From Colossians 1-4
Paul’s seeks to build up the Colossian Christians by pointing them again to what they have already accepted and experienced in knowing Christ. He does not go out of his way to destroy the arguments of his opposition. Instead, he wants first to build up the Colossians in their faith so that they can resist their onslaughts.
This post is part of my bible in a year series.
Passage and Comments
In the first chapter Paul has described their salvation in Christ and his magnificent creating and sustaining power. In today’s passage he goes on to describe the implications of this for their new lives.
6 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. (Col 2.6-7)
‘As you received Christ Jesus the Lord’. Their coming to faith involved recognising Jesus as their Christ and Lord. With this in mind it should have an effect on the way they now live.
8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.
9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, 10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. 11 In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.
13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him. (Col 2.8-15)
‘Human tradition’. Sadly their faith will be tested by others who seek to capture them in other ideas, such as human traditions and various philosophies. These he calls the ‘elementary spirits of the world’ (cf. Gal 4.9). Paul points them to Christ.
Clearly some traditions can lead people away from Jesus. They need to be tested.
‘Uncircumcision’, ‘circumcision’. The terms have moral and covenantal connotations. The original practice was Hebrew. Circumcision symbolises the cutting off of the evil part of a person and incorporates them into the covenant people of God.
Paul is alluding to the better spiritual circumcision of the heart that occurs when a person becomes a Christian.
‘Buried with him in baptism’. Not to be confused with circumcision. After Christ died he was buried. What happens to Christ, happens to all his people. Incorporated into Christ’s death, burial and resurrection, Paul’s reference is representative of their own death to sin and burial. Which then leads to their own spiritual resurrection. Now alive to God through Christ (Rom 6.11).
‘Record of debt’. Paul refers to the sin everyone has that is dealt with and forgiven through Jesus’ death on the cross. Jesus death did much more. His death also won him victory over the rulers and authorities of this world.
16 Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. 17 These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.
18 Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, 19 and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God. (Col 2.16-19)
‘Food and drink’, ‘Festival’, ‘New moon’, ‘Sabbath’. The immediate implication of all that has happened to them is that they no longer have to live according to the law of Moses. Paul alludes to the calendar observances Jews had to observe throughout the year (Gal 4.3-11).
He says they were a shadow of things to come. That is they anticipated the coming of the Christ.
With these practices and others, people (Judaisers and people from other religions) were trying to subvert them away from Christ.
‘Not holding fast to the head’. Instead Paul again points them to Christ. The source of their nourishment and communal bond through which God is working.
20 If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— 21 “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” 22 (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings?
23 These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh. (Col 2.20-23)
‘Why do you submit’. Paul questions why they would even consider submitting to these regulations. What good purpose do they have?
‘No value in stopping’. It seems they had the appearance of virtue and discipline. But Paul recognises they have no value in curbing the desires of the flesh.
Our belief and practice should put an end to sinful passions and indulgences.
Throughout the passage Paul keeps pointing them to Christ. The Jesus we see in the gospel.
Words for Believers
Paul’s seeks to build up the Colossian Christians by pointing them again to what they have already accepted and experienced in knowing Christ. He does not go out of his way to destroy the arguments of his opposition. Instead, he wants first to build up the Colossians in their faith so that they can resist their onslaughts.
Immerse yourself in the truths of the gospel and you will be able to resist the elemental philosophies of this world.
When we recognise all we have in Christ, we will also recognize more clearly His rivals have nothing to offer, except a reversion our former slavery.
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