Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
Paul, one of the earliest and most traveled missionaries of the Christian faith, wrote this letter to believers in the city of Colossae while he was in prison. Here he describes the driving purpose behind everything he and his companions did: proclaiming Jesus and teaching people how to live in light of who Jesus is. The word translated "perfect" comes from a Greek word meaning "mature" or "complete" — not morally flawless. Paul's goal wasn't to produce religious rule-keepers but fully formed human beings, grown into everything God intended them to be. This work, he says, required wisdom — thoughtful instruction and honest challenge — applied to every person without exception.
Lord, make me someone who sees others the way Paul did — with a vision for who they can become in you, not just who they are right now. Give me the wisdom to teach, the courage to challenge when needed, and the patience to stay in it for the long haul. May the investment I make in others reflect the investment you have made in me. Amen.
There's something quietly radical in that word "everyone." Not the spiritually gifted ones. Not the people who had it together or came from good families or asked the right questions in the right tone. Everyone. Paul was exhausted, writing from a prison cell, and his vision was still expansive enough to hold every single person he'd ever taught. He didn't operate with a tiered system of who deserved investment. The brand-new, still-skeptical believer and the seasoned elder got the same wisdom, the same honest challenge, the same care. Think about who poured into you — a parent who kept showing up, a mentor who saw something in you before you saw it yourself, a friend who wouldn't let you stay stuck. Now think about who you're pouring into. Spiritual maturity isn't a destination you reach and then guard like a trophy. It grows precisely when you give it away. Who in your life is waiting for someone to believe they can become more whole in Christ — and could that someone be you?
What does it mean to be "perfect in Christ," and how does understanding this as "maturity" or "completeness" rather than moral flawlessness change the way you read this verse?
Who in your life has genuinely invested in your spiritual growth? What did that actually look like in practice — what did they say or do?
Paul says he admonishes and teaches — both challenge and instruction. Do you tend to lean toward one over the other in your relationships, and what gets lost when we only do one?
How might intentionally investing in someone else's spiritual growth change the texture of how you relate to them day-to-day?
Is there one person in your life you could commit to consistently encouraging toward maturity in Christ this month — and what would that concretely look like?
That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
Ephesians 5:27
Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
Ephesians 4:13
Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
Matthew 5:48
And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.
Jeremiah 3:15
And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
Ephesians 4:11
And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
2 Corinthians 12:9
And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
2 Timothy 2:24
In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
2 Timothy 2:25
We proclaim Him, warning and instructing everyone in all wisdom [that is, with comprehensive insight into the word and purposes of God], so that we may present every person complete in Christ [mature, fully trained, and perfect in Him—the Anointed].
AMP
Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.
ESV
We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ.
NASB
We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.
NIV
Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.
NKJV
So we tell others about Christ, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all the wisdom God has given us. We want to present them to God, perfect in their relationship to Christ.
NLT
We preach Christ, warning people not to add to the Message. We teach in a spirit of profound common sense so that we can bring each person to maturity. To be mature is to be basic. Christ! No more, no less.
MSG