Read & explore together
Alive with Christ
This passage urges believers to keep living in Christ and warns them against teachings and religious practices that sound impressive but are not centred on him. It explains why Christ is sufficient for his people.
Understanding the passage
The setting of these words
In Colossians 2:6-23, the letter moves from a call to walk in Christ to warnings about deceptive teaching, religious judging and self-made worship. Each warning is answered by what the passage says about Christ’s fullness, the forgiveness he brings and the new life believers have in him.
Colossians 2:6–23Main takeaway
Because believers have been made full and alive in Christ, they should keep holding to him rather than submit to teachings and rules that are not according to him.
Follow the letter’s teaching
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Walk in ChristThe opening command is simple: as they received Christ Jesus the Lord, they are to walk in him.
Explanation
The opening command is simple: as they received Christ Jesus the Lord, they are to walk in him. Their life in him is pictured as rooted, built up and established in the faith they were taught. Thanksgiving belongs with this growing, settled faith.
02Do not be robbed by empty teachingThey must not let anyone rob them through philosophy and vain deceit shaped by human tradition and the elemental spirits of the world, rather than Christ.
Explanation
They must not let anyone rob them through philosophy and vain deceit shaped by human tradition and the elemental spirits of the world, rather than Christ. The reason is Christ’s greatness: in him all the fullness of Deity dwells bodily, and in him believers are made full.
03Alive together with himThe passage speaks of a circumcision not made with hands, then links believers with Christ in baptism, burial and being raised through faith in God’s working.
Explanation
The passage speaks of a circumcision not made with hands, then links believers with Christ in baptism, burial and being raised through faith in God’s working. Those who were dead in trespasses are said to be made alive together with him, with all trespasses forgiven.
04The cross changes what rules can claimWhat was against us in ordinances was wiped out and taken away, nailed to the cross. The passage also says the principalities and powers were triumphed over.
Explanation
What was against us in ordinances was wiped out and taken away, nailed to the cross. The passage also says the principalities and powers were triumphed over. So others are not to judge over food, drink or calendar observances, which are called a shadow, while Christ is the reality pointed to.
05Hold firmly to the HeadWarnings continue against self-abasement, worshiping of angels and claims about unseen things.
Explanation
Warnings continue against self-abasement, worshiping of angels and claims about unseen things. The problem is failing to hold firmly to the Head, from whom the whole body grows. Rules such as “Don’t handle, nor taste, nor touch” may appear wise, but the passage says they are human and powerless against fleshly indulgence.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What images in verses 6-7 describe a steady life in Christ?
Look for the command to walk in him and the pictures of being rooted, built up and established in the faith.
02Why should teaching based on human tradition be resisted here?
Notice the contrast between what is not after Christ and the statements that God’s fullness dwells in him and believers are made full in him.
03What does the passage say strict rules cannot do?
Read verses 20-23 closely and note that these ordinances are human precepts and are said to have no value against the indulgence of the flesh.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Colossians 2:6–23
6As therefore you received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in him,
7rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, even as you were taught, abounding in it in thanksgiving.
8Be careful that you don’t let anyone rob you through his philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the elemental spirits of the world, and not after Christ.
9For in him all the fullness of the Deity dwells bodily,
10and in him you are made full, who is the head of all principality and power.
11In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, in the putting off of the body of the sins of the flesh, in the circumcision of Christ,
12having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.
13You were dead through your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh. He made you alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses,
14wiping out the handwriting in ordinances which was against us. He has taken it out of the way, nailing it to the cross.
15Having stripped the principalities and the powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
16Let no one therefore judge you in eating or drinking, or with respect to a feast day or a new moon or a Sabbath day,
17which are a shadow of the things to come; but the body is Christ’s.
18Let no one rob you of your prize by self-abasement and worshiping of the angels, dwelling in the things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
19and not holding firmly to the Head, from whom all the body, being supplied and knit together through the joints and ligaments, grows with God’s growth.
20If you died with Christ from the elemental spirits of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to ordinances,
21“Don’t handle, nor taste, nor touch”
22(all of which perish with use), according to the precepts and doctrines of men?
23These things indeed appear like wisdom in self-imposed worship, humility, and severity to the body, but aren’t of any value against the indulgence of the flesh.