translation_id: net-engnet

book_id: COL

label: NET study note

text: Paul’s point is that even though the arguments seem to make sense ( sound reasonable ), they are in the end false. Paul is not here arguing against the study of philosophy or serious thinking per se, but is arguing against the uncritical adoption of a philosophy that is at odds with a proper view of Christ and the ethics of the Christian life.


text: The three participles rooted , built up , and firm belong together and reflect three different metaphors. The first participle “ rooted ” (perfect tense) indicates a settled condition on the part of the Colossian believers and refers to horticulture. The second participle “ built up ” (present passive) comes from the world of architecture. The third participle “ firm [established]” (present passive) comes from the law courts. With these three metaphors (as well as the following comment on thankfulness) Paul explains what he means when he commands them to continue to live their lives in Christ. The use of the passive probably reflects God’s activity among them. It was he who had rooted them, had been building them up, and had established them in the faith (cf. 1 Cor 3:5-15 for the use of mixed metaphors).


text: In him all the fullness of deity lives. The present tense in this verse (“ lives ”) is significant. Again, as was stated in the note on 1:19 , this is not a temporary dwelling, but a permanent one. Paul’s point is polemical against the idea that the fullness of God dwells anywhere else, as the Gnostics believed, except in Christ alone. At the incarnation, the second person of the Trinity assumed humanity, and is forever the God-man.