Colossians 2:10

And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

And {G2532} ye are {G2075} complete {G4137} in {G1722} him {G846}, which {G3739} is {G2076} the head {G2776} of all {G3956} principality {G746} and {G2532} power {G1849}:

And it is in union with him that you have been made full — he is the head of every rule and authority.

And you have been made complete in Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.

and in him ye are made full, who is the head of all principality and power:

Commentary

Colossians 2:10 stands as a powerful declaration of the believer's standing in Christ, directly confronting the various forms of false teaching that threatened the early church in Colossae. It asserts the absolute supremacy and sufficiency of Jesus Christ.

Context

The Apostle Paul wrote the Epistle to the Colossians to address a specific heresy that was infiltrating the church in Colossae. This syncretistic teaching likely combined elements of Jewish legalism (emphasizing circumcision, dietary laws, and Sabbath observance), Gnostic-like ideas (stressing secret knowledge, spiritual hierarchies, and the worship of angelic beings), and ascetic practices (self-denial of the body). The false teachers were diminishing the person and work of Christ, suggesting that believers needed something *more* than Christ for spiritual completeness or salvation. Verses like Colossians 2:8 warn against being "spoiled through philosophy and vain deceit." In this context, verse 10 serves as a definitive counter-argument, elevating Christ above all perceived spiritual powers and human traditions.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Christ's Sufficiency: The core message is that believers are "complete in Him." This means that everything necessary for salvation, spiritual growth, and a right standing with God is found in Jesus Christ alone. There is no need for additional rituals, special knowledge, or mediation through other spiritual entities. This echoes the truth found in Colossians 1:19, which states, "For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell."
  • Christ's Supremacy: The phrase "which is the head of all principality and power" emphatically declares Christ's absolute authority over all created spiritual beings, whether good or evil. The false teachers likely elevated certain angelic or cosmic powers, implying they needed to be appeased or that one needed to ascend through them to God. Paul dismantles this by asserting Christ's ultimate lordship over every spiritual hierarchy, visible and invisible. This aligns with other passages highlighting Christ's dominion, such as Ephesians 1:21 and 1 Peter 3:22.
  • Believer's Security and Identity: Because Christ is supreme and sufficient, believers, by virtue of their union with Him, share in His completeness and authority. Their identity is firmly established in Christ, freeing them from fear of cosmic forces or the need to strive for spiritual perfection through human effort.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word translated "complete" is pepleromenoi (πεπληρωμένοι), a perfect passive participle of plēroō, meaning "to be filled full," "to be made full," or "to be completed." The perfect tense indicates a completed action with lasting results, emphasizing that believers have been fully supplied and lack nothing in Christ. The passive voice implies that this completeness is something done to us by God through Christ, not something we achieve. The terms "principality" (archē - ἀρχή) and "power" (exousia - ἐξουσία) were common in ancient thought, often referring to various ranks of spiritual authorities or cosmic forces. Paul consistently uses them to describe spiritual beings that are ultimately subject to Christ's sovereignty, as seen in Ephesians 6:12 where he speaks of battling against "principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world."

Practical Application

This verse provides immense comfort and confidence for believers today.

  • Freedom from Deficiency: It reminds us that we are not lacking in any spiritual blessing or standing before God when we are in Christ. We do not need to seek fulfillment, acceptance, or spiritual power from human philosophies, religious rituals, or any other source outside of Him.
  • Confidence in Spiritual Warfare: Knowing that Christ is "the head of all principality and power" assures us that no spiritual force can ultimately overcome us when we are united with Him. We stand secure under His supreme authority.
  • Living out Our Identity: Our completeness in Christ calls us to live lives that reflect His lordship and sufficiency. We are called to grow in our understanding of Him, rather than seeking external validation or spiritual experiences that diminish His unique role.

In essence, Colossians 2:10 is a foundational truth: our spiritual well-being, security, and identity are entirely and perfectly found in Jesus Christ, who reigns supreme over all.

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Cross-References

  • Ephesians 3:19 (24 votes)

    And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
  • Colossians 1:16 (20 votes)

    For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether [they be] thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
  • Colossians 1:18 (20 votes)

    And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all [things] he might have the preeminence.
  • 1 Peter 3:22 (17 votes)

    Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.
  • Philippians 2:9 (16 votes)

    Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
  • Philippians 2:11 (16 votes)

    And [that] every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ [is] Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
  • Ephesians 1:20 (16 votes)

    Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set [him] at his own right hand in the heavenly [places],