Grace Bible Church Gillette, Wyoming

1. The whole region around Colossae and Laodicea was being bombarded with false Gnostic and Judaistic teaching. It was causing some of the Christians to doubt Christianity. Paul was writing to strengthen their faith in the person and work of Christ, who is pre-eminent and the revealer of the mystery of God.

2. Therefore, Paul wanted the Colossians to know how much he struggled on their behalf. He was not only talking about his imprisonment but also his internal passion (Col 2:1).

3. Paul’s passion was to see all Christians, especially at Colossae, Laodicea, and surrounding region, become complete in Christ (cf. Col 1:28).

4. His passion was for their encouragement, unity in love, and understanding of their spiritual wealth (Col 2:2).

5. His passion was that believers would “attain” (eis - moving toward, unto) all the spiritual wealth they have in Christ.

6. This wealth comes from having a “full assurance” (plêrophoria - complete certainty) of understanding. They were to have their doubts settled and their faith established.

7. What was to “result” (eis), or better, what they were to understand was the “true knowledge” (epignōsis) of the mystery of God. The “mystery of God” was found solely and totally in Christ.

8. They were to have the “true knowledge” (epignōsis - full or true knowledge) of the mystery of God by fully knowing who Christ was and all that His work accomplished Christ. This not only contrasted what the Gnostics taught through gnōsis, but it completely refuted them.

B. Mystery of God

1. Paul mentioned another mystery as the “mystery of God.” “Mystery” is the Greek word mustêrion which means something previously hidden but now revealed by God.

2. Though mustêrion is used 28 times in the NT, Scofield narrowed them down to eleven.

a. 1) The Mystery of the Kingdom of God (Mat 13:11; Mar 4:11), 2) The Mystery of Israel's Blindness (Rom 11:25), 3) The Mystery of the Rapture (1Co 15:51-52), 4) The Mystery of the Body of Christ (Jew and Gentile) (Eph 3:3-11, Col 1:27a), 5) The Mystery of the Bride of Christ (Eph 5:25-32), 6) The Mystery of the Indwelling Christ (Col 1:26-27), 7) The Mystery of God, namely Christ (Col 2:2-3), 8) The Mystery of Godliness (1Ti 3:16), 9) The Mystery of Lawlessness (2Th 2:7), 10) The Mystery of the Seven Stars (Rev 1:20), 11) The Mystery of Babylon (Rev 17:5, 7).

II. KNOWLEDGE OF CHRIST AS THE MYSTERY OF GOD

A. The mystery of God would refer to that which was hidden or not fully revealed about God, but now has been fully revealed by Christ.

B. Therefore, Christ Himself is the true knowledge of the mystery of God. Pursing a knowledge of the person and work of Christ is a pursuit of the mystery of God.

C. The Scriptures teach that Christ fully reveals God, because He is God and because that is the ministry of the Second Person of the Trinity.

1. Christ appeared as a Theophany (Christophany) in the OT (Gen 16:7, 13; Gen 18:1-2).

2. Christ is the full revealer of God (Heb 1:1-2).

3. Christ is the exact representation of God’s nature (Heb 1:3).

4. Christ is the “image of the invisible God” (Col 1:15).

5. Christ is the one who alone shows the Father (Joh 14:9).

6. Christ is the form of God (Php 2:6).

7. Christ is God (Joh 1:1; Joh 8:58).

III. KNOWLEDGE OF THE TREASURES IN CHRIST

A. Treasures Hidden in Christ

1. All the treasures of wisdom are “in Christ (whom).” Emphasized here is the place in which the treasures of wisdom are located, namely in Christ. They are located in His person (nature and attributes, Mat 28:20), in His work on the cross (Rom 5:8), in His words (Joh 14:10), in His example (1Co 11:1), and in the riches of His grace extended to believers (Eph 2:7).

2. These treasures are hidden in Christ. “Hidden” is the Greek word apokruphos which means something kept secret or hidden away.

3. The Gnostics and the Jewish heretics used the term hidden (apocrypha) for the secrets in their esoteric writings. This was the original usage. Paul takes the very word from them and claims that in Christ one finds all knowledge and wisdom, not in the writings of the heretics (Robertson in loc.). (English word Apocrypha, non-canonical additions to Catholic Bible)

4. They are not hidden in the sense that those who find them are to keep them secret like the Gnostics. Instead, they are to be openly proclaimed to all men whether embraced or not. Furthermore, should anyone be moved to seek them, it is no secret that they are openly found in Christ.

5. “Treasure” is the Greek word thêsauros and means a place for storing valuables. It is a storehouse or a treasure chest. From it, we get our English word “thesaurus” which is a treasury of words. Christ is the storehouse, the treasure chest, the heavenly treasury of divine wisdom.

6. In that treasury are the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Take notice that it is not some treasures, but all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

B. Treasures of Wisdom

1. “Wisdom” is the Greek word sophia which has various meanings in its history.

2. Originally, in ancient Greek culture it meant any practical skill. In the Classical period, it came to mean theoretical, intellectual, and philosophical knowledge. Later in its evolution, the theoretical was reunited with practical wisdom as the ideal picture of a wise man.

3. Both senses are used in the NT. We observe the theoretical (1Co 1:22), with perhaps and emphasis on the practical (Eph 5:15; Jam 3:13). All wisdom is found in Christ.

C. Treasures of Knowledge

1. “Knowledge” (gnōsis - noun) is basically, as the possession of information what is known, knowledge; (1) as a characteristic of God and man knowledge (Rom 11:33; 1Co 8:1); (2) as the result of divine enlightenment knowledge, understanding, insight (Luk 1:77); (3) of heretical claims to higher forms of knowledge available only to a select few gnosis, (esoteric) knowledge (1Ti 6:20) (Fri).

2. In regard to the difference between them, Norman Geisler in his commentary on Colossians writes, Knowledge is the apprehension of truth; wisdom is its application to life. Knowledge is prudent judgment and wisdom is prudent action.

IV. KNOWLEDGE OF CHRIST FOR THE BELIEVER

A. Knowledge of Christ in Apologetics

1. Unknown God - Paul refuted the Gnostics declaring that we can know God, but we can only do so in the person of Jesus Christ (cf. Act 17:23).

2. Sophia Worship - Paul refuted the Gnostics declaring that our worship is to be of Christ, the image of God, and in whom all our spiritual wealth is revealed from Him.

3. Forgotten Knowledge - Paul refuted the Gnostic wisdom and knowledge by declaring that all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are found in Christ.

B. Knowledge of Christ in Salvation

1. Salvation only comes by knowing Christ as Savior and Lord. To do that one must not only recognize that he is a sinner, but must cease from all merits for salvation (Php 3:4-9).

C. Knowledge of Christ in Sanctification

1. Having come to know Christ as Savior is just the beginning. The believer then has the privilege of knowing more about the Savior’s person and work. In so doing, the believer grows and becomes more Christ-like (Php 3:10).

D. Knowledge of Christ in Practice

1. We must recognize that there is a huge difference between God’s wisdom and the wisdom of the world and the flesh (1Co 1:20-24; Isa 55:8-9; Jam 3:14-18).

2. We must understand that Christ is at least the sum total of all Scripture, which reveals His person and work. The believer becomes more Christlike then by studying the Scriptures (Luk 24:27; Joh 5:39).

3. We gain wisdom by asking God for it. He will not punish us for not knowing. But there may be needless consequences if we do not ask for it (Jam 1:5; Pro 2:3).

4. We gain wisdom by studying the Scriptures, identifying its principles, and making a concerted effort by the Spirit to apply them to our lives (Pro 2:1-6; Psa 119:99; Col 3:16).

5. We must make a commitment to gain wisdom (Pro 4:4-7). What you commit to at 20, you will have at 40. Commit to becoming wise according to God’s Word.

Grace Bible Church · 4000 E. Collins Rd · PO Box #3762 · Gillette, WY · (307) 686-1516