Colossians 2:3

Paul finishes this section and begins to segue into the following development of thought as a response to the Gnostic teaching that was so prevalent in the First Century.

He is saying, basically, Jesus is all we need. The word translated as hidden apokruphos can carry the meaning of something being stored up,[1] thus the idea that all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge can be found in Jesus the Christ. This understanding is in connection with the Greek word thesaurus translated as treasures in this verse. We get our word English word “thesaurus” from this. The main purpose of such a reference work is to help the user to find the word, or words, by which an idea may be most fitly and aptly expressed. It combines words that are similar rather than just defining them as a dictionary does. You might say that it is a storehouse of words. The literal meaning of the Greek word is a place of safekeeping. So, Paul is saying that if we seek wisdom and knowledge, the place where we can find it stored is in Jesus Christ.

This wisdom (Greek sophia) and knowledge (Greek gnosis) is in direct contrast to what the Gnostic teachers were espousing to the people of the First Century. In Christ we have an infinite treasury of this wisdom and knowledge (see Eph. 3:8; 1 Cor. 2:6ff.).[2] It is fruitless to seek these things anywhere other than in Christ. J. Vernon McGee states that “Next to knowing is knowing where to find out.”[3]

Prayer: Storehouse of all wisdom and knowledge, I come to You today to seek what I need for today. Jesus, provide me with what I need to walk the Christian life before the world today. As I seek the correct word in my writing from the thesaurus, I seek the correct thoughts and actions from You, my thesaurus of wisdom. Fill me with Your Spirit of knowledge and understanding. Jesus, don't let me just have head knowledge, give me heart wisdom. Thank You. Amen.

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[1] Perschbacher, W. J. (Ed.). (1990). The New Analytical Greek Lexicon. Peabody, Massachusetts, USA: Hendrickson Publishers, Inc. Page 44. 

[2] Allen, Clifton J., ed. The Broadman Bible Commentary. Vol. 11. Nashville: Broadman Press, 1971. Page 234. 

[3] McGee, J. Vernon. Thru the Bible. Vol. V. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1983. V vols. Pages 348.