Section 2:6–23

Behave as God’s people should behave and do not follow false teaching

Theme: Paul told the Colossians to behave correctly because they belong to Christ. They should not follow those who teach a false message. He also reminded them that God had accepted them completely because they belong to Christ.

In 1:13–2:5 Paul had reminded the Colossians what is true about Christ and had told them that God had always planned to make them his people. Beginning in 2:6, Paul urged them to continue to believe in Christ. He assured them that this was the same message that Epaphras and others had taught them. Therefore, they should continue to trust in Christ more and more and act in ways that honor God. They should not believe any other message.

Paragraph 2:6–7

Theme: The Colossians should continue to behave in ways that people who accept Christ Jesus as their ruler should behave.

In these verses Paul began more directly to urge the Colossian believers to continue to follow Christ and to reject the false teachings they were hearing.

2:6a

Therefore: The Greek word oun that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Therefore shows that Paul was basing what he was about to say on what he had already said: “So, based on what I have said, I urge you…”

just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord: This means “since/because you have received Christ Jesus as Lord.”

have received: This can mean either “to accept something” or “to accept instruction or teaching about something.” So there are two ways to interpret this part of the verse:

(1) The Colossians had believed the teaching that Christ Jesus was the Lord, the supreme ruler of the universe and of all his people.

(2) The Colossians had accepted Christ Jesus as their Lord, that is, as their ruler or chief, the one whom they obey.

Both of these interpretations are true, and Paul probably did not distinguish between them in his mind. However in his letters, Paul used this word most frequently to mean, “to accept teaching about something” (see 1 Corinthians 11:23, 15:3; Galatians 1:9, 1:12; 1 Thessalonians 2:13). Therefore, it is recommended that you follow the first interpretation (1).

If you want to follow the second interpretation (2), you could translate this part of the verse:

So then, since you have acknowledged that Christ Jesus is your Lord…,
-or-
So then, since you have said, “Christ Jesus is my Lord,”…

The form of the word received in Greek shows that it refers to an action that had been completed, that is, at some time in the past the Colossians had heard and believed the teaching about Christ.

2:6b

continue to walk in Him: The Greek translated literally says, “walk in him.” This is a figure of speech that means, “behave every day like someone who is united to Christ.” The verb is in the present tense, meaning, “continue to behave….” Paul was writing about the way the Colossians should act/behave every day.

in Him: Paul urged his readers to walk in Him. This meant that the way they behaved should be based on the fact that they were united to Christ.

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