(3) In whom are hid all the treasures.--The order of the original is curious: "in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, as hidden treasures." The word "hidden" (apocryphi) is an almost technical word for secret teaching given only to the initiated; used originally as a term of honour (as the participle of the kindred verb is used in 1Corinthians 2:7-8, "the wisdom of God in mystery, even the hidden wisdom . . . which none of the princes of this world knew"), afterwards, from the character of these "apocryphal" books, coming to signify spurious and heretical. St. Paul evidently takes up here a word, used by the pretenders to a special and abstruse knowledge, and applies it to the "heavenly things" which He alone knows "who is in heaven" (John 3:12-13). From our full comprehension they are hidden; if ever we know them, it will not be till "we know even as we are known." But the previous words show that we can have full practical apprehension of them by our knowledge of Christ, who knows them--a knowledge begun in faith, and perfected chiefly in love.

Wisdom and knowledge.--Comp. Romans 11:33 and 1Corinthians 12:8 ("the word of wisdom" . . . "the word of knowledge"). On the true sense of "wisdom" and its relation to other less perfect gifts, as "prudence," "intelligence," "knowledge," see Note on Ephesians 1:8. "Knowledge" is clearly the development of wisdom in spiritual perception, as "intelligence" in testing and harmonising such perception, and "prudence" in making them, so tested, the guide of life. The word "knowledge" (gnosis) was the word which, certainly afterwards, probably even then, was the watchword of "Gnosticism"--the unbridled and fantastic spirit of metaphysical and religious speculation then beginning to infest all Christian thought. It can hardly be accidental that St. Paul here, as elsewhere, subordinates it to the higher gift of wisdom. . . .

Verse 3. - In whom (or, which) are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden(ly) (Ephesians 1:8, 9; Ephesians 3:8; Romans 11:33; 1 Corinthians 1:5, 6, 30; 1 Corinthians 2:7; 2 Corinthians 4:3). Bengel, Meyer, Alford, and others make the relative pronoun neuter, referring to "mystery;" but "Christ," the nearer antecedent, is preferable (vers. 9, 10; Colossians 1:16, 17, 19). In him the apostle finds what false teachers sought elsewhere, a satisfaction for the intellect as well as for the heart - treasures of wisdom and knowledge to enrich the understanding, and unsearchable mysteries to exercise the speculative reason. "Hidden" is, therefore, a secondary predicate: in whom are these treasures, - as hidden treasures" (Ellicott, Lightfoot). (For a similar emphasis of position, compare "made complete," ver. 10, and "seated," Colossians 3:1.) Meyer and Alford, with the Vulgate, make "hidden" an attributive: "in whom are hidden treasures." Chrysostom and leading versions make it primary predicate: "in whom are hidden," etc., against the order of the words. This word also belongs to the dialect of the mystic theosophists (see note, Colossians 1:27: comp. 1 Corinthians 2:6-16; Isaiah 45:3; Proverbs 2:1-11). (On "wisdom," see note, Colossians 1:9.) Knowledge (γνῶσις, not ἐπίγνωσις, ver. 2; Colossians 1:9; Colossians 3:10; for this phrase is more comprehensive) is the more objective and purely intellectual side of wisdom (comp. Romans 11:33).

Parallel Commentaries ...


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.

whom
ᾧ (hō)
Personal / Relative Pronoun - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3739: Who, which, what, that.

are
εἰσιν (eisin)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd 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.

hidden
ἀπόκρυφοι (apokryphoi)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 614: Hidden away, secret, stored up. From apokrupto; secret; by implication, treasured.

all
πάντες (pantes)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3956: All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole.

the
οἱ (hoi)
Article - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

treasures
θησαυροὶ (thēsauroi)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 2344: A store-house for precious things; hence: a treasure, a store. From tithemi; a deposit, i.e. Wealth.

of wisdom
σοφίας (sophias)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 4678: Wisdom, insight, skill (human or divine), intelligence. From sophos; wisdom.

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

knowledge.
γνώσεως (gnōseōs)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 1108: Knowledge, doctrine, wisdom. From ginosko; knowing, i.e. knowledge.


Colossians 2:3 NIV
Colossians 2:3 NLT
Colossians 2:3 ESV
Colossians 2:3 NASB
Colossians 2:3 KJV

Colossians 2:3 BibleApps.com
Colossians 2:3 Biblia Paralela
Colossians 2:3 Chinese Bible
Colossians 2:3 French Bible
Colossians 2:3 Catholic Bible

NT Letters: Colossians 2:3 In whom are all the treasures (Coloss. Col Co)