Paul Reiterates His Great Concern for God's People And Reminds Them Where True Wisdom Lies (Colossians 2:1-5)
‘For I want you to know how greatly I strive for you, and for those at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, that their hearts may be strengthened, they being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, that they may know the mystery of God, even Christ in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.'
Paul wants them to know of his great concern for them and the efforts he makes on their behalf. He wants them to know that he is not just concerned for his own converts but for them also, and for all the people of God. And as he strives in prayer for them, his prayer is that their hearts may be strengthened, that they may love one another and that they may enjoy the full riches of assured understanding (sunesis - including the ability to discern truth from falsehood) in Christ, for all the treasures of wisdom (reasoned thought) and knowledge (apprehension of truth) are hidden in Him.
‘That their hearts may be strengthened.' The word for strengthened is parakaleo, from which the noun Paraklete (Jesus' description of the Holy Spirit - John 14:16; John 14:26) comes. Paul clearly has the work of the Holy Spirit in mind here, being alongside them, helping them, guiding them, strengthening them, and where necessary consoling them and acting on their behalf (compare Colossians 1:9), probably also seeing it in terms of the indwelling of Christ Himself (Ephesians 3:17; Galatians 2:20) for He is the Spirit of Christ (Romans 8:9) without Whom no one is a Christian.
‘Knit together in love.' The binding of Christ's people together by cords of love is everywhere assumed. ‘By this will all men know that you are my disciples if you have love to one another' (John 13:35). None are to be excluded (thus exclusive inner circles are forbidden), and through it we will know more deeply the love of Christ (Ephesians 3:17-19 - note the conjunction there also of the Spirit's power and abounding love). For the meaning of ‘knit together' see Colossians 2:19; Ephesians 4:16).
‘Unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding.' Colossians and Ephesians are full of the riches of God (Colossians 1:27; Colossians 2:2; Ephesians 1:7; Ephesians 1:18; Ephesians 2:7; Ephesians 3:8; Ephesians 3:16). As Paul grew older he was more aware of the riches of what God provided. Here those riches consist of a full assurance of understanding. Full comprehension and certainty, resulting from the work of the Spirit and the responsiveness of God's people to one another. And that understanding is in the mystery now revealed, even in Christ ‘in Whom are hid all the treasures (more riches) of wisdom and knowledge'.
‘The treasures of wisdom and knowledge.' The phrase ‘the treasures of wisdom' is found in the Apocrypha, in Sir 1:25, and ‘wisdom and knowledge' are combined in Ecclesiastes 1:16-18; Ecclesiastes 2:21-26; Ecclesiastes 9:10 (LXX). ‘Wisdom' suggests reasoned consideration with ‘knowledge' referring to apprehension of truth. But in Ecclesiastes they are very practical wisdom and knowledge, whereas here they are more spiritually oriented and centred on Christ. Paul is probably intending more to contrast with the claims of other religions of the day to have ‘hidden wisdom'.
To Paul Christ is all. And all knowledge that matters and all wisdom that matters is found in Him and is concerning Him and His ways. He is the wisdom from God (1 Corinthians 1:30) revealed in righteousness, reckoned to them and finally worked in them, sanctification whereby they are full set apart for God, and redemption whereby their price is paid and they are delivered from the penalty and power of sin. But there is even more than that, for all true wisdom in Heaven and earth is concerning the One of Whom Paul speaks, as he has demonstrated in Colossians 1:15-19.
Hidden wisdom was a feature of the ancient world. The ‘traditions of the elders' were passed down among an inner group of Jewish teachers, and the ancient mystery religions had their own secret knowledge only revealed to initiates. All was hidden, enjoyed by the elite. But in Christ all is revealed to whoever will. For to know Him is to know all hidden wisdom.