In Colossians 2, Paul expresses the great conflict he had for them and the assembly in Laodicea although they had never met him. His conflict appears to stem from information he had heard of them being troubled by some form of deceptive teachings that undermined the supremacy of Messiah Yeshua and caused confusion amongst the Saints in the region. Paul addresses several topics that seemed to be at the heart of the teachings that were causing him conflict and confusing the Saints. Based on the content of this Chapter, the topics of concern in the regional assembly were Messiah Yeshua’s association with the God of Heaven, His relation to the church and worship, the relevance of circumcision, understanding baptism, victory over sin, and how to live life in Messiah and more.

Other Teachings: The God of Israel, The Sons of God, The Name of God

How does Colossians 2 explain Messiah Yeshua’s role in circumcision, baptism, and freedom from sin? In Colossians 2, Paul addresses false teachings that were confusing Believers and diminishing the supremacy of Messiah Yeshua. He reminds the Saints that all fullness dwells in Messiah, affirming that Yeshua is fully connected to the God of Heaven and is sufficient for salvation and righteous living.

Paul explains that circumcision is now a spiritual reality accomplished through Messiah—the removal of the sinful nature—rather than merely a physical act. Baptism represents identification with Messiah’s death and resurrection, symbolizing freedom from sin and new life in Him. Through this teaching, Paul emphasizes that victory over sin comes from living rooted and established in Messiah, not from deceptive doctrines or religious rituals.