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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comRobertson Word Pictures - Colossians 2:19 - 2:19
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
Not holding fast the Head (ou kratōn tēn kephalēn). Note negative ou, not mē, actual case of deserting Christ as the Head. The Gnostics dethroned Christ from his primacy (Col 1:18) and placed him below a long line of aeons or angels. They did it with words of praise for Christ as those do now who teach Christ as only the noblest of men. The headship of Christ is the keynote of this Epistle to the Colossians and the heart of Paul’s Christology.
From whom (ex hou). Masculine ablative rather than ex hēs (kephalēs) because Christ is the Head. He develops the figure of the body of which Christ is Head (Col 1:18, Col 1:24).
Being supplied (epichorēgoumenon). Present passive participle (continuous action) of epichorēgeō, for which interesting verb see already 2Co 9:10; Gal 3:5 and further 2Pe 1:5.
Knit together (sunbibazomenon). Present passive participle also (continuous action) of sunbibazō, for which see note on Col 2:2.
Through the joints (dia tōn haphōn). Late word haphē (from haptō, to fasten together), connections (junctura and nexus in the Vulgate).
And bonds (kai sundesmōn). Old word from sundeō, to bind together. Aristotle and Galen use it of the human body. Both words picture well the wonderful unity in the body by cells, muscles, arteries, veins, nerves, skin, glands, etc. It is a marvellous machine working together under the direction of the head.
Increaseth with the increase of God (auxei tēn auxēsin tou theou). Cognate accusative (auxēsin) with the old verb auxei.