Colossians 2:10 kjv
And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
Colossians 2:10 nkjv
and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.
Colossians 2:10 niv
and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority.
Colossians 2:10 esv
and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.
Colossians 2:10 nlt
So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.
Colossians 2 10 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference Note |
|---|---|---|
| Jn 1:16 | For of His fullness we have all received... | Completeness derived from Christ's fullness |
| Eph 1:22-23 | And He put all things under His feet...head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him... | Christ as Head, filling the Church with His fullness |
| Col 1:18 | And He is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn...preeminence in all things. | Christ's headship and preeminence over His body |
| Col 1:19 | For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell; | All divine fullness dwells in Christ |
| Col 2:9 | For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. | Immediate preceding verse; basis for believer's fullness |
| Rom 8:37-39 | ...we are more than conquerors...nor angels nor principalities nor powers...will be able to separate us from the love of God. | Christ's supremacy over hostile spiritual powers |
| Eph 1:21 | far above all principality and power and might and dominion... | Christ's exaltation above all cosmic powers |
| Phil 2:9-10 | God highly exalted Him...every knee should bow, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth... | Universal worship and Christ's supreme authority |
| Heb 10:14 | For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. | Believers are eternally perfected through Christ |
| 1 Cor 1:30 | But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption. | Christ provides all spiritual necessities |
| 2 Cor 5:17 | Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come. | Completeness includes new identity in Christ |
| Gal 2:20 | I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me... | Christ's indwelling enables new life and completeness |
| Col 1:27 | ...Christ in you, the hope of glory. | The indwelling Christ is the source of spiritual hope |
| 1 Pet 3:22 | who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been subjected to Him. | All spiritual forces are subjected to Christ |
| Matt 28:18 | And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth." | Christ's universal, supreme authority |
| Eph 3:19 | ...and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. | Growth into fullness by Christ's love |
| Eph 4:13 | till we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. | Growing into the fullness found in Christ |
| Heb 7:18-19 | For on the one hand, there is a setting aside of a former commandment because of its weakness and uselessness (for the Law made nothing perfect)... | The Law's inadequacy vs. Christ's perfection |
| Acts 17:28 | for in Him we live and move and have our being... | Our existence and sustenance are in Christ |
| Jn 14:6 | Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me." | Christ is the sole path, making Him sufficient |
Colossians 2 verses
Colossians 2 10 Meaning
Believers, having Christ dwelling fully within them, possess everything necessary for salvation and spiritual life, lacking nothing. This completeness is found exclusively in Christ, who holds ultimate supremacy and authority over all cosmic and angelic powers, demonstrating His unrivaled sufficiency.
Colossians 2 10 Context
Colossians 2 provides a crucial counter-argument to a composite heresy prevalent in Colossae. This false teaching combined elements of Jewish legalism (observance of food laws, festivals, circumcision), Gnosticism (emphasis on special knowledge, disdain for the material, possibly angel worship), philosophical speculation, and asceticism (severe self-discipline). The teachers of this heresy sought to diminish Christ's uniqueness and sufficiency by implying that believers needed something more than Christ—rituals, special knowledge, or mediation through angelic beings—to attain spiritual perfection or a deeper experience with God.
Verse 10 follows directly from verse 9, which declares, "For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily." Building on this assertion of Christ's complete deity, Paul states that believers, by virtue of their union with Him, participate in this fullness. This verse is a direct polemic against any attempt to add to Christ's work or diminish His supremacy by placing faith or dependence on other entities or human efforts. It assures believers that they are already fully equipped and do not lack anything in their spiritual standing or access to God through Christ, who reigns supreme over all possible rival powers or intermediaries.
Colossians 2 10 Word analysis
- And ye are complete: The Greek word for "complete" is plēroō (πληρόω), meaning "to be filled full," "to be brought to completion," or "to lack nothing." It is in the perfect active indicative, implying a present, established state resulting from a past action. Believers are not becoming complete; they are complete now. This directly challenges any idea that additional practices or knowledge are needed to achieve spiritual wholeness. This fullness is not a future hope but a present reality in Christ.
- in Him: The preposition "in" (en) denotes location, sphere, and union. This highlights that the source and context of this completeness is Christ Himself. It speaks to the intimate, salvific union believers have with Him. Their identity and spiritual resources are inextricably linked to Him.
- which is the head: The Greek word for "head" is kephalē (κεφαλή). This term signifies authority, preeminence, source, and supreme leadership. Christ is not merely one of many authorities or mediators; He is the absolute head, superior to all others.
- of all principality and power: The Greek terms are archē (ἀρχή) for "principality" and exousia (ἐξουσία) for "power." These refer to ranks of spiritual or cosmic authorities, often interpreted as angelic beings (both good and rebellious), or general supernatural forces and dominions. The false teachers might have given undue importance to such entities. Paul asserts Christ's absolute sovereignty over them, implying that believers, being complete in Him, have no need to fear, worship, or seek favor from these beings.
- "And ye are complete in Him": This phrase emphasizes the radical sufficiency of Christ. Because the fullness of the Godhead resides in Christ (v. 9), believers, who are "in Him," inherently participate in that fullness. It means the believer has all necessary resources for salvation, reconciliation, and ongoing spiritual life right now. There's no deficit or lack that needs to be remedied by external means or additional spiritual exercises advocated by the Colossian heresy.
- "which is the head of all principality and power": This part underlines Christ's universal sovereignty. By establishing Christ's supreme headship over all such cosmic and spiritual authorities, Paul dispels any notion that these entities possess independent power or require propitiation from believers. Their very submission to Christ validates the believer's security and completeness in Him. There is no higher authority or spiritual mediator needed outside of Christ.
Colossians 2 10 Bonus section
The concept of "completeness" (pleroo) in Colossians 2:10 is a divine work, not a human achievement. It implies that every aspect of the divine nature and character is fully present in Christ (as seen in Col 2:9) and that believers partake in this full divine provision. This radical statement of believer's spiritual status immediately addresses the legalistic and mystical elements of the Colossian heresy, which sought spiritual advantage through human observances or secret knowledge. Paul essentially states that whatever the false teachers promised to provide (perfection, secret wisdom, protection from spirits), Christ has already provided in abundance, and freely, to all who are "in Him." The "principality and power" likely refer to the stoicheia tou kosmou mentioned in Colossians 2:8 and 2:20, which often denote elemental spirits, basic principles of the world, or even rudimentary religious systems. Christ's headship over these underscores that these forces and principles cannot exert spiritual authority over believers who are united with the Head.
Colossians 2 10 Commentary
Colossians 2:10 stands as a foundational truth countering false doctrines that seek to diminish Christ's supremacy or add requirements for spiritual fullness. Because the absolute fullness of the Godhead dwells in Christ (v. 9), Paul declares that believers, through their spiritual union with Him, are likewise made complete. This means there is nothing lacking in Christ for salvation, justification, sanctification, or glorification. Any attempt to introduce additional rituals, laws, ascetic practices, human philosophies, or intermediaries (like angels) for achieving spiritual maturity or a deeper walk with God is redundant and effectively undermines Christ's perfect work. His position as "head of all principality and power" establishes His supreme authority over all cosmic and spiritual forces, rendering them subordinate to Him. Believers, being "in Him," share in His triumph and are not subject to these powers. This truth liberates believers from the burden of seeking fulfillment through human effort or superstition, assuring them that all spiritual needs are perfectly met in Christ alone.For example, a believer feeling inadequate in their spiritual journey might be tempted by complex spiritual "techniques" or doctrines. This verse reassures them that their completeness comes from Christ's perfect provision, not from their added efforts. It means trusting in Christ as truly sufficient, rather than fearing any unseen force or pursuing endless self-improvement strategies apart from His grace.