Thursday after Epiphany
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King James Version
Colossians 2:20
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If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations—
Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ fro the ordinances of the world, why, as though ye liued in ye world, are ye burdened with traditions?
If you died with Christ to the elements of this world, why do you live as if you still belonged to the world? Why do you submit to regulations:
If you died with Messiah from the elements of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to ordinances,
If ye have died with Christ from the elements of the world, why as [if] alive in [the] world do ye subject yourselves to ordinances?
You died with Christ and were made free from the powers that influence this world. So why do you act as if you still belong to the world? I mean, why do you follow rules like these:
If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were still living in the world, do you submit to rules and regulations, such as,
If ye died with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, do ye subject yourselves to ordinances,
If you have died with Christ to the spiritual forces of the world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its regulations:
You died with Christ. Now the forces of the universe don't have any power over you. Why do you live as if you had to obey such rules as,
If, along with the Messiah, you died to the elemental spirits of the world, then why, as if you still belonged to the world, are you letting yourselves be bothered by its rules? —
If you have died with Christ to the basic principles of the world,the elemental spirits of the universe">[fn] why are you submitting to its decrees as though you still lived in the world?Romans 6:3,5; Galatians 2:19; Ephesians 2:15; Colossians 2:8;">[xr]
For if you are dead with the Meshiha from the principles of the world, why as if you lived in the world are you judged ? as that [fn]
For if ye are dead with the Messiah from the rudiments of the world, why are ye judged as if ye were living in the world?
Wherefore if yee bee dead with Christ fro the rudiments of the world: why, as though liuing in the world, are ye subiect to ordinances?
Wherfore, yf ye be dead with Christe from ye rudimentes of the world: why, as though lyuyng in the worlde, are ye led with traditions,
If ye died with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, do ye subject yourselves to ordinances,
If you have died with Christ to the elemental spirits of the world, why do you submit to them as if living in the world?
If, then, you died with Christ from the elements of the world, why are you under its decrees, as living in the world?
If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as,
Since you died with Christ and were made free from the ruling spirits of the world, why do you act as if you still belong to this world by following rules like these:
If you have died with Christ to the elemental spirits of the world, why do you submit to them as though you lived in the world?
Therefore, [fn] if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations--
You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the spiritual powers of this world. So why do you keep on following the rules of the world, such as,
If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the universe, why do you live as if you still belonged to the world? Why do you submit to regulations,
If ye have died, together with Christ, from the first principles of the world, why, as though alive in the world, are ye submitting to decrees, -
If then you be dead with Christ from the elements of this world, why do you yet decree as though living in the world?
Therefore, if you have died with Christ and are apart from the principles of the world why then should you be doomed as though living in the world?
You have died with Christ and are set free from the ruling spirits of the universe. Why, then, do you live as though you belonged to this world? Why do you obey such rules as
If you died with Christ from the elements of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to ordinances,
Therefore if ye are dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as living in the world, receive ye ordinances,
If you have died with Christ and have escaped from the world's rudimentary notions, why, as though your life still belonged to the world, do you submit to such precepts as
For if ye ben deed with Crist fro the elementis of this world, what yit as men lyuynge to the world demen ye?
Wherefore, if ye are dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,
If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the universe, why do you live as if you still belonged to the world? Why do you submit to regulations,
Wherfore if ye be deed with Christ fro ordinaunces of the worlde why as though ye yet lived in the worlde are ye ledde with tradicios of them that saye?
If you died with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to ordinances,
If, then, ye did die with the Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances?
If you were made free, by your death with Christ, from the rules of the world, why do you put yourselves under the authority of orders
Wherfore yf ye be deed with Christ from the ordinaunces of the worlde, why are ye holden the with soch tradicions, as though ye lyued after the worlde? As whan they saye:
If then you are dead with Christ, in respect of those shadows of the Jewish state; why do ye, as if you were still in that state, submit to those ordinances?
So, then, if with Christ you've put all that pretentious and infantile religion behind you, why do you let yourselves be bullied by it? "Don't touch this! Don't taste that! Don't go near this!" Do you think things that are here today and gone tomorrow are worth that kind of attention? Such things sound impressive if said in a deep enough voice. They even give the illusion of being pious and humble and ascetic. But they're just another way of showing off, making yourselves look important.
You have died with Christ and become dead to those old ways. Then why do you follow the old ways of worship? Why do you obey man-made rules?
When you died with Christ, you were freed from religion's rules and regulations. If you are freed from them, why do you continue to follow that trail?
If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as,
If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees:
Contextual Overview
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
if: Colossians 3:3, Romans 6:2-11, Romans 7:4-6, Galatians 2:19, Galatians 2:20, Galatians 6:14, 1 Peter 4:1-3
from: Colossians 2:8, Ephesians 2:15
rudiments: or, elements
living: John 15:19, John 17:14-16, 2 Corinthians 10:3, James 4:4, 1 John 5:19
subject: Colossians 2:14, Colossians 2:16, Galatians 4:3, Galatians 4:9-12, Hebrews 13:9
Reciprocal: Exodus 27:8 - as it was showed Leviticus 11:24 - General Matthew 15:2 - transgress 1 Corinthians 8:8 - meat Ephesians 2:14 - the middle Colossians 3:1 - risen 1 Timothy 4:3 - to abstain Hebrews 7:16 - the law Hebrews 9:10 - carnal 1 Peter 2:24 - being
Cross-References
And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.
Gill's Notes on the Bible
Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ,.... Or "seeing ye are dead with Christ"; for these words do not signify any doubt about it, but suppose it, and press what is taken for granted. They were dead with Christ by virtue of union to him; they being one with him, and considered in him as their head and representative, died in him, and with him; they were crucified with him, as they are said to be buried with him, and risen with him; they were dead with him, by having communion with him in his death; they partook of the benefits of it, as redemption, pardon, justification, and reconciliation; and they were planted together with him in the likeness of his death, not merely partakers of his sufferings, or suffered with him, and were conformable unto his death, by undergoing such like things as he did, but as he died unto sin, and lived unto God, so did they; and through the virtue and efficacy of his death were dead to sin, so as that it was not imputed to them, so as to be freed and discharged from it, that it could not damn and destroy them; yea, so as that itself was crucified with him, and destroyed by him: and also to the law, to the moral law; not but that they lived according to it, as in the hands of Christ, in their walk and conversation, but did not seek for life, righteousness, and salvation by it; they were dead unto it as to justification by it, and even to obedience to it in a rigorous and compulsive way; and to all its terrors and threatenings, being moved to a regard to it from a principle of love to Christ; and to all its accusations and charges, its curses and condemnation, and as a ministration of death, fearing neither a corporeal, nor an eternal one: they were dead also to the ceremonial law, and were free
from the rudiments, or "elements"
of the world: the ordinances of a worldly sanctuary, the rites and ceremonies of the world, or state of the Jews, in opposition to, and distinction from, the Gospel dispensation, or times of the Messiah, called, and that by them, עולם הבא, "the world to come": these were like letters to a language, or like the grammar, which contains the rudiments of it; these were the first principles of the oracles of God, which led to Christ, and had their accomplishment and end in him; and so believers were dead unto them, and delivered from them, as they were also to the world, the Jewish state, and were entered into the world to come; and even to this present evil world, and to the men and things of it, being by Christ crucified to it, and that to them: upon all which the apostle thus reasons,
why, as though living in the world; since ye are dead unto it, and from the rudiments of it, why should ye be as though ye lived in it? his meaning is not, that they should not live in the world, nor among the men of it, for then they must needs go out of the world; saints may live in the world, though they are not of it, and among the inhabitants of it, though they do not belong to them, but to another and better country: nor does he suggest, that they lived according to the course of the world, as they did in their unregenerate state; but what he seems to blame them for, and reason with them about, was, that they acted as if they sought for life and righteousness in the rudiments of the world, or by their obedience to ceremonial rites, or human inventions: for he adds,
are ye subject to ordinances? not civil and political ones, which are for the better and more orderly government of kingdoms, states, and cities, for these the saints ought to be subject to, both for the Lord's sake, and conscience sake; nor Gospel ordinances, as baptism, and the Lord's supper, for such all believers ought to submit unto; but either legal ones, the weak and beggarly elements, the yoke of bondage, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, the handwriting of ordinances, which some were desirous of conforming to; or rather the ordinances and appointments of the Jewish fathers, the traditions of the elders, their constitutions and decrees, which are collected together, and make up their Misna, or oral law; and so the argument is from the one to the other, from the greater to the less, that if they were delivered by Christ from the burdensome rites of the ceremonial law, which were originally appointed by God, it must be great weakness in them to be subject to the ordinances of men; or both the institutions of the ceremonial law, and the decrees of the Jewish doctors about them, which were devised by them, and added to them, and imposed as necessary to be observed, may be intended; of which the apostle gives some particulars in Colossians 2:21.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
Wherefore - In view of all that has been said. If it be true that you are really dead to the world, why do you act as if you still lived under the principles of the world?
If ye be dead with Christ - If you are dead to the world in virtue of his death. The apostle here, as elsewhere, speaks of a very close union with Christ. We died with him; that is, such was the efficacy of his death, and such is our union with him, that we became dead also to the world; Notes, Romans 6:2, note, 4, note, 8, note, 11, note.
From the rudiments of the world - Margin, “elements.” The elements or principles which are of a worldly nature, and which reign among worldly men; see the notes at Galatians 4:3.
Why, as though living in the world - Why do you allow them to influence you, as though you were living and acting under those worldly principles? They ought no more to do it, than the things of this world influence those who are in their graves.
Are ye subject to ordinances - The rites and ceremonies of the Jewish religion; see the notes at Galatians 5:1-4.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse 20. If ye be dead with Christ — See the notes on Romans 6:3; Romans 6:5.
From the rudiments of the world — Ye have renounced all hope of salvation from the observance of Jewish rites and ceremonies, which were only rudiments, first elements, or the alphabet, out of which the whole science of Christianity was composed. We have often seen that the world and this world signify the Jewish dispensation, or the rites, ceremonies, and services performed under it.
Why, as though living in the world — Why, as if ye were still under the same dispensation from which you have been already freed, are ye subject to its ordinances, performing them as if expecting salvation from this performance?
