Colossians 2:10
New International Version
and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority.

New Living Translation
So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.

English Standard Version
and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.

Berean Standard Bible
And you have been made complete in Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.

Berean Literal Bible
And you are complete in Him, who is the head of all rule and authority,

King James Bible
And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

New King James Version
and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.

New American Standard Bible
and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over every ruler and authority;

NASB 1995
and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority;

NASB 1977
and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority;

Legacy Standard Bible
and in Him you have been filled, who is the head over all rule and authority;

Amplified Bible
And in Him you have been made complete [achieving spiritual stature through Christ], and He is the head over all rule and authority [of every angelic and earthly power].

Christian Standard Bible
and you have been filled by him, who is the head over every ruler and authority.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
and you have been filled by Him, who is the head over every ruler and authority.

American Standard Version
and in him ye are made full, who is the head of all principality and power:

Contemporary English Version
And you are fully grown because you belong to Christ, who is over every power and authority.

English Revised Version
and in him ye are made full, who is the head of all principality and power:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
and God has made you complete in Christ. Christ is in charge of every ruler and authority.

Good News Translation
and you have been given full life in union with him. He is supreme over every spiritual ruler and authority.

International Standard Version
And you have been filled by him, who is the head of every ruler and authority.

Majority Standard Bible
And you have been made complete in Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.

NET Bible
and you have been filled in him, who is the head over every ruler and authority.

New Heart English Bible
and in him you are made full, who is the head of all principality and power;

Webster's Bible Translation
And ye are complete in him, who is the head of all principality and power:

Weymouth New Testament
and He is the Lord of all princes and rulers.

World English Bible
and in him you are made full, who is the head of all principality and power.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and you are made full in Him, who is the head of all principality and authority,

Berean Literal Bible
And you are complete in Him, who is the head of all rule and authority,

Young's Literal Translation
and ye are in him made full, who is the head of all principality and authority,

Smith's Literal Translation
And ye are completed in him, who is the head of all beginning and power:
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And you are filled in him, who is the head of all principality and power:

Catholic Public Domain Version
And in him, you have been filled; for he is the head of all principality and power.

New American Bible
and you share in this fullness in him, who is the head of every principality and power.

New Revised Standard Version
and you have come to fullness in him, who is the head of every ruler and authority.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And it is through him that you also have been made complete, for he is the head of all angelic orders and powers:

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And you also are completed in him, who is The Head of all Principalities and Powers.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
And you are complete in him who is the head of all principality and authority:

Godbey New Testament
and you are complete in him, who is the head of all government and authority:

Haweis New Testament
and ye are complete in him, who is the head of all principality and power:

Mace New Testament
and ye are filled by him, who is the chief of all principality and power:

Weymouth New Testament
and He is the Lord of all princes and rulers.

Worrell New Testament
and ye have been made complete in Him, Who is the Head of all principality and power;

Worsley New Testament
And ye are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Alive in Christ
9For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity dwells in bodily form. 10And you have been made complete in Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority. 11In Him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of your sinful nature, with the circumcision performed by Christ and not by human hands.…

Cross References
Ephesians 1:22-23
And God put everything under His feet and made Him head over everything for the church, / which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

Philippians 2:9-11
Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name above all names, / that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, / and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

1 Corinthians 15:27
For “God has put everything under His feet.” Now when it says that everything has been put under Him, this clearly does not include the One who put everything under Him.

Ephesians 4:15-16
Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Christ Himself, who is the head. / From Him the whole body, fitted and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love through the work of each individual part.

John 1:16
From His fullness we have all received grace upon grace.

Romans 8:37
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

1 John 5:11-12
And this is that testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. / Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

1 Corinthians 3:21-23
Therefore, stop boasting in men. All things are yours, / whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future. All of them belong to you, / and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.

Ephesians 3:19
of the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Hebrews 2:8
and placed everything under his feet.” When God subjected all things to him, He left nothing outside of his control. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to him.

John 17:2
For You granted Him authority over all people, so that He may give eternal life to all those You have given Him.

1 Peter 3:22
who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers subject to Him.

Matthew 28:18
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.

Romans 13:1
Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which is from God. The authorities that exist have been appointed by God.

Daniel 7:14
And He was given dominion, glory, and kingship, that the people of every nation and language should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and His kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.


Treasury of Scripture

And you are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

complete.

Colossians 3:11
Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.

John 1:16
And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.

1 Corinthians 1:30,31
But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: …

the head.

Colossians 1:16-18
For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: …

Ephesians 1:20-23
Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, …

Ephesians 4:15,16
But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: …

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Authority Christ Complete Full Fullness Fulness Head Life Power Princes Principality Rule Rulers
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Authority Christ Complete Full Fullness Fulness Head Life Power Princes Principality Rule Rulers
Colossians 2
1. Paul still exhorts them to be constant in Christ;
8. to beware of philosophy, and vain traditions;
18. worshipping of angels;
20. and legal ceremonies, which are ended in Christ.














And you have been made complete
The phrase "have been made complete" is derived from the Greek word "πεπληρωμένοι" (peplērōmenoi), which means to be filled or made full. In the context of Colossians, this completion signifies the spiritual fullness that believers receive through their union with Christ. Historically, the Colossian church faced teachings that suggested additional spiritual practices or knowledge were necessary for spiritual maturity. Paul counters this by affirming that in Christ, believers lack nothing. This completeness is not a future promise but a present reality, emphasizing the sufficiency of Christ in all aspects of spiritual life.

in Christ
The phrase "in Christ" is central to Pauline theology, indicating a profound spiritual union with Jesus. The Greek preposition "ἐν" (en) suggests a fixed position or state of being. This union is not merely positional but relational, implying that believers are intimately connected to Christ's life, death, and resurrection. Historically, this concept was revolutionary, as it transcended the Jewish understanding of covenantal relationship with God, extending it to all who believe in Jesus. It underscores the transformative power of being in Christ, where believers find their identity, purpose, and destiny.

who is the head
The term "head" comes from the Greek "κεφαλή" (kephalē), which denotes authority and leadership. In the ancient world, the head was seen as the source of life and direction for the body. By declaring Christ as the head, Paul emphasizes His supreme authority and preeminence over all creation. This imagery also reflects the organic relationship between Christ and the Church, where He is the source of life and growth for believers. It reassures the Colossians that their spiritual leader is none other than the sovereign Lord of the universe.

over every ruler and authority
The phrase "over every ruler and authority" refers to both earthly and spiritual powers. The Greek words "ἀρχή" (archē) and "ἐξουσία" (exousia) are often used to describe various levels of power and governance. In the historical context of Colossae, there was a fascination with spiritual hierarchies and angelic beings. Paul asserts Christ's supremacy over all such entities, affirming that no power, whether seen or unseen, can rival His authority. This declaration provides comfort and assurance to believers, reminding them that their allegiance to Christ places them under His protection and sovereignty, free from fear of any other power.

(10) Ye are complete.--Literally, ye have been filled up in His fulness, as in John 1:16. So St. Paul had prayed for the Ephesians that they might be "filled with (or rather, up to) all the fulness of God," and "grow into the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ" (Ephesians 3:19; Ephesians 4:13). To partake of the divine plerorna is not the special privilege of the initiated; it belongs to all who are united to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Principality and power.--See Colossians 1:16. His headship over all angelic natures is dwelt upon (as in Hebrews 1:1-14) with obvious reference to the worshipping of angels. They are our fellowservants under the same Head. (See Revelation 22:8-9.) . . .

Verse 10. - And (because) ye are in him made complete; or fulfilled (Ephesians 1:3, 7-11, 23; Ephesians 3:18, 19; Ephesians 4:13; Philippians 4:19; Galatians 3:14, 24; Galatians 5:1, 4; 1 Corinthians 1:30; 1 Corinthians 2:2). A complete Christ makes his people complete; his pleroma is our plerosis. Finding the whole fulness of God brought within our reach and engaged in our behalf (Philippians 2:7; Matthew 20:28) in him, we need not resort elsewhere to supply our spiritual needs (Philippians 4:19). "In him" is the primary predicate (see Alford, Ellicott, against Meyer: comp. ver. 3): "Ye are in him" is the assumption (Romans 8:1; Romans 16:7); "(ye are) made complete" is the inference. (On the verb πληρόω (the basis of pleroma), used in perfect participle of abiding result, see notes, Colossians 1:9, 19.) This completeness includes the furnishing of men with all that is required for their present and final salvation as individuals (vers. 11-15; Colossians 1:21, 22, 28), and for their collective perfection as forming the Church, the body of Christ (vers. 2, 19; Colossians 1:19; Ephesians 1:23; Ephesians 5:26, 27); for this twofold completeness, comp. Ephesians 4:12-16. Who is the Head of all principality and dominion (vers. 15, 18; Colossians 1:16; Ephesians 1:21; Philippians 2:10, 11; 1 Corinthians 15:24; Hebrews 1:6, 14; 1 Peter 3:22). (On "principality," etc., see note, Colossians 1:16.) The Colossians were being taught to replace or supplement Christ's offices by those of angel powers (see notes, vers. 15, 18). Philo ('Concerning Dreams,' 1. §§ 22, 23) writes thus of the angels: "Free from all bodily encumbrance, endowed with larger and diviner intellect, they are lieutenants of the All ruler, eyes and ears of the great King. Philosophers in general call them demons (δαίμονες); the sacred Scripture angels, for they report (διαγγέλλουσι) the injunctions of the Father to his children, and the wants of the children to their Father.... Angels, the Divine words, walk about [comp. 2 Corinthians 6:16] in the souls of those who have not yet completely washed off the (old) life, foul and stained through their cumbersome bodies, making them bright to the eyes of virtue." In such a strain the Colossian "philosopher" may have been talking. But if Christ is the Maker and Lord of these invisible powers - (Colossians 1:15, 16), and we are in him, then we must no longer look to them as our saviours.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
And
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

you have been
ἐστὲ (este)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

made complete
πεπληρωμένοι (peplērōmenoi)
Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 4137: From pleres; to make replete, i.e. to cram, level up, or to furnish, satisfy, execute, finish, verify, etc.

in
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

[Christ],
αὐτῷ (autō)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

who
ὅς (hos)
Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3739: Who, which, what, that.

is
ἐστιν (estin)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

the
(hē)
Article - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

head
κεφαλὴ (kephalē)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 2776: From the primary kapto; the head, literally or figuratively.

over every
πάσης (pasēs)
Adjective - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 3956: All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole.

ruler
ἀρχῆς (archēs)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 746: From archomai; a commencement, or chief.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

authority.
ἐξουσίας (exousias)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 1849: From exesti; privilege, i.e. force, capacity, competency, freedom, or mastery, delegated influence.


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NT Letters: Colossians 2:10 And in him you are made full (Coloss. Col Co)
Colossians 2:9
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