who indwells us.
A 'true knowledge' or as in KJV 'acknowledgement' - means complete and full recognition or discernment. Look at the assuring words in this sentence: all the wealth; full assurance (because we have understanding); true knowledge. This not a half-baked effort from God.
See also: Mark 7:6-8. Jesus talking here in response to an accusation by the Pharisees against the disciples. He accuses 5hem of following man’s rules than following God.

Vs. 3 - in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

See: Rom. 11:33; Isa. 11:2; Eph. 3:8,10; Prov. 3:19; 1 Cor. 1:25. Everything that God the Father knows, Christ knows. See: John 8:55, 5:19,20. The information is not secret (because of the word 'hidden'), but being kept safe, waiting for us to access it. Some will be way beyond our ken, but it is still there. As we grow in our faith, and in our living by the power of the Holy Spirit the wisdom and knowledge will be revealed. See Prov. 4:6-8.

Updated 10/22/17.