COLOSSIANS—NOTE ON COLOSSIANS 2:1 FOR THOSE AT LAODICEA. Laodicea was the nearest city to Colossae, only 9 miles (14.5 km) away (see note on Rev. 3:14–22). There was a close relationship between these churches. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length... [ Continue Reading ]
COLOSSIANS—NOTE ON COLOSSIANS 2:2 The false teachers probably claimed special knowledge of the mysteries of God’s truth. Paul insists that CHRIST is GOD’S MYSTERY. All understanding is found in him. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
COLOSSIANS—NOTE ON COLOSSIANS 2:3 IN WHOM ARE HIDDEN ALL THE TREASURES OF WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE. Jesus is the ultimate keeper of divine wisdom and spiritual knowledge. Compare Proverbs 2:3. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
COLOSSIANS—NOTE ON COLOSSIANS 2:4 The Dangerous Teaching at Colossae. Paul delivers a series of warnings about the teaching that threatens the Colossian church. In doing so, he also provides important teaching on the Christians’ new identity in Christ. This will help them resist the false teachers’... [ Continue Reading ]
COLOSSIANS—NOTE ON COLOSSIANS 2:5 GOOD ORDER... FIRMNESS. The Colossians should be like troops ready for battle. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
COLOSSIANS—NOTE ON COLOSSIANS 2:6 YOU RECEIVED CHRIST JESUS THE LORD. Paul reminds the Colossians of the foundational teaching of Epaphras when they first became Christians. At the heart of this is the confession that Jesus Christ is Lord (1 Corinthians 12:3). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElement... [ Continue Reading ]
COLOSSIANS—NOTE ON COLOSSIANS 2:8 SEE TO IT THAT NO ONE TAKES YOU CAPTIVE. “Takes you captive” translates a Greek word commonly used of stealing a ship’s cargo. PHILOSOPHY. The Greek for this word suggests the faction’s leaders called their teaching “the philosophy.” Paul is not condemning all tradi... [ Continue Reading ]
COLOSSIANS—NOTE ON COLOSSIANS 2:9 IN HIM THE WHOLE FULLNESS OF DEITY DWELLS BODILY. Jesus is God in the flesh (see Colossians 1:15). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
COLOSSIANS—NOTE ON COLOSSIANS 2:10 YOU HAVE BEEN FILLED IN HIM. Believers share in Christ’s power and authority over every RULE AND AUTHORITY through their union with him. Here is the letter’s main theme. The divine “fullness” is in Christ (v. Colossians 2:9), and believers are “filled in him.” They... [ Continue Reading ]
COLOSSIANS—NOTE ON COLOSSIANS 2:11 IN HIM ALSO YOU WERE CIRCUMCISED. Paul here uses circumcision to picture a spiritual (MADE WITHOUT HANDS) action. He describes it as PUTTING OFF THE BODY OF THE FLESH. Believers no longer live in the power and under the influence of the flesh (Galatians 5:24). They... [ Continue Reading ]
COLOSSIANS—NOTE ON COLOSSIANS 2:12 BURIED WITH HIM IN BAPTISM... ALSO RAISED WITH HIM.... MADE ALIVE TOGETHER WITH HIM. Baptism represents an identification with Christ in his death (compare Romans 6:4). It also symbolizes his resurrection (compare Ephesians 2:6). Dying and rising with Christ symbol... [ Continue Reading ]
COLOSSIANS—NOTE ON COLOSSIANS 2:14 RECORD OF DEBT. Paul uses this legal term to describe each person’s debt to God because of sin. God himself has mercifully resolved this debt by NAILING IT TO THE CROSS, where Jesus paid the penalty. The image comes from the notices posted on a cross by the Roman a... [ Continue Reading ]
COLOSSIANS—NOTE ON COLOSSIANS 2:15 HE DISARMED THE RULERS AND AUTHORITIES. On the cross, demonic powers were stripped of their power to accuse Christians before God. PUT THEM TO OPEN SHAME. This is the same term used in Matthew 1:19 to refer to Joseph’s unwillingness to expose Mary to public shame.... [ Continue Reading ]
COLOSSIANS—NOTE ON COLOSSIANS 2:16 FOOD AND DRINK... A FESTIVAL OR A NEW MOON OR A SABBATH. The false teacher(s) claimed that some Jewish ceremonies were essential for spiritual advancement. On “new moon,” see note on Num. 28:11–15. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var... [ Continue Reading ]
COLOSSIANS—NOTE ON COLOSSIANS 2:17 A SHADOW OF THE THINGS TO COME. The old covenant ceremonies pointed to a future reality that was fulfilled in the Lord Jesus Christ (compare Hebrews 10:1). Thus Christians are no longer under the Mosaic covenant (see Romans 6:14; 2 Corinthians 3:4; Galatians 3:15).... [ Continue Reading ]
COLOSSIANS—NOTE ON COLOSSIANS 2:18 Paul lists a variety of ways the false teachers had tried to DISQUALIFY the genuine believers in Colossae. ASCETICISM. Paul probably had in mind fasting and perhaps the rules mentioned in v. Colossians 2:21. WORSHIP OF ANGELS. Asking angels for help and protection... [ Continue Reading ]
COLOSSIANS—NOTE ON COLOSSIANS 2:19 NOT HOLDING FAST TO THE HEAD. The false teacher at Colossae has not maintained contact with Christ. Thus the teacher has become influenced by evil spirits (see v. Colossians 2:8). On the church as a body, see Romans 12:5; 1 Corinthians 12:1; Ephesians 4:4, Ephesian... [ Continue Reading ]
COLOSSIANS—NOTE ON COLOSSIANS 2:20 THE ELEMENTAL SPIRITS. See note on v. 8. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
COLOSSIANS—NOTE ON COLOSSIANS 2:21 “DO NOT HANDLE, DO NOT TASTE, DO NOT TOUCH.” Specific rules the teacher of the false philosophy insists the Colossians must obey. God does not give these rules; under the new covenant, the food a person eats is not important in his or her spiritual life (see Mark 7... [ Continue Reading ]
COLOSSIANS—NOTE ON COLOSSIANS 2:23 SEVERITY TO THE BODY. The fasting and rules that were part of the behavior encouraged by “the philosophy.” It may also have included forms of self-mutilation similar to what was practiced in some of the local cults. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName... [ Continue Reading ]