Colossians 2: 2 – Riches and assurance

… that their hearts may be consoled, being united in love, and to all the riches of the assurance of understanding, unto a realization of the secret of the God and Father, of Christ

The battle Paul fought in writing this letter had a great purpose for his readers. It was so that “their hearts may be consoled.” The content of the letter guarantees encouragement, but on the condition, of course, that the content is not detracted from. That is the battle Paul fought. He had to expose and rebuke.

The Good News that Paul preached does not burden but encourages. And “the hope of the evangel” (1:23) points to the all-encompassing reconciliation that God will realize through Christ (1:20). It is the ultimate expression of the love of God that breaks through all barriers and resistance. Hence, through this message “being united in love and to all the riches of the assurance of understanding.” Note the superlatives of “all riches” and “assurance.” By “realization” Paul refers to the understanding of the secret of God, about which he also wrote a few verses before (1:27). The secret revealed to Paul and preached through him among the nations (1:25,26). That is the word of God for this time!

Delen: