Hidden Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge

[Christ] in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words (Colossians 2:3-4).

The Gnostics, of course, boasted of an understanding far surpassing anything found within the pages of divine revelation. Their wisdom was something in addition to what was found in Christ or Christianity. But here Paul is saying that all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Christ, the Head. Therefore, there is no need for believers to go beyond what is written in the Scriptures. The treasures in Christ are hidden from unbelief; and even the believer needs to know Christ intimately to enter into them.

Christ is in the believer as Head, center and resource. By the vastness of His unsearchable riches, by the pre-eminent wealth of His infinite greatness, by all that He is essentially as God, by all He has accomplished in creation and in redemption, by His personal, moral and official glories, He crowds out the whole army of professors, authors, mediums, critics, and all others arrayed against Him.

There is more in this verse than meets the eye. All knowledge is found in Christ. He is the incarnation of truth. He said: “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” Nothing that is true will ever conflict with His words or His works. The difference between knowledge and wisdom has often been explained as follows: Knowledge is the understanding of truth, whereas wisdom is the ability to apply what truth has been learned.

Because all wisdom and knowledge are in Christ, Christians should not be deluded with the persuasive words of false cultists and false teachers. If a man does not have the truth, then he must seek to attract a following through the clever presentation of his message. That is exactly what heretics always do. They argue from probabilities and build a system of teaching on deductions and assumptions. On the other hand, if a man is preaching the truth of God, then he does not need to depend on such things as eloquence or clever arguments. The truth is its own best argument and, like a lion, will defend itself.

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture taken from the New King James Version®, NKJV © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.
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