SEV Biblia, Chapter 2:2
para que tomen consolacin sus corazones, unidos en caridad, y en todas las riquezas de cumplido entendimiento para conocer el misterio del Dios y Padre, y del Cristo;
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Colossians 2:2
Verse 2. That their hearts might be comforted] That they might have continual happiness in God, having constant affiance in him. Being knit together in love] The word sumbibasqentwn, or sumbibasqentev, which is the true reading, but both of equal import here, signifies being united, as the beams or the timbers of a building, by mortices and pins. The visible Church of Christ cannot be in union with God unless it have unity in itself, and without love this unity is impossible.
Unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding] That is, that they might have the most indubitable certainty of the truth of Christianity, of their own salvation, and of the general design of God to admit the Gentiles into his Church. This is the grand mystery of God, which was now laid open by the preaching of the Gospel.
And of the Father, and of Christ] These words are variously written in different MSS., versions, and fathers: The mystery of God-of God in Christ-of God who is in Christ-of God concerning Christ-of God who is Christ-of the God Christ-of God and Christ-of God the Father of Christ-of God the Father, and our Lord Christ-of God and the Father of Christ-of God the Father, in Christ-of the God Christ Jesus, Father and Lord, &c., &c., &c.
This great variety of versions leaves the strongest presumption that the words in question are glosses which have crept into the text, and are of no authority. Griesbach has left them out of the text.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 2. That their hearts might be comforted , etc.] Here follow the reasons why the apostle had so great a conflict, on account of the above persons, and why he was so desirous they should know it; one is, the consolation of their hearts. The hearts of God's people often need comfort, by reason of indwelling sin, the temptations of Satan, the hidings of God's face, and afflictive providences; and by reason of false teachers, who greatly trouble them, unsettle their minds, weaken their faith, and fill them with doubts and perplexities, and which was the case with these churches: now the business of Gospel ministers is to comfort such; this is the commission they are sent with; the doctrines of the Gospel are calculated for this very purpose, such as full redemption, free justification, complete pardon of sin, peace and reconciliation; and the bent of their ministry is to comfort distressed minds, upon what account soever; and it must be a comfort to these churches, when they found that they were regarded by so great an apostle; and it might tend to confirm them in the doctrine they had received at first, and deliver them from the scruples the false apostles had injected into their minds, and so administer comfort to them, when they perceived that the apostle approved of the Gospel they had heard and embraced, and rejected the notions of the false teachers: being knit together in love : as the members of an human body are, by joints and bands; as love is the bond of union between God and his people, Christ and his members, so between saints and saints; it is the cement that joins and keeps them together, and which edifies and builds them up, and whereby they increase with the increase of God; it makes them to be of one heart and one soul; it renders their communion with one another comfortable and delightful, and strengthens them against the common enemy, who is for dividing, and so destroying; and is what is the joy of Gospel ministers, and what they labour at and strive for, and which is another reason of the apostle's conflict: and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding ; that is, spiritual knowledge and understanding, or the understanding of spiritual things; for the understanding of things natural and civil is not designed; nor a mere notional knowledge of spiritual things, which persons may have, and yet not charity, or love, with which this is here joined; and such an one also, which is sure and certain: for as there is such a thing as the assurance of faith, and the assurance of hope, so likewise of understanding of the Gospel, and the truths of it; concerning which there ought to be no doubt, being to be received upon the credit of a divine testimony: moreover, such a knowledge and understanding of divine things is intended, as is large and abundant, signified by all riches; for though it is not complete and perfect in this life, yet it takes a vast compass, and reaches to all the deep things of God; to whatever relates to the person and grace of Christ; to all the things of the Spirit of God; to all the blessings and promises of the covenant of grace; to the riches both of grace and glory, to the things of time and eternity, and which is more clearly explained by the following clause: to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ ; that is, to a greater and more perfect knowledge, approbation, and confession of the Gospel, which he had in the preceding chapter called the mystery; (see Colossians 1:26,27), and here the mystery of God, which he is both the author and subject of: it is by him as the efficient cause, ordained by him, and hid in him before the world was; and it is of him, as the subject matter of it; not as the God of nature and providence, which the works of both declare; but as the God of all grace, as God in Christ, which is the peculiar discovery of the Gospel: and of him as the Father of Christ, which is not discoverable by the light of nature, nor known by natural reason, but is a point of divine revelation; and of him as the Father of his people by adoption; and of all his grace, in election to grace and glory; in predestination to sonship, and in the council and covenant of grace; in the scheme of salvation and redemption; in the mission of his Son, and the gift of him as a Saviour and Redeemer. The copulative and before the Father, is left out in the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Arabic versions, which read the mystery of God the Father; and with it, it may be rendered, as it sometimes is, God, even the Father: though the word God may be considered essentially, and as after distinguished into two of the persons of the Godhead; the Father the first person, so called, in relation to his Son, which is no small part of the mystery of the Gospel; and Christ the second person, who is equally God with the Father; and the Spirit, who, though not mentioned, is not excluded from this adorable mystery: and which is the mystery of Christ, he being both the efficient cause and the subject matter of it; it treats of his deity and personality; of his offices, as Mediator, prophet, priest, and King; of his incarnation and redemption; of his grace, righteousness, sacrifice, and satisfaction; of justification by him, pardon through him, and acceptance in him.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-7 - The soul prospers when we have clear knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus. When we not only believe with the heart, but are ready, when called, to make confession with the mouth. Knowledge and faith make soul rich. The stronger our faith, and the warmer our love, the mor will our comfort be. The treasures of wisdom are hid, not from us, but for us, in Christ. These were hid from proud unbelievers, but displaye in the person and redemption of Christ. See the danger of enticin words; how many are ruined by the false disguises and fair appearance of evil principles and wicked practices! Be aware and afraid of thos who would entice to any evil; for they aim to spoil you. All Christian have, in profession at least, received Jesus Christ the Lord, consente to him, and taken him for theirs. We cannot be built up in Christ, or grow in him, unless we are first rooted in him, or founded upon him Being established in the faith, we must abound therein, and improve in it more and more. God justly withdraws this benefit from those who d not receive it with thanksgiving; and gratitude for his mercies is justly required by God.
Greek Textus Receptus
ινα 2443 παρακληθωσιν 3870 5686 αι 3588 καρδιαι 2588 αυτων 846 συμβιβασθεντων 4822 5685 εν 1722 αγαπη 26 και 2532 εις 1519 παντα 3956 πλουτον 4149 της 3588 πληροφοριας 4136 της 3588 συνεσεως 4907 εις 1519 επιγνωσιν 1922 του 3588 μυστηριου 3466 του 3588 θεου 2316 και 2532 πατρος 3962 και 2532 του 3588 χριστου 5547
Vincent's NT Word Studies
2. Comforted (paraklhqwsin). Not so much tranquilized as braced. See on John xiv. 16.
Knit together (sumbibasqentev). See on proving, Acts ix. 22. In the Septuagint it means to instruct, as Exod. xviii. 16; Deut. iv. 9; Isaiah xl. 13 (compare 1 Cor. ii. 16); Psalm xxxi. 8. Used of putting together in one's mind, and so to conclude by comparison. Thus Acts xvi. 10, assuredly gathering, Rev., concluding.
Full assurance (plhroforiav). Or fullness. See Heb. vi. 11; x. 22. Of understanding (sunesewv). See on Mark xii. 33; Luke ii. 47.
To the acknowledgment (eiv epignwsin). Wrong. Epignwsiv is the full knowledge, as ch. i. 9 (note). Rev., that they may know.
Of God. The best textual authorities add Cristou of Christ. So Rev., of God, even Christ. Christ is in apposition with mystery. Compare ch. i. 27.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
2:2 {May be comforted} (parakleqwsin). First aorist passive subjunctive of parakalew (for which see #2Co 1:3-7) in final clause with hina. {Being knit together} (sunbibasqentes). First aorist passive participle of sunbibazw, old verb, causal of bainw, to make go together, to coalesce in argument (#Ac 16:10), in spiritual growth (#Col 2:19), in love as here. Love is the sundesmos (#3:14) that binds all together. {Unto all riches} (eis pan ploutos). Probably some distinction intended between en (in love as the sphere) and eis (unto as the goal). {Of the full assurance of understanding} (tes pleroforias tes sunesews). On pleroforia, see #1Th 1:5. From pleroforew (see #Lu 1:1) and only in N.T. (#1Th 1:5; Col 2:2; Heb 6:11; 10:22), Clement of Rome (_Cor_. 42) and one papyrus example. Paul desires the full use of the intellect in grasping the great mystery of Christ and it calls for the full and balanced exercise of all one's mental powers. {That they may know} (eis epignwsin). "Unto full knowledge." this use of epignwsis (full, additional knowledge) is Paul's reply to the Gnostics with the limited and perverted gnwsis (knowledge). {The mystery of God, even Christ} (tou musteriou tou qeou, cristou). The MSS. differ widely here, but this is Westcott and Hort's reading. Genitive (objective) with epignwsin and cristou in apposition. Christ is "the mystery of God," but no longer hidden, but manifested (#1:26) and meant for us to know to the fulness of our capacity.
