Introductory remarks:
This chapter is a continuation of the last chapter. "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 Colosse, or in the vicinity, professed instructors in religion who taught an artful and plausible philosophy, adapting them selves to the prejudice of the people, and inculcating [say over and over] opinions that tended to lead them away from the truths, which they had embraced. These teachers were probably of Jewish origin, and had adopted many of the arts of a plausible rhetoric, from the prevailing philosophy in that region. Against the seductive influences of this philosophy, it is the design of this chapter to guard them, and though the apostle does not seem to have intended to pursue an exact logical order; yet the argument in the chapter can be conveniently regarded as consisting of two parts: - A statement of the reasons why they should be on their guard against the arts of that philosophy; and a specification of the particular errors to which they were exposed. " (Barnes). "Paul yearns for them to fully understand Christ and encourages them to practice this knowledge. He hopes that they will resist any perversion of the truth. He says they have been spiritually circumcised by Christ's removal of their flesh and in Him they have been raised from the dead. They're past debt was cancelled and Christ triumphed over authorities, so no man can tell them what religious ceremonies they must observe. All those things were symbols of the coming Christ. Paul warns against letting men give them a set of rules they must obey, rather than obeying Christ, since Christ's death freed them" (A Survey of Colossians - By Brenda). This chapter may be outlined as follows: Paul's ministry to the Church continued vv. 1-5: Fullness of life in Christ vv. 6-19: The new life in Christ vv. 20-23.
Paul's Ministry to the Church Continued
Verse 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."
LGT "For I wish you to know how great conflict I have for you, and the ones in Laodicea, and as many as have not seen my face in flesh:"
For I wish you to know how great conflict I have for you: Paul is expressing his inward conflict of anxiety for the assembly at Colosse, on account of the Judaizers and Gnostic heretics that were infiltrating the assembly with they're vain philosophies. And the ones in Laodicea: Paul included Laodicea that was in the near vicinity of Colosse, and were exposed to the same false teachers. Paul's agony was that some people might be led astray, and they were, for we read that this was the church described by John as lukewarm (Rev. 3:14) And as many as have not seen my face in flesh: this is referring to those neighboring assemblies around Colosse that had never made acquaintance with Paul; Paul expresses the same concern for them as well.
Verse 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."
LGT "In order that their hearts might be comforted, being united together in love, and to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, that they may know the mystery of God, [and of] Christ:"
In order that their hearts might be comforted: Paul's hope and concern for the brethren in all the assemblies, and that which he was agonizing for, is that their hearts would be consoled, and being united together in love: Paul expressed his desire that they not only rest assured in their position in Christ, but that they love one another with true agape love. The introduction of error by the false teachers would be divisive and cause turmoil in their minds; this is the opposite of the truth which unites the believers together in love; love for the truth, which leads to love for one another; the love for the truth unites the hearts of the believers in true Christian fellowship. And to all riches of the full assurance of understanding: assurance is necessary to full understanding of the Divine riches of grace; indecision is the breeding ground for error. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. We must know the truth in order to love the truth; and to love the truth is to know the truth. The same grace logic goes for our attitude towards God; we must know God in order to love God, and to know God, we must first know Jesus Christ, and in order to know Christ we must know the Word of God. That they may know the mystery of God, and of Christ: God has revealed in His Word the wonderful riches of grace to the church through Paul, and Paul now desires that all believers fully understand them. The mystery is that which had been hid in past ages, and only revealed partially with symbols and ordinances; but now Paul gives them the full assurance that they are all recipients of God's Divine grace, and all the benefits; and the only way they can be assured of them, and appreciate them, is to fully know and understand them.
Verse 3, "In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge."
LGT "In whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden."
Christ is the treasure of the wisdom of God. To know Christ is to all that matters. Paul refutes the Gnostic notion that salvation comes through knowledge, and that they have all knowledge; the Gnostics did not have Christ, so they did not have true knowledge or true wisdom. "The words which immediately follow in vs. 4, suggest the possibility that hidden may convey an allusion to the Apocrypha (spurious non-canonical books) or secret writings of the Essenes, whose doctrines entered into the Colossian heresy. Such writings, which, later, were peculiar also to the Gnostics, contained the authoritative secret wisdom, the esoteric [mysterious] teaching for the learned few. If such is Paul's allusion, the word suggests a contrast with the treasures of Christian wisdom which are accessible to all in Christ" (Marvin Vincent).
Verse 4, "And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words."
LGT "This I say, that no one should deceive you with persuasive of speech."
This I say: regarding Christ being the one in whom all knowledge and truth is. That no man should deceive you: learn Christ and Christ crucified. And this will keep you from being deceived. With persuasive speech: Paul was warning against the intellectualism of the Gnostics. "Paul is going to deal with the matter of philosophy and enticing words. Philosophy and psychology have been substituted for the Bible, and this is the thing that is enticing to so many young preachers in our seminaries today. I am amazed to find that some of these men with a Ph.D. degree from seminary know so little about the Bible! They know all about Bultmann and Kant and Plato, but they don't seem to know very much about the Word of God. That is the great problem of our day.
There was the same danger in Colosse and also in Laodicea. I think that is what actually killed the church in Colosse, and it made the church in Laodicea the weakest of the seven churches in Asia Minor. It was in the worst spiritual condition, and yet the people thought that they were well off. These cities were wealthy. They boasted of their wealth and affluence and also of their knowledge, but they were blind to their true spiritual condition" (McGee).
Verse 5, "For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ."
LGT "For if indeed in the flesh I am absent, but I am with you in the spirit, rejoicing and seeing your order and the firmness of your faith in Christ."
For indeed in the flesh I am absent, but I am with you in spirit: the only way Paul could be with them is spiritually, for he was one with them in spirit, that is, in their spiritual goals. Paul had the same loving regard for the Colossians whether with them or absent from them. Rejoicing and seeing your order: this is a military term meaning that they were standing inline, shoulder to shoulder, ready to meet the foe. "The military line, unbroken, intact. A few stragglers had gone over to the Gnostics, but there had been no panic, no breach in the line" (A.T. Robertson). "The meaning is - I am present with you in spirit, rejoicing in this ideal fellowship, and viewing your order [mentally]. His spiritual presence with them was a source of joy, and it enabled him to see their orderly array and consistency" (John Eadie). And the firmness of your faith in Christ: The firmness of their faith in Christ is the motivation for their orderly stand against the Gnostic invasion. By standing firm in their faith Christ protects them from any trial or deceit. Chrysostom notes this about faith in Christ: "For seeing God hath bestowed upon us benefits surpassing man's reasoning [Paul has labeled these Riches of Divine Grace], suitably enough He hath brought in faith. It is not possible to be steadfast, when demanding reasons. For behold all our lofty doctrines, how destitute they are of reasonings, and dependent upon faith alone. God is not anywhere, and is everywhere. What hath less reason in it than this? Each by itself is full of difficulty. For, indeed, He is not in place; nor is there any place in which He is. He was not made, He made not Himself, He never began to be. What reasoning will receive this, if there be not faith? Does it not seem to be utterly ridiculous, and more endless than a riddle?"
Fullness of Life in Christ
Verse 6, "As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him."
LGT "As therefore ye received the Christ, even Jesus the Lord, in Him walk around:"
As therefore ye received the Christ, even Jesus the Lord: Paul accomplishes two major issues with this statement. (1.) He answers the Gnostic heretical teaching against Christ's deity and humanity, and (2.) He instructs the Colossian Christians on the motive for their Christian walk. Robertson notes on the first issue: "Hence it is plain that Paul here meets the two forms of Gnostic heresy about the Person of Christ (the recognition of the historical Jesus in His actual humanity against the Docetic Gnostics, the identity of the Christ or Messiah with this historical Jesus against the Cerinthian Gnostics, and the acknowledgement of Him as Lord). 'As therefore ye received the Christ (the Messiah), Jesus the Lord.' Ye were taught right." The second issue is the motive for their Christian living: In Him walk around: Paul is teaching them to walk around in the Light as Christ is in the Light; this is daily fellowship with the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ. Walking in the Light requires daily Bible study, daily confession of sin, and adjusting the life to grace doctrine; this is being rooted and grounded in the faith, and by this, Paul says that they will be rooted and grounded in Christ, and will not be "carried about by every wind of doctrine" (Eph. 4:14). Since they had Jesus Christ the Lord in their souls, Paul says let Him live through them in their daily walk. Their outer life is an expression of their reception of Christ. Outside of our walking in and with Christ are the world and all its charms that lead to perdition for the unbeliever, and loss of reward for the believer.
Verse 7, "Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving."
LGT "Having been rooted and built up in Him, and being confirmed in the faith, just as ye were taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving."
Having been rooted: like a tree that is planted and takes root and grows to maturity it becomes strong to be able to weather the storm. And built up in Him: the believer is rooted in Christ by faith in Him; then Christ is able to grow the willing believer; I say willing, because not all of us are willing to put the time in to Bible study, and without the daily intake of Bible Doctrine, the believer stays stunted. We must all make use of every tool the Lord has provided. Going to Bible study once a week will not get the job done. And being confirmed in the faith, just as ye were taught: being rooted in the Word is the same as being rooted in Christ, for Christ is the Word (John 1:1). Being confirmed in the faith means that they were to grow in grace they had been taught, and not to waver from that faith; confirmed means to be long-established and complete in Him. Spiritual stability is a sure sign of maturity. Just as ye were taught means that they were taught these principles and they should adhere to them. It should be the motive of every believer who is teaching Bible doctrine to keep this motive in mind, that is, to edify and help other believers grow in grace, and put to every day experience the truths of the Word of God. This is adjusting our lives to grace doctrines. Abounding in it with thanksgiving: being ground and rooted in Christ can only result in thanking God, the Author and Finisher of our faith. We can thank God that we are not swept away by every wind of false doctrine. "Expressing overflowing thanks to God that you have been made acquainted with truths so precious and glorious. If there is any thing for which we ought to be thankful, it is for the knowledge of the great truths respecting our Lord and Savior" (Barnes). I for one, thank God almost every day, that He rescued me out from among church-goers, the ones who refuse to grow in grace, but are satisfied with socializing with like minded people that think they are earning their way to God. If they do not think they are earning salvation, they think they are pleasing God, and that God will bless them for their efforts. I know these things as fact, for I once was deeply involved in these groups. I praise God that I have been awakened by His marvelous grace. I also thank God for allowing me the time to do these studies on Paul's epistles, for in them I know I am grounded in grace.
Verse 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."
LGT "Take heed lest there shall be anyone who makes a prey of you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the elements of the world, and not according to Christ."
Take heed: the verb would be translated in our modern day conversation as look out! Lest there shall be anyone who makes a prey of you: Paul has the entire Colossian assembly in mind. He is warning them that they must always be on guard of those false teachers who seek to plunder, and drive them away from the faith they have been taught. Through philosophy and empty deceit: Paul does not fault education and knowledge, only the false philosophy of the world, that not only the Gnostics were fond of, but also the Essenes, and Judaizers. Even today, if you turn on the T.V. and listen to some of the evangelists, such as Robert Schuler, Rick the slick Warren, and that insipid Joel Osteen, who say the things people want to hear, and they avoid speaking of hell and eternal separation from God, because this makes people uneasy, and people go to church to feel good. Whenever the whole council of God is preached, you will notice the group gathered will be very small. I was talking to one of the members of Robert Schuler's Crystal Cathedral several years ago, and he told me that the reason he went to Schuler's church is that he was tired of hearing preachers ranting on about hell-fire and damnation; what he wanted to hear, he said, was the goodness and love of God, not how angry God is, and that we all better watch our step or we will land up in hell. Well, I don't know where this fellow went to church, but hell is part of the Word of God, but I have not worried about it, because I have also learned about the grace of God that has delivered me out of that darkness into His marvelous Light. According to the traditions of men, according to the elements of the world: this simply means the traditions of men opposed to the Revelation of God. Today it would amount to political correctness and compromise, as opposed to the absolute, non-compromising Word of God. I would take as one example how the world insists that we accept Homosexual behavior as simply an alternative lifestyle, that is not as the Bible states it, as abomination to God, but a thing to be accepted, and that we should treat them as equals. I for one do not treat them at all, for I will have nothing whatsoever to do with them. I also have complete contempt for our present world system. And not according to Christ: these are all the doctrines of grace Paul had previously taught them. The world has contempt for God and His Christ.
Verse 9, "For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily."
LGT "Because in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily."
In Christ dwells all the essence of God. Here Paul refutes the false teaching of the Docetic Gnostics that Jesus did not have a human body, and the Cerinthian Gnostics that believed that Jesus' spirit was separated from His body; here Paul teaches that the Lord Jesus Christ was truly human and truly Divine, He was the God man, very God of very God, very man of very man.
Marvin Vincent notes on this verse:
"The verse contains two distinct assertions:1. That the fullness of the Godhead dwells in Christ. The present tense dwelleth, is used like is the image, chp. 1:15, to denote an eternal and essential characteristic of Christ's being. The indwelling of the divine fullness in Him is characteristic of Him as Christ, from all ages to all ages. Hence the fullness of the Godhead dwelt in Him before His incarnation, when He was 'in the form of God' (Phil. 2:6). The Word in the beginning was with God and was God (John 1:1). It dwelt in Him during His incarnation. It was the Word that became flesh and dwelt among us full of grace and truth, and His glory which was beheld was the glory as of the Only-begotten of the Father (John 1:14); compare 1 John 1:1-3). The fullness of the Godhead dwells in His glorified humanity in heaven.
2. The fullness of the Godhead dwells in Him in a bodily way, clothed with a body. This means that it dwells in Him as one having a human body. This could not be true of His pre-incarnate state, when He was 'in the form of God,' for the human body was taken on by Him in the fullness of time, when 'He became in the likeness of men' (Phil. 2:7), when the Word became flesh. The fullness of the Godhead dwelt in His person from His birth to His ascension. He carried His human body with Him into heaven, and in His glorified body now and ever dwells the fullness of the Godhead.
'O, for a sight, a blissful sight
Of our Almighty Father's throne!
There sits the Savior, crowned with light,
Clothed in a body like our own.
'Adoring saints around Him stand,
And thrones and powers before Him fall;
The God shines gracious through the man,
And sheds sweet glories in them all.'
Watts
'What a contrast to the human tradition and the rudiments of the world' (Meyer). What a contrast to the spiritual agencies conceived as intermediate between God and men, in each of which the divine fullness was abridged [condensed] and the divine glory shaded, in proportion to the remoteness from God in successive emanations."
Verse 10, "And ye are complete in Him, which is the head of all principality and power."
LGT "And ye are in Him, made full, who is the Head of all principality and authority."
And ye are in Him, made full: all believers are in union with Christ, and all that Christ is, is at our disposal. Being in Christ we are filled full. "As to God's dwelling wholly in Christ, it is in order that we, having obtained Him, may possess in Him an entire perfection." Barnes notes: "There is a completion, or a filling up, in Him, so as to leave nothing wanting. This is true in respect (1.) to the wisdom which is needed to guide us; (2.) the atonement to be made for sin; (3.) the merit by which a sinner can be justified; and (4.) the grace which is needful to sustain us in the trials, and to aid us in the duties of life." Who is the Head of all principality and authority: Christ is the first all others come after and under Him. Our faith must not deviate in the slightest from in Christ. McGee has this to say about this verse: "You 'are complete in Him.' 'Complete' is a nautical term, and it could be translated in this very vivid way: You are ready for the voyage of life in Him. Isn't that a wonderful way of saying it? You are ready for the voyage of life in Christ, and whatever you need for the voyage of life you will find in Him. This is where we say that Christ is the answer. What is your question? What is it you need today? Are you carried away by human philosophy? Then turn to Christ. Are you carried away by enticing words? Are you carried away by the systems and traditions of men? Turn to Christ."
Verse 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."
LGT "In whom also ye were circumcised with circumcision not made by hand, in the putting off of the body of the sins of the flesh, in the circumcision of the Christ."
In whom: in union with Christ. Also ye were circumcised: used here as a symbol of circumcision of the heart. With circumcision not made by hand: the outward circumcision in the Law of Moses was a shadow of spiritual circumcision of the heart, made real by Christ. The physical circumcision prefigured the spiritual circumcision of the heart in that the physical circumcision was a sign that they cut off the useless part of the heart that went whoring after false gods. "Hence he says, that the circumcision which is made in the heart is the circumcision of Christ, and that, on this account, that which is outward is not now required, because, where the reality exists, that shadowy emblem vanishes (the sign which prefigured it vanish like a shadow), inasmuch as it has no place except in the absence of the reality" (Calvin). In the putting off of the body of the sins of the flesh: the mass of sins that our corrupt nature produces. In the circumcision of the Christ: this metaphor is used to signify that Christ cuts off the foreskin of our hearts, or in reality, puts to death all the lusts of the flesh, not with hand, but with His Holy Spirit. "It is plain that the spiritual circumcision is not different from regeneration, or the putting off the old man and putting on the new man . . . The circumcision of Christ is that which belonged to Him, in contradistinction to that which belonged to Moses or to the law. The spiritual circumcision is a blessing, which specially belongs to Christ - is of His providing, and is to be enjoyed only in fellowship with Him. That of Moses was made with hands, and was a seal of the Abrahamic or national covenant - that Christ is no surgical process, but is spiritual and effectual in its nature. The mark in the foreskin was the token of being a Jew, but the off-thrown body of the flesh was the index of one's being a Christian" (John Eadie).
Verse 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."
LGT "Having been buried with Him in the baptism, in which also ye were raised [with Him] through the faith of the working of God, who raised Him from among the dead:"
Having been buried with Him in the baptism: I cannot agree with A.T. Robertson in saying that this is water baptism. Paul had just finished teaching them about spiritual circumcision, because of the sacramentalism of the Judaizers; why would he now bring in the ritual of water baptism? He is still teaching them that they are in Christ. This must be spiritual baptism of the believer being placed by the Holy Spirit into union with Christ. This is positional truth, and I believe now that the Bible is complete, we no longer have the symbols, even though the organized church wants to hold on to them, probably in order to feel holy; but I have found that true religion is not designed to make you feel good; it is designed to make you good. This spiritual baptism is contemporaneous [simultaneous] with the spiritual circumcision of verse 11. Paul is teaching positional truth that the symbol of water baptism taught before Paul taught this mystery of our position in Christ. The Word of God is finished, and we no longer see through the veil of signs and sacraments; we have the infallible Word to guide us; we no longer need spiritual gifts and wonder working miracles; we have the miracle of God's wonderful grace in His Word. In which also ye were raised with Him: the moment we believed we were placed into union with Christ, in His death, burial, and resurrection and ascension, and we are now seated with Him in the heavenlies. Paul describes our Spirit baptism in Romans 6:1-11: "What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace might increase? May it never be! How shall we who died to sin live in it? Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. For since we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection, knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, that our body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin: for he who has died is freed from sin. Now since we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin, once for all; but the life that He now lives, He lives to God. Even consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus." Through the faith of the working of God, who raised Him from among the dead: not the faith, which God works in you, but the faith you have in God's working. The Word of God has declared that God has resurrected the Lord Jesus Christ, and we have faith that this work of God is true, but not only for Christ, but also for us.
An interesting side note on Baptism; spiritual baptism presents no argument, most Christians accept it as fact, that is, the ones who have been taught this wonderful doctrine of identification with Christ; but water baptism has been argued from time immemorial; some prefer sprinkling; some prefer dunking; some say it is necessary for salvation, such as The United Churches of Christ; others say it is necessary for Church membership, such as the Southern Baptist. The same goes for the Lord's Supper observance, which I also believe was done away when the Bible was complete. Some argue for Consubstantiation, others Transubstantiation; others that it brings them closer to God, and that if you take it without confessing sin, you are taking it unworthily. Now all this does not seem to be grace to me, but a lot of legalistic nonsense, for our God is not an author of confusion. Christ has died, has risen again, has ascended, has taken His rightful place at God's right hand, and Christ is now living in and through every believer. How do I know this to be true? The Bible tells me so! Case closed!
Verse 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."
LGT "And you, being dead through offences, and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, He quickened you together with Him, having forgiven us all the offenses."
And you, being dead through offenses: dead as to your offenses. Paul is saying they were morally dead to their offenses. Paul says that the Colossians were once dead in their offences, that is, spiritually dead (Eph. 2:1-3). And in the uncircumcision of your flesh: this refers to their lost condition as Gentiles outside the commonwealth of Israel. "Uncircumcision of the flesh was the physical mark of a heathen state, and that heathen state was in consequence of this want, and in itself one of degradation, impurity and death. The flesh which had not the seal was truly corrupted and sinful" (John Eadie). He quickened you together with Him: the word "quickened" means to bring to life. God brought these Gentiles to life by giving the Holy Spirit of life. The life that God gave them was eternal life. They were dead in their sins, but God has made them alive spiritually, and the Holy Spirit has placed them into union with Christ, and now they are able to die to sin. The longer we live, the more we die to sin. The practical side of sanctification, that is, being set apart unto God, is daily dying to sin. Christ died once and for all for the eternal consequence of our sins, but our union with Him makes it possible that we die daily to sin, that it will not reign over us as it did in our unsaved condition when our spirits were dead. Having forgiven us all the offences: Christ, having died for our sins, made our spirits alive unto salvation. All our sins have been paid for, past, present, and future. The apostle proceeds to describe the way in which our sins have been forgiven.
Verse 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."
LGT "Having blotted out the handwriting in the decrees against us, which was harmful to us, also it has taken out of the midst, having nailed it to the cross."
Having blotted out the handwriting in the decrees against us: the handwriting in the decrees is the Ten Commandments, and they were canceled, not by any change of man, but by the death of Christ. God, through Christ, has cancelled the debt of the law. "The ceremonial law was against the Gentiles in that it kept them out of the Divine Covenant of Promise to the Jews. Harmful to us: this phrase means that they could not keep the Ten Commandments. The Ten Commandments condemned the entire human race. The canceling of the Law does not save man, but by the Death of Christ, which cancelled the Law, by bringing in grace. Seeing how God has cancelled them, it is folly for man to attempt to re-enact them. Also it has taken out of the midst: taken out of the midst is in the perfect tense and it means that it is still out of the way. God not only canceled the Law, but He has removed it from them. Having nailed it to the cross: God nailed the Law to the cross in Christ.
John Eadie notes:
"The idea of the apostle is, that when Christ was nailed to the cross, the condemning power of the Law was nailed along with Him, and died with Him - 'Now we are delivered from the Law, that being dead in which we were held.' Rom. 7:6. In other words, God exempts sinners from the sentence, which they merit, through the sufferings and death of Jesus [by accepting Him as Savior]. The implied doctrine is, that the guilt of men was borne by Christ when He died - was laid on Him by that God who by this method took the handwriting out of the way. Jesus bore the sentence of the handwriting in Himself, and God now remits its penalty; having forgiven you all your trespasses, inasmuch as He has blotted out the hostile handwriting and taken it out of the way, for He nailed it to the cross of His Son."
Verse 15, "And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it."
LGT "Having stripped off the principalities and authorities, He made a show [of them] publicly, leading them triumphant in it."
Having stripped off the principalities and authorities: Paul is alluding to the evil spiritual forces, that is, Satan and his demons. When Christ died on the cross, He dealt that fatal blow to Satan's head (Gen 3:15), and Satan no longer has the authority to bring charges against the elect. He made a show of them publicly: this is a spiritual victory of Christ displaying before the spiritual universe His triumph over Satan and his demons. Leading them triumphant in it: the cross of Christ triumphed over Satan and His demons, and believers no longer have to worry about Satan and demon possession, for as Eadie notes: "Let not your minds be dazzled or overawed by esoteric [mysterious] teaching about the spirit world. All those spirits are beneath the Divine Master; if good, they are His servants' if evil, they are conquered."
Verse 16, "Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or drink, or in respect of an holy-day, or of the new moon, or of the Sabbath days:"
LGT "Let not therefore any one judge you in meat and in drink, or in respect of feast, or new moon or Sabbaths:"
Let not therefore any one judge you: let no one sit in judgment of you. "Paul says, therefore, that it is not in the power of men to make us subject to the observance of rites which Christ has by His death abolished, and exempts us from their yoke, that we may not allow ourselves to be fettered by the laws which they have imposed" (Calvin). In meat and in drink: The eating and drinking are a reference to the restrictions set forth in the Mosaic Law (Lev. 7:20-27; 11). Or in respect of feast, or new moon or Sabbath: the Jewish festivals were the Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles. I won't take time here to explain each of these. The Sabbath was to be kept by strict observance laid out in the Mosaic Law. Christianity had no such restrictions. "The new religion [the gospel of grace] is too free and exuberant [cheerful] to be trained down to times and seasons like its tame an rudimental predecessor [Judaism]. Its feast is daily, for every day is holy; its moon never wanes, and its serene tranquility is an unbroken Sabbath. The Jewish Sabbath was kept, however, by the early Christians along with their own Lord's day for a considerable period; till at length, in 364 A.D. the Council of Laodicea condemned the practice as Judaizing" (John Eadie).
Verse 17, "Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ."
LGT "Which are a shadow of things to come, but the body [is] of Christ."
The shadow was cast over the coming of Christ. All the Old Testament looked for the Messiah. Now Christ has come, so there is no longer a need for the shadow. All that the Christian religion is is found in union with the Lord Jesus Christ, the Head of the body, the church. "The clause but the body is of Christ then contains the great truth that the Mosaic economy was no empty congeries [collection] of useless and meaningless observances - infantine in character and design; but an organism at once Divine in its origin, and fraught with lessons of striking form. It was a dim outline - skia - [shadow] of those substantial blessings, which are of Christ, and it served a gracious purpose during its existence. It was a rudimentary sketch. Its temple with its apartments, vessels, and furniture; its priesthood, in their imposing duties; its altar, with the fire on its hearth, and the cloud of smoke resting over it; its victims, in their age, kind, and qualifications; its rubric [liturgical service], with its holidays, and their special observances; its minute ritual in reference to diet, dress, and disease - all were faint lines of a sketch which was limned [to outline in clear sharp details] by the Divine pencil for the guidance and government of Hebrew faith and worship. The eye of faith might, as it gazed, be able to fill in the picture, and see in distant perspective the sublime group of a tabernacle filled and inhabited by the Great Spirit; a priest offering the most costly of victims - the God-man presenting Himself; an altar consecrated by blood precious beyond parallel; and a sabbatism not only serene and joyous on earth, but stretching away into eternity as a rest remaining to the people of God. Thus the hieroglyph [symbol] and substance exactly correspond, though the former be only an adumbration [foreshadowing] and a miniature . . . In other words, Christianity was not fashioned to resemble Judaism, but Judaism was fashioned to resemble Christianity. The antitype is not construed to bear a likeness to the type, but the type is construed to bear a likeness to the antitype. It is, in short, because of the antitype that the type exists. The Mosaic economy [or dispensation] being a rude draught of Christianity, presupposed its future existence" (John Eadie).
Verse 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,"
LGT "Let no one rob you of your prize, of his own mere will by humility and worship of angels, intruding into things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by the mind of his flesh,"
Let no one rob you of your prize: Paul is saying that the false teachers are attempting to rob them of the prize of their "high calling in Christ". Paul uses the Grecian games as an illustration of runners not looking back or stopping in the middle and not finishing the race. He is warning them of the Greek philosophers and the Judaizers false teachings that would rob them of the victor's crown, by their misguided judgment of allowing these false teachers an audience among them. Of his own mere will by humility: these false teachers put up a front of being very modest and humble. "The apostle refers, doubtless, to the spirit assumed by those against whom he would guard the Colossians - the spirit of modesty or of humble inquirers. The meaning is, that they would not announce their opinions with dogmatic certainty, but they would put on the appearance of great modesty. In this way, they would become really more dangerous - for no false teachers are so dangerous as those who assume the aspect of great humility, and who manifest great reverence for divine things . . . these persons referred to were willing, or had pleasure in attempting, to search into the hidden and abstruse [puzzling] things of religion. They were desirous of appearing to do this with an humble spirit - even with the modesty of an angel - but still they had pleasure in that profound and dangerous kind of inquiry" (Albert Barnes). And worship of angels: God has condemned the worship of angels from the very beginning. No one or thing is able to take the place of honor reserved for the Lord. Calvin notes: "Superstitious persons have from the beginning worshipped angels, that through means of them there might be free access to God. The Platonists infected the Christian Church also with this error. For although Augustine sharply inveighs against them in his tenth book 'On the City of God,' and condemns at great length their disputations as to the worship of angels, we see nevertheless what has happened. Should any one compare the writings of Plato with Popish theology, he will find that they have drawn wholly from Plato they're prattling as to the worship of angels . . . In what respect do the Papists differ at all from this? 'But,' it will be said, 'they do not deny that the Son of God is Mediator.' Neither did those with whom Paul contends; but as they imagined that God must be approached by the assistance of angels, and that, consequently, some worship must be rendered to them, so they placed angels in the seat of Christ, and honored them with Christ's office. Let us know, then, that Paul here condemns all kinds of worship of human contrivance, which are rendered either to angels or to the dead, as though they were mediators, rendering assistance after Christ, or along with Christ. For just so far do we recede from Christ, when we transfer the smallest part what belongs to Him to any others, whether they be angels or men." Intruding into those things which he has not seen: this, to me, is the perfect definition of speculation. "The word intruding is probably used here of the false teachers who professed to see heavenly truth in visions, and to investigate and discuss philosophically the revelation they had received" (Marvin Vincent). Vainly puffed up by the mind of his flesh: this seems to go hand in hand with the worship of angels. The mind, nous, is where all the decision making occurs, while the flesh represents the person guided by nature without any influence of grace, so that, man makes up speculative nonsense and calls it science. Self-confidence is the result of man saying no to God. The unregenerate mind seeks to please self, and therefore, it is unable to see God, no matter how much revelation is presented to it. The unregenerate mind is anti God from birth, and deliberately rejects or accepts divine revelation depending on the free will. Without the influence of the Holy Spirit, man is completely unable to choose God. However, God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to Him; therefore, the Holy Spirit convicts all men, but only the ones who make the choice to accept Christ, by exercising their free will, are saved.
Verse 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."
LGT "And not holding fast the head, from whom all the body, by the joints and bands being supplied and knit together, growing [with] the growth of God."
And not holding fast the head: in chp. 1:18 Paul states Christ as being preeminent in all creation. The Gnostics came and tried to dethrone Christ of all His glory, and like the modern pinhead today, say that He is just another religious teacher of the same category as Mohamed, Buddha, Moronni, Gandhi, mother Teresa and the Pope. These Gnostics dethroned Christ with words of praise as just another aeon [one god begetting another god]. The Headship of Christ is the key to this epistle. This is so much like the Roman Catholic Church that praises Christ as the Son of God, and then elevate Mary above Him, and the worship of angels and saints; the Catholic Church today is not one wit better than the ancient Gnostics and Essenes, and Judaizers, and the angel worshippers of Paul's day. Whenever man is elevated Christ is dethroned, mentally in the mind of the worshipper. From whom all the body: every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ is part of the body of Christ our Head (1:18, 24). By the joints and bands being supplied: the verb being supplied is a present passive participle meaning that the supply is on going. The joints and bands have reference to the grace doctrines Paul is giving them. And knit together: this is also a present passive participle stating that this action is continuous.
Marvin Vincent on the headship of Christ, quotes Lightfoot:
"The discoveries of modern physiology have invested the apostle's language with far greater distinctness and force than it can have worn to his own contemporaries. Any exposition of the nervous system more especially reads like a commentary on the image of the relations between the body and the head. At every turn we meet with some fresh illustration, which kindles it with a flood of light. The volition communicated from the brain to the limbs, the sensations of the extremities telegraphed back to the brain, the absolute sympathy between the head and the members, the instantaneous paralysis ensuing on the interruption of continuity, all these add to the completeness and life of the image."
Growing with the Growth of God: the body, the church, is dependent upon its head, which is essential to its growth. Without the Head, the body dies. "The church can enjoy neither life nor growth, if, misunderstanding Christ's Person or undervaluing His work, it have no vital union with Him. If the creed of any community supplant [replace] His mediatorship, and find no atoning merit in His blood; if its worship look up to angels, and not to Him to whom 'all power is given in heaven and in earth;' if it place its trust in ritual observances and bodily service, it cannot be one either with Him or with other portions of His church. Severed alike from head and trunk - from the vitality of the one and the support and sympathies of the other - it dies in isolation. So it was or would be with them who threatened to disturb the Colossian church" (John Eadie).
The New Life in Christ
Verse 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."
LGT "Since then ye died with the Christ from the elements of the world, why as if alive in [the] world do ye subject yourselves to decrees?"
Since then ye died with the Christ: the "if" is in the first class condition and should be translated since, for it is a matter of fact. Paul is referring to Spirit baptism when the believer is placed into union with Christ, by the indwelling Holy Spirit, identifying them in the death, burial, and resurrection, ascension, and seating in the heavenlies with the Christ. From the elements of the world: our identification in Christ's death separates us from the world. The rudiments of the world are its teachings and practices. Today the world seeks to get all men to accept one another regardless of how opposed to God they are. The world is politically correct, and the policies of the world are corrupt in nature and permissive of every deviant lifestyle. Since we are identified with Christ, we should live as though we are, and let the chips fall where they may. I believe we should respect authority as long as it doesn't conflict with what God has for us. Why as if in the world do ye subject yourselves to decrees: since the decrees were done away with on the cross, Paul asks why they want to place themselves back under the law. Paul has in mind the Judaizers and the legalist wing of the Gnostic sect, and the Essenes. All institutions and religions that are opposed to the Word of God are not to be listened to; they may not be able to stop them from preaching their doctrines, but they must not be adhered to.
Verse 21, "(Touch not; taste not; handle not;"
LGT "Thou mayest not handle; thou mayest not taste; thou mayest not touch;"
The Pharisees, Essenes, and the Gnostics all had religious rules that these three include. All these prohibitions involve the volition, and therefore are works of the flesh, that Christ did away with at the cross. Salvation is free from all human effort, that is, it is of the free grace of God, a free gift from Him to all men.
Verse 22, "Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?"
LGT "Which things are all unto corruption in the using, according to the injunctions and teachings of men:"
Which things are all unto corruption in the using: "corruption the physical sense of decomposition." "The sum total is this - that the worship of God, true piety, and the holiness of Christians, do not consist in transient and liable to corruption, and perish by abuse. For abuse is properly applicable to those things which are corrupted by the use of them. Hence enactments are of no value in reference to those things, which tend to excite scruples of conscience. But in Popery you would scarcely find any other holiness, than what consists in little observances of corruptible things" (Calvin). According to the injunctions and teachings of men: "A second refutation is added - that they originated with men, and have not God as their Author; and by this thunderbolt he prostrates and swallows up all traditions of men. 'Those who bring consciences into bondage do injury to Christ, and make void His death. For whatever is of human invention does not bind conscience" (Calvin).
Verse 23, "Which things have indeed a show of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honor to the satisfying of the flesh."
LGT "Which are having an appearance indeed of wisdom in voluntary worship and humility and unsparing treatment of [the] body, not in a certain honor for satisfaction of the flesh."
Which are having an appearance indeed of wisdom: these ascetic regulations presented by the false teachers have a show of a pious nature. In voluntary worship and humility: this is coined by Paul to mean worship that is a mockery to God. And unsparing treatment of the body: asceticism often entailed flagellation and undue harsh treatment of the body. Not in a certain honor for satisfaction of the flesh: there is nothing in these ascetic regulations that have any real honor or elevate the soul to praise God; the only thing that results is self righteous gratification. "The whole process was a cardinal mistake, for it was a system of externals, both in ceremonial and ethics. The body might be reduced, but the evil bias might remain unchecked. A man might whip and fast himself into a walking skeleton, and yet the spirit within him might have all its lusts unconquered, for all it had lost was only the ability to gratify them. To place a fetter on a robber's hand will not cure him of covetousness, though it may disqualify him from actual theft. To seal up a swearer's mouth will not pluck profanity out of his heart, though it may for the time prevent him from taking God's name in vain. To lacerate the flesh almost to suicide, merely incapacitates it for indulgence, but does not extirpate [cancel] evil desire. Its air of superior sanctity is only pride in disguise - it has but shadow of wisdom, and is not" (John Eadie).
John Eadie has this note at the end of his exposition of this chapter:
"Our readers will pardon us for inserting in a note a modern instance of this pride of sanctity covered with a robe of revolting humility. Last year (1854), a new saint was added to the Popish calendar, by name Benedetto Guiseppe Labre, who had made his residence in the Coliseum for many years, and noted by travelers for his craziness and filth. At the usual mock trial which takes place at a canonization, the pleading of the so-called Devil's advocate against him was rebutted by the so-called God's advocate in the following terms, literally translated from the paper: - 'He was a model of humility, abstinence, and mortification, taking only for food remains of cabbage, lemon peel, or lettuce leaves, which he picked up in the streets. He even ate, once, some spoiled soup, which he found on a dunghill, where it had been thrown. All these facts are fully proved by the juridical documents laid before the tribunal.' . . . Having spoken at length of the wooden cup, all broken and rotten, in which he received his soup at the door of the houses, 'eternal monument of his voluntary privations,' the advocate proceeds: 'What more shall I say? A glance cast upon him was sufficient to discover in him a perfect model of poverty. His hair and beard were neglected, his face pale, his garments ragged, his body livid; a rosary hung from his neck; he wore no stockings; his shirt was dirty and disgusting; and to give him a full idea, let us add, that he was so completely covered with vermin (piddochi), that in the churches many persons kept away from him for fear of catching them!"
In the next chapter Paul continues this theme of being identified with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection.
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