Colossians Chapter 2
This entire chapter may be regarded as designed to guard the Colossians against the seductive influence of the false philosophy which tended to draw them away from the gospel. It is evident from the chapter that there were at Colossae, or in the vicinity, professed instructors in religion, who taught an artful and plausible philosophy, adapting themselves to the prejudices of the people inculcating opinions that tended to lead them away from the truths which they had embraced. (Albert Barnes)
v. 1 For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; (KJV)
v. 1 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those [believers] at Laodicea, and for all who [like yourselves] have never seen me face to face. (Amplified Bible)
A. For I would that ye knew
1. I wish you knew or fully understood.
2. He declares his affection towards them. That he may have more credit and authority; for
we readily believe those whom we know to be desirous of our welfare. (John Calvin)
3. Paul had great concern for these Colossians and other churches which he had not any
personal knowledge. (Matthew Henry)
4. The Colossians were always on his heart as a sick child is ever on the heart of its mother.
(Charles Spurgeon)
B. What great conflict
1. The Greek word here is “angony”. (Albert Barnes)
2. It properly refers to the combats, contests, struggles, efforts at the public games. (AB)
3. Paul was in a sort of agony and had a constant fear respecting what would become of them.
4. The life of an apostle is one of sacrifice.---Loyalty to Christ may involve a man in all kinds
of loss and pain and suffering. There may be many thing to which he has to say
goodbye. (William Barclay)
C. Not seen my face
1. This is why some say Paul had never been to Colossae.
2. Some argue that Paul had regularly passed through this area and he was speaking to those
new to the church.
3. We can think, and pray, and be concerned for one another, at the greatest distance and
those we never saw in the flesh we may hope to meet in heaven. (Matthew Henry)
v. 2 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;
v. 2 [For my hope is] that their hearts may be encouraged as they are knit together in [unselfish] love, so that they may have all the riches that come from the full assurance of understanding [the joy of salvation], resulting in a true [and more intimate] knowledge of the mystery of God, that is, Christ,
A. Hearts (the thoughts or feelings) comforted
1. Like other Christians, they were exposed to trials and temptations. (AB)
2. Paul was praying for them to have continual happiness in God. (Adam Clarke)
3. He does not say that they may be healthy, and merry, and rich, and great, and prosperous
but that their hearts may be comforted. The prosperity of their soul is best. (MH)
4. The stronger our faith is, and the warmer our love, the greater will our comfort be. (MH)
B. Knit together (to drive together)
1. Truth unites; error divides. (Chuck Missler)
2. It means, properly, to make to come together, and hence, refers to a firm union. (AB)
3. Cemented by love; a union of affection. (AB)
4. Being united as the beams or the timbers of a building. (AC)
C. All riches
1. The “full of understanding” of the “mystery” of religion—was an invaluable possession,
like abundant wealth. (AB)
2. Paul means full and clear perception; and at the same time admonishes them, according to
the measure of understanding they must make progress also in love. (John Calvin)
3. Great knowledge and strong faith make a soul rich. (MH)
D. Full assurance (conviction, confidence)
1. The word means firm persuasion, settled conviction.
2. That they might have the most indubitable certainty of the truth of Christianity, of
their own salvation, and of the general design of God to admit the Gentiles into his church. (AC)
E. The mystery
1. The doctrine respecting God, which had before been concealed or hidden, but which was
now revealed in the gospel. (AB)
2. That is nothing else but the knowledge of the gospel. For the false apostles endeavor to set
off the impostures under the title of wisdom. (JC)
3. The mystery mentioned is the calling of the Gentiles into the church as the Father and
Christ revealed it in the gospels. (MH)
v. 3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
v. 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge [regarding the word and purposes of God].
A. In Whom
Is doubtless to Christ; what is affirmed here properly appertains to him. (AB)
B. Are hid
1. Like treasures that are concealed or garnered up. So to speak, Christ, as Mediator, was
the greatest treasure-house where were to be found all the wisdom and knowledge
needful for people. (AB)
2. That all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hid in Christ (JC)
C. Wisdom and Knowledge
1. The wisdom needful for salvation. (AB)
2. The knowledge which is requisite to guide us in the way of life. (AB)
3. —by which he means, that we are perfect in wisdom if we truly know Christ, so that it is
madness to wish to know anything beside Him. (JC)
4. He wanted them to know God, and to rest comforted and happy in what he revealed. He
saw in them a tendency to look abroad for something more than that, a desire to tack
something else on the gospel, a wish to try and find some fresh light outside the Word,
and over this he greatly grieved. (Charles Spurgeon)
v. 4 And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.
v. 4 I say this so that no one will deceive you with persuasive [but thoroughly deceptive] arguments.
A. Lest any beguile ( To deceive, beguile, reason falsely, mislead)
1. Deceive you, and lead you away from the truth.
2. Smooth and plausible argument.
3. The way in which Satan spoils souls is by beguiling them. He deceives them, and by this
means slays them. (MH)
4. As the contrivances of men an appearance of wisdom, the minds of the pious ought to be
preoccupied with this persuasion—that the knowledge of Christ is of itself amply
sufficient. (JC)
B. Enticing words. ( Persuasive speech.)
1. Satan could not ruin us if he did not cheat us and he could not cheat us but by our own
fault and folly. (MH)
2. The danger of enticing words how many are ruined by the flattery of those who lie in wait
to deceive, and by the false disguises and fair appearances of evil principles and
wicked practices. (MH)
3. They did not openly contradict the gospel, they pretended to have a great affection for it,
and then they tried to tear the very heart out of it with their enticing words of man’s
wisdom. (Charles Spurgeon)
v. 5 For though I be 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.
v. 5 For even though I am absent [from you] in body, nevertheless I am with you in spirit, delighted to see your good discipline [as you stand shoulder to shoulder and form a solid front] and to see the stability of your faith in Christ [your steadfast reliance on Him and your unwavering confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness].
A. Absent
1. I seem to see you; I feel as if I were there, and were looking upon you; and I have the
solicitude as if I were there, and saw all the danger which exists that your beautiful
order and harmony should be disturbed by the influence of false philosophy. (AB)
2. He never forgot them; and it was his joy when he found them standing fast in Christ, and
his sorrow and his horror when they went away after anyone else. (CS)
B. Joying (to rejoice, be glad)
1. I rejoiced as if I saw your order.
2. The order and steadfastness of Christians are matter of joy to ministers they joy when they
behold their order, the regular behavior and steadfast adherence to the Christian
doctrine. (MH)
C. Order & Steadfastness (Mentioned before – used as military conversation)
1. Order among themselves, and faith in Christ. He commends their faith, in respect of its
constancy. (John Calvin)
2. Settled (Sitting, seated; steadfast, firm. sedentary, i.e. immovable.)
4. They wished to lay down ascetic rules and regulations. This had to do with what they
could eat and drink and the observation of certain religious days.
5. They wished to introduce the worship of angels. Jesus was only an intermediary.
B. Spoil (plunder, lead captive)
v. 6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
v. 6 Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in [union with] Him [reflecting His character in the things you do and say—living lives that lead others away from sin], Walk ye in Him.
A. You have received
1. The object here is to induce them not to swerve from the views which they had of Christ
when he was made known unto them. (AB)
2. To commendation he adds exhortation, in which he teaches them that their having once
received Christ will be of no advantage to them, unless they remain in him.
(John Calvin)
3. His meaning is this: Seeing ye have embraced the doctrine of Christ, continue to hold it
fast, and not permit yourselves to be turned aside by philosophers or Judaizing
teachers. (Adam Clarke)
4. Do not turn away from him, do not dream of going beyond him. You received him at first
very simply, you trusted in him entirely, so go on doing so. You were satisfied with
Christ when you first came to him, so be satisfied with him still, for you do not need
anything more than Christ, and there is nothing more than Christ. (Charles Spurgeon)
B. Walk (I conduct my life)
1. Let the views that you received of him let them regulate your life. (AB)
2. If we walk in him, we shall be rooted in him and the firmly we are rooted in him the
closely we shall walk in him. (MH)
C. For in these words he admonishes them, that they must adhere to the doctrine which they had
embraced, as delivered to them by Epaphras, with so much constancy as to be on their guard
against every other doctrine and faith, in accordance with what Isaiah said, “This is the way,
walk ye in it.” (30:21) (JC)
D. Paul compares the pure doctrine of the gospel, as they had learned it, to a way that is sure, so that
if anyone will but keep it he will be beyond all danger of mistake. (JC)
E. Ephesians 4:14 “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about
with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in
wait to deceive;”
v. 7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
v. 7 having been deeply rooted [in Him] and now being continually built up in Him and [becoming increasingly more] established in your faith, just as you were taught, and overflowing in it with gratitude.
A. Rooted (I cause to take root; met: I plant, fix firmly, establish.)
As a tree strikes its roots deep in the earth, so our faith should strike deep into the doctrine respecting the Savior.
B. Built Up (I build upon (above) a foundation.)
C. Rooted and built up in him - It is not usual with the apostle to employ this double metaphor, taken
partly from the growth of a tree and the increase of a building. They are to be rooted; as the
good seed had been already sown, it is to take root, and the roots are to spread far, wide, and
deep. They are to be grounded; as the foundation has already been laid, they are to build
thereon. In the one case, they are to bear much fruit; in the other, they are to grow up to be a
habitation of God through the Spirit. (Adam Clarke)
D. Abounding (to be over and above) ( exceed the ordinary (the necessary), overflow; am left over)
1. He would not have them simply remain immovable, but would have them grow every day
more and more. (JC)
2. No limitations is ever set to the operations of God on the soul, or to the growth of the soul
in the knowledge, love, and image of God. (AC)
E. Thanksgiving (giving of thanks; gratitude)
Expressing overflowing thanks to God that you have been made acquainted with truths so precious and glorious. (AB)
v. 8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
v. 8 See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception [pseudo-intellectual babble], according to the tradition [and musings] of mere men, following the elementary principles of this world, rather than following [the truth—the teachings of] Christ.
A. Philosophy Defined
1. Repeat --The study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence,
especially when considered as an academic discipline.
2. There is a philosophy which is a noble exercise of our reasonable faculties, and highly
serviceable to religion, such a study of the works of God as leads us to the knowledge
of God and confirms our faith in him. But there is a philosophy which is vain and
deceitful, which is prejudicial to religion, and sets up the wisdom of man in
competition with the wisdom of God, and while it pleases the men’s fancies ruins their
faith. (MH)
B. Beware -- look, see, perceive, discern
C. Spoil (I plunder, lead captive; met: I make victim by fraud.)
1. The wording for spoil indicates being such as a slave-trader carrying off his captives from
a battle. (AB)
2. The Greek word used here means spoil in the sense of plunder, rob, as when plunder is
taken in war. (AB)
3. Take heed lest anyone plunder you or rob you of your faith. (AB)
D. False teachers wished to make additions to Christ: (William Barclay)
1. They wished to teach men an additional philosophy. An elaborate system of pseudo-
philosophical thought which was far too difficult for the simple and which only the
intellectual could understand.
2. They wished men to accept a system of astrology. Looking to the stars for answers.
The stars and planets were believed to be associated with spirits. If a man was born
under a fortunate star, all was well; if he was born under an unlucky star, he could not
look for happiness. Men were slaves to the stars. There was one possibility to escape.
If men knew the right pass-words and right formulae, they might escape from this
fatalistic influence of the stars; and a great part of the secret teachings of the Gnostics.
3. They wished to impose circumcision on Christians. Faith was not enough.
E. Deceit (delusion) – empty, vain
Those who pin their faith on other men’s sleeves, and walk in the way of the world, have
turned away from following Christ
F. Traditions of men – There appear to have two sources of danger: (AB)
1. Arising Greek philosophy – emanations to God
2. Jewish opinions – Jews depended much on tradition which corrupted Christianity. (AB)
Such as circumcision, and diets, and holy days.
Romans 2: 28-29 “For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision,
which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and
circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not
of men, but of God.” [Salvation is not physically, but it is spiritual.]
G. There are two great systems—when Paul wrote this letter to the Colossians—are still contending
over minds in the Wester World: (Chuck Missler)
1. Stoicism: live nobly and death cannot matter: hold appetites in check become indifferent
to changing conditions. Be not lifted up by good fortune nor cast down by adversity.
Man is more than circumstances; the soul is greater than the universe.
2. Epicureanism: All is uncertain; we know not whence we come, nor whether way go; we
only know that after a brief life we disappear from this scene; it is vain to deny
ourselves any present joy in view of possible future ill. “Let us eat and drink, for
tomorrow we die.” [This leads to things like Columbine and other shootings.
v. 9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
v. 9 For in Him all the fullness of Deity (the Godhead) dwells in bodily form [completely expressing the divine essence of God].
A. Dwelleth-- settle in, I am established in (permanently), inhabit.
1. That is this was the great and central doctrine that was to be maintained about Christ, that
all the fullness of the Godhead dwelt in him. (AB)
2. Almost all heresy has been begun by some form of the denial of the great central truth of
the incarnation of the Son of God. (AB)
B. Fullness (a) a fill, fullness; full complement; supply, patch, supplement, (b) fullness, filling,
fulfillment, completion.
1. For God has often manifested himself to men, but it has been only in part. In Christ, on the
other hand, he communicates himself to us wholly. (JC)
2. The fullness of the divine nature became incarnate, and was indwelling in the body of the
Redeemer. (AB)
C. Godhead (deity)
1. Of the Divinity, the divine nature. The word is one that properly denotes the divine nature
and perception. (AB)
2. By the Godhead or Deity, we are to understand the state or being of the Divine nature; and
by the fullness of that Deity, the infinite attributes essential to such a nature. (AC)
D. Bodily somatik?s (an adverb, derived from 4984 /somatikós which is an adjective derived
from 4983 /s?ma, "body") – bodily (used only in Col 2:9). It refers to "Christ's complete
embodiment of the pleroma ('fullness of God'), as contrasted with its supposed distribution
through other intermediaries"
1. This Greek word is found nowhere else in the NT in this form and usage. (AB)
2. The language is such as would be obviously employed on the supposition that God became
incarnate, and appeared in human form; and there is no other idea which it so naturally
expresses, nor is there any other which it can be made to express without a forced
construction. (AB)
E. Under the law, the presence of God dwelt between the cherubim, in a cloud which covered the
mercy-seat but now it dwells in the person of our Redeemer, who partakes of our nature, and
is bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh, and more clearly declared the Father to us. (MH)
v. 10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: (angels, etc.)
v. 10 And in Him you have been made complete [achieving spiritual stature through Christ], and He is the head over all rule and authority [of every angelic and earthly power].
A. Complete (to make replete, i.e. to cram, level up, or to furnish, satisfy, execute, finish, verify,
etc.)
1. Having no need, for the purposes of salvation, of any aid to be derived from the philosophy
Of Greeks, or the traditions of the Jews. (AB)
2. He adds, that this perfect essence of Deity, which is in Christ, is profitable to us in this
respect, that we are also perfect in him. (JC)
3. Those, therefore, who do not rest satisfied with Christ alone, do injury to God in two ways.
For besides detracting from the glory of God, by desiring something above his
perfection, they are also ungrateful, inasmuch as they seek elsewhere what they
already have in Christ.(JC)
B. The sentiment advanced in this verse would overthrow the whole papal doctrine of the merits of
the saints, and, of course, the whole doctrine of papal “indulgences.” (took place 100’s of
years ago.) (AB – Dec. 1, 1798 – Dec. 24, 1870)
v. 11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
v. 11 In Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, but by the [spiritual] circumcision of Christ in the stripping off of the body of the flesh [the sinful carnal nature],
A. In whom also ye are circumcised
1. You have received that which was designed to be represented by circumcision—the
putting away of sin. (AB)
2. All that was designed by circumcision, literally performed, is accomplished in them that
believe through the Spirit and power of Christ. It is not the cutting off of a part of
flesh, but a putting off the body of sins of the flesh through the circumcision of Christ;
he having undergone and performed this, and all other rites necessary to qualify him to
be a mediator between God and man; (AC)
B. Circumcision not made with hands
1. That made in the heart by the renunciation of sins. The Jewish teachers insisted in order of
salvation that they must be physically circumcised. (AB)
2. The law required the circumcision of the flesh, the Gospel of Christ required the
circumcision of the heart. (AC)
3. Any priest can circumcise a man’s foreskin; only Christ can bring about that spiritual
circumcision which means cutting away from a man’s life everything which keeps
him from being God’s innocent child. (William Barclay)
4. Not by the power of any creature, but by the power of the blessed Spirit of God. (MH)
C. In putting off (A putting off (as of a garment), a casting off.) the body of sins of the flesh.
That is, renouncing the deeds of the flesh, or becoming holy. (AB)
D. Not by the fact that Christ was circumcised, but that we have that kind of circumcision which
Christ established, to wit, the renouncing of sin. (AB)
E. A contrast between Jewish circumcision and the believer’s spiritual circumcision in Christ: (CM)
Jews Believers
External surgery Internal-the heart
Only part of the body The whole “body of sins”
Done by hands Done without hands
No spiritual help in conquering sin Enables them to overcome sin
v. 12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
v. 12 having been buried with Him in baptism and raised with Him [to a new life] through [your] faith in the working of God, [as displayed] when He raised Christ from the dead.
A. Buried in baptism (To bury along with; to assimilate spiritually) with him in baptism.
(Dipping, washing; of a ceremonial character)
1. Alluding to the immersions practiced in the case of adults, wherein the person appeared to
be buried under the water, as Christ was buried in the heart of the earth. (AC)
2. You have death, burial, and resurrection, all in Christ; and you received the outward sin
and token of this when you were baptized, do believe firmly that it is so, and do not
look anywhere else for it. (MH)
B. Risen with him through faith
1. From the death of sin to the life of religion. (AB)
2. They were quickened, changed, and saved, by means of faith in Christ Jesus. (AC)
3. Believing is the act of the soul; but the grace or power to believes comes from God
himself. (AC)
C. Who hath raised him from the dead.
1. His rising again the third day, and emerging from the water was an emblem of the
resurrection of the body; and, in them, of a total change of life. (AC)
2. The resurrection of Christ is often represented as the foundation of all our hopes; and, as
he was raised from the grave to die no more, so, in virtue of that we are raised from
the grave to die no more, so, in virtue of that we are raised from the death of sin to
eternal spiritual life. (AB)
D. When Jesus Christ died and rose again, He won a complete and final victory over sin. (Chuck M)
1. What the Law could not do, Jesus Christ accomplished for us.
2. The old nature (“the body of sins of the flesh”) was put off—rendered inoperative—so that
we need no longer be enslaved to desires.
3. The old sinful nature is not eradicated, for we can still sin.
4. But its power has been broken as we yield to Christ and walk in the power of the Spirit.
v. 13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
v. 13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh (worldliness, manner of life), God made you alive together with Christ, having [freely] forgiven us all our sins,
A. Dead in your sins (Matthew Henry)
1. A state of sin is a state of spiritual death.
2. Those who are in sin are dead in sin.
3. As the death of the body consists in its separation from the soul, so death of the soul
consists in its separation from God and the divine favor.
4. Men had no more power than dead men either to overcome sin or to atone for it. Jesus
Christ by his work has liberated men both from them a life so new that it can only be said that he has raised them from the dead. (WB)
B. Uncircumcision of your flesh
This must refer to that part of the Colossian Church which was made up of converted heathens, for the heathens alone were uncircumcised. (AC)
C. Quickened together with him
That is, the resurrection of the Lord Jesus was the means of imparting to us spiritual life.
D. Having forgiven you all trespasses
1. Through him we have remission of sin. (MH)
2. You do not need to go to a ‘priest’ for pardon, for Christ has forgiven you all you
trespasses. (CS)
3. Eph. 2:11-13 11“Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh,
who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by
hands; 12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of
Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: 13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.”
v. 14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
v. 14 having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of legal demands [which were in force] against us and which were hostile to us. And this certificate He has set aside and completely removed by nailing it to the cross.
A. Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances (certificate of debt)
1. The word rendered handwriting means something written by the hand, a manuscript; and
here probably the writings of the Mosaic law, or the law appointing many ordinances
or observations in religion. (AB)
2. The meaning here is, that the burdensome requirements of the Mosaic law are abolished,
and that its necessity is superseded by the death of Christ. (AB)
3. Whatever was in force against us is taken out of the way. He has obtained for us a legal
discharge. (MH)
4. Sometimes a scribe, to save paper, used papyrus or vellum that had already been written
upon. When he did that, he took a sponge and wiped out the writing out. Because it
was only on the surface of the paper, the ink could be wiped out as if it had never
been. God, in his amazing mercy, banished the record of our sins so completely that it
was as if it had never been; not a trace remained. (William Barclay)
B. That was against us
That is, against our peace, happiness, comfort; or in other words, which was oppressive and
burdensome. (AB)
C. Which was contrary to us
Operated as hindrance, or obstruction, in the matter of religion. The ordinances of the Mosaic
law were necessary, in order to introduce the gospel; but they were always burdensome.
D. And took it out of the way
1. He removed the obstruction, so that it no longer prevents the union and harmony between
the Jews and the Gentiles.
2. Galatians 3:13 “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for
us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:”
3. He cancelled the obligation for all who repent and believe. (MH)
E. Nailing it to the [his] cross.
1. When Christ was nailed to the cross, our obligation to fulfill these ordinances was done
away. (AC)
2. The expression here denotes that the obligation of the Jewish institutions ceased on the
death of Jesus, as if he had taken them as nailed them to his own cross, in the manner
in which a bond was cancelled. (AB)
v. 15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
v. 15 When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities [those supernatural forces of evil operating against us], He made a public example of them [exhibiting them as captives in His triumphal procession], having triumphed over them through the cross.
A. And having spoiled
1. Plundered as a victorious army does a conquered country. The terms used in this verse are
all military, and the idea is, that Christ has completely subdued our enemies by his
death. (AB)
2. He spoiled them, broke the devil’s power, and conquered and disabled him, and exposed
them to public shame, and made a show of them to angels and men. (MH)
B. Principalities and powers
1. There can be no doubt, I think, that the apostle refers to the ranks of fallen, evil spirits
which had usurped a dominion over the world. (AB)
2. As the curse of the law was against us, so the power of Satan was against us. (MH)
C. He made a show of them openly
As a conqueror, returning from a victory, displays in a triumphal procession of kings and
princes whom he has taken, and the spoils of the victory. [This occurred spiritually.] (AB)
D. Triumphing over them
1. The sense is substantially the same, that this triumph was effected by the atonement made
for sin by the Redeemer. (AB)
2. We should regard ourselves as freeman. (AB)
3. We are bound to assert our freedom, and should not allow any hostile power in the form of
philosophy or false teaching of any kind, to plunder or “spoil” us. (AB)
4. The devil and all the powers of hell were conquered and disarmed by the dying Redeemer.
(MH)
E. Three Great Victories on the cross: (Chuck Missler)
1. He spoiled principalities and powers stripping Satan and his army of whatever weapons
they held.
a. Satan cannot harm the believer who will not harm himself.
b. It is when we cease to watch and pray (as did Peter) that Satan can use his weapons
against us.
2. Jesus “made a show of them openly” exposing Satan’s deceit and vileness.
a. In His death, resurrection, and ascension, Christ vindicated God and vanquished the
devil.
3. His victory is found in the word “triumph.”
a. Whenever a Roman general won a great victory on foreign soil, he took many
captives and much loot, and gained new territory for Rome
b. He was honored by an official parade known as “the Roman triumph.”
F. Summary -- Christ has done for us four things: (AB)
1. He has given us spiritual life.
2. He has forgiven all our trespasses.
3. He has blotted out or abolished the “ordinances” that were against us.
4. He has triumphed over all our foes.
Lastly, that we should not be made captive or subdued by any of the rites of superstition, or
any of the rites of superstition, or any of the influences of the kingdom of darkness.
v. 16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
v. 16 Therefore let no one judge you in regard to food and drink or in regard to [the observance of] a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day.
A. To Judge—means here to hold one to be guilty of a crime, or to impose a scruple of conscience,
so that we are no longer free. (JC)
B. Judging food and drink
1. Judge The meaning is, “since you have thus been delivered by Christ from the evils which
surrounded you: since you have been freed from the observances of the law, let no
one sit in judgment on you, or claim the right to decide for you in those matters. You
are no responsible to man for your conduct, but to Christ; and no man has a right to impose that on you as a burden from which he has made you free.” (AB)
2. Meat – There is reference here, undoubtedly, to the distinctions which the Jews made on
this subject, implying that an effort had been made by Jewish teachers to show them
that the Mosaic laws were binding on all. (AB)
Acts 10:10-16 10 And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance, 11 And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:12 Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. 13 And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.14 But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. 15 And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. 16 This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.
C. Judging Days
1. Holyday – Means properly a “feast” or “festival;” and the allusion here is to the festivals of
the Jews. They had been delivered from that obligation by the death of Christ. (AB)
2. New Moon- On appearance of new moon, among the Hebrews, in addition of the daily
sacrifices, tow bullocks, a ram, and seven sheep, with a meat offering were required to
be presented to God. The month of the new moon in the beginning of the month Tisri
(October) resulted in a festival. It was the beginning of their civil year.
3. There is no evidence from this passage that he would teach that there was no obligation to
observe any holy time, for there is not the slightest reason to believe that he meant to
teach that one of the Ten Commandments had ceased to be binding on mankind. He
had his eye on the great number of days which were observed by the Hebrews as festivals, as a part of their ceremonial and typical law, and not to the moral law, or the Ten Commandments. (AB)
D. The apostle speaks here in reference to some particulars of the hand-writing or ordinances, which
had been taken away, viz., the distinction of meats and drinks, what was clean and what
unclean, according to the law; and the necessity of observing certain holy-days or festivals,
such as the new moons and particular Sabbaths, or those which should be observed with more
than ordinary solemnity; all these had been taken out of the way and nailed to the cross, and
were no longer of moral obligation. There is no intimation here that the Sabbath was done
away, or that its moral use was superseded, by the introduction of Christianity. (AC)
E. Gnosticism—lists & laws
This is the Gnostic asceticism teaching which involves a whole host of regulations about what
can and cannot be eaten and drunk. In other words there is a return to all the food laws of the
Jews, with their lists of thing clean and unclean. As we have seen, the Gnostics considered all
matter is to be essentially evil. If matter is evil, then the body is evil. If the body is evil, two
opposite conclusions may be drawn:
1. If the body is essentially evil, it does not matter what we do with it. Being evil it can be
used or abused in any way, and it makes no difference.
2. If the body is evil, it must be kept down; it must be beaten and starved and it every impulse
chained down. That is to say, Gnosticism could issue either in complete immorality or
in rigid asceticism. It is the rigid asceticism with which Paul is dealing here. (WB)
Matthew 15:11 “Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh
out of the mouth, this defileth a man.”
Matthew 15:17-18 “Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth
into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? But those things which proceed out of the
mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.”
F. Gnosticism – moons & days
They observed yearly feasts and monthly new moons and weekly Sabbaths. They drew out list of days which specially belonged to God, on which certain things must be done and certain things must not be done. They identified religion with ritual. (WB)
Galatians 5:1 “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.”
v. 17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
v. 17 Such things are only a shadow of what is to come and they have only symbolic value; but the substance [the reality of what is foreshadowed] belongs to Christ.
A. Shadow
1. We get our word photograph from the Greek word used her for “shadow.” (CM)
2. A “shadow” is only an image cast by an object which represents it form. Once one finds
Christ, he no longer needs to follow the old shadow. (Chuck Missler-YouTube)
3. The reason why he frees Christians from the observance of them is, that they were
shadows at a time when Christ was still, in a manner, absent.
4. For Christ is now manifested to us, and hence we enjoy him as being present. (John
Calvin)
5. What the OT foreshadowed, Christ fulfilled. (CM)
Heb. 10:1 “For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of
the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make
the comers thereunto perfect.”
6. He says that this kind of thing is only a shadow of truth: the real truth is in Christ. That is to
say, a religion which is founded on eating and drinking certain kinds of food and drink
and abstaining from others, a religion which is founded on Sabbath observance and the
like, is only a shadow of real religion: real religion is fellowship with Christ. (WB)
7. As painters do not in the first draught bring out a likeness in vivid colors, and expressively,
but in the first instance draw rude and obscure lines with charcoal, so the
representation of Christ under the law was unpolished, and was, as it were, a first
sketch. (JC)
B. The reality, the substance.
1. All that they signified is of or in Christ. There is much difference between the shadow
and the body. (AB)
2. For the substance of those thing which the anciently prefigured is now presented before
our eyes in Christ, inasmuch as he contains in himself everything that they marked out
as future. (JC)
3. Hence, the man that calls back the ceremonies into use, either buries the manifestation of
Christ, or robs Christ of his excellence, and makes him in a manner void. (JC)
v. 18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
v. 18 Let no one defraud you of your prize [your freedom in Christ and your salvation] by insisting on mock humility and the worship of angels, going into detail about visions [he claims] he has seen [to justify his authority], puffed up [in conceit] by his unspiritual mind,
A. Let no man beguile (defraud) you or your reward (prize). Defraud (to judge against you)
1. They were to be on guard lest the reward – the crown of victory to which they looked
forward—should be wrested from them by the arts of others. (Greek games
terminology.) (AB)
2. The passage is also carefully to marked as intimating (state or make known), that all those
who draw aside from the simplicity of Christ cheat us out of the prize of our high
calling. (JC)
B. Voluntary humility –The word used here means “lowliness of mind, modesty, humbleness of
deportment;” and the apostle refers to the spirit assumed by those against who he would guard
the Colossians—the spirit of modesty or of humble inquirers. The meaning is, that they
would not announce their opinions. The most meek and modest men in appearance are
sometimes the most proud and reckless in their investigations of the doctrines of religion.
(AB)
C. Worshipping Angels –
1.This does not mean, as it seems to me, that they would worship angels of that they would
teach other to do it for there is no reason to believe this. Certainly the Jewish teachers,
who the apostle seems to have particularly in his eye, would not do it; nor is that any
evidence that any class of false teachers would deliberately teach that angels were to
be worshipped. The reference is rather to the profound reverence; the spirit of lowly
piety which the angels evinced, and to the fact that the teachers to would assume the
same spirit, and were, therefore, the more dangerous. (AB)
2. There is worship of angels. As we have seen, the Jews had a highly-developed doctrine of
angels and the Gnostics believed in all kinds of intermediaries. They worshipped
these, while the Christian knows that worship must be kept for God and for Jesus
Christ. (WB)
3. All are desirous to defraud you of the reward, who, under the pretext of humility,
recommend to you the worship of angels.
D. Intruding – The word here means to go in, or enter; then to investigate, to inquire. It was He says
that it was the object of their investigations to look with great professed modesty and
reverence, into those things which are not visible to the eye of mortals. (AB)
E. Vainly puffed up fleshly mind
1. Not withstanding the avowed “humility,” the modesty, the angelic reverence, yet the mind
was full of vain conceit, and self-confident, carnal wisdom. All this is sometimes
assumed for the purpose of deceiving; (AB)
2. Genesis 3:6 “And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that
it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the
fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.”
F. He says that there is such a thing as a false humility. When they talked of the worship of angels
both the Gnostics and the Jews would have justified it by saying that God is so great and high
and holy that we can never have direct access to him and must be content to pray to the
angels. But the great truth that Christianity preaches is, in fact, exactly that the way to God is
open to the humblest and the simplest person. (WB)
v. 19 And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.
v. 19 and not holding fast to the head [of the body, Jesus Christ], from whom the entire body, supplied and knit together by its joints and ligaments, grows with the growth [that can come only] from God.
A. Not holding the Head
1. Not holding the true doctrine respecting the Great Head of the church, the Lord Jesus
Christ. This is regarded here as essential to the maintenance of all the other doctrines
of religion. (AB)
2. Paul confirms his statement that all things flow from Him, and depend on Him. (JC)
3. Not acknowledging Jesus Christ as the only Savior of mankind, and the only Head or chief
of the Christian Church, on whom every member of it depends, and from whom each
derives both light and life. (AC)
Ephesians 1:20 - 23 20 “Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: 22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.”
B. The Body
1. The body, it is true, has its nerves, its joints, and ligaments, but all these things derive their
vigor solely from the Head. (JC)
2. The body of Christ is a growing body: it increaseth with thee increase of God. (MH)
Ephesians 4:15-16 15 “But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.”
v. 20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,
v. 20 If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were still living in the world, do you submit to rules and regulations, such as,
A. Wherefore –In view of all that has been said. If it be true that you are really dead to the world, why do you act as if you still lived under the principles of the world? (AB)
B. Dead with Christ
1. If you are dead to the world in virtue to his death. We died with him; that is, such was the
efficacy of his death, and such is our union with him, that we became dead also to the
world. (AB)
2. Because they died with Christ to ordinances; that is, after they died with Christ by
regeneration, they were, through his kindness, set free from ordinances, that they may
not belong to them anymore. Hence he concludes tht they are by no means bound by
the ordinances, which false apostles endeavored to impose upon them. (JC)
Romans 6:1-3 1 “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? 3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?”
C. Rudiments -- by implication, the world (morally).
1. The elements or principles which are of the worldly nature, and which reign among
worldly men. (AB)
2. Ye have renounced all hope of salvation from the observance of Jewish rites and
ceremonies, which were only rudiments, first elements, or the alphabet, out of which
the whole science of Christianity was composed. (AC)
3. “Rudiments” or, elements; row or a series of the universe, the angels that influence the
heavenly bodies; one of the words in the astrological vocabulary of today. (CM)
a. In 1984, 55% of American teenagers believe in astrology.
b. Empirical Results: It doesn’t work.
c. A French statistician sent the horoscope of one of the worse mass murders in
French history to 150 people and asked how well if fit them. 94% said they
recognized themselves in the description.
d. A study of 3000 horoscopes was tracked and only 10% came to pass.
4. The rudiments (stoicheia) or elemental spirits are identified: (CM)
a. with demonic power to whom have been delegated authority in the cosmos and
therefore, over men
b. with angelic powers generally who mediated the law and exercised in the old age a
certain suzerainty (the right of a country to partly control another) over men
Galatians 4:3 “Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:”
D. Living in the World – Why do you all them to influence you, as though you were living and
acting under those worldly principles? (AB)
E. Are ye subject to ordinances – The rites and ceremonies of the Jewish religion.
Galatians 5:1-4 1 “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. 2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. 3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. 4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.”
v. 21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not;
v. 21 “Do not handle [this], do not taste [that], do not [even] touch!”?
A. Ascetic Warnings
1. The pseudo-spiritual ritual that revels in rules of physical self-denial, is based on man’s
rules. Men’s life is wrapped up in rules. (CM)
2. These words seem intended as a specimen of the kind of ordinances which the apostle
refers to, or an imitation of the language of the Jewish teachers in regard to various
kinds of food and drink. They were warning others from contaminating themselves
with the prohibited things. (AB)
3. Extremes –They allowed themselves no food that was pleasant to taste, but ate dry, coarse
bread, and drank only water. Plus many more. (AB)
4. In short, when persons have once taken upon them to tyrannize over men’s souls, there is
no end of new laws being daily added to old ones. (JC)
B. He says that this can lead to sinful pride. The man who is meticulous in his observance of special
days, who keeps all the food laws and who practices ascetic abstinence is in very grave danger
of thinking himself specially good and of looking down on other people. And it is a basic
truth of Christianity that no man who thinks himself good is really good, least of all the man
who thinks himself better than other people. (WB)
C. He says that this is a return to unchristian slavery instead of Christian freedom and that in any
event, it does not free a man from fleshly lusts but only keeps them on the leash. Christian
freedom comes not from restraining desires by rules and regulations but from the death of evil
desires and the springing to life of good desires by virtue of Christ being in the Christian and
the Christian in Christ. (WB)
Romans 14:1-6
1 Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. 2 For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. 3 Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him. 4 Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand. 5 One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. 6 He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.”
Romans 14:17 “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.”
v. 22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?
v. 22 (these things all perish with use)--in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men.
A. Perish
The worship of God, true piety, and the holiness of Christians, do not consist in drink,
food, and clothing, which are thing which are things that are transient and liable to
corruption, and perish by abuse. (JC)
B. These ordinances had a value among the Hebrews when it was designed to keep them as a distinct
people: but they had no value in themselves, so as to make them binding on all mankind.
(AB)
C. These are not matters of eternal moment; the different kinds of meats were made for the body, and
go with it into corruption: in like manner, all the rites and ceremonies of the Jewish religion
now perish, having accomplished the end of their institution; namely to lead us to Christ, that
we might be justified by faith. (AC)
v. 23 Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.
v. 23 These practices indeed have the appearance [that popularly passes as that] of wisdom in self-made religion and mock humility and severe treatment of the body (asceticism), but are of no value against sinful indulgence [because they do not honor God].
A. All these prescriptions and rites have indeed the appearance of wisdom, and are recommenced by
plausible reasons; but they for a worship which God has not commanded, and enjoin
macerations of the body, accompanied with a humiliation of spirit, that are neither profitable
to the soul, nor of any advantage to the body; so that the whole of their religion is nothing
worth. (AC)
B. Here we have the anticipation of an objection, in which, while he concedes to his adversaries
what they allege, he at the same time reckons it wholly worthless. (JC)
C. They allure, also, by means of a pretext, inasmuch as they seem to be of the greatest avail for the
mortification of the flesh, while there is no sparing of the body. Paul, however, bids farewell
to those disguises for what is in high esteem among men is often an abomination in the sight
of God. (JC)
D. Farther, that is a treacherous obedience, and a perverse and sacrilegious humility, which transfer
to men the authority of God; and neglect of the body is not so great importance, as to be
worthy to be set forth to admiration as the service of God. (JC)
Luke 16:15 “And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.”
