Fathers

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What the Fathers say

Colossians 2:3

Eastern Fathers

Theophylact of Ohrid

He alone knows all things. And if He alone is wise, then wisely, of course, He came in the last days and not long ago, and certain foolish people attack this in vain. By saying "treasures," he points to their multitude, and by the word "all," he shows that nothing is unknown to God, and by the expression "hidden" – that He alone knows, and from Him one must ask for wisdom and knowledge. …

Commentary on Colossians ↗

John Damascene

The word servant, then, is used merely as a title, though not in the strict meaning: but for our sakes He assumed the form of a servant and is called a servant among us. For although He is without passion, yet for our sake He was the servant of passion and became the minister of our salvation. Those, then, who say that He is a servant divide the one Christ into two, just as Nestorius did. But we declare Him to be Master and Lord of all creation, the one Christ, at once God and man, and all-knowing. …

An Exact Exposition of the Orthodox Faith, Book III ↗

Western Saints

Augustine of Hippo

Attend, dearest ones, and see how beneficially the Apostle advises, saying: As therefore you have received Christ Jesus our Lord, walk in him, rooted and built up in him, and confirmed in the faith. For with the same simple and certain faith, we must firmly remain in him, so that he may reveal to the faithful what is hidden in him: because as the same apostle says: In him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. These are not hidden to deny, but to excite the desire for the hidden things. …

Sermon 51 ↗

Ambrose of Milan

On consideration, your Majesty, of the reason wherefore men have so far gone astray, or that many-alas!-should follow diverse ways of belief concerning the Son of God, the marvel seems to be, not at all that human knowledge has been baffled in dealing with superhuman things, but that it has not submitted to the authority of the Scriptures. …

Exposition of the Christian Faith, Book 4 ↗

Thomas Aquinas

But is our intellect filled by knowing Christ? I say that it is because in him are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. God has a knowledge of all things, and this knowledge is called a treasure: "It is an unfailing treasure for men; those who get it obtain friendship with God" (Wis 7:14). Now a treasure is a collection of riches; they are not called a treasure when scattered about, but only when collected in one place. …

Commentary on Colossians ↗