Colossians 2:6-7 | A Visual Commentary

Here is a complete, well-structured alt text description ready to copy and paste into your WordPress image settings:  An educational visual breakdown of Colossians 2:6–7 split into three sections.  Top Section: Text reads: "As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. — Colossians 2:6–7 (NRSV)"  Middle Section: Subheading reads: "This is a key scripture for our study of DISCIPLESHIP. Here is my visual interpretation of the text." Below, a colorful illustrated graphic features stylized artistic lettering and symbols representing the verse: a tree for "ROOTED", a brick wall and strong arms for "BUILT UP", holding hands for "ESTABLISHED in the faith", and water splash visuals around "ABOUNDING in THANKSGIVING". Reference in bottom right corner reads: "Colossians 2:6-7".  Bottom Section: Subheading reads: "This is what the scripture looks like in Greek, the language in which it was orginally written." Below is the original Greek text of Colossians 2:6–7: "⁶Ὡς οὖν παρελάβετε τὸν Χριστὸν Ἰησοῦν τὸν κύριον, ἐν αὐτῷ περιπατεῖτε, ⁷ἐρριζωμένοι καὶ ἐποικοδομούμενοι ἐν αὐτῷ καὶ βεβαιούμενοι τῇ πίστει καθὼς ἐδιδάχθητε, περισσεύοντες ἐν εὐχαριστίᾳ."  A arrow speech bubble at the bottom right reads: "Let's dig into this passage in the next few pages..."
An educational infographic continuing the visual breakdown of Colossians 2:6–7 in Greek:  Top Panel: Greek heading: "ἐν αὐτῷ περιπατεῖτε," translated as "in him walk around". Left side shows bold purple text "continue to WALK in HIM" with note: "THIS IS A DIRECTIVE. DO THIS. WALK IN HIM." Right side explanation: "Discipleship is a way of life. We are invited to follow in the footsteps of Jesus and live each day loving God and loving our neighbors in the way that Jesus showed us."  An arrow on the left connecting the lower panels to the top panel reads: "YOU CAN DO THIS... BECAUSE THIS HAS BEEN DONE FOR YOU".  Middle Panel: Greek heading: "ἐρριζωμένοι καὶ ἐποικοδομούμενοι ἐν αὐτῷ," translated as "having been ROOTED and having been built on in him". Features text "YOU HAVE BEEN ROOTED in HIM" over a large tree illustration. Top text quotes Psalm 1:1–3: "BLESSED IS THE ONE WHOSE DELIGHT IS IN THE TEACHING OF GOD, WHO MEDITATES ON IT DAY AND NIGHT. THEY ARE LIKE A TREE PLANTED BY STREAMS OF LIVING WATER THAT BEARS FRUIT." Bottom right features an illustration of Jesus with a speech bubble quoting John 15:1–5: "I AM THE VINE, YOU ARE THE BRANCHES. REMAIN IN ME. ABIDE IN ME, AND YOU WILL BEAR MUCH FRUIT."  Bottom Panel: Features text "YOU HAVE BEEN BUILT UP in HIM" showing a brick wall building design inside the word "HIM". Right side text reads: "Discipleship is the both/and of having been built up in Jesus and the ongoing process of being built up and strengthened in him."
An educational infographic concluding the visual breakdown of Colossians 2:7 in Greek:  Top Panel: Greek heading: "καὶ βεβαιούμενοι τῇ πίστει", translated as "and having been established in the faith". Graphic shows hands holding colorful human figures labeled "ESTABLISHED in the FAITH". An arrow points from "ESTABLISHED" to "MADE SECURE". An arrow points from "FAITH" with notes explaining: "does not mean [a checklist labeled 'STATEMENT OF FAITH / CORRECT DOCTRINE!'], it means TRUST that we are in god's hands and HELD in God's faithfulness."  Middle Panel: Greek heading: "καθὼς ἐδιδάχθητε", translated as "just as you were taught". Graphic text reads "Just as you were TAUGHT" with a small illustration of a teacher instructing students. Left box note: "DISCIPLESHIP involves teaching. The leader takes on apprentices and shows them how to follow the ways of Jesus." Right box note: "always teach to the WHOLE PERSON" with listed aspects "KNOW / FEEL / DO" next to a figure labeled "MIND / SPIRIT / BODY".  Bottom Panel: Greek heading: "περισσεύοντες ἐν εὐχαριστίᾳ.", translated as "abounding, overflowing in thanksgiving (eucharist)". Graphic shows stylized blue water splashes surrounding text reading "ABOUNDING in THANKSGIVING".
An educational infographic concluding the study of Colossians 2:6–7 by examining the Holy Trinity and our response to God:  Top Section: Question header: "Did you notice one piece of my illustration that was missing?" Left text: "The human being named Jesus does not live on this planet any more. We access his story through the Bible. He promised his disciples that the HOLY SPIRIT would fill them and give them the strength to follow his teachings." Right side illustration: A blue dove representing "THE HOLY SPIRIT".  Middle Section: Subheading: "Here we see THE TRINITY." An illustrated visual breakdown connects three aspects of the Trinity: • Top (Creator God): "THE CREATOR GOD is the ancient of days, the infinite one beyond our ability to comprehend." • Middle (Jesus): Green graphic reading "CHRIST JESUS THE LORD", described as: "JESUS, the Son of God, entered into the finite space of being human to show us the way of God in the world, to die, and to rise from the dead." • Bottom (The Spirit): Blue water swirls labeled "ABOUNDING in THANKSGIVING", described as: "THE SPIRIT of God is our present experience of GOD, in whom we live and move and have our being. The love of God is poured out on us through the Spirit and overflows into the world around us."  Bottom Section: Boxed text: "Our response to God's love, through Jesus Christ, in the power of the Holy Spirit is simply... THANK YOU!!"

Below is the text in the images above:

Colossians 2:6–7 (NRSV)

As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

Colossians 2:6–7 (NRSV)

Visual Commentary & Key Concepts

  • As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord

  • Continue to walk / live in Him

  • Rooted and built up in Him

  • Established in the faith

  • Just as you were taught

  • Abounding in thanksgiving

Summary & Reflection Notes

This is a key scripture for our study of DISCIPLESHIP.

  • Received Christ Jesus the Lord: Acknowledging and welcoming Christ as Lord into your life.

  • Rooted & Built Up: Deep spiritual grounding paired with continuous growth and maturity in faith.

  • Established in Faith: Standing firm and confident in the teachings you have received.

  • Abounding in Thanksgiving: Overflowing with gratitude as a natural reflection of walking with Christ.

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