Colossians 2 Bible study: Rooted in him

Chapter 1 ends, "for which I also labor, striving according to his working, which works in me mightily." (1:29). The next verse goes on: "For I desire to have you know how greatly I struggle for you and for those at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh" (2:1) (tap struggle, and see the catch). The I is the letter's, which names itself Paul (1:23, 4:18). The struggle has an aim: "that their hearts may be comforted, they being knit together in love, and gaining all riches of the full assurance of understanding, that they may know the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, in whom all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden." (2:2-3). These notes give 2:2-3 as the WEB has them and say no more of them than the words. Then: "Now I say this that no one may delude you with persuasiveness of speech." (2:4) (tap delude). The letter doesn't say who might delude them, and these notes name no one. "For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in the spirit, rejoicing and seeing your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ." (2:5) (tap steadfastness).

Leviticus 23:2→leads toColossians 2:16-17

"The set feasts of the LORD" (23:2) include the Sabbath (23:3) and the yearly feasts (23:4-44). Paul writes, "Let no one therefore judge you in eating or drinking, or with respect to a feast day or a new moon or a Sabbath day" (Colossians 2:16), "which are a shadow of the things to come; but the body is Christ’s" (Colossians 2:17). Paul names feast days and Sabbaths, not this chapter; how Christians should keep such days is a question they answer in more than one way (see Exodus 23).

ῥιζόωrhizoosay hrid-ZO-o

Strong's: "to root (figuratively, become stable)". "walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith" (2:6-7): behind rooted is this verb. Strong's derives it from ῥίζα (rhiza, G4491). Colossians has it only here.