Colossians 2 · Verse 10

Colossians 2:10

And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
Colossians 2:10, King James Version

Colossians 2:10 in other translations

BSBAnd you have been made complete in Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.
WEBand in him you are made full, who is the head of all principality and power.
ASVand in him ye are made full, who is the head of all principality and power:
YLTand ye are in him made full, who is the head of all principality and authority,
DARBYand ye are complete in him, who is the head of all principality and authority,
BBEAnd you are complete in him, who is the head of all rule and authority:
WebsterAnd ye are complete in him, who is the head of all principality and power:

What does Colossians 2:10 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
10. And--And therefore; and so. Translate in the Greek order, "Ye are in Him (by virtue of union with Him) filled full" of all that you need (Joh 1:16). Believers receive of the divine unction which flows down from their Divine Head and High Priest (Psa 133:2). He is full of the "fulness" itself; we, filled from Him. Paul implies, Therefore ye Colossians need no supplementary sources of grace, such as the false teachers dream of. Christ is "the Head of all rule and authority" (so the Greek), Ep 1:10; He, therefore, alone, not these subject "authorities" also, is to be adored (Col 2:18).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 10. And ye are complete in him. Having no need, for the purposes of salvation, of any aid to be derived from the philosophy of the Greeks, or the traditions of the Jews. All that is necessary to secure your salvation is to be found in the Lord Jesus. There is a completion, or a filling up, in him, so as to leave nothing wanting. This is true in respect

(1.) to the wisdom which is needful to guide us;

(2.) the atonement to be made for sin;

(3.) the merit by which a sinner can be justified; and

(4.) the grace which is needful to sustain us in the trials, and to aid us in the duties of life. 1Cor 1:30. There is no necessity, therefore, that we should look to the aid of philosophy, as if there was a defect in the teachings of the Saviour; or to human strength, as if he were unable to save us; or to the merits of the saints, as if those of the Redeemer were not sufficient to meet all our wants. The sentiment advanced in this verse would overthrow the whole papal doctrine of the merits of the saints, and, of course, the whole doctrine of papal "indulgences."

Which is the head. Eph 1:21; Eph 1:22.

(a) "complete in him" Heb 5:9 (b) "head of all" 1Pet 3:22 on Eph. i. 21, 22.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 10 And ye are complete in him - Και εστε εν αυτῳ πεπληρωμενοι· And, ye are filled with him. Our word complete quite destroys the connection subsisting in the apostle's ideas. The philosophy of the world was empty, κενη, but there was a πληρωμα, or fullness, in Christ; the Colossians were empty - spoiled and deprived of every good, while following the empty philosophy and groundless traditions of Jewish and Gentile teachers; but since they had received Christ Jesus they were πεπληρωμενοι, filled with him. This is the true meaning of the word, and by this the connection and assemblage of ideas in the apostle's mind are preserved. No fanciful completeness in Christ, of a believer, while incomplete in himself, is either expressed or intended by St. Paul. It is too bad a doctrine to exist in the oracles of God. The head of all principality - See the notes on Col 1:16-17 (note).

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Colossians 2:8-17

There is a philosophy which rightly exercises our reasonable faculties; a study of the works of God, which leads us to the knowledge of God, and confirms our faith in him. But there is a philosophy which is vain and deceitful; and while it pleases men's fancies, hinders their faith: such are curious speculations about things above us, or no concern to us. Those who walk in the way of the world, are turned from…

Read the full comment on Colossians 2:8-17 →

Colossians 2:10 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

καὶkaiandG2532
ἐστὲesteyou areG1510
ἐνeninG1722
αὐτῷautōHimG846
πεπληρωμένοι,peplērōmenoicompleted,G4137
ὅςhoswhoG3739
ἐστινestinisG1510
ἡhētheG3588
κεφαλὴkephalēheadG2776
πάσηςpasēsof allG3956
ἀρχῆςarchēsruleG746
καὶkaiandG2532
ἐξουσίας·exousiasauthority;G1849

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Colossians 2:10

  • Ephesians 3:19

    And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

  • Colossians 1:16-18

    For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

  • 1 Corinthians 1:30-31

    But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

  • 1 Peter 3:22

    Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.

  • Ephesians 1:20-23

    Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

  • Philippians 2:9-11

    Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

  • Hebrews 5:9

    And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

  • John 1:16

    And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.

  • Galatians 3:26-29

    For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

  • Ephesians 4:15-16

    But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

  • Colossians 3:11

    Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.

  • Revelation 5:9-13

    And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. …

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
complete.
3:11; Joh 1:16; 1Co 1:30,31; Ga 3:26-29; Heb 5:9
the head.
1:16-18; Eph 1:20-23; 4:15,16; Php 2:9-11; 1Pe 3:22; Re 5:9-13

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Colossians 2:9

    For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

  • Colossians 2:10

    And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

  • Colossians 2:11

    In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:

Read all of Colossians 2

Colossians 2:10 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y en él estáis cumplidos, el cual es la cabeza de todo principado y potestad:
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		et vous êtes accomplis en lui, qui est le chef de toute principauté et autorité,
German
Elberfelder 1871		und ihr seid vollendet in ihm, welcher das Haupt jedes Fürstentums und jeder Gewalt ist;
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		et estis in illo repleti, qui est caput omnis principatus et potestatis: