Colossians 2 · Verse 9

Colossians 2:9

For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
Colossians 2:9, King James Version

Colossians 2:9 in other translations

BSBFor in Christ all the fullness of the Deity dwells in bodily form.
WEBFor in him all the fullness of the Deity dwells bodily,
ASVfor in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily,
YLTbecause in him doth tabernacle all the fulness of the Godhead bodily,
DARBYFor in him dwells all the fulness of theGodhead bodily;
BBEFor in him all the wealth of God's being has a living form,
WebsterFor in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.

What does Colossians 2:9 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
9. For--"Because." Their "philosophy" (Col 2:8) is not "after Christ," as all true philosophy is, everything which comes not from, and tends not to, Him, being a delusion; "For in Him (alone) dwelleth" as in a temple, &c. the fulness--(Col 1:19; Joh 14:10). of the Godhead--The Greek (theotes) means the ESSENCE and NATURE of the Godhead, not merely the divine perfections and attributes of Divinity (Greek, "theiotes"). He, as man, was not merely God-like, but in the fullest sense, God. bodily--not merely as before His incarnation, but now "bodily in Him" as the incarnate word (Joh 1:14, 18). Believers, by union with Him, partake of His fulness of the divine nature (Joh 1:16; 2Pe 1:4; see on Ep 3:19).

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 9. For in him dwelleth. That is, this was the great and central doctrine that was to be maintained about Christ, that all the fulness of the Godhead dwelt in him. Every system which denied this was a denial of the doctrine which they had been taught; and against everything that would go to undermine this, they were especially to be on their guard. Almost all heresy has been begun by some form of the denial of the great central truth of the incarnation of the Son of God.

All the fulness. Col 1:19.

Of the Godhead. Of the Divinity, the Divine nature θεοτης. The word is one that properly denotes the Divine nature and perfections. Robinson, Lex. It occurs nowhere else in the New Testament.

Bodily. σωματικως. This word also is found nowhere else in the New Testament, though the adjective bodily-- σωματικος --occurs twice: Lk 3:22, "in a bodily shape;" and 1Timm 4:8, "for bodily exercise profiteth little." The word means, "having a bodily appearance, instead of existing or appearing in a spiritual form;" and the fair sense of the phrase is, that the fairness of the Divine nature became incarnate, and was indwelling in the body of the Redeemer. It does not meet the case to say, as Crellius does, that the "whole Divine will was in him," for the word θεοτης godhead does not mean the will of God; and it is as certainly true that the inspired prophets were under the control of the Divine will, as that the Saviour was. Nor can it mean, as Socinus supposes, that the fulness of Divine knowledge dwelt in him, for this is not the proper meaning of the word θεοτης godhead; nor can it mean, for the same reason, that a fairness of Divine gifts was entrusted to him. The language is such as would be obviously employed on the supposition that God became incarnate, and appeared in human form; and there is no other idea which it so naturally expresses, nor is there any other which it can be made to express without a forced construction. The meaning is, that it was not any one attribute of the Deity that became incarnate in the Saviour; that he was not merely endowed with the knowledge, or the power, the wisdom of God; but that the whole Deity thus became incarnate, and appeared in human form. Comp. Jn 14:9, 1:18. No language could, therefore, more clearly demonstrate the divinity of Christ. Of what mere man-- of what angel-could it be used?

(f) "dwelleth" Col 1:19

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 9 For in him dwelleth all the fullness - This is opposed to the vain or empty doctrine of the Gentile and Jewish philosophers: there is a fullness in Christ suited to the empty, destitute state of the human soul, but in the philosophy of the Jews and Gentiles nothing like this was found; nor indeed in the more refined and correct philosophy of the present day. No substitute has ever been found for the grace of the Lord Jesus, and those who have sought for one have disquieted themselves in vain. By the Godhead or Deity, Θεοτης, we are to understand the state or being of the Divine nature; and by the fullness of that Deity, the infinite attributes essential to such a nature. Bodily - Συματικως signifies truly, really; in opposition to typically, figuratively. There was a symbol of the Divine presence in the Hebrew tabernacle, and in the Jewish temple; but in the body of Christ the Deity, with all its plenitude of attributes, dwelt really and substantially: for so the word σωματικως means; and so it was understood by the ancient Greek fathers, as is fully shown by Suicer, in his Thesaurus, under the word. "The fullness of the Godhead dwelt in Christ 'bodily,' as opposed to the Jewish tabernacle, or temple; truly and really, in opposition to types and figures; not only effectively, as God dwells in good men, but substantially or personally, by the strictest union, as the soul dwells in the body; so that God and man are one Christ." See Parkhurst.

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 2:9 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.

ὅτιhotiForG3754
ἐνeninG1722
αὐτῷautōHimG846
κατοικεῖkatoikeidwellsG2730
πᾶνpanallG3956
τὸtotheG3588
πλήρωμαplērōmafullnessG4138
τῆςtēsof theG3588
θεότητοςtheotētosDeityG2320
σωματικῶς,sōmatikōsbodily,G4985

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

Cross references for Colossians 2:9

  • Colossians 1:19

    For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;

  • John 1:14

    And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

  • John 10:30

    I and my Father are one.

  • 1 Timothy 3:16

    And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

  • John 14:9-10

    Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.

  • John 10:38

    But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.

  • 1 John 5:20

    And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.

  • John 14:20

    At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.

  • Titus 2:13

    Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

  • Isaiah 7:14

    Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

  • John 17:21

    That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

  • Colossians 2:2-3

    That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
in.
2,3; 1:19; Isa 7:14; Mt 1:23; Joh 10:30,38; 14:9,10,20; 17:21
2Co 5:19; 1Ti 3:16; Tit 2:13; 1Jo 5:7,20
bodily.
Lu 3:22; Joh 1:14; 2:21

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

Context

  • Colossians 2:8

    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.

  • 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:

Read all of Colossians 2

Colossians 2:9 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Porque en él habita toda la plenitud de la divinidad corporalmente:
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		car en lui habite toute la plénitude de la déité corporellement;
German
Elberfelder 1871		Denn in ihm wohnt die ganze Fülle der Gottheit leibhaftig;
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		quia in ipso inhabitat omnis plenitudo divinitatis corporaliter: