Colossians 2:2

May be comforted (paraklhqwsin). First aorist passive subjunctive of parakalew (for which see 2 Corinthians 1:3-7 ) in final clause with ina. Being knit together (sunbibasqente). First aorist passive participle of sunbibazw, old verb, causal of bainw, to make go together, to coalesce in argument ( Acts 16:10 ), in spiritual growth ( Colossians 2:19 ), in love as here. Love is the sundesmo ( Colossians 3:14 ) that binds all together. Unto all riches (ei pan plouto). Probably some distinction intended between en (in love as the sphere) and ei (unto as the goal). Of the full assurance of understanding (th plhroporia th sunesew). On plhroporia, see 1 Thessalonians 1:5 . From plhroporew (see Luke 1:1 ) and only in N.T. ( 1 Thessalonians 1:5 ; Colossians 2:2 ; Hebrews 6:11 ; Hebrews 10:22 ), Clement of Rome (Cor. 42) and one papyrus example. Paul desires the full use of the intellect in grasping the great mystery of Christ and it calls for the full and balanced exercise of all one's mental powers. That they may know (ei epignwsin). "Unto full knowledge." This use of epignwsi (full, additional knowledge) is Paul's reply to the Gnostics with the limited and perverted gnwsi (knowledge). The mystery of God, even Christ (tou musthriou tou qeou, Cristou). The MSS. differ widely here, but this is Westcott and Hort's reading. Genitive (objective) with epignwsin and Cristou in apposition. Christ is "the mystery of God," but no longer hidden, but manifested ( Hebrews 1:26 ) and meant for us to know to the fulness of our capacity.