Commentaries:
Robertson's Word Pictures (NT)
May be comforted (paraklhqwsin). First aorist passive subjunctive of parakalew (for which see II Corinthians 1:3-7) in final clause with ina.
Being knit together (sunbibasqentev). 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 sundesmov (Colossians 3:14) that binds all together.
Unto all riches (eiv pan ploutov). Probably some distinction intended between en (in love as the sphere) and eiv (unto as the goal).
Of the full assurance of understanding (thv plhroforiav thv sunesewv). On plhroforia, see I Thessalonians 1:5. From plhroforew (see Luke 1:1) and only in N.T. (I 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 (eiv epignwsin). "Unto full knowledge." This use of epignwsiv (full, additional knowledge) is Paul's reply to the Gnostics with the limited and perverted gnwsiv (knowledge).
The mystery of God, even Christ (tou musthriou tou qeou, Xristou). The MSS. differ widely here, but this is Westcott and Hort's reading. Genitive (objective) with epignwsin and Xristou in apposition. Christ is "the mystery of God," but no longer hidden, but manifested (Colossians 1:26) and meant for us to know to the fulness of our capacity.
Other Robertson's Word Pictures (NT) entries containing Colossians 2:2:
Luke 1:1
Romans 11:25
1 Corinthians 1:30
1 Corinthians 2:1
Ephesians 3:4
Colossians 2:2
Colossians 2:8
Colossians 2:19
Colossians 4:3
1 Thessalonians 1:5
1 Timothy 3:16
2 Timothy 2:7
Hebrews 6:11
Revelation 10:7
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