Colossians 2 6

Colossians 2:6 kjv

As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:

Colossians 2:6 nkjv

As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,

Colossians 2:6 niv

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him,

Colossians 2:6 esv

Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him,

Colossians 2:6 nlt

And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him.

Colossians 2 verses

Colossians 2 6 Meaning

Colossians 2:6 proclaims a foundational principle for Christian living: just as believers initiated their relationship with Christ Jesus through acceptance of Him as Lord, so too must they continually live their entire lives in intimate union with Him. It calls for consistency between the initial act of faith and the ongoing walk of obedience, emphasizing that the same Christ who was received at conversion is the ongoing source and sphere of all true spiritual life.

Colossians 2 6 Context

Colossians 2:6 serves as a pivotal verse following Paul's glorious statements about the supremacy and sufficiency of Christ in chapter 1 and the initial verses of chapter 2. Before delving into specific warnings against false teachings and philosophies (Col 2:8-23), Paul anchors the Colossian believers in the fundamental truth of their initial salvation and calls them to maintain consistency. The immediate context of chapter 2 focuses on Paul's spiritual struggle for them to grasp the full knowledge of Christ, in whom "all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden" (Col 2:3). This verse, therefore, establishes the correct foundation for their spiritual life, preempting the false teachers who would advocate for external rules, human philosophies, and asceticism as pathways to spiritual maturity, rather than reliance on Christ alone. It grounds them in the reality that spiritual progress comes not from external supplements, but from an ever-deepening life in Christ who was fully received.

Colossians 2 6 Word analysis

• So then (Hōste, ὥστε): A connective particle indicating a logical consequence or inference from what precedes. It signals that what follows is an essential conclusion derived from the magnificent truths of Christ's fullness and reconciliation described in Col 1. It bridges doctrine with duty, moving from Christ's supremacy to the believer's response.
• just as (Kathōs, καθώς): Signifies a direct comparison or correlation, emphasizing identity or sameness of manner. It implies continuity; the manner in which they received Christ should mirror the manner in which they live. It establishes the initial experience as the pattern for subsequent conduct.
• you received (Parelabete, παρελάβετε): An aorist indicative verb, pointing to a definite, completed past action. It denotes the moment of conversion when the Colossians accepted the Gospel and Christ Himself. It literally means "to take to oneself," "to accept," or "to welcome." This act of reception involved belief, trust, and commitment to Jesus as Lord, distinguishing it from mere intellectual assent. It implies they received Him via the handing down (paradosis) of the Christian faith.
• Christ Jesus (Christon Iēsoun, Χριστὸν Ἰησοῦν): Identifies the specific object of their faith and the core of the Gospel. "Christ" (Anointed One) signifies His Messiahship and divine office, while "Jesus" refers to His historical personhood. The combination underscores His dual identity as the long-awaited divine King and the human Savior, both fully God and fully man. Their salvation hinges on accepting His full identity and saving work.
• as Lord (Kurion, Κύριον): Crucial designation emphasizing absolute sovereignty and authority. Receiving Jesus "as Lord" goes beyond acknowledging His existence or even His saving power; it signifies total submission to His reign over one's life. It is an act of allegiance, giving Him supremacy in all things. This counters any attempts to diminish His unique position.
• continue to live / walk (Peripateite, περιπατεῖτε): A present imperative verb, meaning to walk around, live, or conduct oneself. The present tense indicates continuous action—an ongoing, daily manner of life. As an imperative, it is a command, urging a deliberate and active adherence to this way of living. Metaphorically, "walking" describes one's entire conduct, choices, and habits.
• in Him (En autō, ἐν αὐτῷ): Prepositional phrase denoting the sphere, atmosphere, or union with Christ. This is not merely living for Christ or like Christ, but living from Christ and within His life-giving presence and power. It expresses intimate, vital, and dynamic communion—His life sustaining ours. It signifies that Christ is the very element, the realm, in which their entire existence as believers takes place, relying on His spiritual life within them for strength, guidance, and purpose. It is the spiritual reality that grounds and enables the "walk."

• "So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord": This phrase links the initial moment of salvation to the ongoing journey of faith. The aorist "received" signifies a decisive past event of welcoming Christ not just as a prophet or good teacher, but as their supreme authority. This act wasn't just mental assent but a whole-person reception, leading to allegiance. The Colossians embraced a complete Christ, hence their subsequent life must also be wholly devoted to Him, guarding against any additions or subtractions from His preeminence.
• "continue to live your lives in Him": This is a call to continuous, experiential Christocentricity. The metaphor of "walking" signifies a daily lifestyle of conduct, choices, and attitude. "In Him" indicates that Christ Himself is the environment and dynamic power of this ongoing life. It's not a struggle in self-effort but a life drawing continually from Christ's life and presence within them. This phrase counters any external, rule-based spiritual systems; true spiritual growth and flourishing are found only within this deep, living union with Christ, empowering genuine sanctification.

Colossians 2 6 Bonus section

This verse functions as a pre-emptive strike against the false teachings and syncretistic philosophies Paul addresses in Colossians 2:8-23. By establishing the "Christ-sufficiency" principle from the outset—that believers are complete "in Him" and only need to continue in that relationship—Paul undermines the arguments of those who would introduce external rituals, specialized knowledge (proto-Gnosticism), or ascetic disciplines as necessary for spiritual growth. The "as Lord" aspect of receiving Christ emphasizes the decisive break from past allegiances and absolute submission to His authority, directly contrasting with humanly devised rules or angelic worship that competed for their devotion. The call to "walk in Him" isn't merely moralistic advice, but a deep theological statement about mystical union; it implies drawing nourishment and direction constantly from Christ's life and Spirit within, fostering true spiritual maturity that no philosophy or human tradition can replicate or augment.

Colossians 2 6 Commentary

Colossians 2:6 is a foundational command establishing the principle of consistent Christian living. Paul declares that the profound manner in which believers first welcomed Christ Jesus as their ultimate authority and Lord at conversion must directly correspond to the continuous way they live out their daily lives. The "receiving" of Christ was a singular, completed act of faith, implying not only intellectual acceptance but personal allegiance to His absolute Lordship. This crucial initial embrace becomes the pattern for the ongoing "walk" or conduct, meaning their entire life—thoughts, actions, relationships—should constantly draw its reality and direction from this vital union. The phrase "in Him" highlights that Christ is the exclusive sphere, source, and sustainer of the believer's spiritual existence. This directive implicitly counters any attempt by false teachers (as addressed in the subsequent verses) to divert believers with external rules, ascetic practices, or human philosophies, asserting that the entirety of their spiritual growth and experience flows solely from the full and continuous indwelling relationship with Christ. It is a powerful call to simple, wholehearted reliance on the all-sufficiency of Christ from salvation to sanctification.