ISB ~ Colossians 2 v8 - 23

Paul confronts the teaching of Jewish troublemakers in Colossae. His comments suggest (1) they denied the full deity of Christ, and (2) they promoted the rituals of the Mosaic Law as indispensable requirements for living in covenant with God. Paul corrects these misunderstandings for his readers by asserting the divinity of Christ (2:9) and stressing that Gentile believers are already “complete” in Christ apart from the ceremonial works of the Old Covenant (circumcision, dietary laws, Sabbath observance, Temple festivals, etc.).