John Calvin Commentary Colossians 2:3

"in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden." — Colossians 2:3 (ASV)

In whom are all the treasures. The expression in quo (in whom, or in which) may refer collectively to everything he has said regarding the acknowledgment of the mystery, or it may relate simply to what came immediately before, namely, Christ. While there is not much difference between these options, I rather prefer the latter view, and it is the one that is more generally received.

The meaning, therefore, is that all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Christ. By this he means that we are perfect in wisdom if we truly know Christ, so that it is madness to wish to know anything besides Him.

For since the Father has manifested Himself wholly in Him, anyone who is not contented with Christ alone wishes to be wise apart from God. Should anyone choose to interpret it as referring to the mystery, the meaning will be that all the wisdom of the pious is included in the gospel, by means of which God is revealed to us in His Son.

He says, however, that the treasures are hidden because they are not seen glittering with great splendor, but rather, as it were, lie hidden under the contemptible abasement and simplicity of the cross. For the preaching of the cross is always foolishness to the world, as we found stated in Corinthians (1 Corinthians 1:18). I do not consider that there is any great difference between wisdom and understanding in this passage, for the use of two different terms serves only to give additional strength, as though he had said that no knowledge, erudition, learning, or wisdom can be found elsewhere.