Colossians 2:3

in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden.

'IN WHOM' -i.e. in Christ.

'ARE ALL THE TREASURES OF WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE HIDDEN' -

'WISDOM' -4678. sophia sof-ee'-ah; from 4680; wisdom (higher or lower, worldly or spiritual): -wisdom.

'KNOWLEDGE' -1108. gnosis gno'-sis; from 1097; knowing (the act), i.e. (by implication) knowledge: -knowledge, science.

Points to Note:

1. '"knowledge" refers to the apprehending of truths; "wisdom" to the power of reasoning about thme and applying them to life...Paul is insisting that the whole wealth of spiritual insight which men need, the beliefs concerning God which they should hold, and the laws of conduct by which they are to be guided are all stored up for them in Christ.' (Erdman p. 68)

2. 'Now wisdom is the ability, in concrete situations, to apply knowledge to the best advantage.' (Hendriksen p. 105)

3. 'Knowledge is the study, wisdom its fruit.' (Eadie p. 111)

4. This verse definitely shuts the door on many of the false teachers claims: (a) "all" wisdom and knowledge, all that is essential for pleasing God, is found in Christ (2 Peter 1:3; John 16:13). Hence whatever "knowledge and wisdom" the false teachers were selling was useless. (b) The search for wisdom and knowledge, apart from Jesus Christ, is. task doomed to failure. (c) The wisdom the false teachers claimed was found in their secret books. But true wisdom is found in Jesus Christ.

5. '"In him" the apostle finds what false teachers sought elsewhere,. satisfaction for the intellect as well as for the heart.' (P.P. Comm. p. 83)

6. When someone claims that the Bible isn't intellectually stimulating enough. We automatically know that the person making the claim isn't as smart as they claim to be. We know that something is seriously wrong with their study methods. We also know that their desire for truth isn't as strong as it should be.

'HIDDEN' -614. apokruphos ap-ok'-roo-fos; from 613; secret; by implication, treasured: -hid, kept secret.

Points to Note:

1. If such wealth is found in Christ, then it is available for anyone who wants it.

2. But the word "hidden" infers: (a) That while such truth is available for anyone. It isn't inherently within us or easily discovered by intuition (1 Corinthians 2:6; Jeremiah 2:23). We must come to Christ for it. (b) It isn't available for lazy people or people who don't have. love for truth (2 Timothy 2:15; 2 Thessalonians 2:10). (c) Anyone can gain this treasure, that is, anyone willing to dig for it (Hebrews 5:12).

3. Bible study shouldn't be. chore or simply something to be done,. mere duty to be performed. Within Christ's revelation are found abundant treasures, all spiritual truth that is worth knowing. The most important concepts and realities of life. And it's not mere information, it is the truth that can liberate you from sin (John 8:32), the message that can save your soul (James 1:21).

4. This verse also infers: (a) The human mind can comprehend and correctly interpret God's revelation-i.e. the revelation that God gave is perfectly fitted for the man that God created. (b) No other revelation from God is needed. Which places all latter-day revelations (The Book of Mormon, etc...) out in the cold.