Colossians 2:6 Commentary: Study: Walk in Him as You Received Christ

Colossae was a city in Phrygia (modern-day Turkey) at a crossroads of trade routes. The church likely began through Epaphras during Paul’s Ephesian ministry (Col 1:7). A heretical teaching was emerging, blending Jewish legalism, Greek philosophy, and mysticism (Col 2:8-23). This “philosophy” threatened to add requirements to faith in Christ, ascetic practices, worship of angels, strict dietary rules. Paul writes to emphasize Christ’s supremacy and sufficiency.

In 2:6, he applies that theology: “Since you received Christ as Lord (the true Christ, not the speculative one of the false teachers), continue to live in him.” The cultural context of “receiving” (παραλαμβάνω) implies a transmission of tradition, what was handed down from Paul and Epaphras (cf. 1 Cor 15:1-3). The word “walk” (περιπατέω) is a common Old Testament metaphor for conduct (Isaiah 2:5; Micah 4:2). Paul uses the same structure in other letters (Eph 4:1-3; Phil 1:27). The verse functions as a thesis statement for the warnings that follow (Col 2:8-23). The literary context is Paul’s joy over their order and steadfastness (v. 5), which leads into this exhortation.

The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for Colossians 2:6. The Greek text is well-established across manuscripts.

This verse has been a cornerstone for understanding the Christian life as a continuous walk in Christ. In the early church, it was read in light of baptismal catechesis, where “receiving Christ” echoed the faith confessed at baptism. During the Reformation, it was used to argue that all of Christian living flows from Christ alone, against additions of human tradition. John Calvin and Martin Luther both drew on this text to emphasize that the reception of Christ is the sole foundation for sanctification. In modern evangelicalism, it appears in many exhortations to “walk with Christ” and is often paired with John 1:12. Its connection to the Colossian heresy has made it a key text for discussions on syncretism and the sufficiency of Christ.

Three-point outline

1. Remember what you received. The aorist tense points to a definite past event: you received Christ Jesus as Lord.
2. Continue in the same Christ. The sphere of your walk is “in him”, union with Christ is both the foundation and the environment.
3. Let the reception shape your daily life. The present imperative calls for an ongoing, habitual walk.

Five-point outline

1. Foundation: we have received Christ Jesus the Lord (aorist, once-for-all).
2. Sphere: “in him”, all of Christian living happens in union with Christ.
3. Command: walk (present imperative, continuous action, not a single act).
4. Motivation: because of who Christ is (vv. 9-10, all fullness dwells in him).
5. Warning: do not be taken captive by empty philosophy (v. 8).

Illustration hooks

• When you learn a language by immersion from a native speaker, the first patterns you absorb set the course for everything you say afterward.
• A wedding vow is spoken once, but marriage is lived out every day, the “I do” sets the terms for the whole relationship.
• A compass set to a fixed point: if the direction is correct at the start, as long as you keep walking that way you won’t get lost.

Questions your congregation is asking

• “How do I know I’m still walking ‘in him’ when life feels chaotic or I’ve made mistakes?”
• “What if I received Christ but my daily walk feels stagnant?”
• “How does this verse help me evaluate new teachings or practices that claim to deepen my faith?”

This verse links the beginning of faith to the whole Christian life. Discuss how your initial reception of Christ shapes your present walk.

Discussion questions

1. What does it mean to “receive Christ Jesus the Lord”? How is that different from simply agreeing with facts about him?
2. In what ways might the false teachers in Colossae have tempted believers to “walk” differently from what they first received?
3. Why does Paul emphasize the title “Lord” in this verse? How does that affect how we understand walking in him?
4. The verb “walk” is a present imperative. What does that imply about the nature of the Christian life, is it a moment or a path?
5. How can we “walk in him” when we feel distant, discouraged, or distracted by other philosophies?
6. What would it look like to walk in Christ in your workplace, your family, or your closest relationships this week?
7. How does this verse help you evaluate teachings that claim to be an improvement or addition to the simple gospel you first received?