Colossians 2:9
is sometimes used to show that Jesus is part of a Godhead.
οτι εν αυτω κατοικει παν το πληρωμα της
θεοτητος σωματικως
9 For
in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
9 For
in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, ESV
Let’s look at
the immediate context. Colossians 2:4-9.
τουτο λεγω ινα μηδεις υμας παραλογιζηται εν
πιθανολογια
4 And
this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.
ει γαρ και τη σαρκι απειμι αλλα τω πνευματι
συν υμιν ειμι χαιρων και βλεπων υμων την ταξιν και το στερεωμα της εις χριστον
πιστεως υμων
5 For
though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and
beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.
ως ουν παρελαβετε τον χριστον ιησουν τον
κυριον εν αυτω περιπατειτε
6 As
ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
ερριζωμενοι και εποικοδομουμενοι εν αυτω και
βεβαιουμενοι τη πιστει καθως εδιδαχθητε περισσευοντες [εν αυτη] εν ευχαριστια
7 Rooted
and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught,
abounding therein with thanksgiving.
βλεπετε μη τις υμας εσται ο συλαγωγων δια
της φιλοσοφιας και κενης απατης κατα την παραδοσιν των ανθρωπων κατα τα
στοιχεια του κοσμου και ου κατα χριστον
8 Beware
lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition
of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
οτι εν αυτω κατοικει παν το πληρωμα της
θεοτητος σωματικως
9 For
in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
The first clue
to what Paul means can be found by looking at the context, where we see that he
is concerned with the Colossians following false doctrine. So, why does he mention the fullness of the
Godhead in Christ? Let’s look at a
couple of other verses.
Ephesians 3:19.
γνωναι τε την υπερβαλλουσαν της γνωσεως
αγαπην του χριστου ινα πληρωθητε εις παν το πληρωμα του θεου
19 And
to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled
with all the fulness of God.
2 Peter 1:4
δι ων τα τιμια και μεγιστα ημιν επαγγελματα
δεδωρηται ινα δια τουτων γενησθε θειας κοινωνοι φυσεως αποφυγοντες της εν τω
κοσμω εν επιθυμια φθορας
4 Whereby
are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye
might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that
is in the world through lust.
Here we see that
one of the beliefs that the New Testament authors held was that those who
follow God are filled with the fullness of God and are partakers of the divine
nature. Since we see that the context of
Colossians 2:9 is Paul warning them not to fall away from the truth, it makes
the most sense to interpret Paul’s statement about Christ as saying that Jesus
is filled with the fullness of God and is a partaker of the divine nature
because he follows God and is our perfect example. This interpretation fits the context better
than assuming that Paul is suddenly changing topics and revealing that Jesus is God.
