42 All the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form

Last updated 7/25/15 this study is six pages long

Some say that when it states in Colossians 2:9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, then the
identity of Christ must be God. For this to be correct firstly the definition of deity has to be the same as the
definition for God, and secondly because this fullness dwells in Christ then Christ is God.
I will prove from scripture that because the same is said about disciples, then the statement in Colossians 2:9 does
NOT signify the interpretation that Jesus is God.
Before analyzing the passage in question, I am going to provide some evidence that has to be taken into account
when interpreting our passage.
Whether you agree or disagree, in part or in whole, big or small, please email me any feedback to help improve
this study. I would also appreciate any help with its logic, grammar, typos, editing etc.
Part 0
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7

Definitions
When in time does the Fullness of Deity/God dwell in Christ?
The "Fullness" of God/Deity in Disciples.
The "Fullness" of Christ in Disciples.
God/Deity Dwells/Lives in Disciples.
Christ Dwells/Lives in Disciples
God/Deity Dwells/Lives in Christ
What Does "Bodily" Mean?

Part 0 Definitions:
Deity, Gk Theotes, is defined as either a or b.
a/ It is a direct replacement for the word God?
b/ It is not a direct replacement for the word God exactly or directly, but means
b1/ divine nature or quality
b2/ Godly nature or quality
b3/ God-hood or God-ness,
Because it is not possible to prove a definition due to lack of comparisons, the definition is therefore ambiguous
and vague rather than precise and clear-cut. Personally I feel it is incorrect to be basing a doctrinal argument on a
word that is in the bible once only. However because of the claim that Jesus is shown to be God by the use of this
passage, I am going to argue from their viewpoint that deity is a direct replacement for the word God.
Therefore Colossians 2:9 says "the fullness of God/deity is dwelling/living in Christ."

Part 1: When in Time does the Fullness of Deity/God Dwell in Christ?

It is extremely important to realize exactly when in time Paul is referring to when he writes to the Colossians.
Jesus died and ascended to heaven

33 AD approx

Acts 16:7 they (Paul + Timothy) attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them.
Philippians 1:19 for I know that through your prayers and Gods provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ
2 Cor 5:16 Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer.
2 Corinthians was written by Paul in

56 AD approx

When Paul wrote to the Corinthians, 56AD approx, regarding their relationship with Christ he told them that they
shouldn't think of Christ as a fleshly human, but regard him as a spirit. See also John 13:21 Rom 8:9, 1 Peter 1:11

Colossians 2:9 was written by Paul in

62 AD approx

Because Christ has not changed between 1 Corinthians and Colossians, he is still spirit at that time. The Colossian
Church, when thinking of Jesus Christ in 62 AD, should always "regard" him as a spirit.
Therefore Paul is NOT saying the fullness of the God dwells in the human physical body of Christ on the earth.
Paul is NOT looking back in time prior to 30AD so he did NOT say it used to dwell in him,
Paul IS saying that in the year 62AD the fullness of God/deity is dwelling in the spiritual heavenly Christ.
Thirty years after Christ left his physical body and became a spirit only, and always after that time, the fullness of
deity/God was dwelling in Christ. In heaven the spirit of God/deity is dwelling fully in Christs spirit, one spirit in
another spirit.
The significance of this is that both God/Deity and Christ were alive in 62 AD as individual spirits in heaven
where God/Deity is living in Christ, two of them. If the Deity/God chose not to live in Christ, they would still both
be in existence two of them. Christ can be alive with or without the fullness of the Deity/God dwelling in him, in a
similar way that other heavenly beings are alive.

Part 2: The Fullness of God/Deity in Disciples.

Strong's Definition:
Fullness Gk Pleroma: repletion or completion, what fills or what is filled, which is put in to fill up
"Fullness" of God/Deity in Disciples.
NIV Ephesians 3:14-19 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father,
15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,
16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his
Spirit in your inner being,
17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faiththat you, being rooted and grounded in love,
18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,
19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge,
that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God
hina
pleroo eis
pas ho pleroma ho theos
Vs14 shows that Paul is referring to the Father.
Vs15 the family in heaven is God/Deity and Christ and angels, the family on earth is disciples
Vs16 disciples are strengthened with power through Gods/Deity's Spirit that is living in our inner being
Vs17 the example of Christ, our brother, lives in our hearts
Vs19 disciples are filled with the fullness of God/Deity.
The exact Greek text order taken from the Nestle Aland 27th Edition.
It is referred to as the "Critical Text," and is the most widely used today. It is the basis for every bible translation of
the last one hundred years.
Ephesians 3:19 .
hina pleroo
eis pas ho pleroma ho theos
that filled
with all
fullness of God
The original Greek text order is the same as the ESV, however the words "you may be" and "the measure of" are
not in the Greek text, they are added by translators. It is interesting that when scripture says that disciples have the
"fullness" in them it actually says "fullness of God," unlike Colossians 1:19 and 2:9 which refer to Christ and don't
include the word "God."

Therefore it is true to say, disciples are filled with all fullness of God/Deity."
Because of vs16 it is my opinion that this refers to Gods Spirit in disciples.
Summary:
Ephesians 3:19
Disciples are filled with the fullness of God/Deity
In 62AD and any time after, disciples are filled with the fullness of God/Deity.

Part 3: The "Fullness" of Christ in Disciples.

ESV Eph 1:22 and he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church,
23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
The Church, the disciples, have the "fullness of Christ." (It could be argued that this refers to the fullness of God.)
The body of Christ are those who are filled with the risen Christ, currently a spirit in heaven.
NIV Ephesians 4:12-13 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be
built up 13until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God
and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
eis teleios
eis helikia metron
ho pleroma ho Christos
The Exact Greek Text Order, Critical Text:
Ephesians 4:13 ,
teleios eis metron helikia ho pleroma ho Christos
mature to measure whole the fullness
of Christ
Disciples have the fullness of Christ. The ESV text is re-ordered from the original/
Summary:
Ephesians 1:22
The Church is filled with the fullness of Christ
Ephesians 4:12
Disciples are filled with the fullness of Christ
In 62AD and any time after, disciples are filled with the fullness of Christ

Part 4: God/Deity Dwells/Lives in Disciples:

Strong's Definition:
Dwells Gk Katoikeo: to house permanently, to reside, dwell or inhabit
In modern English we might replace "dwells" with "lives," as per GW, ISV, NET, NCV, NIV, NLT, etc
God/Deity Dwells In Disciples
1 Corinthians 3:16 and that God's Spirit dwells in you
Ephesians 2:22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by
his Spirit.
God/Deity dwells/lives, by his Spirit in disciples. Several other passages say God's Spirit lives, or dwells, in
disciples. Luke 1:41, Luke 1:67, John 14:17, Romans 8:9, 8:11, 2 Tim 1:14, James 4:5.
God/Deity Dwells or Lives Summary:
1 Corinthians 3:16
God's/Deity's Spirit dwells in disciples, God/Deity lives in disciples
Ephesians 2:22
God/Deity lives in disciples
In 62 AD and any time after God/Deity, a spirit, dwells/lives in disciples

Part 5: Christ Dwells/Lives in Disciples:

Christ "dwells" In Disciples
Ephesians 3:17 so that Christ may dwell
in your hearts through faith - that you, being rooted
Ho Christos katoikeo en sy kardia dia ho pistis
The Exact Greek Text Order, Critical Text:
Ephesians 3:17

Katoikeo ho Christos dia
ho pistis en ho kardia humon
Dwell
so Christ through
faith
in
hearts your
Christ dwells, or lives, in disciples. The text in the modern ESV is re-ordered from the original.
Christ Dwells or Lives Summary:
Ephesians 3:17
Christ dwells in disciples, Christ lives/dwells in disciples
In 62AD and any time after Christ, a spirit, lives/dwells in disciples

Part 6: God/Deity Dwells/Lives In Christ

"Fullness" of God/Deity in Christ
ESV Colossians 1:19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,
Hoti en autos pas ho pleroma
eudokeo katoikeo
The Exact Greek Text Order, Critical Text:
Colossians 1:19
Hoti en autos eudokeo pas to pleroma katoikeo
For in him pleased all the fullness dwell
The

fullness dwells in Christ, we know from Ephesians 3:14-19 quoted earlier it is the fullness of God/Deity.
Currently, the fullness of God's/Deity's Spirit is dwelling in Christ's spirit.
Fullness of God/Deity Dwells In Christ
ESV Colossians 2:8-10
According to human tradition, according to the elemental Spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.
Kata ho anthropos ho paradosis kata ho stoicheion
ho kosmos kai ou kata
Christos
9 For

in him the whole fullness of deity dwells

bodily,
Hoti en autos ho pas pleroma ho theotes katoikeo somatikos
10 and

Kai

you have been filled in him, who is the

eimi pleroo en autos hos eimi ho

head of all rule and authority.

kephale pas arche kai exousia

This is the order as per the English translations.

kosmos kai ou kata Christos hoti en autos ho pas pleroma ho theotes katoikeo somakitos kai eimi pleroo en autos
world and not than Christ, for in him the all fullness of deity dwells
bodily, and you fullness in him.
The exact Greek text order, Critical Text.
,
kosmos kai ou kata Christos hoti en autos katoikeo pas ho pleroma ho theotes somatikos kai eimi en autos
world and not than Christ, for in him dwells all the fullness of deity
bodily,
and you in him.
Christ and God Summary
Colossians 1:19
Christ is filled with the fullness of God/Deity
Colossians 2:9
the fullness of God/Deity is dwelling/living in Christ

In 62 AD and any time after Christ is filled with the fullness of God/Deity, a Spirit living in him.

Part 7 What does "bodily" Mean?

Does the final word of vs9, somatikos, have a bearing on the meaning of the sentence?
The Greek word "G4985/somatikos" appears in the bible once at Colossians 2:9, so we have another somewhat
ambiguous word to look at and confirm a definition. G4984/somatikos is spelt the same way but in Greek the
difference is that G4984 does not have a marking over the final "o." (G4985 does have a marking.)
G4984 the final "o" is omikron, and sounds like "off."
G4984 appears in the bible twice, Strong's definition: of the body, bodily.
G4985 the final "o" is omega, and sounds like "grow."
G4985 appears in the bible once, Strong's definition: bodily, bodily form
G4984 appears in
1 Timothy 4:8 for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way
Here G4984/somatikos is referring to a human being's physical body
G4984 also appears in
Luke 3:22 the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily (G4984) form (G1491), like a dove
G1491/eidos which means "what is visible."
Does "bodily form" refer to God's Holy Spirit, or Jesus physical human body? I always understood it to refer to
God's Holy Spirit.
Therefore somatikos can refer to physical people (1 Timothy 4:8) or God's Holy Spirit (Luke 3:22 and Col 2:9).
The root to both G4984 and G4985 is G4983/soma, in the NT 142 times: body 128, bodies 11. Nearly all examples
refer to the human body, some to the body of the Church.
Romans 8:11 he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies/G4983
through his Spirit who dwells in you.
God/Deity dwells/lives in our bodies, He lives in us bodily.
1 Cor 6:19-20 Or do you not know that your body/G4983 is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom
you have from God? You are not your own,
20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body/G4983.
God/Deity through his Holy Spirit lives/dwells in our human bodies, He dwells in us bodily. He in us and us in
Him.
Summary:
God/Deity lives/dwells in our human body.
God's spiritual body in our body.
If somatikos in Colossians 2:9 refers to God in Jesus body/somatikos, the same is said of people (Part 2 & 6.)
If somatikos in Colossians 2:9 refers to God's body/somatikos in Jesus, the same is said of people (Part 2.)
God lives in Jesus bodily, God lives in people bodily.
God lives in Jesus in bodily form, God lives in people in bodily form.
A reminder that Colossians 2:9 is in reference to two individual spirit beings as confirmed in Part 1, there is no
physical body.

This being said, G4985/somatikos does not have any bearing on our understanding of Colossians 2:9.
Final Summary and Conclusion:
At any moment since Paul wrote to the Colossians, and since the time Christ died, the following is true;
Part 1 God/Deity and Christ are two individual spirit beings in heaven.
Part 2 Disciples
are filled with the fullness of God/Deity.
Part 3 Disciples
are filled with the fullness of Christ.
Part 4 God/Deity
dwells/lives in disciples.
Part 5 Christ
dwells/lives in disciples.
Part 6a Christ
is filled with the fullness of God/Deity.
Part 6b God/Deity
dwells/lives in Christ.
Finally, because what is said of Christ in Part 6a is also said of disciples and the Church in Part 2
and, because of what is said of Christ in Part 6b is also said of disciples and the Church in Part 4,
Colossians 1:19 and 2:9-10 do not conclude that Christ Jesus is God.

John 17:22-23 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one:
23
I in them and you in me.
1 John 4:15 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him.
Appendix:
We have already confirmed at the beginning and during this analysis, for the sake of this argument, that the
definition of God is a direct replacement for Deity and vice versa. Whatever God is, Deity is. Whatever God
means, Deity means. If either is a noun or an adjective the other is the same. To say that Deity is not a direct
replacement for God in any of its definition means that any argument that Colossians 2:9 proves Jesus is God,
cannot even begin. To start adding or subtracting to the definition becomes personal opinion, rather than bible
based truth, and then we are back to the introduction where I stated that the term "deity" is ambiguous and
shouldn't be used in a doctrinal discussion. (As stated at the introduction, it is my belief that Deity is not a direct
replacement for God, and that this argument should have been settled there on the basis of that.)

Therefore, because we have determined that Col 2:9 does not, and cannot, prove Jesus is God, it is important that
teachers stop saying The Deity of Christ. We now know from the conclusions of this study that in actuality it
means the God of Christ which on its own is true, however when teachers say it they mean Jesus is God and
people hear it that way. Colossians does not say "the deity of Christ," it is not a biblical quote. When teachers say
"the deity of Christ" it deceives and misleads many into thinking this passage says something it certainly does not.