Daily Bible Nugget #695, Colossians 2:7

The Nugget:

Col 2:7  Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. (KJV)

Col 2:7 with your roots deeply planted in Him, being continuously built up in Him, and growing stronger in faith, just as you were taught to do, overflowing through it in your gratitude. (Williams NT)

Col 2:7  Sink your roots in him and build on him. Be strengthened by the faith that you were taught, and overflow with thanksgiving. (GW, God’s Word translation)

Col 2:7  Plant your roots in Christ and let him be the foundation for your life. Be strong in your faith, just as you were taught. And be grateful. (CEV, Contemporary English Version)

My Comment:

There is much helpful spiritual advice and direction contained in this verse!

It must be understood in the light of the immediately preceding context:

Col 2:6  As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:

Col 2:7  Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

Look carefully at Colossians 2:6. This verse helps us understand how we have received Christ Jesus the Lord. The basic answer to this question is “by faith.” We understand this because we are told elsewhere that we “walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7). An even more thorough study of “faith” would lead us to understand that by “faith” the Bible means total commitment or allegiance to our Lord Jesus Christ. But it is necessary to dig yet deeper by consulting the whole context of Scripture. This is best done by carefully considering the cross references for the key word “received” as they are given in The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury:

received. Gr. paralambanō (S# G3880, Mat 1:20). Mat 10:40, **Joh 1:12; Joh 1:13; Joh 13:20, Rom 5:11, +**Rom 15:7, +*1Co 1:30, Gal 3:3, Php 4:9, +*Heb 3:14, **1Jn 5:11; 1Jn 5:12; 1Jn 5:20, 2Jn 1:8, 9, +*Jud 1:3, **Rev 3:20.

And so for Colossians 2:7. Study each important concept by consulting the cross references given for each of the key words of the verse:

Colossians 2:7

Rooted. Literally, rooted once for all. **Col 1:23, +*Psa 1:3; Psa 37:35 mg. +*Psa 80:9; Psa 92:13, Pro 12:3, *Isa 61:3, Jer 1:10; *Jer 17:8, Eze 17:23, 24, Hos 14:8, %+*Mat 13:6, *Mar 4:6, %+**Luk 8:13, Rom 11:17, 18, *Eph 2:21; *Eph 2:22; *Eph 3:17 g. Jud 1:12.

built up. Literally, being built up. Gr. epoikodomeō (S# G2026, Act 20:32). Col 1:23, 1Ki 6:1, *Job 22:23, Jer 1:10, *Mat 7:24; *Mat 7:25, +*Luk 6:48, **Act 20:32, +Rom 14:19, *1Co 3:9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, *+Eph 2:20, 21, 22, *1Pe 2:4, 5, 6, **Jud 1:20.

stablished. Gr. bebaioō (S# G950, Mar 16:20), made valid or guaranteed. *Col 1:23, Psa 96:10, Pro 24:3, Act 16:5, Rom 11:20; Rom 16:25, +1Co 1:8 g. **1Co 15:58, *2Co 1:21; *2Co 5:7, +*Eph 4:14, 2Th 2:17, *Heb 13:9, *1Pe 5:10, 2Pe 1:12; +*2Pe 3:17; +*2Pe 3:18, *Jud 1:24.

in the faith. or, by your faith. Instrumental Dative. or, through the faith. Thus, made secure through the faith. 2Co 13:5.

as ye have been taught. Eph 4:21, **1Ti 1:3, +*Jud 1:3 note.

abounding. +*2Pe 1:8.

thanksgiving. Ingratitude to God has been the secret of the ruin of a whole civilization. Thankfulness for all they had learned and experienced should make the Colossians slow to adopt doctrinal alterations (WKF, p. 155). *Col 1:12; *Col 1:13; *+Col 3:15; *+Col 3:17; Col 4:2, **Rom 1:21, *+Eph 5:20, +*1Th 5:18, *Heb 13:15, Rev 7:12.

It can be seen that the true Christian life is not merely being a “Sunday go-to-meeting Christian.” It is a daily walk “in him,” that is, “in Christ.” That walk involves:

• Being rooted in Him.
• Being built up in Him. This includes continued spiritual growth (2 Peter 3:18). This comes from feeding faithfully and daily on God’s written word in the Bible and obeying what it teaches us.
• Being stablished. We must be thoroughly grounded in our faith (Colossians 1:23). This includes developing a solid understanding of Bible doctrine. It includes developing our knowledge of apologetics and hermeneutics. The value and necessity of these things becomes immediately apparent the moment we begin to share our faith with others in our effort to answer their questions (1 Peter 3:15) and lead them to Christ (Proverbs 11:30). We are able to do this “as [we] have been taught.” Many churches today are not focused on these things as much as they should be. To make up for that crucial lack of teaching we can learn these things for ourselves as we carefully study the Bible.
• Being thankful will be the fruit of our studies as we learn ever more about what our Lord Jesus Christ has done for us.