Bible Commentaries
Colossians 2

Introduction

I. OUTLINE OF CHAPTER 2:1-8

D. The True Nature Of False Doctrine-Empty Arguments/Mere Human Tradition/Anything But Wise: 2:8

II. INTRODUCTORY COMMENTS:

'In the previous paragraph (1:24-29) Paul spoke in general terms of his apostolic service. His ministry to the Gentile congregations included the Colossians (vv 24-25). Now he turns to them in direct personal address...with the aim of strengthening the bond between the Colossian believers, whom he had not met previously, and himself. By means of a form used in the letter-writing convention of his day he wishes to instruct them in an important matter.' (O'Brien p. 91)

'Here is a brief lifting of the curtain and a poignant glimpse into Paul's heart. He is going through a struggle for these Christians whom he had never seen but whom he loved. He associates the Laodicaeans with the Colossians, and speaks of all those who had never seen his face. He is thinking of the Christians in that group of three towns in the Lycus valley, Laodicaea, Hierapolis and Colosse..and picturing them in his mind's eye.' (Barclay pp. 127-128)

I. OUTLINE OF CHAPTER 2:9-15:

E. In Him Is Found Victory Over Hostile Spiritual Forces: 2:15

II. INTRODUCTORY COMMENTS:

'One thing clear is that the false teachers wished the Colossians to accept what can only be called "additions to Christ"...They wished to teach men an additional philosophy (verse 8). As they saw it, the simple truth preached by Jesus and preserved in the gospel was not enough. It had to be filled out by an elaborate system of pseudo-philosophical thought...They wished to impose circumcision on Christians (verse 11)...They wished to lay down ascetic rules and regulations (verses 16, 20-23)...They wished to introduce the worship of angels (verse 18)...The one thing certain is that the false teachers taught that Jesus Christ and his teaching and work were not in themselves sufficient for salvation.' (Barclay pp. 134-135)

I. OUTLINE OF CHAPTER 2:16-23:

C. Regressing Back To Asceticism: 2:20-23

II. INTRODUCTORY COMMENTS:

Great spiritual truths always have very practical benefits and applications ( Rom_12:1 ff). Paul has already stated that Christ released us from the demands of the Law of Moses (2:14). Now he gives some practical applications. Carefully note, God doesn't always leave the reader to simply draw his own conclusions. Just in case these Christians (and us) fail to draw the right conclusions and logical ramifications from 2:14, God draws the proper applications for us.

Here we also learn that 'Bad theology leads to bad practice.' The false notions about the person and work of Christ, which are corrected in the positive affirmations of chapter 2:8-15, gave their inevitable corollary in these unusual aberrations on the practical side..' (O'Brien p. 137)

Verse 1

Col_2:1 For I would have you know how greatly I strive for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;

'FOR I WOULD HAVE YOU KNOW' -Paul always wanted his brethren to be informed ( Rom_1:13 ; Rom_11:25 ; 1Co_10:1 ; 1Co_11:3 ; 1Co_12:1 ; 2Co_1:8 ; 1Th_4:3 ). Paul likes everything in the open, upfront and fully known.

'HOW GREATLY I STRIVE FOR YOU' -'what a battle I am fighting for you' (Wms); 'what anxiety I feel over you' (Knox). Notice Paul's honesty and transparency.

'STRIVE' -73. agon ag-one'; from 71; properly, a place of assembly (as if led), i.e. (by implication) a contest (held there); figuratively, an effort or anxiety: -conflict, contention, fight, race.

-'Here of inward conflict, anxiety, prayer, as in 4:12.' (Vincent p. 482)

Points to Note:

7. Paul's example leaves us without any excuse. We aren't in prison, we are free. So what is our excuse for not sharing the gospel with the lost and for not trying to bring the wayward back? ( Gal_6:1 ; Mat_18:15 ; Jam_5:19-20 )

'AND FOR THEM AT LAODICEA, AND FOR AS MANY AS HAVE NOT SEEN MY FACE IN THE FLESH' -'for all who do not know me personally' (Gspd); 'haven't seen me face to face' (Beck).

'THEM AT LAODICEA' -'is also mentioned, from its proximity to Colosse, and perhaps because it was exposed to similar seductions.' (Eadie p. 106) 'The danger which had come to a head in Colossae was doubtless threatening its neighbors.' (P.P. Comm. p. 82)

'AND FOR AS MANY' -Including the members at Hierapolis (4:13), the other congregation located in the Lycus valley. 'Including all who come under the same category as the Colossians and Laodicaeans. Hence equivalent to "all who, like yourselves, have not seen..' (Vincent p. 482)

'HAVE NOT SEEN MY FACE' -

Points to Note:

2. It appears that Paul may have passed through the city of Colossae in past years ( Act_18:23 /19:1), but this appears to have occurred prior to any congregation being established in Colossae ( Act_19:10 ).

WHAT PAUL YEARNED FOR CONCERNING THESE CHRISTIANS:

Verse 2

'THAT' -'I want them to' (NEB) 'The purpose of Paul's striving' (Hendriksen p. 103)

'THEIR HEARTS' -'Their minds and wills as well as their emotions were included in the term "hearts".' (Erdman p. 68) 'Embraces also the intellect and the will .' (Gr. Ex. N.T. p. 518)

'MAY BE' -Even the apostle Paul couldn't force spiritual maturity of any Christian. Human freewill must always be factored in.

'COMFORTED' -3870. parakaleo par-ak-al-eh'-o; from 3844 and 2564; to call near, i.e. invite, invoke (by imploration, hortation or consolation): -beseech, call for, (be of good) comfort, desire, (give) exhort(-ation), intreat, pray.

-'Not so much tranquillized as braced.' (Vincent p. 482) 'The word here denotes "not relief but reinforcement."' (Erdman pp. 67-68) ( Col_4:8 ; Eph_6:22 ; 2Th_2:17 )

Points to Note:

3. False teachers also tend to play "mind-games" with those they are trying to deceive. Paul prays that the Colossians would remain mentally sound in the faith, quick to discern truth from error ( Heb_5:12-14 ); and that they would carefully examine any claims ( Act_17:11 ; 1Th_5:21-22 ; 1Jn_4:1 ). We might say, 'In the midst of confusion, that you would keep your head on straight,' ( Eph_4:14 )

'THEY BEING KNIT TOGETHER IN LOVE' -'bound to one another by love' (TCNT); 'welded together in love' (Wey).

'KNIT TOGETHER' -4822. sumbibazo soom-bib-ad'-zo; from 4862 and bibazo (to force; causative [by reduplication] of the base of 939); to drive together, i.e. unite (in association or affection), (mentally) to infer, show, teach: -compact, assuredly gather, intrust, knit together, prove.

-(2:19 'held together'; Eph_4:16 ).

'IN LOVE' -( Col_3:14 'the perfect bond of unity').

Points to Note:

4. We need to apply these things among ourselves: (a) Let's not gossip or secretly rejoice when a brother or sister goes into error, let's be resolved to give the devil a real fight when he tries to snatch a member from the flock. Which means that every effort is made to bring that valuable soul back to the truth ( Jam_5:19-20 ). (b) Let us also be resolved to make every effort to bring back erring congregations, i.e. try to get our foot in the door to give them some good teaching, before we write them off as people not interested in the truth.

'AND UNTO ALL RICHES OF THE FULL ASSURANCE OF UNDERSTANDING' -'and keeping in view the full blessedness of a firm conviction' (TCNT); 'I long for you to grow more certain in your knowledge and more sure in your grasp' (Phi); 'and to come to the full wealth of conviction which understanding brings' (NEB); 'May they have all the wealth of conviction that comes from insight!' (Mof)

'ALL RICHES' -'and attaining to all the wealth' (NASV). The Bible often talks about the "riches", "blessings" or "wealth" available to those in Christ ( Eph_1:3 ). Contrary to the claims of the world, being a Christian isn't the deprived life.

'FULL ASSURANCE' -( Heb_6:11 ; Heb_10:22 ).

'UNDERSTANDING' -4907. sunesis soon'-es-is; from 4920; a mental putting together, i.e. intelligence or (concretely) the intellect: -knowledge, understanding.

Points to Note:

3. In contrast to what Paul desired, we hear many religious people claiming that true "spirituality" is when you give up the concept of absolute truth. Carefully note that Paul desired that Christians would have settled, black and white convictions. God expects the Christian to come to a full and definite knowledge of the truth ( 1Ti_2:4 ). God believes that the Bible is so clear that the Christian can settle "doctrine" once and for all.

'THAT THEY MAY' -'Paul desires the full use of the intellect in grasping the great mystery of Christ and it calls for the full and balanced exercise of all one's mental powers.' (Robertson p. 488)

'KNOW' -1922. epignosis ep-ig'-no-sis; from 1921; recognition, i.e. (by implication) full discernment, acknowledgement: -(ac-)knowledge(-ing, -ment).

'THE MYSTERY OF GOD' -Yes, God does have a mystery. But not a mystery that is only for the elite. And neither is it a mystery that is designed to remain a mystery. 'The word "mystery" has its usual New Testament meaning. It describes something once hidden but now disclosed--something, too, which is not to be kept secret but which is to be made known.' (Erdman p. 68)

'EVEN CHRIST' -

Points to Note:

Verse 3

Col_2:3 in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden.

'IN WHOM' -i.e. in Christ.

'ARE ALL THE TREASURES OF WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE HIDDEN' -

'WISDOM' -4678. sophia sof-ee'-ah; from 4680; wisdom (higher or lower, worldly or spiritual): -wisdom.

'KNOWLEDGE' -1108. gnosis gno'-sis; from 1097; knowing (the act), i.e. (by implication) knowledge: -knowledge, science.

Points to Note:

'HIDDEN' -614. apokruphos ap-ok'-roo-fos; from 613; secret; by implication, treasured: -hid, kept secret.

Points to Note:

3. Bible study shouldn't be a chore or simply something to be done, a mere duty to be performed. Within Christ's revelation are found abundant treasures, all spiritual truth that is worth knowing. The most important concepts and realities of life. And it's not mere information, it is the truth that can liberate you from sin ( Joh_8:32 ), the message that can save your soul ( Jam_1:21 ).

4. This verse also infers: (a) The human mind can comprehend and correctly interpret God's revelation-i.e. the revelation that God gave is perfectly fitted for the man that God created. (b) No other revelation from God is needed. Which places all latter-day revelations (The Book of Mormon, etc...) out in the cold.

Verse 4

Col_2:4 This I say, that no one may delude you with persuasiveness of speech.

'THIS I SAY' -'What I mean is this' (Bruce p. 92). The reason that Paul has emphasized that all spiritual truth is found in Jesus Christ.

'DELUDE YOU' -3884. paralogizomai par-al-og-id'-zom-ahee; from 3844 and 3049; to misreckon, i.e. delude: -beguile, deceive.

-God often has the apostles warn Christians against the danger of being deceived ( 1Co_6:9 ; Eph_5:6 ). We can't be naive and think that everyone in the religious world is telling the truth. We must learn to check all the various claims that we encounter ( Act_17:11 ; 1Th_5:21-22 ). And carefully note that nowhere has God ever required us to believe and accept everything that is claimed by religious people ( 1Jn_4:1 ; Rev_2:2 ).

'PERSUASIVENESS OF SPEECH' -4086. pithanologia pith-an-ol-og-ee'-ah; from a compound of a derivative of 3982 and 3056; persuasive language: -enticing words.

-'this was a word of the law-courts; it was the word used for the persuasive power of a lawyer's arguments, which could enable the criminal to escape his just punishment.' (Barclay p. 131)

-'their danger, then, was that of being deceived...by the plausible arguments..and also by their suave language. They were in peril of accepting doctrines as true without understanding their real nature and consequences .' (Erdman p. 69)

-'don't let anyone talk you round with plausible arguments.' (Hendriksen p. 92)

-'The new teachers were fluent, specious reasoners, and had a store of sophistical arguments at command. The tense of the verb indicates an apprehension as to what may be now going on.' (P.P. Comm. pp. 83-84)

Points to Note:

1. Christians need the same warning today. Paul is admonishing the Colossians, ' You have the truth, all of it--they don't!' And boy do we need to hear the same admonition: 'Christian, the world is backward-you're not, the world is in the dark ages, not you, the world is behind the times, the message the world has is irrelevant, but not the truth, the truth you possess is always exactly what the time and culture you happen to live in--needs to hear!'

2. And oh do we need to know what the Bible actually teaches. This verse infers: (a) False teachers are sharp! (b) Many of their arguments sound really good. Many of their arguments even sound logical and very intellectual. (c) You need to have a firm grasp of the truth found in Jesus Christ, because, with your own wisdom--you will be at a huge disadvantage ( 2Pe_2:1-3 ; Rom_16:18 ; 2Ti_4:3-4 ).

3. Mere intellect, unaided human intelligence can't save you from error. Just look at the "smart and successful" people entrapped in Mormonism, the Jehovah Witnesses, The New Age, Catholicism, real liberal mainline denominations, i.e. the United Church of Christ, etc...

Verse 5

Col_2:5 For though I am absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.

'THOUGH I AM ABSENT IN THE FLESH' -'absent in body' (NASV); 'far away in person' (Wms); 'physically absent' (Ber).

'If he were present at Colossae he would deal with this menacing situation in person; but his imprisonment prevents him from being with them "in the flesh".' (O'Brien pp. 97-98)

But, such an absence won't stop him from doing everything he can to warn and encourage them.

'YET AM I WITH YOU IN THE SPIRIT' -'in spirit' (NASV) ( 1Co_5:3-5 ; 1Th_2:17 ). They may be out of sight, but not out of mind.

'The report which Epaphras had presented to Paul was, on the whole, favorable. Though he had not in any way minimized the dangers that were threatening the church, yet he had been careful to point out that on the whole the Colossians had not been moved from their foundation.' (Hendriksen p. 107)

'JOYING AND BEHOLDING YOUR ORDER' -'delighted to witness' (Wey). Through the eyes of Epaphras (1:7), Paul rejoices as he sees the faithfulness of this congregation. ( 2Jn_1:4 ; 3Jn_1:4 )

'ORDER' -5010. taxis tax'-is; from 5021; regular arrangement, i.e. (in time) fixed succession (of rank or character), official dignity: -order.

-'The military line..unbroken, intact. A few stragglers had gone over to the Gnostics, but there had been no panic, no breach in the line.' (Robertson p. 489)

-'The church should be like an ordered army, with every man in his appointed place, ready and willing to obey the word of command.' (Barclay p. 131)

'STEDFASTNESS' -4733. stereoma ster-eh'-o-mah; from 4732; something established, i.e. (abstractly) confirmation (stability): -stedfastness.

-'Solid front' (Gr. Ex. N.T. p. 520). 'are miltary terms, denoting the "ordered array" and "solid front" of an army prepared for battle.' (P.P. Comm. p. 84)

-'The word translated "firmness" (steadfastness) is stereoma, which means a sold bulwark, an immovable phalanx. It describes an army set out in an unbreakable square, solidly immovable against the shock of the enemy's charge. Within the church there should be disciplined order and strong steadiness, like the order and steadiness of a trained and disciplined body of troops.' (Barclay p. 131)

Points to Note:

3. Bible classes, sermons and any instuction for members is a good use of your time and resources. An untaught membership is only courting disaster ( Rom_16:18 ).

'OF YOUR FAITH IN CHRIST' -

Points to Note:

2. Christians are to be unyielding and close-minded towards error. Faith in Christ means, on the practical level, trusting that Jesus is telling you the truth, in spite of all claims to the contrary.

Verse 6

Col_2:6 As therefore ye received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him,

'AS' -'live in accordance with what you received' (Gr. Ex. N.T. p. 521). 'So just as' (Gspd)

'RECEIVED' -3880. paralambano par-al-am-ban'-o; from 3844 and 2983; to receive near, i.e. associate with oneself (in any familiar or intimate act or relation); by analogy, to assume an office; figuratively, to learn: -receive, take (unto, with).

-'received as transmitted' (Hendriksen p. 107). 'Received by instruction' (Gr. Ex. N.T. p. 521) 'By tranmission from..your teachers' (Vincent p. 484) ( 1Co_11:23 ; 1Co_15:1 ; 1Co_15:3 ; Gal_1:9 ; Gal_1:12 ; Php_4:9 ; 1Th_2:13 ).

'CHRIST JESUS THE LORD' -They Jesus they had been taught about, was the right Jesus. They were to hold on to exactly the very truth that Epaphras had instructed them in. There was no need to change or alter this teaching.

'SO WALK IN HIM' -i.e. live your life ordering to this truth

Point to Note:

False doctrine almost always changes conduct. The false doctrines which the Colossians faced could move them toward: (a) Asceticism (2:20-23). (b) Immorality (3:5ff). (c) Superstition (2:18). (c) Jewish rituals (2:16). Paul is telling these Christians to live like Christ is God. Living like Christ is God means that you reject any assumed "improvements" to the gospel, you reject any human improvements to God's plan of salvation in Christ and that you live like Jesus is in charge of this universe, i.e. reject supersitition and the occult.

WHAT WALKING IN CHRIST LOOKS LIKE:

Verse 7

Col_2:7 rooted and builded up in him, and established in your faith, even as ye were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

'ROOTED' -

Verse 9

Col_2:9 for in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily,

'FOR' -'This is the reason why the Colossians were to be on their guard against any vain philosophy that might turn them away from Christ.' (Erdman pp. 75-76) This is the real reason why all the 'treasures of wisdom and knowledge are found in Christ.' Carefully note that loyalty to Christ is much more than just a human kind of loyalty, i.e. you gave your word, so support this man or program. It is a loyalty rooted in "who" Christ is. Human philosophy is to be rejected, simply because it can't even come close to what Christ offers the Christian. For Jesus is God!

'This is an irresistible argument. Any system not after Christ must be human and wrong--"for in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily"..' (Eadie p. 137)

'IN HIM' -i.e. in Christ (2:8).

'DWELLETH' -2730. katoikeo kat-oy-keh'-o; from 2596 and 3611; to house permanently, i.e. reside (literally or figuratively): -dwell(-er), inhabitant(-ter).

-The word "dwelleth" is in the present tense. 'The indwelling of the divine fullness in Him is characteristic of Him...from all ages and to all ages. Hence the fulness of the Godhead dwelt in Him before His incarnation..( Php_2:6 )..( Joh_1:1 ).' (Vincent p. 487)

-It dwelled in Him during His incarnation ( Joh_14:6 ), and after His incarnation.

-'Permanently dwells' (Gr. Ex. N.T. p. 523)

'ALL THE FULNESS' -'The teachers of error may have talked of the fullness of divine being distributed among a hierarchy of spirit-powers, through which it was filtered down to this world. Christians had something better. They had Christ, the personal revelation of the Father, the one mediator between God and human beings, in whom..the plentitude of deity was embodied.' (Bruce pp. 100-101)

'The false teachers represented the fulness of the Godhead has distributed among the angels' (Gr. Ex. N.T. p. 523)

'FULNESS' -4138. pleroma play'-ro-mah; from 4137; repletion or completion, i.e. (subjectively) what fills (as contents, supplement, copiousness, multitude), or (objectively) what is filled (as container, performance, period): -which is put in to fill up, piece that filled up, fulfilling, full, fulness.

-'it is the whole fulness--not one cycle of Divine perfections--a single cluster of Divine properties--not a partial possession of isolated glories--nor a handful of meted and fractional resources.' (Eadie p. 137)

-Same as 1:19. 'is emphatic, the whole fulness dwells in Christ, therefore it is vain to seek it wholly or partially outside of Him' (Gr. Ex. N.T. p. 523)

'OF THE GODHEAD' -2320. theotes theh-ot'-ace; from 2316; divinity (abstractly): -godhead.

-'the very essence of God' (Robertson p. 491). 'the divine nature' (Vincent p. 486)

-'denotes the essence or content of divine being, that indeed which constitutes God...The word "deity", and its corresponding word in the Greek, denotes the "being God". Christ is not only Godlike; he is God.' (Erdman p. 76)

Vine points out the difference between 'Godhead' of Rom_1:20 which is seen in creation, and the 'Godhead' of Col_2:9 that is seen in Christ. The attributes (i.e. power, etc..) of God are demonstrated in creation ( Rom_1:20 ). But along with the attributes of God, the Divine essence of Godhood, the Personality of God , is seen in Jesus Christ. 'They were no mere rays of Divine glory which gilded Him, lighting up His Person for a season and with a splendor not His own; but He was, and is, absolute and perfect God.' (Vine 'Divinity'. pp. 328-329)

Point to Note:

The word "Godhead" or "Godhood" often confuses people. Until they remember such words as "manhood", "womanhood" and "childhood". Manhood is to possess the qualities of being a man, likewise womanhood is to possess the qualities of being a woman, and childhood is to possess the qualities of being a child. In like manner, Godhood is the state of possessing all the qualities which make God, God. And only three persons possess 'Godhood', i.e. Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

'BODILY' -4985. somatikos so-mat-ee-koce'; adverb from 4984; corporeally or physically: -bodily.

Points to Note:

Passages such as Act_1:11 ; Php_3:21 'the body of His glory'; 1Jn_3:2 ; and Rev_1:12-18 , seem to endorse the same idea, i.e. Jesus currently dwells in His glorified resurrected body. The same type of bodily condition that all Christians will dwell in ( 1Co_15:1-58 ).

3. This passage provides the Christian with a wealth of information and contradicts a number of modern religious misconceptions:

c. The word "bodily". Contradicts the claim that the physical body of Jesus was simply an illusion. It condemns those who had a contempt for the body and the material world. God not only created the material world (1:16), He (Himself, everything that makes Him-God) actually dwelled in part of it. 'Paul here disposes of the Docetic theory that Jesus had no human body as well as the Cerinthian separation between the man Jesus and the aeon Christ. He asserts plainly the deity and the humanity of Jesus Christ in corporeal form.' (Robertson p. 491)

While Jesus was upon this earth, we find Deity and Humanity perfectly merged: (a) He was called both the Son of Man and the Son of God. (b) He had all the natural appetites of man (hunger- Mat_4:2 ; thirst- Joh_19:28 ; the need for rest ( Joh_4:6 ). (c) At the same time we find all the powers of God The power over nature- Mat_8:26-27 ; over disease- Mar_2:1-12 ; over spiritual beings- Mar_1:34 ; over the material creation- Mat_14:15-21 ; over the realm of death- Joh_11:1-57 ; the power to forgive sins- Mat_9:6 ; the power of omniscience- Joh_2:24-25 ; omnipresence- Luk_4:30 / Joh_3:13 (?); an eternal nature- Joh_8:58 .

Verse 10

Col_2:10 and in him ye are made full, who is the head of all principality and power:

'IN HIM' -i.e. through faith and baptism ( Gal_3:26-27 ).

'YE' -Christians

'ARE MADE FULL' -'and in Him you have your Fulness' (Con)

Points to Note:

6. I like what Cogdill said concerning the word "fulness":

'In the letter to the Colossian church, Paul emphasizes the fundamental truth that "Christ is the fulness of God". In the Ephesian letter, he defines "the church as the fulness of Christ" (1:22-23). These two expressions are comparable. Christ, as the "fulness of God", means that in Christ all that God means to a human soul and all that His grace has provided for our redemption can be found and only in Christ ( Eph_1:3 ). The church, as the "fulness of Christ", means that all which Christ can mean to a human soul can be enjoyed in His body which is the church, and in it only. It further means that all of the provisions of God's grace through Jesus Christ can be enjoyed only in the church.' [Note: _ The New Testament: Book By Book. Roy E. Cogdill p. 75.]

'WHO IS THE HEAD OF ALL PRINCIPALITY AND POWER' -'who is the authority over all authorities, and the supreme power over all powers' (Phi). ( Col_1:16 ; Eph_1:20-23 ; Mat_28:18 )

Points to Note:

3. Again note that Jesus is presently the Head . True Christianity teaches a Jesus ruling as the supreme Head following His resurrection ( Act_2:30-31 ).

THE TRUE CIRCUMCISION:

'If they were complete in Christ, they had no need to go beyond Christ, and to resort to any ceremonies imposed upon them by the Judaizers...' (Eadie p. 145)

From 2:11-13 it appears that the Colossians faced pressure from teachers who argued that Gentile Christians needed to be circumcised to be "real" Christians ( Act_15:1 ; Act_15:5 ). Paul argues, that anyone "in Christ", has already undergone a superior type of circumcision, in contrast to the one the false teachers were advocating.

Verse 11

Col_2:11 in whom ye were also circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, in the putting off of the body of the flesh, in the circumcision of Christ;

'IN WHOM' -in Christ.

'YE WERE ALSO CIRCUMCISED WITH A CIRCUMCISION NOT MADE WITH HANDS' -'not by a bodily operation' (Tay).

Points to Note:

'IN THE PUTTING OFF OF THE BODY OF THE FLESH' -Note the contrast: The circumcision advocated and practiced by the false teachers was a minor operation. The circumcision experienced by these Christians was the removal and cutting away of their former evil habits and attitudes, i.e. getting rid of the old man ( Rom_6:6 ; Gal_5:24 ).

'THE BODY OF THE FLESH' -( Rom_6:6 ). This doesn't refer merely to our physical bodies, for we remain in the body even after we become Christians. But repentance and baptism liberates the Christian from a mind set on physical things ( Rom_8:5-8 ) It liberates the Christian from a body controlled by physical desires and the old way of looking at things ( Rom_6:12-13 ; Rom_6:16 ).

'IN THE CIRCUMCISION OF CHRIST' -'Specifying genitive, the kind of circumcision that belongs to Christ, that of the heart.' (Robertson p. 492)

Points to Note:

2. Christ demands real change of those who claim to be His people ( Rom_2:28-29 ). The circumcision taught by Christ is an inward, real and complete removal of the old life.

Verse 12

Col_2:12 having been buried with him in baptism, wherein ye were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.

'HAVING BEEN' -In the previous verse (2:11), he said ' you were '. He now reminds them when this circumcision took place.

'BURIED WITH HIM IN BAPTISM' - Rom_6:3-5 . This also reveals something about who I can baptize. I can't baptize someone who refuses to die to sin. A burial infers a dead body.

'BAPTISM' -908. baptisma bap'-tis-mah; from 907; immersion, baptism (technically or figuratively): -baptism.

Points to Note:

1. Even if one doesn't know Greek and the definition of the Greek word rendered "baptism". The phrase "buried with" would help the reader understand that baptism is an immersion. The Bible wasn't written to confuse us, rather to enlighten us ( Psa_119:97-104 ).

2. The inference is that it is in baptism that this true circumcision takes place. The link between repentance and baptism is established elsewhere in the Scriptures ( Act_2:38 ). The old man dies in baptism: (a) Repentance is prior to baptism, and repentance is the determination to die to the life of sin ( Rom_6:2 ). Repentance is the determination to put the "flesh" to death ( Gal_5:24 ). (b) Baptism enables the repentant sinner to be forgiven-i.e. it being the last condition which God has placed prior to salvation- Mar_16:16 ; Act_2:38 ; Act_22:16 , and hence a new life can begin ( Rom_6:4 ).

'WHEREIN' -i.e. in baptism. The person being immersed isn't kept underneath the water.

'YE' -All the members at Colossae had been baptized. As one writer pointed out, the phrase 'un-baptized Christian' was unknown to Jesus and the apostles ( 1Co_12:13 ). Rejecting baptism was a sign that one had rejected the gospel message ( Act_2:41 ).

'WERE ALSO RAISED WITH HIM' -

Points to Note:

2. I don't understand those who claim that baptism is unnecessary or that one is saved prior to being baptized. These passages and others ( Rom_6:1-5 ), reveal that being baptized is to totally identify yourself with the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

3. Why wouldn't someone who professes to love Jesus, want to be "with Him"? To share in His death and resurrection?

5. Barclay almost gets it right when he says, 'Baptism in the time of Paul was three things. It was adult baptism; it was instructed baptism; and, wherever possible (wrong-and every time it was practiced), it was baptism by total immersion ..' (p. 140) See, the truth isn't that hard to understand.

'THROUGH FAITH' -

Points to Note:

4. The refusal to be baptized, is an act of unbelief. Those who claim that baptism isn't essential to salvation are not merely guilty of misinterpretation, they are guilty of being unbelievers.

'IN THE WORKING OF GOD, WHO RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD' -

'IN THE WORKING' -'your faith in God's working' (Vincent p. 489)

Points to Note:

2. Baptism isn't a "work" of human merit, for man didn't invent it. Neither is baptism an attempt to earn salvation. Baptism is an act of faith that demonstrates one believes that God does all the work in baptism.

3. Faith and baptism are inherently linked together in Scripture ( Mar_16:16 ; Luk_7:29-30 ).

4. I get very frustrated when religious people claim that baptism is a "work of human merit, an attempt to earn salvation". And then I look at what the denominational world has put in the place of baptism: (a) Mere mental assent-which never saved anyone ( Joh_12:42-43 ; Jam_2:24 ). (b) The mourners bench-praying through. Praying didn't save Paul or Cornelius. And praying through is a whole lot more "work" than simply allowing oneself to be baptized. (c) Praying for the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit, even when actually possessed, didn't save the household of Cornelius ( Act_10:47 ). And if you want to talk about "work", just watch the "work" that people put into praying for the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Verse 13

Col_2:13 And you, being dead through your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, you, I say, did he make alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses;

'BEING DEAD THROUGH YOUR TRESPASSES' -Their former condition before they were baptized ( Act_22:16 ). ( Eph_2:1-3 )

'YOUR TRESPASSES' -Carefully note that only your own sins separate you from God ( Isa_59:1-2 ). One isn't born in sin, sin isn't something that is inherited ( Eze_18:20 ). God forbid such a terrible doctrine. I was just thinking, if children are born in sin, lost and hell bound, then the choice to have such children would have to be a sin also. The choice to bring another soul into the world, the chances being that it is predestined for hell (and hence deprived from any hope of salvation), would be the most unloving action that one could perform.

Point to Note:

In passing we shouldn't lose sight of the fact that among the terms that God uses for sin, He calls "sin" a trespass. This infers that "sin" is something that human beings do not have a right to engage in. Something that the Bible calls a "sin" can never be labeled as "a right".

'AND THE UNCIRCUMCISION OF YOUR FLESH' -( Eph_2:11 ). The phrase here probably means physically uncircumcised, i.e. 'Yes, the apostle insists, this is what has happened to you. You were spiritually and morally dead in your earlier pagan days.' (Bruce p. 108) 'The apostle adopts the expression, but refers it to the pre-Christian life of his readers..when their Gentile uncircumcision was a true type of their moral condition ( Eph_2:1-3 ; Eph_2:11 )

Carefully note that being uncircumcised didn't mean that a person was dead in sin ( Romans 2:13-15; 24-27 ). But the Colossians had lived like your typical uncircumcised man, i.e. your typical pagan. 'they were both heathen and godless' (O'Brien p. 123)

'YOU' -Even you godless heathens!

Point to Note:

In this section of Scripture we must remember that the main thrust is that Christ is all one needs for salvation. If Christ can take godless uncircumcised men, and cause them to be forgiven -apart from any need to be physically circumcised, then surely, Christ is all we need!

***NOW NOTE: INVOLVED IN CHRIST BEING ALL YOU NEED--PAUL HAS TALKED ABOUT FAITH AND BAPTISM. THEREFORE, BAPTISM CAN NEVER BE VIEWED AS AN "ADDITION" TO FAITH OR THE SALVATION THAT CHRIST HAS PROVIDED. IT ISN'T AN ADDITION, IT IS AN INHERENT PART OF GOD'S PLAN OF SALVATION.

Paul is reminding these Christians of their past and their conversion. They had become Christians without any need of circumcision, without the Law of Moses, without worshipping or appeasing angels and without any ascetic requirements! So why turn to such things now? He is telling them, 'Remember what really saved you in the first place. None of these other things had anything to do with your salvation.'

But again note. None of the Colossians had become Christians without being baptized! Paul never argues that 'Christ is all you need, therefore, you don't have to be baptized.'

'DID HE' -God the Father (2:12).

'MAKE ALIVE' -In the context this "make alive" demands a release from all their former trespasses, i.e. "making alive" equals the forgiveness of sins. For their own trespasses had resulted in their own spiritual death.

'TOGETHER WITH HIM' -In the context this expression is linked with baptism (2:12 'buried with him...ye were also raised with him..')

'HAVING FORGIVEN US ALL OUR TRESPASSES' -

Points to Note:

3. The apostles didn't place "new life" prior to baptism ( Rom_6:1-5 ).

4. Since the blood of Christ and the grace of God is actually what makes forgiveness a reality, faith and baptism must put one into contact with the grace of God ( Eph_2:5-8 ).

'US' -In saying "us" instead of "you", Paul includes all believers of Jewish ancestry. Jews needed this salvation just as much as Gentiles.

'Partially parallel to Eph_2:15 . Apparently Paul now passes to the historic fact which supplied the ground for the forgiveness.' (Gr. Ex. N.T. p. 527)

Verse 14

Col_2:14 having blotted out the bond written in ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us: and he hath taken it out that way, nailing it to the cross;

'HAVING' -The same type of past-tense language is used in 2:12 and 2:13.

'BLOTTED OUT' -1813. exaleipho ex-al-i'-fo; from 1537 and 218; to smear out, i.e. obliterate (erase tears, figuratively, pardon sin): -blot out, wipe away.

-'the preposition also carries the sense of removal; hence to smear out; to wipe away...to besmear..completely.' (Vincent p. 490) 'To rub out, wipe off, erase...Often manuscripts were rubbed or scrapped and written over again..' (Robertson p. 494)

'This verb signifies to smear, or plaster over, and then it is used to denote the act by which a law or deed of obligation is cancelled.' (Eadie p. 158)

'THE BOND' -5498. cheirographon khi-rog'-raf-on; neuter of a compound of 5495 and 1125; something hand-written ("chirograph"), i.e. a manuscript (specifically, a legal document or bond [figuratively]): -handwriting.

'WRITTEN IN ORDINANCES' -'the bond that consisted of ordinances' (TCNT); 'canceled the note that stood against us, with its requirements.' (Wms) 'binding statues or legal demands' (O'Brien p. 125)

'WHICH WAS CONTRARY TO US' -5227. hupenantios hoop-en-an-tee'-os; from 5259 and 1727; under (covertly) contrary to, i.e. opposed or (as noun) an opponent: -adversary, against.

Points to Note:

3. The Law of Moses was hostile to us in the sense: (a) It demanded flawless law-keeping ( Gal_3:10-13 ). (b) But man can't deliver perfect law-keeping ( Rom_7:1-25 ; Act_15:10 ) (c) It provided the promise of a Saviour, but not the Saviour Himself ( Gal_3:19-24 ). (d) The atonement system found in the Law couldn't forgive sin ( Heb_10:1-4 ; Act_13:38-39 )

4. And carefully note, what made the Law of Moses contrary to men and women, was their failures to obey it. Paul makes it perfectly clear that the Law itself was 'holy..righteous, and good' ( Rom_7:12 ).

5. Why then would anyone want to be under the Law of Moses? When denominations try to pick something out the Law of Moses (i.e. the Sabbath Day, tithing, an official priesthood, food laws, etc..) to find acceptance with God today, they are automatically placing themselves under a Law that demands flawlessness, i.e. they have excluded themselves from grace ( Gal_5:1-4 ), and have placed themselves under a curse (3:10-13).

'AND HE HATH TAKEN IT OUT OF THE WAY' -Which means the same thing as "having blotted out" (2:14). 'The perfect tense emphasizes the permanence of the removal of the bond which has been paid and cancelled and cannot be presented again.' (Robertson p. 494)

'NAILING IT TO THE CROSS' -

Points to Note:

3. The death of Jesus not only made forgiveness possible, it liberated us from a law that couldn't deliver forgiveness. It enabled to live under a Covenant in which less than perfect people can be saved ( 1Jn_1:8-10 ).

4. 'God annulled the law when his Son satisfied its demand of perfect obedience, bore its curse ( Gal_3:10-13 ), and fulfilled its shadows, its types and ceremonies. It was nailed to the cross with Jesus. It died when he died.' (Hendriksen p. 121)

5. Thus we have two thoughts presented in the above verses: (a) The removal of our own sins. (b) And the removal of a Law system that demanded flawlessness.

7. Let us remember that all this information is being given to make the point that Jesus Christ provides everything the Christian needs for salvation. I don't need Jesus and the Law of Moses, in fact, I needed Jesus to release me from the Law, for the Law was contrary to me!

Verse 15

Col_2:15 having despoiled the principalities and the powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

'HAVING' -Here we are given another angle on the ramifications of the death of Christ.

'DESPOILED' -554. apekduomai ap-ek-doo'-om-ahee; middle voice from 575 and 1562; to divest wholly oneself, or (for oneself) despoil: -put off, spoil.

-'which means literally to cast off anything, such as clothing..the diction of the verse is that of avowed and open warfare, and the participle..must have the sense of spoiling' conquering, and then making the vanquished a spoil, as is done when a fallen foe is strip of his armour.' (Eadie p. 167)

'THE PRINCIPALITIES AND THE POWERS' -

Points to Note:

'HE MADE A SHOW OF THEM OPENLY' -'He made of them an open example. Celebrating a triumph over them thereby' (Rhm); 'and held them up to open contempt, when he celebrated his triumph over them on the cross!' (TCNT); 'he exposed them, shattered, empty and defeated, in his final glorious triumphant act!' (Phi)

-'The allusion is plainly to the triumph which is celebrated after a battle.' (Eadie p. 168)

'TRIUMPHING OVER THEM IN IT' -i.e. in His death upon the cross.

Points to Note:

6. Hendriksen makes a good point when he says, 'You need not be afraid of these hosts of evil, for in principle the battle has already been won...Did he not rescue us out of the domain of darkness? (1:13). Is not his Son the head of every principality and authority? (2:10)...Remember, therefore, that, by means of that same Son, God stripped these principalities and authorities of their power. He utterly disarmed them. Did not Christ triumph over them in the desert of temptation? ( Mat_4:1-11 ). Did he not bind the strong man? ( Mat_12:29 ), casting out demons again and again to prove it? Did he not see Satan fallen as lightening from heaven? ( Luk_10:18 ) When the devil and his hosts asserted themselves from Gethsemane to Golgotha ( Luk_22:3 ; Luk_22:53 ; Psa_22:12 ; Psa_22:16 ), did not Christ by his vicarious death deprive Satan of even a semblance of legal ground on which to base his accusations?' (pp. 122-123)

Verse 16

Col_2:16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of a feast day or a new moon or a sabbath day:

'LET NO MAN' -Christians are to guard the liberty and freedom which Christ has given them ( Gal_5:1 ). The phrase 'no man', infers that false teaching is to be rejected, no matter "who" is advocating it ( Gal_1:6-9 ).

'THEREFORE' -Connecting this verse back to the previous verses. Based on the truth laid down in 2:8-15, these are the logical, immediate and pressing applications.

'JUDGE' -2919. krino kree'-no; properly, to distinguish, i.e. decide (mentally or judicially); by implication, to try, condemn, punish: -avenge, conclude, condemn, damn, decree, determine, esteem, judge, go to (sue at the) law, ordain, call in question, sentence to, think.

-'Prohibition present active imperative...forbidding the habit of passing judgement in such matters.' (Robertson p. 496)

-Obviously, 'judge' in a negative sense, i.e. to condemn, take one to task, sit in judgement upon one.

Points to Note:

1. The verse infers that the false teachers were or would be very vocal and intimidating in Colossae. 'the present imperative...probably implies that this sitting in judgement was already being done by some.' (O'Brien p. 138)

3. Clearly, we are to reject all teachings which don't harmonize with the Scriptures, including doctrines which demand more than what the Bible teaches ( Rev_22:18-19 ). God wants His people to be confident and settled in their convictions ( Eph_4:14 ; Col_1:23 ). And not always questioning whether they are saved or not. This infers that the truth is sufficiently clear is let us know if we are on the right track or otherwise. For if we are always questioning whether we have believed the truth or not, we won't have any time to convert others!

'IN...IN RESPECT OF' -'in the matter of' (TCNT). Carefully observe: God isn't telling these Christians, 'Don't let anyone criticize you', or, 'never admit that you may be wrong'. Rather, the area of condemnation is specific, i.e. don't let anyone condemn you for neglecting things which God doesn't require of you. The wise man does listen to constructive criticism ( Pro_9:8-9 ).

'IN MEAT' -'for what you eat' (Con). Referring to the various food laws which were found in the Law of Moses (cf. Lev_11:1-47 ). ( 1Ti_4:1-4 ).

'OR IN DRINK' -The O.T. did contain some laws in reference to "drink". 'Though the Mosaic law did not dwell so much on drinks as meats, yet...it included some statutes about drinks and drinking vessels' (Eadie p. 171). See ( Lev_10:9 ; Num_6:3 ).

Point to Note:

'OF A FEAST DAY' -i.e. like Passover, Pentecost, etc...

'OR A NEW MOON' -'The yearly feast, the monthly new moon, and the weekly sabbath' (P.P. Comm. p. 92). (Note the same type of language in 1Ch_23:31 ; Isa_1:13-14 ; 2Ch_2:4 ; 2Ch_31:3 ; Eze_45:17 ; Hos_2:11 . For the feast of the new moon, see Num_10:10 ; Num_28:11-15 .

Points to Note:

2. If one argues that the Sabbath Day is still binding upon Christians, then one must concede that all the other Jewish festivals are also still binding, for Paul lumps them all together, they either stand or fall together. The Gr. Ex. N.T. correctly notes, ' The Sabbath is placed on the same footing as the others .' (p. 531)

'OR A SABBATH DAY' -

Points to Note:

1. The expression is plural in the original Greek, but the plural is often used for the singular ( Luk_4:31 ; Act_20:7 ). In fact Vincent notes, 'The plural is only once used in the New Testament of more than a single day ( Act_17:2 ).' (p. 494)

2. The Seventh Day Adventists argue that Paul doesn't mean the 'weekly' Sabbath day, but other 'special Sabbaths'. In this verse they argue that the word Sabbath refers to yearly or monthly Sabbaths: (a) The term "sabbath" appears 60 times in the New Testament, and even modern Seventh-Day worshippers admit that the other 59 refer to the weekly Sabbath Day. (b) The term "sabbath" in this passage is in the genitive plural, which is identically the same form in which it is found in Exo_20:8 in the Septuagint. (c) God also may have used to plural to include and cover every Sabbath, i.e. yearly, monthly and weekly . (d) Nothing in the context or the passage would allow us to limit the word "sabbath" to merely monthly or yearly sabbaths. (e) The translators, experts in the original Greek language, obviously saw nothing in the language which would lead them to believe that the weekly Sabbath wasn't included, notice the language ' or a sabbath day ', i.e. any Sabbath day.

3. In practice the Seventh Day Adventists and other groups which adhere to the Sabbath Day are found guilty of teaching that the Sabbath Day was more important to God than the Passover celebration, Pentecost, Tabernacles or the Year of Jubilee. Did God see it that way?

Verse 17

Col_2:17 which are a shadow of the things to come; but the body is Christ's.

'WHICH' -i.e. the things mentioned in 2:16, including 'a sabbath day'.

'ARE' -Especially now, but they always did have a "shadow role". Such things, even when required, were never the final reality, they always foreshadowed something greater. 'Seeing they are' (Vincent p. 494)

'SHADOW' -4639. skia skee'-ah; apparently a primary word; "shade" or a shadow (literally or figuratively [darkness of error or an adumbration]): -shadow.

-'It is cast by the body, and therefore implies that there is a body, and while it resembles the body it is itself insubstantial.' (Gr. Ex. N.T. p. 531)

-'Why must they refuse to be dictated to in these matters? Because all such matters belonged to a transitory order.' (Bruce pp. 115-116)

Points to Note:

'OF THE THINGS TO COME' -While the Law of Moses shadowed some heavenly things, i.e., The Mercy Seat=God's Throne, The Sabbath Day=Our Heavenly Rest ( Heb_4:11 ). It also foreshadowed many things found in the New Covenant ( Heb_10:1-22 ). Hence when we study the O.T. and especially those things associated with the worship and sacrificial system contained therein, we need to realize that many of those things were foreshadowing our relationship with Christ and His body, the Church. For example, read Heb_8:1-6 ; Heb_9:13-23 ; Heb_10:19-22 ; Heb_13:10-13 ; Tit_3:5 .

'BUT THE BODY' -4983. soma so'-mah; from 4982; the body (as a sound whole), used in a very wide application, literally or figuratively: -bodily, body, slave.

-'but the substance belongs to Christ' (NASV). 'true reality as distinct from mere appearance' (O'Brien p. 139) 'the substance is in the Christ' (TCNT).

'IS CHRIST'S' -

Points to Note:

The practical application is that the new convert, the babe in Christ, immediately possesses a closer relationship with God, a greater amount of spiritual truth and insight, than the most experienced and enlightened Hindu, Buddhist or Moslem.

4. These verses remind us: (a) Christianity didn't copy Judaism. Rather, Judaism was a faint copy of Christianity. Before the Law of Moses was given, God had the religion of Jesus Christ already in mind ( Eph_3:10-11 ). (b) Without Christ, the O.T. would have no meaning, no aim and ultimately, no deliverance for any who lived under it. For it took the blood of Christ to cleanse even the faithful who lived in times past ( Heb_9:15 ). (c) That is why people who cling to the Law of Moses can't be saved ( Gal_5:1-4 ). The Law was to bring to Jewish person to Christ ( Gal_3:24 ). Clinging to the Law, after Christ has come, is a perversion of the Law. It is like divorcing the shadow from the body that cast it. The O.T. only has meaning and ultimate relevance when connected with and interpreted by the New Testament of Jesus Christ.

WARNING AGAINST ANGEL WORSHIP/ASCETICISM/FALSE VISIONS

Verse 18

Col_2:18 Let no man rob you of your prize by a voluntary humility and worshipping of the angels, dwelling in the things which he hath seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,

'LET NO MAN' -'the present tense, as in vers. 4,8,16,20, implies a continued attempt.' (P.P. Comm. p. 92)

'ROB YOU OF YOUR PRIZE' -'beguile you' (KJV); 'to cheat you' (Knox). 2603. katabrabeuo kat-ab-rab-yoo'-o; from 2596 and 1018 (in its original sense); to award the price against, i.e. (figuratively) to defraud (of salvation): -beguile of reward.

-'from..against..to act as a judge or umpire. Hence to decide against one, or to declare him unworthy of the prize..The attitude of the false teachers would involve their sitting in judgement as to the future reward of those who refused their doctrine of angelic mediation.' (Vincent p. 495)

-'Let no ritualist tell you, "Since you, Colossians, are not following my rules and regulations, you are not in the race or contest at all. You are unfit, unworthy.' (Hendriksen p. 125)

-In addition, the Colossians would be robbed of their prize if they allowed themselves to be convinced that they needed to go back to the Law of Moses ( Gal_5:1-4 ). To give up the real for the ritual, and to abandon true spiritual freedom for an religion of obsolete externals ( Heb_8:13 ); would be a major rip off.

GOD'S INSIGHT INTO THESE FALSE TEACHERS:

'BY A VOLUNTARY HUMILITY' -'false humility' (Knox).

Points to Note:

3. Christians need to take special note of this expression. Often false teachers and false doctrine comes clothed in extreme self-sacrifice. People try to intimidate us into thinking that we aren't right with God, because, we aren't making the sacrifices that they are. The Jehovah Witnesses are famous for trying to make people feel small, because other groups don't go door to door. Question: Where do the Scriptures teach that knocking on doors is the only or most effective form of Evangelism? Beware when someone approaches you with the attitude, 'We must be right, because we are making more sacrifices for God than any other group.' Always stand back and ask the question, 'Are they making the sacrifices, which God demands, or are they making the sacrifices which they have invented?' ( 1Sa_15:22-23 )

4. False humility is still a problem among God's people. Unfortunately often people will say, 'I know that so and so is in sin or teaching error, but I can't condemn them, because I have my own faults.' Brethren, that is a false humility. God expects Christians, even imperfect Christians, to rebuke those in sin ( Mat_18:15-17 ). There is nothing humble, pious or spiritual about allowing your brother to walk straight into the jaws of hell, without warning him.

'AND WORSHIPPING OF THE ANGELS' -

Points to Note:

5. Again, the same false humility exists today. People say they are too "humble" to teach the concept of the true church, or that baptism is the line between lost and saved, or that essential biblical doctrines can be settled. All of us need to watch out for this, especially in our own lives, because spiritual cowardice can often hide behind an air of humility. We need to ask ourselves, 'Am I really being humble or am I just afraid to stand up for the truth?'

6. Some writers suggest that the expression "worshipping of the angels", may also have reference to the false claim that some supposed spiritual "high" or worship experience found among angelic beings can be gained by Christians.

8. Robertson notes, 'They may have argued for angel worship on the plea that God is high and far removed and so took angels as mediators as some men do today with angels and saints in place of Christ.' (p. 497)

'DWELLING IN THE THINGS WHICH HE HATH SEEN' -'taking his stand on visions he has seen' (NASV)

'DWELLING' -1687. embateuo em-bat-yoo'-o; from 1722 and a presumed derivative of the base of 939; equivalent to 1684; to intrude on (figuratively): -intrude into.

-'They pretend to have found the way to a higher plane of spiritual experience.' (Bruce p. 117) 'In this last sense the word is probably used (to seek, to track out, to consider)...of the false teachers who professed to see heavenly truth in visions, and to investigate and discuss philosophically the revelation (supposedly) they had received.' (Vincent p. 496)

'VAINLY PUFFED UP' -1500. eike i-kay'; probably from 1502 (through the idea of failure); idly, i.e. without reason (or effect): -without a cause, (in) vain(-ly).

Points to Note:

2. Which contains a number of tremendous insights for our own times: (a) People do lie about seeing visions, encounters with God, being contacted by UFO's, being miraculously healed, etc...(b) People can convince themselves that they have really seen something, when they didn't see anything ( Jer_23:16-22 ). (c) God doesn't expect Christians to immediately believe any claim. He commands us to examine everything by the Scriptures ( Act_17:11 ; 1Th_5:21-22 ; 1Jn_4:1 ). (d) It isn't spiritual or wise to immediately believe even the most sincerely sounding stories of encounters with God or what have you. (e) God doesn't speak to everyone directly. (f) God doesn't reveal different truth to different people. And God doesn't miraculously guide each individual into their own distinct understanding of His truth.

3. The word "puffed up" reveals that such claims of supposed visions were not the product of divine inspiration, but of human arrogance and pride. 'The Gnostic prided himself upon special visions of secret things which were not open to the eyes of ordinary men and women...there is always danger when a man begins to think that he has attained a height of holiness which enables him to see what common men--as he calls them--cannot see.' (Erdman p. 145)

4. Carefully note: Claiming to have seen a vision or the claim to some supposed encounter with God, is often a subtle form of arrogance. It is often the wedge that people use to liberate themselves from the Word of God and to cover their own unbelief. Many people that I have met, who claim that God has said something to them or reassured them in some mysterious way (i.e. I felt the hand of God on my shoulder, I felt as if God was saying to me, Mark I am with you, etc..), are the very same people who aren't very impressed with what a verse in the Bible actually says. You see, many people have convinced themselves, that their supposed experience proves that they are somehow "above" the Bible, somehow on a different level, somehow in a closer relationship with God, than any Bible passage, or church could possibly bring them. They almost seem to have the attitude, 'Preacher, don't talk to me about God, I already know Him better than you do.'

'BY HIS FLESHLY MIND' -'inflated without cause by his fleshly mind' (NASV); 'The teachers boasted that they were guided by the higher reason. Paul describes their higher reason as carnal.' (Vincent p. 496) ' by an unspiritual imagination ' (Phi).

Points to Note:

Brethren, listen up. The above false teachers claimed to be Christians, they claimed to be "spiritual", they claimed to serve God, and serve Him better and more faithfully than most, and Paul says, that they are "fleshly minded"!!!! Their whole day was spent in the pursuit of "heavenly things" and they were carnal! Applications must be made: (a) People who claim direct revelation from God, even though the Bible teaches us that the Bible is complete ( Jud_1:3 ), are carnally minded people. (b) Religious people who want some "spiritual" experience other than what the Bible promises, are earthly minded people. (c) You can roll on the floor, shout Praise God to the ends of the earth, cry and weep at some rally, etc...and still be carnal in your thinking. (d) In addition, we cannot say that everyone involved in false religion is a liar and deceiver, and yet brethren, neither can we say that everyone in the denominational world is sincere either! (e) Many people who want visions, miraculous healings, or some experience, have little desire to do God's will. Their motivation is selfish and their aim is self-glorification (i.e. see how great and humble I am--God did this for me).

Verse 19

Col_2:19 and not holding fast the Head, from whom all the body, being supplied and knit together through the joints and bands, increasing with the increase of God.

'AND' -The description of these false teachers continues.

'NOT HOLDING FAST' -'fails to maintain union with' (TCNT); 'He doesn't cling to the Head'.

'THE HEAD' -i.e. Jesus Christ (1:18)

Point to Note:

Carefully consider the explosive ramifications of this statement. The verse is connected ('and') with the previous verses: (a) Claiming visions, etc...when God hasn't really spoken to you, is to abandon Christ. Putting words into the mouth of God isn't an innocent or dumb but well-intentioned exercise. It is to forsake Christ! (b) Going back to the Law of Moses, is to forsake Jesus Christ. Jesus has been abandoned by those groups who insist on following parts of the Law of Moses. Christ isn't their Savior, they have abandoned Him for the Law. (c) When you stop listening to Christ, you make yourself a prime target for believing something that is false ( 2Th_2:10-12 ).

'FROM WHOM' -'Fixing the personal reference to the head to Christ.' (Vincent p. 497)

'ALL THE BODY' -Paul doesn't conceive of a "Christianity" or a relationship with God which can exist apart from being in the body of Christ, i.e. the Church ( Eph_1:22-23 ). 'Lone-wolf' or an 'all-on-my-own' spirituality, isn't spiritual after all.

'BEING SUPPLIED AND KNIT TOGETHER THROUGH JOINTS AND BANDS, INCREASETH WITH THE INCREASE OF GOD'

Points to Note:

3. False teaching severs you from Christ and the body ( 2Jn_1:9 ). Spiritual growth, maturity and enlightenment happen either in God's prescribed way or they don't happen at all.

4. Disloyalty to the Head works destruction in the body. 'Gnosticism from the beginning tended to disintegrate the Church, by the caste-feeling.' (P.P. Comm. p. 94)

WARNING AGAINST ASCETICISM:

Verse 20

Col_2:20 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 YE DIED WITH CHRIST' -i.e. in baptism (2:13-14). Again, Paul doesn't even contemplate a class of people known as 'un-baptized' Christians.

'FROM THE RUDIMENTS' -4747. stoicheion stoy-khi'-on; neuter of a presumed derivative of the base of 4748; something orderly in arrangement, i.e. (by implication) a serial (basal, fundamental, initial) constituent (literally), proposition (figuratively): -element, principle, rudiment.

-same as Col_2:8 .

'OF THE WORLD' -'Elementary teachings and practices the peculiar sphere of which is the world' (Vincent p. 498). 'the world's rudimentary notions' (Wey)

Points to Note:

3. Note: In dying with Christ, in becoming a Christian, we really don't lose anything of value. What did these Christians die to? Valuable things, priceless things? No. Very common, very elementary, and opinions which just aren't worth much ( Rom_6:21 ).

'WHY, AS THOUGH LIVING IN THE WORLD' -'as if you were living in the world' (NASV); 'Then why behave as though you were still living the life of the world?' (NEB). Since these Christians were still living in the physical world, in this phrase the word "world" must have an ethical sense, i.e. the old life, the old way of living. These Christians had been delivered out of the domain of the darkness (the world) (1:12-14). Paul complains that at least some of them are acting like they are still living in the world. And if some member were to say, 'Prove it', Paul quickly responds in the next phrase:

'DO YE SUBJECT YOURSELVES TO ORDINANCES' -i.e. of the Law of Moses, or man-made human traditions and rules. 'Why let people dictate to you' (NEB); 'why do you submit, as though your life were still that of the world, to such ordinances as' (TCNT).

Points to Note:

4. This verse seems to suggest that some already had caved into this false teaching or where being intimidated by it. The ordinances under consideration are now defined.

Verse 21

Col_2:21 Handle not, nor taste, nor touch

'HANDLE NOT' -'Do not handle this; Do not taste that; Do not touch that other thing' (Wey) 'The precepts here quoted are those of the false teachers..' (Gr. Ex. N.T. p. 534)

'NOR TOUCH' -May have reference to the false doctrine that marriage is actually a necessary evil or at least less spiritual than the unmarried state ( 1Ti_4:3-4 ). But verse 22 seems to infer that these forbidden things were more along the lines of food. The word "touch" here probably refers to the slightest contact . Thus the false teachers were saying, 'you are not to take certain meats into your hand, nor are you to taste them; nay, you are not even to touch them, though in the slightest degree--you are to keep from them hand, tongue, and even finger-tip.' (Eadie p. 194)

Verse 22

Col_2:22 (all which things are to perish with the using), after the precepts and doctrines of men?

'ALL' -Note that the phrase "all which things are to perish with the using", is a statement being made on the side. All these regulations are simply the doctrines of men, not God, and by the way--they deal with very unimportant matters.

'ALL WHICH THINGS' -i.e. all the things forbidden by the false teachers.

'ARE TO PERISH WITH THE USING' -'cease to exist when used' (TCNT). That is, food ceases to be food, the moment it is consumed. That is just how temporary it is.

Points to Note:

3. The Gnostics, like some people today, were basing their whole religion and confidence on sheer avoidance. Much more is needed to be right with God than merely "not doing something". Too many people think they are right with God, because of what they haven't done.

'AFTER THE PRECEPTS AND DOCTRINES OF MEN?'

Points to Note:

4. Right here, every Christian derives the right to examine any religious belief or practice to seek if it is of Divine or human origin.

Verse 23

Col_2:23 Which things have indeed a show of wisdom in will-worship, and humility, and severity to the body; but are not of any value against the indulgence of the flesh.

'WHICH THINGS' -'Regulations of this kind' (Hendriksen p. 132)

'HAVE INDEED A SHOW OF WISDOM' -'indeed have the appearance of wisdom' (Wey); 'I know that these regulations look wise' (Phi); 'Such prohibitions appear reasonable where there is a desire for self-imposed service .' (TCNT)

'IN WILL-WORSHIP' -'self-imposed worship' (Wey); 'self-inspired efforts' (Phi)

'AND HUMILITY' -i.e. such things can really "look" humble and pious and that one is submitting to God.

Points to Note:

3. Notice that God calls such worship "will-worship", i.e. it is the type of worship people offer when they place their own wills ahead of God's will.

'SEVERITY TO THE BODY' -i.e. such as severe restrictions concerning what one can eat (2:21).

'BUT ARE NOT OF ANY VALUE AGAINST THE INDULGENCE OF THE FLESH' -'are of no value to check the indulgence of fleshly passions' (Con).

Points to Note:

IN CLOSING:

And brethren, we can make up our own rules just as easy as the Gnostic false teachers. And let us be warned, most of us, from time to time rely on our own "rules". We tend to focus on the those things which we are doing already, i.e. being early to services, being nicely dressed, clean-shaved, conservative hair-cut, etc...It is easy to think, 'Boy, I am really doing good.' It is easy to think that such things, though they may be practical or beneficial, are not the final measurement of a faithful Christian. We don't like to think about the meat and potatoes of Christianity, i.e. am I denying myself? Do I place others before me? Do I treat people in the way I would want to be treated? Do I make every effort to clear up misunderstandings with my brethren? Do I pursue the Christian in sin? I am teaching the lost? Is my mind pure? I am serving God because I love Him with my whole self? Am I refusing to accept any idea that I can't find in the Word? Is my mouth under control? Am I willing to sacrifice myself, my time, my pride, etc...for the sole purpose of furthering His cause?