Colossians Chapter 2

÷÷COLOSSIANS 2

COLOSSIANS 2

PARAGRAPH DIVISIONS OF MODERN TRANSLATIONS

UBS⁴	NKJV	NRSV	TEV	NJB
Paul’s Ministry to the Church	Not Philosophy, But Christ	Paul’s Interest in the Colossians	Paul’s Work as a Servant of the Church	Paul’s Concern for the Colossians’ Faith
(1:24-2:5)		(1:24-2:7)	(1:24-2:3)
	2:1-10			2:1-3
			2:4-5	2:4-5
Fullness of Life in Christ			Fullness of Life in Christ	Live According to the True Faith in Christ, not According to False Teaching
2:6-15		Warning Against False Teaching	2:6-7	2:6-7
		2:8-15	2:8-10	2:8
				Christ Alone is the True Head of All Humanity and the Angels
				2:9-10
	Not Legalism But Christ
	2:11-23		2:11-15	2:11-13
				2:14-15
				Against the False Asceticism Based on the Principles of This World
2:16-19		2:16-19	2:16-19	2:16-19
The New Life in Christ			Dying and Living with Christ
(2:20-3:17)
2:20-3:4		2:20-23	2:20-3:4	2:20-23

READING CYCLE THREE (see
“Bible
Interpretation Seminar”)

FOLLOWING THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR’S INTENT AT PARAGRAPH LEVEL

This is a study guide commentary, which
means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the
light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not
relinquish this to a commentator.

Read the chapter in one sitting. Identify the subjects (reading cycle #3). Compare
your subject divisions with the five translations above. Paragraphing is not inspired, but it is
the key to following the original author’s intent, which is the heart of interpretation. Every
paragraph has one and only one subject.

WORD AND PHRASE STUDY

÷COLOSSIANS 2:1-5

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: COLOSSIANS 2:1-5
¹For I want you to know how great a struggle I have on your behalf and for those who are at Laodicea, and for all those who have not personally seen my face, ²that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself, ³in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. ⁴I say this so that no one will delude you with persuasive argument. ⁵For even though I am absent in body, nevertheless I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good discipline and the stability of your faith in Christ.

2:1 “how great a struggle” “Struggle” is an athletic or a military term (cf. Col. 1:29; 4:12). Here it
is used as

a metaphor for intercessory prayer
Paul’s work on behalf of all Gentiles

▣ “Laodicea” This was a nearby city, only 10 miles away from Colossae, in the same valley
(cf. Col. 4:13, 15,16; Rev. 3:14). Epaphras apparently started a church in each of the cities of the Lycus
River Valley—Colossae, Laodicea, and Hierapolis (cf. Col. 4:13). This letter was to be read in each one.

▣ “all those who have not personally seen my face” Paul did not start this church nor the other
two in the Lycus River Valley. It was started by Epaphras (cf. Col. 1:7). Yet Paul agonized in prayer for
them. Paul loved the Church, and the churches!

2:2 “that their hearts may be encouraged” This is a PURPOSE CLAUSE with an
AORIST PASSIVE SUBJUNCTIVE. It is from the same root as “paracletos,” which is used
of the Holy Spirit in John 14:16,26; 15:26; 16:7 and of Jesus in 1 John 2:1. Its basic meaning is to “call
alongside for help and encouragement.” It was a metaphor from the Roman legal system; the concept of defense
lawyer comes from this word.

SPECIAL TOPIC: THE HEART

SPECIAL TOPIC: PARACLETE

▣ “having been knit together” This is an AORIST PASSIVE PARTICIPLE of a sun
compound. It was used in the Septuagint for “instruction” (cf. Isa. 40:13; 1 Cor. 2:16). In Paul’s writings
it is used as a metaphor from the physical body growing into a mature unity (cf. Col. 2:19; Eph. 4:16). This
growth and unity are possible (PASSIVE VOICES) only in Christ, in the Spirit and in love.
Unity was so important in a heretical situation (cf. Eph. 4:1-3,13).

▣
NASB	”all the wealth”
NKJV, NRSV, Peshitta	”all the riches”
TEV	”the full wealth”
NJB	”they are rich”

Paul often uses the term “riches” to describe the love of God in Christ (cf. Rom. 2:4, 9:23;
11:12,33; Eph. 1:7,18; 2:7; 3:8, 16; Phil. 4:19; Col. 1:27; 2:2). Believers are spiritually wealthy
(cf. James 1:9) because of God’s wealth and generosity in Christ (cf. 2 Cor. 8:9; 9:15). Here the “wealth”
“all the treasures,” cf. Col. 2:3) is the believers’ understanding of the gospel. Stop just a moment and
think about the gift of revelation!

▣ “the full assurance of understanding” Paul continues to use terms and concepts used by the
Gnostic false teachers. In this phrase, “full assurance” is a compound of plērōma, which
the heretics used to refer to the angelic levels.

The term “understanding” (sunesis) is also a sun compound. It is linked to
plērōma in Col. 1:9. Its etymological origin was the coming together of streams of thought.
These false teachers were attempting to make Christianity understandable, relevant, and applicable to Greek
society and culture. This same motive draws many modern heretics to force the gospel into modern thought
forms or categories.

▣ “true knowledge” Again this must be viewed against the backdrop of the false teachers’ emphasis
on and claim to “secret” ultimate knowledge concerning salvation. For Paul, “true knowledge”
(epignōskō) was found only in the gospel of Christ, who is the “mystery of God.”

▣
NASB, NKJV, NRSV, Peshitta	”mystery”
TEV	”a secret truth”
NJB	”a hidden reason for all of this”

God has a unified purpose for humanity’s redemption (cf. Eph. 2:11-3:13) that even preceded
the fall (cf. Genesis 3). Hints of this plan are revealed in the OT (cf. Gen. 3:15; 12:3; Exod. 19:5-6 and
the universal passages in the prophets). However, this full agenda was not yet clear until the revelation of
the gospel of Jesus Christ (cf. 1 Cor. 2:1-8). With the coming of Jesus and the Spirit it begins to become
more obvious. Paul used the term “mystery” to describe this total redemptive plan (cf. 1 Cor. 4:2; Eph. 6:19;
Col. 4:3; 1 Tim. 3:9).

SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH’S ETERNAL
REDEMPTIVE PLAN

▣
NASB	”that is, Christ Himself“
NKJV	”that is, Christ Himself”
NRSV, Peshitta	”both of the Father and of Christ”
TEV	”which is Christ Himself”

There are several Greek manuscript variations. The unusual syntax of P⁴⁶,
“of God, of Christ,” best explains the origin of all the other variations (cf. Bruce M. Metzger, A Textual
Commentary on the Greek New Testament, p. 622). The mystery of God is Christ-His life, teachings,
suffering, death, resurrection, ascension, and Second Coming! The mystery of the Father’s eternal, universal
plan of redemption is implemented by the incarnated Son.

2:3 “in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” This verse refutes the emphasis of
the false teachers and magnified the person of Christ. God’s mystery (revelation) is a person, God’s plan is
a person (cf. NASB, NKJV, NRSV, TEV), and God’s salvation is a person, not human knowledge or effort.

It is grammatically possible that this opening phrase is NEUTER (“in it”), not
MASCULINE (“in whom”) and therefore, refers to the mystery (cf. NJB).

2:4 “that no one will delude you with persuasive argument” This is a PURPOSE CLAUSE with
a PRESENT MIDDLE (deponent) SUBJUNCTIVE. This VERB was used in
two ways:

to deceive or delude oneself (cf. James 1:22)
to reason falsely, defraud or distort

This delusion was done by means of eloquent reasoning, plausible arguments and/or persuasive
speech. False teachers are always logical, attractive, persuasive individuals (so different from Paul,
cf. 1 Cor. 2:1-5).

2:5 “even though” This is a FIRST CLASS CONDITIONAL SENTENCE which was assumed to be
true from the author’s perspective or for his literary purposes. Paul was obviously not with them physically,
but he prayed for them and felt one with them.

SPECIAL TOPIC: GREEK GRAMMATICAL
TERMS

▣ “absent in body” this is literally “absent in the flesh.”

SPECIAL TOPIC: FLESH (SARX)

▣ “I am with you in spirit” Paul’s heart and prayers were constantly with this isolated, small,
persecuted outpost of the Kingdom of God! Here the word “spirit” refers to the human person’s true self. This
same expression is used in 1 Cor. 5:3.

SPECIAL TOPIC: SPIRIT IN THE NT

▣
NASB	”good discipline. . .stability”
NKJV	”good order. . .steadfastness”
NRSV	”moral. . .firmness”
TEV	”the resolute firmness with which you stand together”
NJB	”well ordered. . .firm”
Peshitta	”orderliness. . .sincerity”

These are

military terms for organization and steadfastness (cf. Eph. 6:10-17)
construction terms for a solid, sure foundation (cf. 2 Tim. 2:14-19; 1 Pet. 5:9)

These terms describe the faith of the Colossian believers even amidst the attacks and confusion
of the false teachers.

÷COLOSSIANS 2:6-7

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: COLOSSIANS 2:6-7
⁶Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, ⁷having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.

2:6 “Therefore as you have received Christ” The VERB used here (paralambanō,
AORIST ACTIVE INDICATIVE) has two connotations.

the welcoming of a person (cf. Matt. 1:20; John 1:11; 14:3)
the receiving of “tradition” (cf. 1 Cor. 11:23; 15:1,3; Gal. 1:9,12; Phil. 4:9; 1 Thess. 2:13; 4:1;
2 Thess. 3:6)

The Colossians heard the content of the gospel through Epaphras’ preaching; then they personally
welcomed the Person of the gospel (John 1:12). Biblical faith is a covenant. God sets the agenda and makes
the first contact (cf. John 6:44,65), but individuals must respond by repentance, faith, obedience, and
perseverance (Col. 2:6)! The false teachers’ message distorted the theology of both the content and the
Person of the gospel.

SPECIAL TOPIC: RECEIVE

SPECIAL TOPIC: WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO
“RECEIVE,” “BELIEVE,” “CONFESS/PROFESS,” “CALL UPON”?

▣ “Christ Jesus the Lord” “Jesus is Lord” was the early church’s public profession of faith at
baptism (cf. Rom. 10:9-13; 1 Cor. 12:3; 2 Cor. 4:5; Phil. 2:11). It was an affirmation that Jesus of Nazareth
is the OT Messiah and incarnation of Deity (cf. Phil. 2:6-11).

SPECIAL TOPIC: CHRIST JESUS
AS LORD

▣ “so walk in Him” This is a PRESENT ACTIVE IMPERATIVE. Christianity is not
a theological creed only; it is also a lifestyle of faith (“walk” cf. Col. 1:10; Eph. 4:1,17; 5:2,15).
Salvation is not a product believers possess but a person who possesses them! Paul here focuses on the
personal aspect of the Christian faith as does the Gospel of John (cf. John 1:12; 3:16; 6:40; 11:25-26).

2:7 This verse contains four PARTICIPLES (used as IMPERATIVES) which
describe the worthy walk (cf. Col. 2:6):

“having been firmly rooted” This is PERFECT PASSIVE which is an accomplished
state of being produced by God. This agricultural metaphorical expression was unique to Colossians and
Ephesians(cf. Eph. 3:17).
“being built up in Him” This is PRESENT PASSIVE which is an ongoing process
produced by God. Paul often used this construction metaphor to describe the people of God
(cf. 1 Cor. 3:5; Eph. 2:20, 22). It might refer to the saints as a temple (individually, 1 Cor. 6:19
and corporately, 1 Cor. 3:16).
“established in your faith” This is another PRESENT PASSIVE which is an ongoing
process produced by God. The NOUN (“confirmation”) is found in Phil. 1:7; and
Heb. 6:16. The VERB implies “to confirm” (cf. 1 Cor. 1:6,8; 2 Cor. 1:21), “to
strengthen,” and “to verify” often by argument (cf. Rom. 15:8, 1 Cor. 1:8). The phrase “in your
faith” can be understood as
1. subjective faith, trusting in Christ
2. objective faith, the doctrines about Christ (cf. Jude 3, 20)
“overflowing with gratitude” This is a PRESENT ACTIVE which is an ongoing process
produced by God. The Christian life is a life of thanksgiving to God for His grace in Christ. This is
expressed by joyful obedience and perseverance! To know the gospel is to rejoice with inexpressible joy
(cf. Col. 1:12) and to live appropriately (cf. Col. 1:10-11) with thanksgiving (cf. Col. 3:17).

SPECIAL TOPIC: ABOUND

÷COLOSSIANS 2:8-15

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: COLOSSIANS 2:8-15
⁸See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ. ⁹For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, ¹⁰and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority; ¹¹and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; ¹²having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. ¹³When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, ¹⁴having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. ¹⁵When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.

2:8-15 This is one long sentence, one sustained presentation in Greek.

2:8
NASB, NRSV, TEV	”See to it”
NKJV, Peshitta	”beware”
NJB	”make sure”

This is a PRESENT ACTIVE IMPERATIVE. Christians must continue to guard their
freedom in Christ from false teachers while yielding it to weaker brothers (cf. Rom. 14:1-15:13; 1 Cor. 8;
10:23-33; see SPECIAL
TOPIC: CHRISTIAN FREEDOM vs. CHRISTIAN RESPONSIBILITY). It is often difficult to tell the difference
between these two groups. False teachers pervert truth, while weak brothers advocate personal preferences.

▣ “that no one takes you captive” This is a NEGARIVE PRESENT ACTIVE PARTICIPLE.
This strong Greek term, used only here in the NT, meant

to kidnap
to seduce (2 Tim. 3:6)
to take as a slave

False teachers always want control!

▣ “through philosophy” This is not a condemnation of human rational thinking (cf. 1 Corinthians 1-2).
Humans are created in the image of God and must worship Him with their entire being, including their minds
(Deut. 6:5; Matt. 22:32; Mark 12:29-30; Luke 10:27). This is the rejection of the speculative
philosophy/theology of false teachers (cf. Col. 2:23; 1 Cor. 1:26-2:8; Eph. 4:13; 5:6; 1 Tim. 6:20).

▣ “empty deceptions” This term can be translated “deceit, deception, or delusion”
(cf. Matt. 13:22; Eph. 4:22; 2 Thess. 2:10; Heb. 3:13). False teachers are often sincere, but deceived!

▣ “according to” This is the Greek term kata. It is repeated three times to define
“philosophy and empty deception”:

“to the traditions of men” So much of human’s religiosity is cultural, not biblical
(cf. Isa. 29:13; Col. 2:23). Often we pass on what we have received without checking the Bible for
ourselves!
“the elementary principles” Most words develop from a literal, physical sense to a metaphorical
extension. This term (stoicheia; see
SPECIAL
TOPIC: ELEMENTARY PRINCIPLES) originally referred to something in a row, a series. It
developed into several connotations:
1. The basic physical building blocks of the world (air, water, earth, and fire,
  cf. 2 Pet. 3:10,12).
2. The basic teachings of a subject (cf. Heb. 5:12; 6:1 for Judaism).
3. The angelic powers behind the heavenly bodies (cf. I Enoch 52:8-9; the early church fathers;
  Col. 2:8, 20; 1 Cor. 15:24) or the angelic ranks (aeons) of the Gnostic false teachers
  (cf. Col. 2:10, 15; Eph. 3:10).
4. Angels hostile to mankind who tried to stop the giving of the Law to Moses (cf. Acts 7:38;
  Heb. 2:2)
5. Possibly the impersonal structures of our fallen world that allow fallen mankind to appear
  independent from God (education, government, medicine, religion, etc. (cf. Gal. 4:3, 8-9
  and Hendrik Berkhof’s Christ and the Powers by Herald Press, p. 32).
“not according to Christ” It is based on human reasoning, experience, or speculation.

2:9 “in Him” This phrase is in an emphatic position. “In Him” was a key phrase in Paul’s theology
(“in whom” Col. 2:3; ” in Christ” Col. 2:5; “in Him” Col. 2:6,9,10,11; “with Him” Col. 2:12, 13, notice,
also, Eph. 1:3,4,7,9,10,12,13,14). Paul returns again to Christology as he did in Col. 1:15-20. This is the
main issue and the main issue is a person!

▣ “all the fullness of Deity” This dual aspect of Christ’s nature refuted the false teachers,
(cf. Col. 1:15-20). They agreed that He was fully God, but denied that He was fully human (cf. 1 John 1:1-4
and 4:1-3). The term “fullness” (plērōma) was a Gnostic term for the angelic levels
(aeons) between a high good god and evil matter (cf. John 1:16, Col. 1:19, Eph. 1:23, 3:19; 4:13).

This abstract term for “deity” (theotās) is only used here in the NT. Jesus is
the full and complete revelation of God, not the angelic levels (aeons) or the false teachers’ secret
knowledge. It is possible that this was one of the Gnostic teachers’ key terms. Paul often uses their
terminology to describe Christ.

SPECIAL TOPIC: GNOSTICISM

▣ “dwells” This is a PRESENT ACTIVE INDICATIVE. Some of the Gnostic false teachers
believed that the “Christ spirit” came upon Jesus for a limited period (i.e., between
his baptism and just
before his death on the cross). This verse asserts that Jesus’ two natures were in permanent union.

▣ “in bodily form” This was a truth that Gnosticism could not affirm because of their Greek
dualism between a good god and evil matter. It is crucial in Christianity (cf. 1 John 4:1-3).

2:10 “you have been made complete” This is a PERFECT PASSIVE PARTICIPLE of
plerōma (cf. Col. 2:9; John 1:16; Eph. 3:19). The Christian has been and continues to be filled
by Him and for Him! Jesus has made us complete!

▣ “He is the head over all rule and authority” This refers to the Gnostic false teachers’ view
of salvation. For them salvation consisted in secret knowledge ( a password or secret name) which allowed
them to move through the angelic spheres between matter (world) and spirit (God, cf. Col. 1:16; 2:15;
Eph. 1:22-23; 3:10; 6:12). Paul asserted that salvation is in Christ. He is the head of all angelic/demonic
realms (cf. Rom. 8:38-39)! See
SPECIAL TOPIC: ANGELS IN PAUL’S
WRITINGS

George Ladd’s A Theology of the New Testament, has an interesting paragraph about
Paul’s terminology:

“A study of the language Paul uses to designate these angelic spirits suggests that
Paul deliberately employed a vague and varied terminology. This is seen particularly in his
alternation between the singular and the plural forms of several of the words. It is impossible
successfully to group this terminology into clearly defined orders of angelic beings, nor is it
at all clear that by the various words Paul purposes to designate different kinds or ranks of
angels. Probably Paul was facing views that elaborated distinct orders of angels, and he purposed
by his exceedingly flexible language, which may almost be called symbolic, to assert that all evil
powers, whatever they may be, whether personal or impersonal, have been brought into subordination
by the death and exaltation of Christ and will eventually be destroyed through his messianic
reign”(p. 402).

For “authority” see
SPECIAL TOPIC: AUTHORITY

2:11 “you were also circumcised with a circumcision” Paul is using the OT covenant sign
(cf. Gen. 12:8-14) in a spiritual sense (cf. Deut. 10:16; 30:6; Jer. 4:4; Rom. 2:28-29; Phil. 3:3). This
must be figurative language or else the false teachers had some Judaistic tendencies. There is so much
that is unknown and uncertain about the heretical groups of the NT. In some ways these false teachers are
a combination of Greek Gnosticism and Jewish legalism (cf. Col. 2:11,16,18). The commentator Lightfoot
asserted they were similar to the Essenes (the Dead Sea Scrolls community which was a separatist group of
sectarian Jews of the first century who lived in the desert).

▣ “a circumcision made without hands” This is a metaphorical use of circumcision as the covenant
sign in the OT. The “new” circumcision is a new heart and a new relationship with God through Christ
(cf. Rom. 2:28-29; Phil. 3:3). Even in the OT when the new covenant is discussed (cf. Jer. 31:31-34 and
Ezek. 36:22-38), circumcision was never even mentioned, much less emphasized.

▣ “the removal of the body of the flesh” This refers to the old fallen nature, not the physical
body (cf. Rom. 6:6; 7:24; Gal. 5:24; Col. 3:5).

2:12 “having been buried with Him in baptism” This is an AORIST PASSIVE PARTICIPLE of
a sun compound which means “co-buried.” This is the metaphor of baptism as immersion analogous to
burial (cf. Rom. 6:4). As believers share Jesus’ sufferings, death, and burial, they will also share His
resurrection and glory (cf. Col. 2:12b; Rom. 8:17; Eph. 2:5-6).

For Paul baptism was a way of asserting death to the old life (old man) and the freedom of
the new life (new creature, cf. 2 Cor. 5:17; Gal. 6:15) to serve God (cf. Rom. 6:2-14; 1 Pet. 2:24).

SPECIAL TOPIC: BAPTISM

▣ “you were also raised up with Him” This compound with syn is parallel to “having been
buried” (cf. Col. 2:13; 3:1; Rom. 6:4-5; Eph. 2:6). Believers’ burial and resurrection are linked as two
sides of a complete event. They were “co-buried” and “co-raised” in Eph. 2:5-6, also, using sun
compounds, which meant “joint participation with.”

▣ “who raised Him from the dead” Jesus is the first-fruit of the Resurrection
(cf. 1 Cor. 15:20,23). The Spirit that raised Him will also raise believers (cf. Rom. 8:10-11, 23).

This phrase is an excellent opportunity to show that the NT often attributes the works of
redemption to all three persons of the Godhead. See
SPECIAL TOPIC: RESURRECTION

God the Father raised Jesus (cf. Acts 2:24; 3:15; 4:10; 5:30; 10:40; 13:30,33,34,37; 17:31;
Rom. 6:4,9)
God the Son raised Himself (cf. John 2:19-22; 10:17-18)
God the Spirit raised Jesus (cf. Rom. 8:11)

This same Trinitarian emphasis can be seen in Col. 2:9-10.

SPECIAL TOPIC: THE TRINITY

2:13 “When you were dead” This is a PRESENT PARTICIPLE meaning “being dead.” This
reflects the results of the Fall-spiritual death (cf. Genesis 3; Rom. 5:12-21; Eph. 2:1-3). Gentiles were
sinners cut off from the covenant people (cf. Eph. 2:11-12). The Bible speaks of three stages of death.

spiritual death (cf. Genesis 3; Isa. 59:2; Rom. 7:10-11; Eph. 2:1; James 1:15)
physical death (cf. Genesis 5)
eternal death, “the second death,” “the lake of fire” (cf. Rev. 2:11; 20:6,14; 21:8)

▣ “uncircumcision of your flesh” This was a way of referring to Gentiles (cf. Col. 2:11).

▣ “He” This must refer to the Father. If so, the PRONOUNS through Col. 2:15 refer
to the Father.

▣ “made you live together with Him” There are three sun compounds in Col. 2:12-13
(co-buried, Col. 2:12; co-raised, Col. 2:12; and co-quickened, Col. 2:13) which show what had already
happened to believers spiritually (AORISTS). This is very similar to Eph. 2:5-6. In Ephesians
God has acted on behalf of Jesus in Eph. 1:20 and Jesus has acted on behalf of believers in Eph. 2:5-6.

▣ “having forgiven us all our transgressions” This is an AORIST MIDDLE (deponent)
PARTICIPLE. “Forgiven” is from the same word root as “grace” (cf. Rom. 5:15, 16; 6:23;
2 Cor. 1:11; Col. 3:13; Eph. 4:32). Notice God freely forgives “all” sin through Christ (except unbelief)!

2:14
NASB	”having canceled out the certificate of debt”
NKJV	”having wiped out the handwriting of requirements”
NRSV	”erasing the record”
TEV	”canceled the unfavorable record of our debts”
NJB	”He has wiped out the record of our debt to the Law”
Peshitta	”he canceled the written bond of our sins”

This rather cryptic language probably relates somehow to the false teachers. It refers to
the Mosaic Covenant (cf. Eph. 2:15, which could be characterized as “do and live”- “sin and die”
(cf. Deut. 27:26; Ezek. 18:4). Paul clearly teaches the sinfulness of all mankind (cf. Rom. 3:9,19,23; 11:32;
Gal. 3:22; see SPECIAL TOPIC: THE
FALL). Therefore, the OT became a death sentence to all mankind! See
SPECIAL TOPIC: PAUL’S VIEW
OF THE MOSAIC LAW

The term “certificate” was used of

a signed IOU
a signed confession
a legal indictment

The OT was a curse! This Greek term comes into English as “autograph” (self written).

▣ “He has taken it out of the way” This is a PERFECT ACTIVE INDICATIVE. This same
VERB is used in John 1:29 and 1 John 3:5 to refer to the removal of sins. Jesus lived under
and fulfilled the Mosaic covenant’s requirements. He performed what sinful, fallen mankind could not do. His
death was, therefore, not for personal sin, but He became a perfect sacrifice (cf. Isaiah 53) for sin. He
became “cursed” (cf. Deut. 21:23) that mankind might be delivered from the curse of the Law (cf. Gal. 3:13)!

▣ “nailing it to the cross” This referred to either

a public notice
the charges placed over a crucified person

The cross (Jesus’ death) overcame the Law’s hostility (OT decrees, cf. 2 Cor. 5:21).

2:15
NASB, NKJV, NRSV	”disarmed”
TEV	”freed”
NJB	”stripped”
Peshitta	”exposed”

This is a rare term, an AORIST MIDDLE (deponent) PARTICIPLE.
Its basic etymology was to take off clothing. It seems to have meant “to strip away from.” It referred to
taking weapons from dead soldiers (cf. Arndt and Gingrich, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament
and Other Early Christian Literature, p. 82). In this context it relates Deity’s (the Father and the Son)
destruction of the powers of the spiritual realm that was hostile to mankind (i.e., Gnostic aeons,
cf. Eph. 6:12). The believer’s victory is of God through Christ and by the Spirit.

If this rare VERB is interpreted as MIDDLE VOICE then the TEV
expresses the thought “freed himself from the power of the spiritual rulers.” If it is interpreted as
ACTIVE VOICE then “He disarmed the rulers” (cf. NASB, NKJV, NRSV).

▣ “the rulers and authorities” These terms were used by the Gnostics (false teachers) for the
angelic levels (aeons, cf. Col. 2:10; Eph. 1:21, 3:10; 6:11-12; Rom. 8:38-39; 1 Cor. 15:24).

SPECIAL TOPIC: ANGELIC LEVELS IN PAUL’S
WRITINGS

▣
NASB	“He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him”
NKJV	“He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it”
NRSV	“made a public example of them, triumphing over them in it”
TEV	“he made a public spectacle of them by leading them as captives in his victory procession”
NJB	“and paraded them in public, behind him in his triumphal procession”

The historical background to this was a triumphal parade into Rome for a victorious general
(cf. 2 Cor. 2:14). The captives were marched behind him in chains. By His death on the cross and His
resurrection Jesus overcame

the curse of the Law
the hostile angelic powers

As is obvious from the modern translations that the PRONOUN at the end of the
verse can be understood in two related ways:

to Christ
to the cross

It is NEUTER and most translations relate it to Christ’s victory over evil by
means of His sacrificial death.

▣ “public display” See second paragraph of
SPECIAL
TOPIC: BOLDNESS (PARRHĒSIA)

÷COLOSSIANS 2:16-19

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: COLOSSIANS 2:16-19
¹⁶Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day- ¹⁷things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ. ¹⁸Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize by delighting in self-abasement and the worship of the angels, taking his stand on visions he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind, ¹⁹and not holding fast to the head, from whom the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and ligaments, grows with a growth which is from God.

2:16-23 Verses 16-23 are the strongest condemnations of religious legalism in Paul’s writings. When
Paul was dealing with “weak” believers he was gentle (cf. Rom. 14:1-15:13; 1 Cor. 8-10), but when he was
addressing religious self-righteous legalists (i.e., false teachers) he was uncompromising. This
self-righteousness was what brought such condemnation from Jesus on the Pharisees and Scribes. Paul knew
well performance-oriented religion. His encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus (cf. Acts 9) changed
everything!

There were two types of Gnostic false teachers:

salvation is through secret knowledge and, therefore, it does not matter how you live (antinomian
libertines)
salvation through secret knowledge plus a very restricted lifestyle (legalists)

2:16
NASB	”Therefore no one is to act as your judge”
NKJV	”let no one judge you”
NRSV	”do not let anyone condemn you”
TEV	”let no one make rules”
NJB	”never let anyone criticize you”
Peshitta	”Let no man therefore create a disturbance”

This is a PRESENT IMPERATIVE with the NEGATIVE PARTICLE, which
meant to stop an act already in process. This referred to

matters of food (cf. 1 Tim. 4:3)
special days (cf. Rom. 14:5; Gal. 4:10)
the worship of these angelic levels (cf. Col. 2:8,20)

There is an obvious parallel between Col. 2:16 (“act as your judge”) and Col. 2:18 (act as
“umpire”). Be careful of religious legalism whether Jewish, Greek, or modern.

SPECIAL TOPIC: SHOULD CHRISTIANS
JUDGE ONE ANOTHER?

2:17
NASB, NRSV	”but the substance belongs to Christ”
NKJV	”but the substance is of Christ”
TEV	”the reality is Christ”
NJB	”the reality is the body of Christ”
Peshitta	”but the main objective is Christ”

There is a contrast between “shadow” (skia, Col. 2:17a) and “substance”
(sōma, lit. “body,” Col. 2:17b). Religious ritual, devotion, and special days of worship are
not bad in themselves unless they become ultimate issues. Christ, not human performance in any area, is the
focus of the gospel.

Paul saw the religious ritualism and required religious performance of the false teachers as
a mere shadow of real spirituality. The interpretive question is what does “the body of Christ” mean? The
two main theories are:

Philo of Alexandria and Josephus interpret “body” in the sense of “substance” (NASB, NKJV) or
“reality” (TEV), “true spirituality in Christ”
true spirituality is manifested in the Church which is Christ’s body (NJB, cf. Rom. 12:4-5;
1 Cor. 10:17; 12:12,27)

The author of Hebrews also used the term “shadow” (skia, Col. 2:17a) to compare the
Mosaic covenant to the new covenant in Christ (cf. Heb. 8:5; 10:1).

2:18
NASB	”Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize”
NKJV	”Let no one defraud you of your reward”
NRSV	”Do not let anyone disqualify you”
TEV	”Do not allow yourselves to be condemned by anyone”
NJB	”Do not be cheated of your prize by anyone”
Peshitta	”Let no man, by pretense of sincerity, doom you”

This is a PRESENT IMPERATIVE with NEGATIVE PARTICLE, which
meant to stop an act already in process. This term is used only here in the NT. This is one of Paul’s
athletic metaphors for the Christian life (cf. 1 Cor. 9:24,27; Gal. 2:2; Phil. 3:14; 2 Tim. 4:7). Believers
must not let legalists act as umpires robbing them of their freedom in Christ (cf. Rom. 14:1-15:13;
1 Corinthians 10-12. The Williams translation of the NT catches the athletic thrust, translating this
“defraud you as an umpire”). The “prize” is true freedom in Christ (cf. Gal. 2:4; 5:1,13; 1 Pet. 2:16)!
Freedom to serve God, not self. Freedom from past fears and taboos, freedom from, not freedom to (Romans 6)!

▣
NASB	”delighting in self-abasement”
NKJV	”taking delight in false humility”
NRSV	”insisting on self-abasement”
TEV	”insist on false humility”
NJB	”who chooses to grovel to angels”
Peshitta	”proud of his intellectual powers”

This phrase is theologically related to Col. 2:23. In the ancient Greco-Roman world
asceticism was seen as religious devotion. This was part of the Gnostic depreciation of the physical. For
them, and Greek thought in general, the body was evil. Therefore, to deny the body was a sign of spirituality.
This view is still alive in the church!

This Greek word, translated by NASB as “self-abasement,” means “lowliness,” “modesty,”
“humility” and is not a negative term in the NT. Paul used it in a positive sense in Acts 20:19; Eph. 4:2;
Phil. 2:3; Col. 3:12. It is the motive that turns it into a spiritual charade!

▣ “and the worship of the angels” This obviously refers to the Gnostic angelic levels
(cf. Col. 2:8,10,15). It is also possible that this related to a Jewish theological obsession with the
angelic realm. The “New Age” movement in our own day seems to be headed in this direction. Angels are
“ministering spirits” for redeemed humanity (cf. Heb. 2:14).

▣ “taking his stand” This term was used of initiates into the Mystery religions (cf. Moulton
and Milligan, The Vocabulary of the Greek New Testament, p. 206). It refers to the so-called secret
revelations or passwords of the Gnostics which they thought brought salvation through the angelic spheres
so as to reach the presence of the high, holy god.

▣ “on visions he has seen” This possibly refers to the false teachers’ claims of special
revelations. The King James Version adds a NEGATIVE, making the verse imply what they had not
seen but only claimed to have seen. This, however, is a later scribal addition to the manuscripts
אi² and D². The ancient Greek manuscripts
P⁴⁶, א^*, A, B, and D^* do not have the
NEGATIVE. The UBS4 rates the shorter text as “B” (almost certain).

▣ “inflated without cause” This is a PRESENT PASSIVE PARTICIPLE. Literally it
means “in vain puffed up.” Paul uses this term often in his first letter to the Corinthians
(cf. 1 Cor. 4:6,18,19; 5:2; 8:1; 13:4). The unexpressed agent of the PASSIVE VOICE was their
own fallen minds. Unbelievers and false teachers are often sincere and enthusiastic.

▣ “by his fleshly mind” For Paul there is an obvious dichotomy between the thinking of the
fallen world and the Christian. Believers have received the mind of Christ which is in conflict with the
mind-set of a world operating and functioning apart from God (cf. Col. 1:21; Rom. 7:22-23; 8:5-7; 11:34;
1 Cor. 2:16; Eph. 2:3; 4:17-23). See
SPECIAL TOPIC: FLESH (SARX)

These legalistic religionists are to be rejected for three reasons.

their insights are mere shadows of reality (Col. 2:17)
their visions are false because they are informed by a fleshly mind (Col. 2:18)
they have stopped holding on to Christ (Col. 2:19)

Legalistic false teachers are still with us! Beware! Be informed!

2:19 Paul again stressed the major truth of fallen mankind’s need for a relationship with Christ
(individual) and also with His body, the church (corporate, cf. Col. 2:8; Eph. 4:16). We need salvation
from sin and wisdom from God on how to live. Christ provides both!

▣
NASB, NKJV, NRSV	”not holding fast to the Head”
TEV	”have stopped holding on to Christ”
NJB	”has no connection to the Head”
Peshitta	”does not uphold the Head”

This is a negated PRESENT ACTIVE PARTICIPLE. The implication is that at one
time the false teachers were holding on to Christ. This can be understood in several ways.

they were like the two seeds in the Parable of the Sower (cf. Matt. 13:20-23) that germinated
but fell away and did not bear fruit
they were like “the believers” of John 8:31-59 who turned against Jesus
like the church members who left in 1 John 2:18-19
they were like the believers in the church of Ephesus who abandoned their “first love” (cf. Rev. 2:4)

▣ “the Head” Paul often uses the analogy of the people of God as a body (cf. Rom. 12:4;
1 Cor. 10:17; 12:12,14,20; Eph. 4:4,16; Col. 3:15), but it is only in Ephesians (1:22; 4:15; 5:23) and
Colossians (1:18; 2:19) that Christ is specifically identified as “the Head.” This whole verse speaks of
Christ as the indispensable founder, leader and sustainer of the Church.

SPECIAL TOPIC: HEAD

÷COLOSSIANS 2:20-3:4

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: COLOSSIANS 2:20-3:4
²⁰If 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, ²¹“Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!” ²²(which all refer to things destined to perish with using)- in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men? ²³These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence. ^3:1Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. ²Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. ³For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. ⁴When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.

2:20 “If” This is a FIRST CLASS CONDITIONAL SENTENCE which was assumed to be true from
the author’s perspective or for his literary purposes. Believers are united with Christ and should be
separated from the powers and structures of this fallen world system.

▣ “you have died” This is an AORIST ACTIVE INDICATIVE. This death is symbolized
in baptism (cf. Col. 2:12; Rom. 6:4), and is an image of the believer’s death to the old life and the
resurrection to the new life of God-eternal life. Baptism, like circumcision, is an outward sign of an inner
spiritual reality (cf. Col. 2:11, 13).

Daily death to personal ambition and personal preferences is a mandate of effective ministry
(cf. Rom. 6:7; 2 Cor. 5:14-15; 1 John 3:16). However, this is not a legalism of rules, but a freedom from
the tyranny of the fallen self! Daily spiritual death to self brings true life!

▣ “with Christ” This is another use of the Greek PREPOSITION sun, which
means joint participation with. These three grammatical features:

sun compounds
the AORIST TENSES of Col. 2:11,12,13,15,20
the FIRST CLASS CONDITIONAL SENTENCE of Col. 2:20 show what believers already are
in Christ!

▣
NASB	”to the elementary principles of the world”
NKJV	”from the basic principles of the world”
NRSV	”to the elemental spirits of the universe”
TEV	”from the ruling spirits of the universe”
NJB	”to the principles of this world”
Peshitta	”from the principles of the world”

This term (stoicheia) is defined as

fundamental principles (cf. Heb. 5:12. 6:1)
basic elements of the world, such as earth, wind, water or fire (cf. 2 Pet. 3:10,12)
elementary spirits, (cf. Gal. 4:3, 8-9; Col. 2:8; Eph. 6:10-12)
heavenly bodies (cf. Enoch 52:9-10 and the early church fathers who thought it referred
to the seven planetary spheres, cf. Baur, Arnt, Ginrich, Danker’s A Greek-English Lexicon of
the New Testament, p. 776)

The basic etymology was “something in a series” or “row.” See note at Col. 2:8.

Paul viewed life as a spiritual struggle (cf. Eph. 2:2-3; 6:10-18). Humans were beset by
evil from within (a fallen nature, cf. Genesis 3), by a fallen world system (cf. Genesis 3) and by personal
evil (Satan, the demonic and the stoicheia).

James Stewart’s, A Man in Christ, has an interesting comment:

“Sin was not something a man did: it was something that took possession
of him, something the man was, something that turned him into an open enemy of the God
who loved him. It brought outward penalties: ‘whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.’
But far more appalling than these were its inward results. It tormented the conscience: ‘O
wretched man that I am!’ It brought the will into abject slavery: ‘the good that I would, I do not,
but the evil which I would not, that I do.’ It destroyed fellowship with God: men were ‘alienated,’
‘without God in the world.’ It hardened the heart, and blinded the judgment, and warped the moral
sense: ‘God gave them over to a reprobate mind.’ It destroyed life itself: ‘the wages of sin is death.’

Such is the apostle’s estimate of sin’s overwhelming gravity. And through it all, even
where sin is regarded as an external force waiting to take advantage of human nature in its
frailty, he will allow no blurring of the fact of personal accountability. Principalities and
powers may lie in wait, but in the last resort man’s is the choice, man’s the responsibility,
and man’s the doom” (pp. 106-107).

For “world” see
SPECIAL TOPIC: PAUL’S USE
OF KOSMOS

▣ “decrees” This term has the same root as Col. 2:14. Christ did not release believers
from the Mosaic Law to become entangled again in Gnostic rules or any humanly mandated requirements
(i.e., Jewish legalism). Oh, the freedom believers have in Christ! Oh, the pain of well-intended religious
legalists!

2:21 “Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch” This series has no CONNECTORS, which
makes it emphatic! It may have been a slogan of the false teachers. These are examples of human religious
rules which did not bring true righteousness. Humans have always had an ascetic, legalistic tendency
(cf. Isa. 29:13; Matt. 15:10-12; Mark 7:19; Rom. 14:17,21), but it is a hollow religion of self effort,
self glory and self sufficiency (cf. Col. 2:22-23).

2:22 “(which all refer to things destined to perish with the use)” In Matt. 15:7-20 and
Mark 7:6-23 Jesus discusses this same type of issue in relation to the food laws of Leviticus 11.

▣ “perish” See SPECIAL
TOPIC: DESTROY, RUIN, CORRUPT (PHTHEIRŌ)

2:23 “the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and the severe treatment
of the body” This was Jesus’ condemnation of the Scribes and Pharisees (cf. Isa. 29:13).

Paul describes the false teachers religious practices by three terms:

1. NASB “self-made religion”

NKJV “self-imposed religion”

NRSV “self-imposed deity”

TEV “forced worship of angels”

NJB “The cultivation of the will”

This term is used only here in the NT. It may have been coined by Paul or earlier Christians. The NASB seems to have caught the essence of the term, “self-made religion.” TEV assumes that it reflects Col. 2:18.

2. NASB “self-abasement”

NKJV, TEV “false humility”

NRSV “humility”

NJB (combines the second and third terms)

This same Greek word is used in Col. 2:18. Literally it means “humility,” but the context favors the NKJV and TEV translation.

3. NASB, NRSV, TEV “severe treatment of the body”

NKJV “neglect of the body”

NJB “a humility which takes no account of the body”

This reflects the ascetic religious view that to deny one’s bodily needs showed or developed
religious piety. Examples are

denying the body food
celibacy
lack of clothing in winter, etc.

This followed the Greek view that the body (matter) was evil.

SPECIAL TOPIC: CHRISTIAN
FREEDOM vs. CHRISTIAN RESPONSIBILITY

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are
responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You,
the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

These discussion questions are provided to help you think through the major issues of this
section of the book. They are meant to be thought-provoking, not definitive.

Describe the false teachers’ doctrine. Why were they so dangerous?
Who or what are the “elementary principles” (stoicheia, cf 2:8,20)?
Is Jesus God or man? Why is this so important?
How is Jesus related to the angelic powers?
Why is legalism-asceticism so dangerous (cf. Col. 2:16-23)?
List the Gnostic catch words in this section.