Colossians 2:6-7
Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
The verse isn't just saying to keep doing what you started; it emphasizes that the way you received Christ—as the definitive "Christ Jesus the Lord"—is the exact way you must continue to live in Him. This highlights that your ongoing walk should reflect the full, authoritative identity of Christ you first embraced, not a watered-down version.
Paul is writing to the Colossian church to guard them against false teachers who are subtly trying to undermine their faith in Christ. He emphasizes Christ's supremacy and sufficiency for salvation, warning against human traditions and philosophies that detract from Him. This verse serves as a crucial bridge, urging believers to remain steadfast in the Christ they initially embraced, as taught by their trusted leaders.
How did you first 'get' Jesus? Was it a mental checkbox or something more profound? This verse reveals that our reception of Christ wasn't just about learning facts, but about a life-changing encounter.
The word 'received' (paralambano in Greek) here signifies more than just intellectual acceptance. It speaks to a welcoming, an embracing, and a taking to oneself.
More Than Information
The scholars point out that this reception wasn't merely about accepting a set of teachings, but about embracing the person of Christ Himself. It was a foundational act where Christ was communicated as the very element of life. Think of it like this: you don't just 'receive' a recipe; you receive the ingredients and the chef's skill to make the meal.
A Full Portrait
Paul uses the full title 'Christ Jesus the Lord.' This isn't just a casual mention. It emphasizes the identity and authority of the one they received: the promised Messiah (Christ), the historical Savior (Jesus), and the sovereign ruler (Lord) over all.
This initial reception was the bedrock upon which everything else was to be built. It was a commitment to Him in His fullness, not a partial acceptance of a diluted version.
We often think of faith as a single event, but Paul urges a 'walk.' What does it look like to continuously walk in Christ, especially when life gets complicated?
The command to 'walk in him' is the natural outflow of having received Christ.
A Lifestyle, Not a Moment
The word 'walk' (peripateo in Greek) refers to one's conduct, manner of life, and overall way of living. It's not about a single step, but a continuous journey.
Rooted and Built Up
This ongoing walk isn't aimless. The context immediately following (in verses 7) describes this walk as being 'rooted and built up in him.'
Understand the original words
Christos · Greek Noun
The anointed One of God, the promised Messiah who fulfills the Old Testament prophecies, Savior, and King.
kyrios · Greek Noun
The supreme ruler or sovereign; one who has authority, ownership, and lordship over a person's life and the universe.
peripateō · Greek Verb
To live, conduct oneself, or behave in a manner consistent with a specific principle or person. It signifies a continuous, habitual way of life.
pistis · Greek Noun
A state of firm belief, trust, and commitment to the truth revealed by God in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It encompasses both the act of believing and the body of doctrine believed.
This verse arises from a period when early Christian communities faced threats from various 'philosophies' and teachings that, while sometimes appearing spiritual or wise, actually undermined the unique sufficiency and supremacy of Jesus Christ. Paul urges believers to remain grounded in the foundational truth of who they received in Christ.
c. AD 50-52
Paul Founds Church in Corinth
During his second missionary journey, Paul established a significant church in Corinth, a major Roman city known for its wealth and moral challenges. This church would later receive letters from Paul addressing various issues.
c. AD 53-57
Paul Writes Letters to Corinth and Galatia
Paul penned influential letters to the Corinthian and Galatian churches, addressing issues of false teaching, divisions, and the importance of adhering to the true gospel. These letters reflect ongoing struggles with distorted messages about Christ.
c. AD 60-62— this verse
Paul Imprisoned in Rome
While under house arrest in Rome, Paul wrote several letters, including Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon. His confinement provided him with an opportunity to reflect and minister through writing to churches he could not physically visit.
c. AD 62
Paul Writes the Epistle to the Colossians
This passage warns against turning to a 'different gospel,' which echoes Colossians' concern about false teachers leading believers astray from the true Christ they first received.
Ephesians 4:14It describes believers being 'tossed by the waves and blown about by every wind of doctrine,' highlighting the danger of straying from the foundational truth of Christ, a risk addressed by walking in Him as Colossians 2:6 commands.
Deuteronomy 5:32This Old Testament command, 'You shall be careful to do as the LORD your God has commanded you. You shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left,' parallels the instruction in Colossians to 'walk in Him,' emphasizing faithful adherence to God's way.
1 Corinthians 1:10Paul's plea for unity and speaking the same thing among the Corinthians parallels the spirit of Colossians 2:6, urging believers to maintain a consistent walk in Christ, aligned with the foundational truth they received.
John 15:4Jesus' teaching to 'Abide in me, and I in you' beautifully illustrates the concept of 'walking in Him' from Colossians 2:6, showing that genuine spiritual life and fruitfulness come from remaining connected to Christ.
henryColossians 2:1-7: "For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;"
2:1-7 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 a soul rich. The stronger our faith, and the warmer our love, the more will our comfort be. The treasures of wisdom are hid…
vincentColossians 2:6: "As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:"
Ye received (παρελάβετε)By transmission from (παρά) your teachers.Christ Jesus the Lord (τὸν Χριστόν Ἱησοῦν τὸν Κὑριον)The Christ, specially defined by the following words, thus emphasizing the personal Christ rather than the Gospel, because the true doctrine of Christ's person was perverted by the Colossian teachers. The Christ, even Jesus, the Lord.
The verse isn't just saying to keep doing what you started; it emphasizes that the way you received Christ—as the definitive "Christ Jesus the Lord"—is the exact way you must continue to live in Him. This highlights that your ongoing walk should reflect the full, authoritative identity of Christ you first embraced, not a watered-down version.
Paul is writing to the Colossian church to guard them against false teachers who are subtly trying to undermine their faith in Christ. He emphasizes Christ's supremacy and sufficiency for salvation, warning against human traditions and philosophies that detract from Him. This verse serves as a crucial bridge, urging believers to remain steadfast in the Christ they initially embraced, as taught by their trusted leaders.
Paul is writing to the Colossian church to guard them against false teachers who are subtly trying to undermine their faith in Christ. He emphasizes Christ's supremacy and sufficiency for salvation, warning against human traditions and philosophies that detract from Him. This verse serves as a crucial bridge, urging believers to remain steadfast in the Christ they initially embraced, as taught by their trusted leaders.
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Colossians 2:6-7 is available in the Sola app.
Harmony with Reception
The crucial connection is the word 'so' (houtos). Your walk is to mirror the way you received Him. If you received Christ in His fullness – as Christ, Jesus, and Lord – then your life's journey should consistently reflect that reality. It’s about living out the implications of who He is and what He has done, day by day.
From Rome, Paul penned this letter to the church in Colossae, likely addressing a nascent form of heresy that sought to diminish Christ's supremacy by adding other intermediaries or practices. The letter strongly emphasizes Christ's sufficiency and preeminence.
"Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving." — The verse isn't just saying to keep doing what you started; it emphasizes that the way you received Christ—as the definitive "Christ Jesus the Lord"—is the exact way you must continue to live in…
