The Strand Study Bible

Written From Rome During Paul’s First Roman Imprisonment

COLOSSIANS 2:10-23

1994

10 And ye are complete in 1 HIM , which is the head of all principality and power: 11 In whom also ye are 2 circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: 12 3 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the 4 operation of God, who hath raised 5 HIM from the dead. 13 And you, 6 being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he 7 quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; “All” of the Jewish ceremonial laws were nailed to the cross 14 8 Blotting out the 9 handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; 15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. 16 10 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holy

day, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: 17 Which are a 11 shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. 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, 19 And not holding the 12 HEAD , from which all the body by 13 joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God. 20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, 14 why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, 21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not; 22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? 23 15 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.

1. Eph 1:20-21 2. Lev 26:41 & Deut 10:16 & 30:6 & Jere 4:4 & Acts 7:51 & Rom 2:28-29 3. Rom 6:2-5 4. Eph 1:19-20 5. Mt 28:6 & Acts 13:30-37 & Psa 2:7 & Isa 55:3 & Psa 16:10 & Job 19:25 6. Eph 2:1 7. or, “made alive” - Ezk 37:1-10 & Eph 2:4-5 & I Pet 3:18 8. that is, “our bond of guilt for not keeping the commandments was nailed to Christ’s cross” - Gal 4:7-11 & Eph 2:15-16 9. that is, “the Mosaic Law” - Gal 3:19-22 10. Rom 14:2-3 & I Cor 8:7-9 & I Tim 4:4 11. Heb 8:5 & 10:1 12. or, “Christ”

13. Eph 4:16 14. Gal 4:8-9 15. I Tim 4:8

2:13 Carrying a grudge is holding something against someone –something God never does ( having forgiven you all trespasses ). 2:14 The reason that some of the OT laws do not apply to us today ( Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us ), but only to the nation of Israel is because there is a difference between what is written to us and what is written for us . While it is true that all Scripture was written for our profit (II Tim 3:16) and learning (Rom 15:4), not all was written to us directly. 2:16 What the Apostle Paul was alluding to here was an infant form of Gnosticism . According to the Evangelical Dictionary of Theology , early defenders of Christianity, like Irenaeus (c. AD 130-200), Tertullian (c. AD 155-220), Hippolytus (c. AD 170- 236), and Epiphanius (c. AD 315-403), regarded Gnosticism as heresy –the product of the combination of Greek philosophy and Jewish Christianity. 1 Gnosticism therefore was a mixture of philosophy ( Grecian thought ), good works (the teachings of Judaism ), and grace ( Christianity ) (Acts 15:1). Gnostics taught that salvation can only be achieved through a Christ who redeems through a vast series of spiritual encounters with knowledge (Num 9:3). In other words, the more spiritual encounters with knowledge you had, the closer you were to salvation. Gnosticism notes: Is it no wonder the Apostle Paul warned Christians here not to allow other people to judge their salvation by what they ate or drank or how they dressed or whether they observed the holy days or not? Salvation has nothing to do with “do’s” and “don’ts.” NOTE – Three examples of early Gnosticism was: (1) abstinence (Colo 2:16); (2) angel worship (Colo 2:18-19); and (3) asceticism (Colo 20-23). Asceticism is the act of self-denial. Ascetics are people who lead lives of strict self-denial for religious purposes, making them feel “superior” to everyone else around them. Some religious movements today teach their followers that they will come closer to salvation if they are baptized, take communion, live a good life; if their women wear long hair, long dresses, and no make-up. The goal of Gnosticism was to feel “superior” to everyone else around you. According to the Wycliffe Bible Encyclopedia , the teachings of Gnosticism were alive and well up until the 4th century when the early Christian church finally condemned and stamped it out. 2 The teachings of Gnosticism then disappeared until 1945 when 13 papyrus books (known as the Gnostic Gospels ), bound in golden leather, were discovered inside a large red earthenware jar by an Arab peasant near the town of Nag Hammadi in Upper Egypt ( Lk 11:51 ). 2:17 The personal laws ( Let no man therefore judge you in meat - Lev 11:1-23,41-47 & 20:25 and Deut 14:3-21), separation laws ( or in drink - Num 6:1-21), and ceremonial laws ( or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days - Gen 2:2 , Exo 20:8-11 & 31:12-17 & 35:2-3, Lev 19:3,30 & 26:2, Num 15:32-36, Deut 5:12-15, Mt 12:2,8 and Heb 4:10 ), which included the Temple ( Jn 4:21 and Acts 7:48 ), were but a shadow of things (concerning CHRIST - Lev 23:2 ) to come (Gal 4:1-11). 1 Evangelical Dictionary of Theology . Grand Rapids, MI, Baker Academic, 1984, 2001. Print. 2 Wycliffe Bible Encyclopedia . Chicago, ILL, Moody Press, 1975, Vol. I. Print. There must be more to salvation than what CHRIST did for us (grace) on the cross, and whatever it takes we will find it in the Jewish Scriptures and add it to salvation (works), thus experiencing a spiritual encounter with knowledge.