Colossians 2:6 Meaning: Walk the Way You Began |
As therefore you received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in him,
As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
As therefore ye received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him,
as, then, ye did receive Christ Jesus the Lord, in him walk ye,
As therefore ye have received the Christ, Jesus the Lord, walk in him,
Meaning in one sentence
Colossians 2:6 connects how we first received Christ with the call to keep walking in Him. A verse about continuity, not a new start.
Context
Paul is writing to a church he did not plant. Epaphras had brought the gospel to Colossae, and the believers there had received it with joy. But now a new teaching was circulating, something that sounded spiritual but added human rules and angel worship to the simple faith they first embraced.
This verse is the hinge of the chapter. After describing the treasures hidden in Christ and warning about smooth talk that can lead people astray, Paul gives one direct command: let your daily life match the way you first believed. No new technique. No extra step. The same Christ, the same trust, now lived out day by day.
Key Words
The Greek word for received (paralambanō) carries a sense of taking something that is handed over. The Colossians did not invent this faith or discover it on their own. It was passed to them through teaching, and they welcomed it as truth. That same personal, trust-filled receiving was meant to continue, not as a single moment but as a posture.
The word for walk (peripateō) sounds plain enough, putting one foot in front of another. But in the New Testament it always means how you conduct your whole life: your choices, your habits, your daily path. It is not about a religious feeling but about the ground you actually cover from morning to night.
And the full title Christ Jesus the Lord is not ornamental. It tells you whom you received: the Messiah who is Jesus of Nazareth and the Lord who holds all authority. You did not receive a set of rules or a philosophy, you received a person. Walking in Him means living in conscious connection to that person, every ordinary step.
How Christians Read This Verse
Some noted commentators, like Adam Clarke and Albert Barnes, insist that the words as and so do not prescribe a particular manner. For them, Paul is simply saying, ‘Since you received Christ, therefore keep walking in him.’ The logic is straightforward: the fact of your receiving grounds the call to continue.
Other voices, like John Wesley, read more into the parallel: ‘In the same faith, love, holiness.’ For them, the way you first came, humble, dependent, open, is the way you are meant to keep living. Both readings share a core conviction: beginning and continuing belong to the same Christ and the same gospel.
A common misunderstanding
It is easy to turn this verse into a sermon outline: ‘You received Christ in humility, so walk in humility. You received Him in faith, so walk in faith.’ But Paul likely had no such breakdown in mind. The word as is a logical connector, not a checklist of attitudes.
In fact, the point is simpler and stronger: because you have once received Christ Jesus as your Lord, not just an idea but a living person, let your whole life be lived inside that reality. The main warning is against drifting from the gospel itself, not against forgetting your conversion posture.
Living This Out
Something new and impressive may be pulling for your attention this week: a podcast that makes ancient Christianity feel outdated, a spiritual practice that promises deeper experience, a voice that says the cross was only the beginning and now you need more.
Go back to the way you first received Christ. You did not earn that moment or qualify for it. Somebody told you about Jesus, and you believed. That same trust, simple, handed to you, received as a gift, is enough for every step ahead. When you feel unsure, ask not what new thing you need to add. Ask what it means to keep walking in the One you already have.
Main takeaway: Your Christian life begins and continues the same way: by trusting Christ as Lord and living rooted in Him.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
When you learn a song, you sing it again and again. You received Jesus like that, you heard about Him and said yes. Now keep living with Him every day, like singing the same good song.
For ages 9, 12
The verse says you received Christ as Lord when you first heard the gospel. But it doesn't stop there, Paul says keep walking in Him. That means every day you live the same way you began: trusting Jesus, not adding extra rules or trying to earn God's love. The whole Christian life is one long step forward in the same direction, with the same person.
Questions People Ask
What does 'walk in him' mean in Colossians 2:6?
It means to live your daily life in conscious connection with Christ. The Greek word for walk was used to describe how a person conducts themselves, their habits, choices, and direction. Paul is not talking about a one-time decision but the steady, ordinary rhythm of trusting and obeying Jesus from day to day.
Does 'as you received Christ Jesus the Lord' mean I have to receive Him a certain way?
The main point is that because you did receive Christ, you should keep walking in Him. Most commentators agree the 'as' connects to the fact of receiving, not the method. You did not receive Christ by following a formula; you heard the gospel and believed. That same simple dependence is the pattern for your whole life.
What false teaching was Paul warning against in Colossians 2?
Paul mentions philosophy, empty deceit, human tradition, and the elemental spirits of the world. This likely refers to a mix of Jewish legalism and early Gnostic ideas that added angel worship, dietary rules, and other practices to the gospel. The Colossian believers were being told they needed more than just Christ.
Why does Paul say 'therefore' in Colossians 2:6?
The word 'therefore' connects the verse back to Paul's warning about persuasive speech that could delude believers (verse 4) and his joy at their present order and steadfastness (verse 5). Since they had already received Christ and were standing firm, they should continue walking in Him and not be swayed by false teachers.
Is Colossians 2:6 about continuing in faith or in good works?
Walking in Him includes both, but the foundation is staying in the same faith. The surrounding verses emphasize being 'rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith' (verse 7). Christian conduct flows from remaining Christ-centered, not from adding human efforts to what Christ has already done.
For pastors & researchers
Greek interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study