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Colossians Chapter 2
Vs 1-3 I want you to know how hard I am contending for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally. My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
What does it mean that Paul was "contending for you"
Paul's letter to the Colossians did not include chapter headers and divisions. It was written as a continuous note. So to grasp the first verse, it is best to read it in conjunction with the last verse in Chapter 1: "He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me." Notice that Paul used the word "contend" in that prior verse as well. The Greek term used is agōna, and it referred to an athletic contest. Someone would not be considered a contender if they were not able to put up much of a fight. The word contend referred to as a "contest (struggle), a grueling conflict (fight)". So Paul is saying that he is fighting, spiritually speaking, for the Colossians and for "all those he had not met personally." which included those in Laodicea. So how was he contending for the people in Colossae? Well certainly, being chained in a Roman prison would make things difficult to say the least. But even if Paul was free, travel was not easy and had to be carefully planned. Even writing a letter took a lot of time and thought and had to be delivered by a trusted messenger. But I don't believe this is what Paul is talking about. The Greek word agōna is the root for where we get our word agony. I believe that Paul was contending "fighting" spiritually, agonizing in prayer on behalf of these people. Recall Colossians 1: 9 where Paul talked about laboring continuously in prayer for them. Also, look ahead at Colossians 4:12-13: Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured. I vouch for him that he is working hard for you and for those at Laodicea and Hierapolis. Ephaphras had traveled to Rome and updated Paul on the struggles that the people in Colossae were experiencing (refer back to introduction). These difficulties weighed heavy on the heart of Epaphras who "wrestled in prayer" for them. Consider how Epaphras might have demonstrated this to Paul and influenced Paul's thinking so much so that he would share in his letter that Epaphras was "working hard" for them. I'm greatly convicted by my wimpy passive prayers. If I truly believed that prayer changed things, who might I contend for, agonize over and work hard for in prayer? |
Paul's goal
The goal of Paul's prayers were for:
The NASB translation gives a unique word picture "that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God's mystery, that is, Christ Himself," The metaphor of sewing hearts together, in love, implies a unique unity among believers. The goal of this united encouragement was mutual knowledge, wisdom, and confidence in their Christian walk. This is community at its best. I love my study time alone and prioritize my time to ensure that I experience that during the week. But a reclusive life is not pleasing to God. I have grown in my understanding of the Scriptures as I have learned and been challenged by others in study. Living in relationship with other believers has also grown my desire for dependence on the Holy Spirit t allow Him to grow the character of Christ in me (fruit of the Spirit) and the gifts of the Spirit which are provided for the edification of the Church. Both the fruit and the gifts are to be developed and used in relationship with other believers. |
Vs 4-5 I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments. For though I am absent from you in the body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how disciplined you are and how firm your faith in Christ is.
Deceived by fine-sounding arguments
Paul's concern is that he is very much aware of how easy it is to miss the "hidden treasures of wisdom and knowledge in Christ" by being misled by false teaching. The word for "deceived," literally translated, is "to reason beside something." and it means to miscalculate or to reason falsely. The Greek word used is paralogízomai and it is derived from two words: pará, meaning "contrary when compared side-by-side" and logízomai, meaning "to reason") – properly, to reason contrary to truth, in a misleading (erroneous) way.and can only be detected when compared side-by-side with the truth. A deceit is a distortion of the truth - whether intentional or unintentional. Whether someone is trying to intentionally or unintentionally mislead you, the safeguard to protecting your self is not to be paranoid, not to be distrusting but to be intentional about seeking out and knowing the truth. You can't detect a lie if you don't know the truth. Other deceits and imitations Ray Stedman says this about other forms of deceit which appear to offer wisdom and freedom: "This struggle is, in essence, a struggle between two gods: the great god, Self, and the true God of man, Jesus. We hear much today of self-realization, self-actualization, self-development, self-discovery, self-esteem, and self-love. Self is really a disguised god! It sounds right to us. We do not want to hate ourselves. Yet there is a "self" that is very wrong. " |
Protecting ourselves from deceit
Paul offers two approaches:
Present in spirit I find it interesting that Paul would use a common phrase "I'll be with you in spirit". When we keep others in our prayers. we are being with them in spirit. |
Vs 6 -7 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
So then...
Ensuring that you are firmly grounded in faith so as to not be swayed by deceit and lies that might distract you or lead you away from your faith Continue to live in Him How are we to continue to live in Him? Just as we received Christ as Lord. Pause for a moment and think back at the time that you received Christ. What was that experience like?
So just like that....we are to continue to live in Him. Obey him, follow him, converse with him, draw upon his grace, lean on him, look to him for comfort. this means we will:
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Living by Faith
The false teachings confronting Colossae emphasized works and personal sacrifice as the means to pleasing God. So Paul was encouraging the believers at Colossae to live by faith. 2 Corinthians 5:7 For we live by faith, not by sight. This kind of faith will lead to many good works, but our salvation remains constant despite our actions because it is based on Christ and what He has done. Romans 1:17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” Galatians 3:11 Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.” Hebrews 10:38 but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him. Habakkuk 2:4 "Behold, as for the proud one, His soul is not right within him; But the righteous will live by his faith." When Habakkuk wrote, “The righteous shall live by his faith,” he was echoing a timeless truth first modeled in Abraham’s life (Genesis 15:6 Then he believed in the Lord; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness.). |
Vs 8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.
See to it that no takes you captive
The Greek word blepo is primarily used to denote the physical sense of looking, perceiving , discerning. But this is not a warning against physical captivity but a spiritual captivity. In this context the word means be observant (watchful) and suggests "to see something physical, with spiritual results (perception)." That is, it carries what is seen into the non-physical (immaterial) realm so a person can take the needed action (respond, beware, be alert). Form of captivity We can be taken captive, spiritually speaking, through hollow and deceptive philosophy. "Hollow" meaning there is not much substance to this thinking. It is "empty, vain, ineffective, worthless and foolish." "Deceptive" it may seem to be based on a truth but this type of philosophy will twist and corrupt God's truth. Depends on human tradition and elemental spiritual forces Paul is not condemning the practice of philosophy in general but is specifically referring to philosophy which is based on explicitly anti-Christian principles. These arguments were referred to as "deceptive," and implied an intentional misleading. In other words, actual critical thinking is not the problem. Self-deluding, worldly philosophical thinking can be the problem. Following the world's philosophy and way of thinking will mislead away from Christ's teaching and will not instill Christ's character in us. "Elemental spirits," in this context, is a reference to the basic assumptions we use in our thinking (Colossians 2:20, Galatians 4:3) [wordly deceptive thinking...se notes on vs 20]. If a person starts from a blatantly anti-spiritual standpoint, they are going to come to anti-spiritual conclusions. This, again, reminds us that fallen human wisdom can be at odds with Christ's teachings. "Human tradition," was a reminder that simply because an idea is preferred, or historical, does not make it true. The phrase in Greek is paradosin tōn anthrōpōn and implies the laws, rules, or handed-down regulations of humanity. Ephesians 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. |
Rather than on Christ
In Colossae, based on my understanding of the false teaching that was prevalent, I get the feeling that this teaching was specifically an attack on Christ with the intent of pulling people away from the Christian faith. [Deceitful] teaching always focuses on demoting Jesus, refusing to recognize the full revelation of his Being as it is set out in the Scriptures. Every cult attacks the Person or the work of Jesus---or both. They claim that he was nothing but a very good man, a model man, perhaps, although he lacked the insights into life and reality that are ours through modern knowledge. Thus, they put him down and demote him. Or, going to the opposite extreme, they regard Jesus as a supernatural being, one among several Divine Masters who come periodically into human affairs to teach us wonderful truths that we would never know otherwise, and which, if followed, will release within us great divine powers. (This is the teaching of the New Age movement that we are being exposed to today.) But these cults never view Jesus as God himself, willing to die in our place. (Ray Stedman, https://www.raystedman.org/new-testament/colossians/beware) |
Vs 9-10 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority.
How do you respond to false teachings?
With the truth! Paul does not respond to the false teaching in a common manner. When confronted with evil teaching, most of us attack it and try to point out what is wrong with it. But the apostle does not do that. Paul reviews for the Colossian Christians what they already have in Jesus. When we focus upon who He is, then the mind and heart are both protected against the assault of an evil teaching. Paul calls them back to the following truths:
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Doctrine of the Deity of Jesus
Though modern skeptics often argue belief in the deity of Jesus was a later development, Paul clearly believed and wrote about the deity of Jesus in this letter, which was written around AD 60—62. This was a teaching Paul said he received from the apostles after his conversion, which occurred within three years of the resurrection (Galatians 1:18). The doctrine of Jesus' deity is not a later invention, but the teaching of the eyewitnesses of Jesus.(Bibleref.com) All Authority Given To Jesus Matthew 28:18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Ephesians 1:18-21 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. |
Vs 11- 15 In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism,in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead. When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
How do we share in the fullness of Christ?
Having made the statement that they have, in Christ, already received all that God is, and nothing can be added, Paul now traces how this happened to them. In these next four statements he tells how believers share in the fullness of God in Christ
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Is Baptism the sign of our covenant relationship?
Here, Paul connects the purpose of Old Testament circumcision with the purpose of New Testament baptism. Both serve as an external, physical symbol of the relationship between God and mankind. Baptism is not required for salvation but, as believers in Christ, it is an outward celebration of what has taken place inward. As someone can go through the motions of baptism and going to church, the real sign of our covenant relationship with God is the transformation that takes place when we "put off our old self" and "put on our new self in Christ." Baptism, mentioned in verse 12, does not replace circumcision; it follows circumcision—and it is clearly a spiritual circumcision that is meant. Baptism, therefore, is a sign of inward, spiritual “circumcision.” ( https://www.gotquestions.org/baptism-circumcision.html) While there are parallels between baptism and circumcision, they symbolize two very different covenants. The Old Covenant had a physical means of entrance: one was born to Jewish parents or bought as a servant into a Jewish household (Genesis 17:10-13). One’s spiritual life was unconnected to the sign of circumcision. Every male was circumcised, whether he showed any devotion to God or not. However, even in the Old Testament, there was recognition that physical circumcision was not enough. Moses commanded the Israelites in Deuteronomy 10:16 to circumcise their hearts, and even promised that God would do the circumcising (Deuteronomy 30:6). Jeremiah also preached the need for a circumcision of the heart (Jeremiah 4:4). ( https://www.gotquestions.org/baptism-circumcision.html) What is circumcision of the heart? The idea of “circumcision of the heart” is found in Romans 2:29. It refers to having a pure heart, separated unto God. Paul is discussing the role of the Old Testament Law as it relates to Christianity. He argues that Jewish circumcision is only an outward sign of being set apart to God. However, if the heart is sinful, then physical circumcision is of no avail. A circumcised body and a sinful heart are at odds with each other. Rather than focus on external rites, Paul focuses on the condition of the heart. Using circumcision as a metaphor, he says that only the Holy Spirit can purify a heart and set us apart to God. Ultimately, circumcision cannot make a person right with God; the Law is not enough. A person’s heart must change. Paul calls this change “circumcision of the heart.” This concept was not original with the apostle Paul. As a Jew trained in the Law of Moses, he was certainly aware of this discussion from Deuteronomy 30. There, the Lord used the same metaphor to communicate His desire for a holy people: “And the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring, so that you will love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live” (Deuteronomy 30:6). Physical circumcision was a sign of Israel’s covenant with God; circumcision of the heart, therefore, would indicate Israel’s being set apart to love God fully, inside and out. https://www.gotquestions.org/circumcision-of-the-heart.html |
Vs 16-19 Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you. Such a person also goes into great detail about what they have seen; they are puffed up with idle notions by their unspiritual mind. They have lost connection with the head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.
Therefore...
This section begins with "therefore" to connect Paul's prior statements with what he is about to declare. The previous section pointed out that our relationship with God is through Christ, not through physical rituals such as circumcision. Paul is now declaring a warning instruction regarding relying or placing more significance on religious rituals that were intended to point to Christ as a type of foreshadowing. Paul is basically going to tell the Colossian believers that if they continue performing these rituals, the reality of which has been fulfilled in Christ, then they have missed on the purpose all together. Rituals can become a practice in idolatry if we place more emphasis on ceremony...it becomes a type of self-worship. While peoples intentions may seem good, anything that emphasis our effort, our sacrifice over the sacrifice made by Christ on our behalf creates a false sense of humility, can become of source of pride and is not pleasing to God. Beware of Empty Ritualism Food restrictions, special diets, observance of special ceremonies and days obviously arose out of Jewish practices. God gave them many of these ceremonies in the Old Testament as shadows, the reality of which pointed to the fulfillment in Jesus. Following rituals legalistically as a religious observance or out of religious obligation and performance derails and destroys the significance of our faith and instead of pointing to the glory of God, the practice creates a false sense of religious pride and fulfillment. "When you spread out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you. Even though you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood. Bring no more futile sacrifices. Incense is an abomination to me. The New Moons, the Sabbaths and the calling of assemblies I cannot endure any longer." (Isaiah 1:13-15) Shadows of things to come Paul declares these rituals as a "shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ." Once the reality has been realized, shadows are of no value whatsoever. Shadows are pictures, given in advance, designed to prepare us for something. But if you have found Christ, you do not need the shadows any more. Christ removed all sin and penalty through His sacrifice. As a result, there are no possible works we can do, or need to do, in order to be made righteous with God. |
"These are a shadow (4639:,skia, shadow) of the things that were to come; the reality (4983: sōma, a body), however, is found in Christ"
The Greek word skia, translated as "shadow," can also refer to "shade, a sketch, or an outline" and is contrasted with the Greek word sōma, translated as "body." This word can also mean "reality or substance." This is the reason adherence to the Law is not a requirement: The Law was merely an outline; it is a shadow, or a hint of things to come. Christ is the actual substance. In making this statement, Paul did not speak against the Law, but rather spoke of Jesus as superior to the Mosaic law. It is the difference between a book and the author of a book. The Law could not exist without the Author. Jesus serves as the author of life (Acts 3:15). He fulfilled the Law without contradicting it. Jesus taught, "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them" (Matthew 5:17).(https://www.bibleref.com/Colossians/2/Colossians-2-17.html) Lost Connection with Christ The Church is described as the body of Christ. Christ is the head. Those who Paul refers to as "puffed up" (Colossians 2:18) are not connected to the Head—they are not part of the actual body with Christ. These false teachers think they can grow spiritually when they are separated from Jesus. This is as impossible as a part of the body growing or developing when totally severed from the head! True spiritual progress does not occur through religious legalistic practices or rituals, but in following Christ. The more we rely on our own power and ability, the less we allow Christ to use His power in us. This is the problem with mysticism and self-denial: they rely on our own strength, instead of the power of Christ. |
Vs 20-23 Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules: 21 “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? 22 These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings. 23 Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.
Christian Discipline vs Asceticism (or self denial)
Paul is here describing an over-developed zeal, a dedication that goes far beyond true Christian discipline and seeks to please God by extreme forms of self-denial. Legalism is the pursuit of holiness by self-effort. Legalism has no value in restraining the indulgence of the flesh. People may outwardly appear dedicated and disciplined, but inwardly sin rages unchecked. Inside they are angry, resentful and judgmental. They are trying to regulate the externals instead of walking in the fullness and freshness of life with Jesus Christ, finding the inward purity and cleansing that he alone provides. The idea of "elemental spirits" was also mentioned in Colossians 2:8. The context of this statement is the difference between human-centered efforts, versus a Christ-centered reliance on God. Paul is referring to worldly thinking and deceptive arguments. |
Following restrictive religious rules makes a person look holy to others. Paul specifically says these teachings are self-made; they are not actually anything from God. Expectations of the false teachers included ascetic living and harsh treatment of the body. This came through fasting, avoiding certain foods, or other means. This, again, is a major component of Gnosticism, an early heresy plaguing the church. Gnostics relied on mysticism and complex philosophy, as well as insisting that the physical world was entirely evil, so all physical pleasures had to be eliminated. Paul highlights the futility of these teachings. These attempts at denying the flesh, through human efforts, don't actually stop sinful desires. To some extent, asceticism and self-denial can be just as much a physical addiction as giving in to gluttony or greed! In both cases, a person is acting under the assumption that what they do with their body, in their own power, is what will make them happy [or holy[.
https://www.bibleref.com/Colossians/2/Colossians-2-23.html |