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The Wiersbe Bible Study #39
Be Complete
What Do You Need to Add? You hear about horoscopes, yoga, transcendental meditation, and a host of other old and new philosophies. Do you need these things? Not if you have Jesus Christ and He is preeminent in your life. If you're in Jesus Christ, you are complete! Too often today we try to mix manmade philosophies and legalistic rules with the Gospel. The Colossians Christians faced a similar dilemma. But Paul tenderly corrected their erring ways. He warned against the temptation to look for spiritual fulfillment from sources other than God. As he did with the Colossians, the Apostle Paul calls you to BE COMPLETE in Christ! Dr. Warren W. Wiersbe is best known as an author, pastor, and radio Bible teacher. He was for many years pastor of Chicago's Moody Memorial Church and most recently served as General Director and Bible teacher for Back to the Bible. He has authored over 100 books, including the New Testament "BE" series from Victor Books.
171 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 1981
270 people are currently reading
509 people want to read
About the author
Warren W. Wiersbe
662 books412 followersWarren W. Wiersbe, former pastor of the Moody Church and general director of Back to the Bible, has traveled widely as a Bible teacher and conference speaker. Because of his encouragement to those in ministry, Dr. Wiersbe is often referred to as 'the pastor's pastor.' He has ministered in churches and conferences throughout the United States as well as in Canada, Central and South America, and Europe. Dr. Wiersbe has written over 150 books, including the popular BE series of commentaries on every book of the Bible, which has sold more than four million copies. At the 2002 Christian Booksellers Convention, he was awarded the Gold Medallion Lifetime Achievement Award by the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association. Dr. Wiersbe and his wife, Betty, live in Lincoln, Nebraska.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
January 8, 2023
I love the practical wisdom Warren Wiersbe writes with! This book was no exception. I copied dozens of quotes from this book.
I especially found this book helpful to balance truth from legalism and asceticism. The history of the Colossians helped me understand the book so much better.
I'm still going through the workbook and that has been equally good. I highly recommend these commentaries and studies!
Quotes:
"Paul did not begin by attacking the false teachers and their doctrines. He began by exalting Jesus Christ and showing His preeminence in five areas: the gospel message, redemption, creation, the church, and Paul's own ministry. The people to whom Paul was writing had become Christians because of the gospel message brought to them by Epaphras. If this message was wrong, then they were not saved at all!"
"Wrong doctrine always leads to wrong living. Right doctrine should lead to right living."
"Everybody has faith in something. But faith is only as good as the object in which a person puts his trust."
"The inner victories of the soul are just as great, if not greater, than the public victories recorded in the annals of history."
"How can we tell if a believer is filled with the Spirit? He is joyful, thankful, and submissive (Eph. 5:19-21); all of this shows up in his relationships in the home and on the job (Eph. 5:22-6:9). How can we tell if a believer is filled with the Word of God? He is joyful, thankful, and submissive (Col. 3:16-4:1)."
I especially found this book helpful to balance truth from legalism and asceticism. The history of the Colossians helped me understand the book so much better.
I'm still going through the workbook and that has been equally good. I highly recommend these commentaries and studies!
Quotes:
"Paul did not begin by attacking the false teachers and their doctrines. He began by exalting Jesus Christ and showing His preeminence in five areas: the gospel message, redemption, creation, the church, and Paul's own ministry. The people to whom Paul was writing had become Christians because of the gospel message brought to them by Epaphras. If this message was wrong, then they were not saved at all!"
"Wrong doctrine always leads to wrong living. Right doctrine should lead to right living."
"Everybody has faith in something. But faith is only as good as the object in which a person puts his trust."
"The inner victories of the soul are just as great, if not greater, than the public victories recorded in the annals of history."
"How can we tell if a believer is filled with the Spirit? He is joyful, thankful, and submissive (Eph. 5:19-21); all of this shows up in his relationships in the home and on the job (Eph. 5:22-6:9). How can we tell if a believer is filled with the Word of God? He is joyful, thankful, and submissive (Col. 3:16-4:1)."
June 10, 2014
In this Bible study on Colossians Wiersbe speaks of the power of words. He reminds the reader that for every word in Mein Kampf 125 people died in WWII. "...the tongue has the power to direct, the power to destroy and the power to delight. The tongue is but a little member in our bodies, but it can accomplish great things for good or evil."
June 4, 2024
I think most of Warren Wiersbe’s “Be” commentaries are about the same size. So a commentary on Isaiah, which has sixty-six chapters, discusses large portions at a time.
The book of Colossians just has four chapters. So Be Complete (Colossians): Become the Whole Person God Intends You to Be covers just a few verses of Colossians in each of its twelve chapters.
Since Colossians is so densely packed, and the ESV Study Bible had a lot of notes on it as well, plus Wiersbe’s book had more detail, I decided to slow down my usual pace of reading and take time to soak in what was written.
Wiersbe calls Colossians “one of the most profound letters Paul ever wrote.”
The church in Colossae was not one that Paul started; in fact, he had never been to that city. But Paul had been in nearby Ephesus for three years, from which the Bible says “‘all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks'” ‘ (Acts 19:10). This would include people in Colossae, Laodicea, and Hierapolis.” A Colossian named Epaphras seems to have heard Paul preach in Ephesus and then brought the gospel back to Colossae.
At the time Colossians was written, Paul was in prison. Epaphras was with him and evidently shared that a dangerous teaching was making the rounds in Colossae. So Paul wrote to help these believers. Wiersbe believed the false teaching was Gnosticism; the ESV Study Bible notes say that “an improved understanding of Gnosticism” due to more information having been discovered about it has led scholars to think Gnosticism was not the problem, but they don’t know exactly what false teaching was being promoted. Nevertheless, there’s much we can learn from Colossians even without knowing exactly what teaching was being combated.
Paul begins the book with greetings and thankfulness for the Colossians faith. Then he shares what he prays for them, one of my favorite prayers in the Bible:
I have prayed this often for myself and loved ones.
Paul then writes about the preeminence of Christ, “the image of the invisible God,” the one who created everything and holds it all together, the head of the church. “In him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross” (1:19-20).
And, amazingly, “you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him” (1:21-22).
Paul says his stewardship was “to make the word of God fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me” (1:25-29). In the Bible, a mystery wasn’t something to figure out from clues: it was something that was not previously revealed but now is.
Paul warns them to “See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit” or “delude(s) you with plausible arguments” (2:8, 4).
Paul goes on to exalt Christ as the one “in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3). As we received Him, we’re to “walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving (2:6-7).
After sharing the gospel, Paul gives practical instruction for how the gospel affects our lives, families, and workplaces. There are certain behaviors we’re to put off, others we’re to put on. We’re to “seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth” (3:1-2).
Paul wraps up his teaching by encouraging believers to pray, give thanks, and “Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person” (4:5-6).
I can get so caught up in the affairs of this life, I need the reminder to “set my mind on things above” and exalt Christ above all.
A few more quotes from the book that stood out to me:
I like how Wiersbe closed his commentary on Colossians:
The book of Colossians just has four chapters. So Be Complete (Colossians): Become the Whole Person God Intends You to Be covers just a few verses of Colossians in each of its twelve chapters.
Since Colossians is so densely packed, and the ESV Study Bible had a lot of notes on it as well, plus Wiersbe’s book had more detail, I decided to slow down my usual pace of reading and take time to soak in what was written.
Wiersbe calls Colossians “one of the most profound letters Paul ever wrote.”
The church in Colossae was not one that Paul started; in fact, he had never been to that city. But Paul had been in nearby Ephesus for three years, from which the Bible says “‘all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks'” ‘ (Acts 19:10). This would include people in Colossae, Laodicea, and Hierapolis.” A Colossian named Epaphras seems to have heard Paul preach in Ephesus and then brought the gospel back to Colossae.
At the time Colossians was written, Paul was in prison. Epaphras was with him and evidently shared that a dangerous teaching was making the rounds in Colossae. So Paul wrote to help these believers. Wiersbe believed the false teaching was Gnosticism; the ESV Study Bible notes say that “an improved understanding of Gnosticism” due to more information having been discovered about it has led scholars to think Gnosticism was not the problem, but they don’t know exactly what false teaching was being promoted. Nevertheless, there’s much we can learn from Colossians even without knowing exactly what teaching was being combated.
Paul begins the book with greetings and thankfulness for the Colossians faith. Then he shares what he prays for them, one of my favorite prayers in the Bible:
And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
I have prayed this often for myself and loved ones.
Paul then writes about the preeminence of Christ, “the image of the invisible God,” the one who created everything and holds it all together, the head of the church. “In him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross” (1:19-20).
And, amazingly, “you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him” (1:21-22).
Paul says his stewardship was “to make the word of God fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me” (1:25-29). In the Bible, a mystery wasn’t something to figure out from clues: it was something that was not previously revealed but now is.
Paul warns them to “See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit” or “delude(s) you with plausible arguments” (2:8, 4).
Paul goes on to exalt Christ as the one “in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3). As we received Him, we’re to “walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving (2:6-7).
After sharing the gospel, Paul gives practical instruction for how the gospel affects our lives, families, and workplaces. There are certain behaviors we’re to put off, others we’re to put on. We’re to “seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth” (3:1-2).
Paul wraps up his teaching by encouraging believers to pray, give thanks, and “Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person” (4:5-6).
I can get so caught up in the affairs of this life, I need the reminder to “set my mind on things above” and exalt Christ above all.
A few more quotes from the book that stood out to me:
The gospel message does not center in a philosophy, a doctrine, or a religious system. It centers in Jesus Christ, the Son of God (p. 30, Kindle version).
Uniformity is the result of compulsion from the outside; unity is the result of compassion from the inside (p. 37).
Satan is so deceptive! He likes to borrow Christian vocabulary, but he does not use the Christian dictionary (p. 43).
The false teachers in Colossae, like the false teachers of our own day, would not deny the importance of Jesus Christ. They would simply dethrone Him, giving Him prominence but not preeminence. In their philosophy, Jesus Christ was but one of many “emanations” that proceeded from God and through which men could reach God. It was this claim that Paul refuted in this section (p. 57).
In the New Testament, saints are not dead people who during their lives performed miracles and never sinned. New Testament saints were living people who had trusted Jesus Christ. Paul wrote this letter to living saints (Col. 1:2), (p. 73).
Prayer is not our trying to change God’s mind. It is learning what is the mind of God and asking accordingly (1 John 5:14-15) (p. 81).
It does little good if Christians declare and defend the truth, but fail to demonstrate it in their lives (p. 113).
Paul did not ask for the prison doors to be opened, but that doors of ministry might be opened (1 Cor. 16: 9; Acts 14: 27). It was more important to Paul that he be a faithful minister than a free man. It is worth noting that in all of Paul’s prison prayers, his concern was not for personal safety or material help, but for spiritual character and blessing (p. 154).
I like how Wiersbe closed his commentary on Colossians:
As we come to the close of our study of this remarkable letter, we must remind ourselves that we are complete in Jesus Christ. We should beware of any teaching that claims to give us “something more” than we already have in Christ. All of God’s fullness is in Him, and He has perfectly equipped us for the life that God wants us to live. We do not live and grow by addition, but by appropriation (p. 173).
November 19, 2011
Even as an accessible, non-technical commentary, this one is rather poor. Wiersbe misreads the Colossian context, especially in regards to the 'Colossian Heresy.' He does not respect the boundaries of pericopes, often breaking key passages in strange places. Occasionally he reads evangelical hot topics into the text where they are not warranted.
But I gave him two stars because he does get somethings right. He reads Colossians with the eye of a preacher and is able to call attention to the supremacy of Christ. When I was tempted to just write the whole thing off, I would come away from a passage with one or two insights.
What was particularly helpful to me in using this book was that each section is punctuated by questions for reflection or group study. I read this while prepping a Bible study and while I generally didn't find his questions usable for my context (after all he misreads the text), they were a good foil to use in my own preparation.
But I gave him two stars because he does get somethings right. He reads Colossians with the eye of a preacher and is able to call attention to the supremacy of Christ. When I was tempted to just write the whole thing off, I would come away from a passage with one or two insights.
What was particularly helpful to me in using this book was that each section is punctuated by questions for reflection or group study. I read this while prepping a Bible study and while I generally didn't find his questions usable for my context (after all he misreads the text), they were a good foil to use in my own preparation.
April 22, 2017
I've read a half-dozen Bible commentaries and studies from Warren W. Wiersbe and generally liked them. But this was not one of his best. It felt like he was stretching a few of the chapters to fill the book out to its 176 pages. Still some good nuggets and very accessible, but not as good as his other stuff had led me to expect.
did-not-finish
August 29, 2017I wasn't getting much out of this study. I am getting a lot already out of getting Listening so Others will Talk.
May 8, 2024
I think Colossians has grown in one of my favorite books. It is so rich and I’ve loved parking in it and studying it for awhile. Thankful for Christ’s FULLNESS.
August 25, 2023
I tend to really enjoy Warren's commentaries, but this one was not his best.
July 31, 2022
A great book on the book of Colossians and how God wants people to live
October 26, 2024
Wiersbe's BE series of devotional commentaries are good for individual devotional material or small group study. They are neither technical nor in-depth, but Wiersbe gets at the heart of the biblical passages and uses reflection/discussion questions to prompt the reader(s) to think about how the Bible applies to his or her life. The theme of "Be Complete" -- both the book of Colossians and this devotional commentary -- is that Christ is everything we need. We do not need to add anything else, in fact we cannot add anything else, in order to be acceptable to God in Christ. All of God was in Jesus and when we are in Jesus, that's sufficient -- no rituals, no good works, no secret knowledge, no regulations make us any more acceptable and, in fact, they are followed in direct disobedience to the simple gospel of putting one's entire trust in Jesus' redeeming work.
June 24, 2011
My Sunday school class studied the book this spring. We used the discussion guide that went along with the book and found the study guide very frustration with redundant questions, etc. Wiersbe's book was easy to read with lots of good quotes. Colossians may be my favorite book in the Bible, so this was another good commentary. The major point Wiersbe makes is that we are complete in Christ, but there is often the temptation to look for spiritual fulfillment from sources other than God. "Right doctrine should lead to right living." This was a biggie: "False teachers do not take their message to all the world. They go where the gospel has already gone and try to lead believers astray." "Paul did not ask for the prison doors to be opened, but that doors of ministry might be opened."
July 7, 2016
A great study guide when dealing with people and their fragile emotions/self perceptions. Dr. Wiersbe helps us to understand that while the world see perfection as without something - GOD views it as having something. That something is Jesus!
February 8, 2016
A great study of the Head of the Church
I found this to be an excellent study about Jesus and His Completeness. I would recommend this book to believers young and old. Both new and mature.
I found this to be an excellent study about Jesus and His Completeness. I would recommend this book to believers young and old. Both new and mature.
August 26, 2017
Good in depth commentary
Reading Be complete helped me to understand the letter of Paul to the Colossians better, as Wiersbe wisely and in details help to observed and understand each verse. Reading this book had helped me in preparation for my Bible study.
Reading Be complete helped me to understand the letter of Paul to the Colossians better, as Wiersbe wisely and in details help to observed and understand each verse. Reading this book had helped me in preparation for my Bible study.
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August 21, 20120157
January 4, 2014
Colossians is my favorite book of the Bible and the book confirmed and help me understand it even more clearly.
November 18, 2014
A great study of Colossians. Took me a while to finish because I got distracted by other books. Would recommend it to anyone that studies the Bible!
October 23, 2014
couldn't even finish this one - too deep and intellectual for my feeble brain.
October 25, 2014
A great help when studying Colossians. I like his way of bringing an overview to the book.
October 27, 2015
NAILED IT!
February 16, 2016
This was a good refresher for me, as I had been involved in an intense study of Colossians a couple of years ago.
May 26, 2017
Great reading
I learned a lot about myself in grace and in repeated sinning. The author books are all great inspiration. Read them.
I learned a lot about myself in grace and in repeated sinning. The author books are all great inspiration. Read them.
August 29, 2019
I am a big fan of Wiersbe's commentaries, but this seemed less cohesive than the others I've read. Most of the illustrations seemed tacked on and some were irrelevant to the text.
The strength of this commentary was Wiersbe's explanation of many of Paul's statements as direct rebuttals of popular gnostic teaching of that time. There is also solid teaching on prayer in the second half of the book: "As we read the Word and fellowship with our Father, we discover his will and then boldly ask him to do what he has planned. Richard Trench, archbishop of Dublin, said it perfectly, 'Prayer is not overcoming God's reluctance; it is laying hold of his willingness.'"
The strength of this commentary was Wiersbe's explanation of many of Paul's statements as direct rebuttals of popular gnostic teaching of that time. There is also solid teaching on prayer in the second half of the book: "As we read the Word and fellowship with our Father, we discover his will and then boldly ask him to do what he has planned. Richard Trench, archbishop of Dublin, said it perfectly, 'Prayer is not overcoming God's reluctance; it is laying hold of his willingness.'"
December 29, 2022
Another good guide for studying a popular epistle. A detailed outline and overview of Colossians. It goes verse by verse, but it isn't just looking at the verse. Wiersbe adds his thoughts and other ideas. I think it should be used in combination with other bible study methods in order to stay true to the scriptures.
His bias shows in his thoughts on the Lord's Day in chapter 7. At logosapostolic.org, they go through the word gender and case for kuriake, and demonstrate that it's not Sunday or a specific day, but a godly or lordly day.
Wiersbe does explain gnosticism well, but often uses recent definitions of words and ideas rather than ones from the time that the book was written.
Good guide, but other materials needed to stay true to scriptures.
His bias shows in his thoughts on the Lord's Day in chapter 7. At logosapostolic.org, they go through the word gender and case for kuriake, and demonstrate that it's not Sunday or a specific day, but a godly or lordly day.
Wiersbe does explain gnosticism well, but often uses recent definitions of words and ideas rather than ones from the time that the book was written.
Good guide, but other materials needed to stay true to scriptures.
December 9, 2019
Warren Wiersbe has an easy to read style of Bible commentary without sacrificing the depth of truth in the Bible. The book of Colossians is one that brings people to their knees in worship as they learn more about who Christ is; and as it is with all of the apostle Paul's letters, that truth is translated into "how to live in light of these truths" in the last chapters.
October 24, 2018
I did this book with my Ladies Bible study at church. It was sound teaching with good study questions. I didn’t love it, it seemed a little outdated and I didn’t agree with everything little thing he taught. But I would be willing to give another one a try.
June 2, 2019
10/50 of be series. i read alphabetically.
not deep in theology, for this is one of the hardest book in the bible to meditate. but the commentary style more practical for the commentary talked about the core messages and not theological critics.
not deep in theology, for this is one of the hardest book in the bible to meditate. but the commentary style more practical for the commentary talked about the core messages and not theological critics.
August 6, 2019
Good companion read
I love Warren Wiersbe and his Be series. This particular one on Colossians doesn’t fill as full as some of his others but is still a good companion read when doing a study of Colossians.
I love Warren Wiersbe and his Be series. This particular one on Colossians doesn’t fill as full as some of his others but is still a good companion read when doing a study of Colossians.
August 22, 2019
Good solid teaching.
Good solid teaching. He hits the basics, stays close to sound doctrine, and is faithful to the text.
I recommend this book and his teaching. I believe that it is sound doctrine that believers can grow on.
Good solid teaching. He hits the basics, stays close to sound doctrine, and is faithful to the text.
I recommend this book and his teaching. I believe that it is sound doctrine that believers can grow on.
November 11, 2019
A wonderful companion whilst going through Colossians.
It attempted to be accessible in that it was very conversational but this made certain chapters long winded.
Helpful questions after each chapter.
Enjoyed the analogies.
It attempted to be accessible in that it was very conversational but this made certain chapters long winded.
Helpful questions after each chapter.
Enjoyed the analogies.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews