Paul urges the Colossians to understand Christ's teachings rather than simply memorizing scripture deeply. The expense of books and widespread illiteracy in biblical times suggest that Paul was not referring to memorization, as it would not have been practical for most people. Instead, Paul likely encouraged the Colossians to internalize and apply Christ's teachings in their daily lives, allowing them to live in a way that reflects the wisdom and reasoning of Christ. In other words, he told the Colossians to think like Jesus, as our thinking governs our actions. Paul's understanding of this concept developed over time, becoming more crystallized by the time he wrote to the Roman church, where he beseeched them to present their bodies as a living sacrifice and be transformed by renewing their minds through the indwelling words of Christ.