Online Resource Library
Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadBob Utley You Can Understand the Bible - Colossians 2:8 - 2:15
(Show All Books | Show All Chapters)
This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Col_2:8-15
8See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ. 9For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, 10and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority; 11and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; 12having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. 13When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, 14having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.
Col_2:8-15 This is one long sentence, one sustained presentation in Greek.
Col_2:8
NASB, NRSV,
TEV "see to it"
NKJV "beware"
NJB "make sure"
This is a present active imperative . Christians must continue to guard their freedom in Christ from false teachers while yielding it to weaker brothers (cf. Rom_14:1 to Rom_15:13; 1 Corinthians 8; 1Co_10:23-33). It is often difficult to tell the difference between these two groups. False teachers pervert truth, while weak brothers advocate personal preferences.
▣ "that no one takes you captive" This is a negative present active participle. This strong Greek term, used only here in the NT, meant (1) to kidnap, (2) to seduce (2Ti_3:6), or (3) to take as a slave. False teachers always want control!
▣ "through philosophy" This is not a condemnation of human rational thinking. Humans are created in the image of God and must worship Him with their entire being, including their minds (Deu_6:5; Mat_22:32; Mar_12:29-30; Luk_10:27). This is the rejection of the speculative philosophy/theology of false teachers (cf. Col_2:23; 1Co_1:26 to 1Co_2:8; Eph_4:13; Eph_5:6; 1Ti_6:20).
▣ "empty deceptions" This term can be translated "deceit, deception, or delusion" (cf. Mat_13:22; Eph_4:22; 2Th_2:10; Heb_3:13). False teachers are often sincere, but deceived!
▣ "according to" This is the Greek term kata. It is repeated three times to define "philosophy and empty deception":
1. "to the traditions of men" So much of human's religiosity is cultural, not biblical (cf. Isa_29:13; Col_2:23). Often we pass on what we have received without checking the Bible for ourselves!
2. "not according to Christ" It is based on human reasoning, experience, or speculation.
3. "the elementary principles" Most words develop from a literal, physical sense to a metaphorical extension. This term (stoicheia) originally referred to something in a row, a series. It developed into several connotations:
a. The basic physical building blocks of the world (air, water, earth, and fire, cf. 2Pe_3:10; 2Pe_3:12).
b. The basic teachings of a subject (cf. Heb_5:12; Heb_6:1 for Judaism).
c. The angelic powers behind the heavenly bodies (cf. I Enoch 52:8-9; the early church fathers; Col_2:8; Col_2:20; 1Co_15:24) or the angelic ranks (aeons) of the Gnostic false teachers (cf. Col_2:10; Col_2:15; Eph_3:10).
d. Angels hostile to mankind who tried to stop the giving of the Law to Moses (cf. Act_7:38; Heb_2:2)
e. Possibly the impersonal structures of our fallen world that allow fallen mankind to appear independent from God (education, government, medicine, religion, etc. (cf. Gal_4:3; Gal_4:8-9 and Hendrik Berkhof's Christ and the Powers by Herald Press, p. 32).
▣ "rather than according to Christ" This was the third use of kata. The problem with the world's philosophy is that it defines truth by a standard other than God's revelation, the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is human discovery, not divine revelation.
Col_2:9 "in Him" This phrase is in an emphatic position. "In Him" was a key phrase in Paul's theology ("in whom" Col_2:3; " in Christ" Col_2:5; "in Him" Col_2:6; Col_2:9-11; "with Him" Col_2:12-13). Notice, also, Eph_1:3-4; Eph_1:7; Eph_1:9-10; Eph_1:12-14). Paul returns again to Christology as he did in Col_1:15-20. This is the main issue and the main issue is a person!
▣ "all the fullness of Deity" This dual aspect of Christ's nature refuted the false teachers, (cf. Col_1:15-20). They agreed that He was fully God, but denied that He was fully human (cf. 1 John 1 and 1Jn_4:1-3). The term "fullness" (plçrôma) was a Gnostic term for the angelic levels (aeons) between a high good god and evil matter (cf. Joh_1:16, Col_1:19, Eph_1:23; Eph_3:19; Eph_4:13).
This abstract term for "deity" (theotâs) is only used here in the NT. Jesus is the full and complete revelation of God, not the angelic levels (aeons) or the false teachers' secret knowledge. It is possible that this was one of the Gnostic teachers' key terms. Paul often uses their terminology to describe Christ.
▣ "dwells" This is a present active indicative. Some of the Gnostic false teachers believed that the "Christ spirit" came upon Jesus for a limited period. This verse asserts that Jesus' two natures were in permanent union.
▣ "in bodily form" This was a truth that Gnosticism could not affirm because of their Greek dualism between a good god and evil matter. It is crucial in Christianity (cf. 1Jn_4:1-3).
Col_2:10 "you have been made complete" This is a perfect passive participle of plerôma (cf. Col_2:9; Joh_1:16; Eph_3:19). The Christian has been and continues to be filled by Him and for Him! Jesus has made us complete!
▣ "He is the head over all rule and authority" This refers to the Gnostic false teachers' view of salvation. For them salvation consisted in secret knowledge ( a password or secret name) which allowed them to move through the angelic spheres between matter (world) and spirit (God, cf. Col_1:16; Col_2:15; Eph_1:22-23; Eph_3:10; Eph_6:12). Paul asserted that salvation is in Christ. He is the head of all angelic/demonic realms (cf. Rom_8:38-39)! See Special Topic: Angels in Paul's Writings at Eph_6:12.
George Ladd's A Theology of the New Testament, has an interesting paragraph about Paul's terminology:
"A study of the language Paul uses to designate these angelic spirits suggests that Paul deliberately employed a vague and varied terminology. This is seen particularly in his alternation between the singular and the plural forms of several of the words. It is impossible successfully to group this terminology into clearly defined orders of angelic beings, nor is it at all clear that by the various words Paul purposes to designate different kinds or ranks of angels. Probably Paul was facing views that elaborated distinct orders of angels, and he purposed by his exceedingly flexible language, which may almost be called symbolic, to assert that all evil powers, whatever they may be, whether personal or impersonal, have been brought into subordination by the death and exaltation of Christ and will eventually be destroyed through his messianic reign"(p. 402).
For "authority" see Special Topic at Col_1:16.
Col_2:11 "you were circumcised with a circumcision" Paul is using the OT covenant sign (cf. Gen_12:8-14) in a spiritual sense (cf. Deu_10:16; Deu_30:6; Jer_4:4; Rom_2:28-29; Php_3:3). This must be figurative language or else the false teachers had some Judaistic tendencies. There is so much that is unknown and uncertain about the heretical groups of the NT. In some ways these false teachers are a combination of Greek Gnosticism and Jewish legalism (cf. Col_2:11; Col_2:16; Col_2:18). The commentator Lightfoot asserted they were similar to the Essenes (the Dead Sea Scrolls community which was a separatist group of sectarian Jews of the first century who lived in the desert).
▣ "a circumcision made without hands" This is a metaphorical use of circumcision as the covenant sign in the OT. The "new" circumcision is a new heart and a new relationship with God through Christ (cf. Rom_2:28-29; Php_3:3). Even in the OT when the new covenant is discussed (cf. Jer_31:31-34 and Eze_36:22-38), circumcision was never even mentioned, much less emphasized.
▣ "the removal of the body of the flesh" This refers to the old fallen nature, not the physical body (cf. Rom_6:6; Rom_7:24; Gal_5:24; Col_3:5).
Col_2:12 "having been buried with Him in baptism" This is an aorist passive participle of a syn compound which means "co-buried." This is the metaphor of baptism as immersion analogous to burial (cf. Rom_6:4). As believers share Jesus' sufferings, death, and burial, they will also share His resurrection and glory (cf. Col_2:12 b; Rom_8:17; Eph_2:5-6).
For Paul baptism was a way of asserting death to the old life (old man) and the freedom of the new life (new creature, cf. 2Co_5:17; Gal_6:15) to serve God (cf. Rom_6:2-14; 1Pe_2:24).
▣ "you were also raised up with Him" This compound with syn is parallel to "having been buried" (cf. Col_2:13; Col_3:1; Rom_6:4-5; Eph_2:6). Believers' burial and resurrection are linked as two sides of a complete event. They were "co-buried" and "co-raised" in Eph_2:5-6, also, using syn compounds, which meant "joint participation with."
▣ "who raised Him from the dead" Jesus is the first-fruit of the Resurrection (cf. 1Co_15:20; 1Co_15:23). The Spirit that raised Him will also raise believers (cf. Rom_8:10-11; Rom_8:23).
This phrase is an excellent opportunity to show that the NT often attributes the works of redemption to all three persons of the Godhead.
1. God the Father raised Jesus (cf. Act_2:24; Act_3:15; Act_4:10; Act_5:30; Act_10:40; Act_13:30; Act_13:33-34; Act_13:37; Act_17:31; Rom_6:4; Rom_6:9)
2. God the Son raised Himself (cf. Joh_2:19-22; Joh_10:17-18)
3. God the Spirit raised Jesus (cf. Rom_8:11)
This same Trinitarian emphasis can be seen in Col_2:9-10.
Col_2:13 "When you were dead" This is a present participle meaning "being dead." This reflects the results of the Fall-spiritual death (cf. Genesis 3; Rom_5:12-21; Eph_2:1-3). Gentiles were sinners cut off from the covenant people (cf. Eph_2:11-12). The Bible speaks of three stages of death.
1. spiritual death (cf. Genesis 3; Isa_59:2; Rom_7:10-11; Eph_2:1; Jas_1:15)
2. physical death, (cf. Genesis 5)
3. eternal death, "the second death," "the lake of fire" (cf. Rev_2:11; Rev_20:6; Rev_20:14; Rev_21:8)
▣ "uncircumcision of your flesh" This was a way of referring to Gentiles (cf. Col_2:11).
▣ "He" This must refer to the Father. If so, the pronouns through Col_2:15 refer to the Father.
▣ "made you live together with Him," There are three syn compounds in Col_2:12-13 (co-buried, Col_2:12; co-raised, Col_2:12; and co-quickened, Col_2:13) which show what had already happened to believers spiritually (aorists). This is very similar to Eph_2:5-6. In Ephesians God has acted on behalf of Jesus in Eph_1:20 and Jesus has acted on behalf of believers in Eph_2:5-6.
▣ "having forgiven us all our transgressions" This is an aorist (deponent) middle participle. "Forgiven" is from the same word root as "grace" (cf. Rom_5:15-16; Rom_6:23; 2Co_1:11; Col_3:13; Eph_4:32). Notice God freely forgives "all" sin through Christ (except unbelief)!
Col_2:14
NASB "having canceled out the certificate of debt"
NKJV "having wiped out the handwriting of requirements"
NRSV "erasing the record"
TEV "canceled the unfavorable record of our debts"
NJB "He has wiped out the record of our debt to the Law"
This rather cryptic language probably relates somehow to the false teachers. It refers to the Mosaic Covenant (cf. Eph_2:15, which could be characterized as "do and live"- "sin and die" (cf. Deu_27:26; Eze_18:4). Paul clearly teaches the sinfulness of all mankind (cf. Rom_3:9; Rom_3:19; Rom_3:23; Rom_11:32; Gal_3:22). Therefore, the OT became a death sentence to all mankind!
The term "certificate" was used of (1) a signed IOU, (2) a signed confession, and (3) a legal indictment. The OT was a curse! This Greek term comes into English as "autograph" (self written).
▣ "He has taken it out of the way" This is a perfect active indicative. This same verb is used in Joh_1:29 and 1Jn_3:5 to refer to the removal of sins. Jesus lived under and fulfilled the Mosaic covenant's requirements. He performed what sinful, fallen mankind could not do. His death was, therefore, not for personal sin, but He became a perfect sacrifice (cf. Leviticus 1-7) for sin. He became "cursed" (cf. Deu_21:23) that mankind might be delivered from the curse of the Law (cf. Gal_3:13)!
▣ "nailing it to the cross" This referred to either (1) a public notice or (2) the charges placed over a crucified person. The cross (Jesus' death) overcame the Law's hostility (OT decrees, cf. 2Co_5:21).
Col_2:15
NASB, NKJV,
NRSV "disarmed"
TEV "freed"
NJB "stripped"
This is a rare term, an aorist middle (deponent) participle. Its basic etymology was to take off clothing. It seems to have meant "to strip away from." It referred to taking weapons from dead soldiers (cf. Arndt and Gingrich, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, p. 82. In this context it relates deity's (the Father and the Son) destruction of the powers of the spiritual realm that was hostile to mankind. The believer's victory is of God through Christ and by the Spirit.
If this rare verb is interpreted as middle voice then the TEV expresses the thought "freed himself from the power of the spiritual rulers." If it is interpreted as active voice then "He disarmed the rulers" (cf. NASB, NKJV, NRSV).
▣ "the rulers and authorities" These terms were used by the Gnostics (false teachers) for the angelic levels (aeons, cf. Col_2:10; Eph_1:21; Eph_3:10; Eph_6:11-12; Rom_8:38-39; 1Co_15:24). See Special Topics at Col_1:16 and Eph_6:12.
NASB "He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him"
NKJV "He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it"
NRSV "made a public example of them, triumphing over them in it"
TEV "he made a public spectacle of them by leading them as captives in his victory procession."
NJB "and paraded them in public, behind him in his triumphal procession"
The historical background to this was a triumphal parade into Rome for a victorious general (cf. 2Co_2:14). The captives were marched behind him in chains. By His death on the cross and His resurrection Jesus overcame (1) the curse of the Law and (2) the hostile angelic powers.
As is obvious from the modern translations that the pronoun at the end of the verse can be understood in two related ways: (1) to Christ or (2) to the cross. It is neuter and most translations relate it to Christ's victory over evil by means of His sacrificial death.
hyperlink
▣ "public display" See Special Topic below, second paragraph.
hyperlink