“that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ” (Colossians 2:2).
The false teachers among the Colossians were advocating a message that probably sounded much like this: “You are not complete in Christ. We can help you advance to a higher spiritual plane.” Paul the Apostle countered that message by revealing his ultimate goal for the churches at Colossae and Laodicea: “My purpose is that they… may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (NIV).
This serves to remind us of something Paul established earlier in this letter to the Colossians: Jesus is the termination point for everything that concerns humanity. As we read earlier in Colossians 1:16: “all things were created by (Jesus) and for (Jesus).” Since everything was created by Him and for Him, this means that every human quest for salvation, wisdom, knowledge, and purpose will find its consummation in Christ.
We should also take note of the word “heart” as found here in Colossian 2:3. This word is translated from the word kardia in the original language of this verse. As you might suspect, this word forms the basis for the modern-day word “cardiac.” When used in this context, the heart refers to someone’s innermost being in a physical, emotional, or spiritual sense.
With these things in mind, we can say that this verse is not speaking of a limited or shallow degree of encouragement but something that extends to our innermost beings. This depth of encouragement is reminiscent of 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 where Paul broke out in an expression of praise for “…the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles…”
Paul also affirmed his desire for the Colossians to experience “…the full wealth of assurance which true understanding brings” (GNB). This kind of assurance is reflective of a person who is willing to place his or her trust in God even when the circumstances may not seem to warrant it. This is not “blind faith” or a faith that has no basis in reality. Instead, genuine Biblical faith involves trust in a God who has already proven Himself within the pages of the Scripture and in the lives of those who have placed their confidence in Him.