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Colossians
Chapter Two
I.
Content of the Chapter
Paul’s Expectations of the
Church in Colosse
A. He has a great conflict for the church so as
to establish their faith by the knowledge of Christ (v.1-7).
B. He exhorts them to beware lest they should
be taken away by the heresy (v.8).
C. He points out the reasons why they have to
beware ---- the church shall have part in the fullness of God in Christ only
(v.9-12);
D. He shows that God has accomplished the
foundation of enjoying the fullness of God for the church (v.13-15).
E. He expects them to hold fast that the
substance of God’s fullness is Christ and let no one judge them on any
ordinances or regulations (v.16-23).
II.
Verse by Verse Commentary
Col. 2:1 “For I want you to know what
a great conflict I have for you and those in
YLT: “For I wish you to know how great a conflict I have for
you and those in
The Background: “
Literal
Meaning: “I have for you and those in
This verse shows us how Paul cares for the difficult condition of the
children of God in faith ---- he strives to pray for them with a mind of
“contending” (1Cor. 9:25) and “fighting” (1Tim. 6:12; Phil. 1:30).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Believers shall have conflict for themselves
as well as for others.
2) A servant of the Lord should have the broad
mind that “the whole world is my working land”, and even have conflict for
those whom he has not seen without any discrimination.
3) If the concern of the preachers to believers
is truly out of God, there will no personal prejudice.
4) He who has really burden in spirit must have
conflict in his working. He who volunteers to do something may either be
perfunctory or give up halfway.
YLT: “that their hearts may be comforted, being united in
love, and to all riches of the full assurance of the understanding, to the full
knowledge of the secret of the God and Father, and of the Christ,”
Meaning of Words: “be encouraged”:
be comforted, be exhorted; “be knit together”:
be joined together, be united together;
Literal
Meaning: “that their hearts may be
encouraged”, here “encouragement” is more than comfort.
Encouragement can inspire and strengthen men and restore men’s faith and
morale. Paul encourages others by not only words but also his personal life and
testimony of works (Col. 1:29-2:1).
“Being knit together in love”,
here, “knit” reveals that the body of Christ
(the church) should be built in oneness (Eph. 4:16). Christians who live the
life of faith shall not keep themselves clean and pure only, but have to
establish contact with other believers. In the church, only the power of love
produces the power of union.
“And attaining to all riches of the full assurance of
understanding”, this verse shows
that the firm faith is from understanding. And the assured faith brings about
the “true knowledge” ---- “the knowledge”. “Knowledge” leads to “assurance”.
And “assurance” leads to “true knowledge”. And “true knowledge” leads to “firm
assurance” (see v.5, 7). Therefore, “knowledge” and “assurance” complement each
other
“The mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ”, this “mystery” is in no wise the
mysterious ceremony held in the heresy when someone joins them, but that the
counsel of God’s redemption and administration of the kingdom is accomplished
in Christ and fulfilled through the working of Christ (Eph. 1:3-12; 1Cor.
15:24-28; Col. 1:15-20).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Various kinds of teachings may often make
believers’ heart moved and even doubtful about the word of faith. Therefore,
they need be comforted and exhorted and encouraged.
2) Besides the direct comfort and encouragement
from God, believers shall also to comfort and encourage one another by words
and works.
3) Prayers may mostly make believers comforted
and encouraged in spirit.
4) Rationality leads to division, and yet love
leads to union. The fundamental element of the oneness and building of the
church is love, not rationality. If the love of one another in the church disappears,
the church will be disassembled.
5) In the spiritual warfare, unity means power.
An individual believer is too weak to defeat the enemy. Only when the church is
knitted together in love, can the church resist the attack of the evil power.
6) Any member in the body can not exist
separately. We should be united with other members. Once we are estranged from
the church, we will become weak.
7) If believers treat one another in love, all
will be encouraged on account of the Lord’s love and thus attain to more assurance
toward the Lord. Therefore, it is not only faith produces love (Col. 1:4) but
also that love confirms faith.
8) The faith of Christians is not blind faith,
but sober faith with clear reasons. Such is faith is obtained by revelation
through understanding.
9) The more faith one has, the more Christ is
he enabled to know. The more one knows Christ, the more is his faith
established.
10) To Christians, the mystery of God is no
longer a hidden secret, but an open secret. Once we have entered into Christ,
we are enabled to know this mystery.
YLT: “in whom are all the treasures of the wisdom and the
knowledge hid,”
Meaning of Words: “treasures”: deposit, wealth;
“hidden”: secret, hid;
The Background: the heretical teaching in Colosse at that time held
that man could be saved by the possession of “wisdom” with some special
“knowledge”, which was known by only a small minority of them. Man had to go
through great trials in this sect. And after he was regarded as faithful by the
sect, such knowledge would be imparted to him.
Literal
Meaning: “wisdom”, it refers to the talent of discerning the
facts.
“Knowledge”: translate the facts into the principles of life and works
systematically through understanding and discernment;
“Wisdom
and knowledge”, both of them
cannot be separated.
“All”: the whole, not a part;
This verse tells us that the wisdom of God and all the knowledge of His
working are hidden in Christ. One can know the principles and works of God
through Christ only and find them in Christ only. The heretical teaching
emphasizes that men are saved by “wisdom and knowledge”. Paul here points that
only those who are in Christ are able to have true wisdom and knowledge.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Christ is an all-inclusive treasury. He is
the answer of every question. Therefore, the possession of Christ is the
possession of the key of all questions.
2) If one has the key but does not open the
door to search out the treasures therein, his problem can still never be
solved. Therefore, believers should still labor to seek more Christ and know
more Christ.
3) To know Christ is the only way of knowing
God. The more knowledge of Christ is obtained by more experience of Him, not
reasons or theories.
4) All the knowledge outside of Christ is vain
knowledge and dead letter.
YLT: “and this I say, that no one may beguile you in enticing
words,”
Meaning of Words: “persuasive
words”: enticing words; “deceive”: beguile, delude;
Literal
Meaning: “anyone”, possibly, the one that preached the
heresy to them at that time was an eloquent one.
“Deceive”, it means being led astray by wrong
teachings;
“Persuasive
words”, it is a legal
word in the original ---- a defense lawyer is able to persuade the judge by his
eloquence so as to let a sinner free from the just sanction of the law.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Words pleasant to hear may not be true
words, and may often make the hearers deceived unconsciously.
2) The heretical teachings is characterized by
fair-sounding and mysterious and yet unpractical words.
3) The preachers should cut in a straight line
the word of truth (2Tim. 2:15). Believers should not despise their speaking, but
shall judge (1Thess. 5:20-21; 1Cor. 14:29).
4) The church should adhere to the truth, but
not be deceived by any persuasive word.
YLT: “for if even in the flesh I am absent -- yet in the
spirit I am with you, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of
your faith in regard to Christ;”
Meaning of Words: “steadfastness”: firmness;
Literal
Meaning: “good order”, it is military words, which mean that the
army that are inspected are set in good order and keep rank.
“Steadfastness”, it is also a military term, which refers
to the stern orderliness and awesome majesty.
This verse indicates that the church in Colosse, in the face of the
attacks of heretical teachings, were supposed to keep the military discipline
of the spiritual army and be steadfast in faith so as to make the
hearers rejoice.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Though we believers are separated
physically, we shall remember one other in spirit (1Thess. 2:17).
2) The God that we believe is a God of order.
Therefore, it is not only He makes the universe He created full of order but
also that He rejoices that His church and saints walk decently and in order
(1Cor. 14:40).
3) The church will be able to manifest good
order only when focusing on Christ and keeping firm faith in Him. The church in
disorder can not strive for the fight of truth for the Lord.
4) If believers in the church submit ourselves
to one another in fear of Christ (Eph. 5:21), there will be good order
spontaneously.
5) How difficult to keep good order in the
world at present. He who refuses to be contaminated by evil influences is yet
despised. If we want to be steadfast in the faith of Christ, we shall pay the
price.
YLT: “as, then, ye did receive Christ Jesus the Lord, in him
walk ye,”
Literal
Meaning: “receive”: believe (see John 1:12);
“Christ
Jesus the Lord”, this is the complete address to the Lord. “Lord”
---- He is the dominator who governs all things; “Christ” ---- He is the
“Messiah” whom God promised to come to save the world; “Jesus” ---- He is the
incarnated divine one;
“Walk in Him”,
there are three aspects of meaning: 1) walk according to His words (Matt.
7:24-27); 2) we shall do as He has done to us (John 13:15; 1John 4:17; Eph.
4:20); 3) He is the standard and principle of our walking (
Christians always believe first and then
walk, and therefore the life of faith is complete.
“Received…walk”, the different tenses show
that the former is transient and the latter is permanent and gradual, and the
former is having received and the latter is maintaining, and the former is “He
is of me” and the latter is “I am of Him”.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) We have received Christ Jesus as our “Lord”.
We have to commit ourselves unto Him utterly and let us governed by Him.
2) Faith without works is dead (James 2:17, 26).
3) We are favored on account of believing the
Lord’s words, and are blessed because of walking according to the Lord’s words
(Matt. 7:24).
4) Believers have received Christ Jesus as the
Lord because of faith and obedience, and shall live the life that “Christ Jesus
is the Lord” by faith and obedience likewise.
5) What believers have received is the Lord
Himself, not knowledge. Therefore, what we should obey in our life is the
living Christ who lives in us instead of any customs, or teachings or
traditions. And therefore we have to pay good attention to the working of His
Spirit in us.
6) He who hears the heretical teachings has
just not “walked in Him” and has thus forsaken Christ.
7) Only when we live “in Him”, will we be able
to have deeper union with Him and have the performance that believers are
supposed to have in life.
YLT: “being rooted and built up in him, and confirmed in the
faith, as ye were taught -- abounding in it in thanksgiving.”
Meaning of Words: “establish”: confirm, stabilitate;
“abound”: superabound, be in excess, excel;
Literal
Meaning: “rooted”, it is
just like the root of the tree that penetrates into the earth, which relates to
the life of deep fellowship with the Lord. “Built”, it is like the building of
the house that is built upward all the way from the foundation, which refers to
the building of Christians’ personality. The former is the hidden part in
Christians’ life and the latte is the manifest part in Christians’ life.
“Rooted
and built up in Him”, Christians must
be rooted in Christ and appropriate Him as the fountain and power of life, and
regard Him as the foundation of the building (daily life and works) and
manifest Him externally so as to resist the attacks of the rainstorm (Matt.
7:24-27).
“And established in the faith”, the majority of Bible scholars hold that here
“faith” is the object of being strengthened, which means that the faith becomes
too assured to be moved. Here, it suggests that faith is established by being
rooted and built in Him.
“As you have been taught”,
the clearer we have known the truth we have
received, the more our faith will be established. Faith comes from the
knowledge of God. The more we know God, the firmer our faith will be. The one
whose faith is mostly established is the one who has the best knowledge of God.
“Abounding in it with thanksgiving”, it is like that the cup is full of water to
overflowing. This verse unveils that we have deeply realized that it is due to
the grace of God, not of our own strength, that our life is rooted and built
and our faith is established, since we have clearly known the teachings of the
truth we have received. Therefore, we are abundant in thanksgiving to God.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Believers shall take root downward in Christ
first and then bear fruit onward.
2) In daily life, we may suffer temptations,
afflictions, failures, diseases, persecutions etc. if our faith is not firm, we
must be paralyzed.
3) Firm faith is the origin of the abounding of
thanksgiving.
4) Every spiritual accomplishment of believers
is out of the grace of God. Therefore, we should give our whole-hearted thanks
to God for our growth.
5) The more one is spiritual, the meeker he
will become. The pride of a man indicates that he has seldom experienced the
grace of God.
6) He who is not zealous in seeking the Lord
must give little thanks to God. He who gives little thanks to God must be cold
to God and to spiritual things, at most neither cold nor hot.
7) Generally nine among ten are favored and yet
do not give thanks (Luke 17:11-19). However, the biggest difference of
believers from men in the world is the ever-increasing thanksgiving to God.
YLT: “See that no one shall be carrying you away as spoil
through the philosophy and vain deceit, according to the deliverance of men,
according to the rudiments of the world, and not according to Christ,”
Meaning of Words: “philosophy”:
love knowledge; “deceit”: delusion, deceivableness; “basic principles”: elements, constituent, something orderly
in arrangement, rudiment;
The Background: “the tradition of men”, the teachers of the
intellectualism declared: their special teachings were dictated by Jesus in His
flesh to a minority of men, through whom the teachings were continually
dictated to another group of chosen men. .
“The basic principles of the world”, the intellectualists held that among the
constellations there was a kind of “supernatural spiritual power” (namely, one
of the meanings of the basic principles) controlling men’s fate. Therefore,
they paid much attention to the working of the constellations and set it as
their principles in life. This is also the origin of “astrology” today.
Literal
Meaning: “philosophy”: the system of heretics that emphasizes on
wisdom and concludes a series of self-justified philosophic theories;
“Empty deceit”,
the heretical teaching is apparently reasonable. However, it has no reality of
the truth, only a pack of lies, i.e. vain lies.
“The tradition of men”, the mysterious secret handed down in some sects
by pithy formulas;
“The basic principles of the world”, it indicates that the heretical teachings are
secular, shallow and preliminary (Gal. 4:3, 9).
“Cheat you”, “cheat”, it is
used to describe the people of vanquished nation, who are brought to the
victorious nation to be slaves to them. Here, it suggests that the heretical
teaching may entrap men to deep destruction.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Satan uses various kinds of men or things to
cheat men so as to ensnare many ignorant ones to be its slaves. And the sharpest
weapon that Satan uses to attack our faith is heresy.
2) There are three characteristics of heresy:
a) “not according to Christ”, though it mentions the Christianity, it preaches
all that is nothing to do with Christ and even denies the salvation accomplished
by Christ; b) “according
to the tradition of men”, it is not according to the revelation of God in
the Scriptures, but according to men’s thoughts and words; c) “according
to the basic principles of the world”,
it is apparently mysterious and subtle, but only preliminary general knowledge
without any refined element after careful consideration. Therefore, it is full
of contradictions and flaws
3) There is also a crisis in the church, i.e.
not according to Christ, but according to man’s tradition, or worldly
principles, capturing men away from Christ by creating something unbiblical and
resorting to sensationalism.
4) If the research of and preoccupation with
any theological knowledge has not led us to draw near and enjoy Christ, it has
just fallen into the realm of Greek philosophy and relapsed into heresy.
5) If any knowledge or teaching goes against
the basic truth of the Bible, it is in no wise the teaching of Christians.
YLT: “because in him doth tabernacle all the fulness of the
Godhead bodily,”
Meaning of Words: “Godhead”: divinity; “fullness”: make
replete, be complete, be fulfilled; “bodily”: physically,
corporately; “dwell”: house permanently, reside;
The Background: some heretical doctrines hold that it is
insufficient to believe Jesus Christ only who is only a part of the fullness of the Godhead and the “fullness” can be attained to by
adding some other divine things besides Christ.
Literal
Meaning: “for”, it shows
that the words from verse nine to fifteen are the reason why Paul asks them to
“beware” in verse eight.
“Godhead”, it inner nature of God;
“The fullness of God”: the totality of God Himself and His divinity.
“Bodily”: manifest vividly so as to be easily understood;
This verse indicates that all the nature of the Godhead is in Christ.
The incarnation of Christ makes all the fullness of the Godhead substantial,
not abstract.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) One is able to have part in the disposition
and life of God through Christ only.
2) He who has gained Christ has gained
everything of God. He who has no Christ has nothing of God.
3) We are enabled to have concrete and real
knowledge of the fullness of Godhead through the experience of Christ only.
YLT: “and ye are in him made full, who is the head of all
principality and authority,”
The Background: the heretics believe that there are all
principalities and authorities in the spiritual realm, who are the important
medium connecting God and men. Men are enabled to come to God through them
only.
Literal
Meaning: note that the word
“you” is mentioned three times from verse ten to twelve. And the three verses
indicate how we have partaken in all the fullness of Godhead.
“You
are complete in Him”, it means that the life and disposition of God have
become the reality of men in Christ because of believing in Christ.
“Who is the head of all principality and power”, here it especially refers to the angel.
This verse points that it is quite enough
for believers to have Christ. On one hand, there is abundant provision in
Christ. And on the other hand, since He is the highest head of all principality
and power, He can draw near to God directly without any medium.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) The fountain of God’s life provides all the
need of men richly.
2) As Christ wants nothing, even so must the
inner life and daily life in Christ want nothing.
3) Once man has Christ, he needs no other
principality or power.
YLT: “in whom also ye were circumcised with a circumcision
not made with hands, in the putting off of the body of the sins of the flesh in
the circumcision of the Christ,”
Meaning of Words: “put off”: divest, despoil, spoil;
The Background: “circumcision”, it was a sign that God had made a
covenant with His elect, the
Literal
Meaning: “be also circumcised with the
circumcision made without hands”, it is the physical circumcision.
“By putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the
circumcision of Christ”: the true
circumcision in spirit (
This verse shows that the true circumcision
is not to remove the physical prepuce of man, but to deal with the passions and
lusts that corrupt the flesh in Christ.
Spiritual Meaning: “circumcision”, the spiritual meaning is
dealing with the flesh or removing the intents and ability of sins of the
flesh. Therefore, those who are physically circumcised and yet have not
performed the real effect of circumcision in conversation are regarded not
circumcised according to the Bible (Lev. 26:41; Jer. 6:10).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Believers will immediately fail without Christ.
“In Him”, it is the secret of our victory.
2) Men always tend to be fond of apparent and
visible and tangible things or ceremonies. However, they may miss the true
meaning that the ceremony represents.
3) Today, the principle of “the circumcision
made with men’s hands” is also widely indoctrinated among the children of
God, many of whom deal with the flesh by manual means. How lamentable!
4) We put off the troubles of the lusts of the
flesh by Christ completely, not by our own struggle or our strict self-discipline.
5) If man desires to fulfill the will of God by
the flesh, it merely exposes the evil of his lusts of the flesh.
Col. 2:12 “buried with Him in baptism,
in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who
raised Him from the dead.”
YLT: “being buried with him in the baptism, in which also ye
rose with through the faith of the working of God, who did raise him out of the
dead.”
Meaning of Words: “baptism”: immersion;
Literal
Meaning: “buried with Him in baptism”, the “baptism” of
believer manifests that he has been crucified with Christ and has been dead, so
he has to be buried in water. “Burial” is the declaration of the fact of death,
and the declaration of the conclusion of all the past.
“Through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from
the dead”, it means that the
“baptism” will be efficacious “through the working of God’s power and man’s
faith” only.
Spiritual Meaning: the spiritual meaning of the “baptism” is to
let the flesh that committed sins in the past be buried “with Christ” unto
death by faith in water (
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Baptism is not a kind of ceremony of joining
the church, but a true experience of being delivered.
2) The burial of every believer by water does
not mean a miserable end, but a new life full of hope.
3) No death, no life. If we have really died
with Christ, we shall also live with him.
4) It is indeed the power of God that believers
are dead and raised with the Lord through baptism. However, if the believer
does not do in faith, the effect of the baptism cannot be perfected in him.
5) Believers experience the fact of deliverance
by faith ---- be buried
with Him (die with Him), and
experience the fact of victory by faith ---- be raise with Him.
6) Our deliverance and victory are the effect
of God’s working in us. Only His life can swallow the death, and only His life
can raise us.
Col. 2:13 “And you, being dead in your
trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together
with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses,”
YLT: “And you -- being dead in the trespasses and the
uncircumcision of your flesh -- He made alive together with him, having
forgiven you all the trespasses,”
Meaning of Words: “trespass”: side-slip, go out
of the way;
Literal
Meaning: the three verses
from verse thirteen to fifteen show that how God makes us obtain the grace
mentioned from verse ten to twelve.
“The uncircumcision of your
flesh”: the corrupt and
evil nature in our flesh;
“Be dead”, it refers to the spiritual death: be senseless to God and
strengthless to sins;
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) He who is dead has no strength. It is no
wonder that many people were in thrall to moral corruption before believing the
Lord.
2) Since God has forgiven all out
transgressions, He will no longer pursue our sins in the past.
Col. 2:14 “having wiped out the
handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And
He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.”
YLT: “having blotted out the handwriting in the ordinances
that is against us, that was contrary to us, and he hath taken it out of the
way, having nailed it to the cross;”
Meaning of Words: “wipe out”: obliterate; “against”:
adversary, contrary to;
The Background: in the ancient times, the form of paper was
papyrus made from the stem of reed or leather paper made from the skin of
animals. Both of them were rather expensive, men would not waste them
carelessly. And the ink in the old times was absent of acid, so it could not
corrode the paper. And therefore it was easy to wipe out the words written on
the paper. If man obliterates with a piece of sponge, the paper would become as
clear as there is no previous writing on it. This is the origin of the words
“wipe out”.
Literal
Meaning: “handwriting of requirements”, a commercial term, which refers to the
proof of being in debt written by the debtor; God does not command the Gentiles
to keep the law, but writes the law in their heart (Rom. 2:14-15). If one has
offended God, his conscience will feel that he has owed God as he has personally
signed the proof. Therefore, the law has become “against”
us and “contrary” to us, because it has
accused us of our failure and exposed our debt to God.
“Taken
it out of the way”, God has removed the accusation of the law against
Christians.
“Having nailed it to the cross”, it means that the accusation of the law has no
effect on believers since they have been crucified with Christ (Gal. 6:14).
What Christ has obliterated is not the law
itself (Matt. 5:17) but the “curse of the law” (Gal. 3:13), namely, the part
that men should be condemned if they are unable to keep.
Col. 2:15 “Having disarmed
principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over
them in it.”
YLT: “having stripped the principalities and the authorities,
he made a shew of them openly -- having triumphed over them in it.”
Meaning of Words: “disarm”: put off, spoil, divest wholly
oneself;
The Background: “disarm” and “triumph over”, the words are
originally used to describe the scene of the victory of the Roman army. When
they captivated the officers and soldiers of the defeated nation, they would
disarm the weapons and uniforms of the enemies, and put them in the triumphant
procession in order to show the complete defeat of the adversary and their own
victory.
Literal
Meaning: “principalities and powers”, it refers to all kinds of angels in a
wide sense, and the evil power in the spiritual realm (Eph. 6:12). According to
the context, it refers to the latter one.
“Triumphing
over them in it”, the cross has
paid all our debt and torn the debit instrument and crucified our flesh, and
therefore it has become our boast (Gal. 6:14).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) The way of victory for believers is to know
and experience the cross deeper.
2) The cross has manifested its victory by
wiping out the letter of the law (v.14) and leading captivity the power of
darkness. In other words, the letter of the law may become the tool through
which the power of darkness binds men.
3) If we permit the principle of the letter of
the law in the church, we have just indirectly permitted the enemy to have room
in the church. Therefore, we have to sweep the poison of the religious letter
out of the church and extirpate the shadow of all the letter or rules by the triumph of the cross so as to let all the children
of God fully enjoy the liberty of the salvation of Christ.
Col. 2:16 “So let no one judge you in
food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths,”
YLT: “Let no one, then, judge you in eating or in drinking,
or in respect of a feast, or of a new moon, or of sabbaths,”
Literal
Meaning: “in food”, it
refers to the rules of food, what can be eaten and what cannot;
“Festival”, the festival rules every year;
“New moon”, the first day of each month by lunar calendar;
“Sabbaths”, the rule every week;
“Let no
one judge you”, it contains a
meaning of “forcing you”. Therefore, it means “letting no heretic judge you”.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) One shall not turn to men and dare not stand
for the truth because of the fear of men.
2) We shall not be easily swayed by the
“unlawful” things in men’s sight and even by the “lawful” things in men’s
sight.
3) Whether we are right or wrong, justified or
unjustified lies in God’s judgment, not in men’s judgment.
Col. 2:17 “which are a shadow of
things to come, but the substance is of Christ.”
YLT: “which are a shadow of the coming things, and the body
of the Christ;”
Meaning of Words: “things to come”:
coming; “substance”: body;
Literal
Meaning: the ceremonies,
laws and customs in the Old Testament are merely description and revelation of
the types of Christ. We have to pay attention to the bodily Christ. Since now
Christ has come, if we still cling to the ceremonies, law and customs, we have
just concentrated on details but forgotten the main purpose and failed to know
their functions.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) The real truth lies in Christ only. There is
no truth without Him.
2) Believers should sort the priorities in
spiritual pursuit, lest we should burn our house to get rid of the mouse.
Col. 2:18 “Let no one cheat you of
your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding
into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,”
YLT: “let no one beguile you of your prize, delighting in
humble-mindedness and worship of the messengers, intruding into the things he
hath not seen, being vainly puffed up by the mind of his flesh,”
Meaning of Words: “take delight in”: intend, please, love;
“intrude into”: encroach, interfere, trespass; “vainly”: without a cause,
groundless; “puffed up”: make proud, haughty, inflated;
The Background: there is a kind of heresy holding that God is
highly above men and men cannot worship God directly and therefore men shall
please God through worshipping the angels in a humble mind.
There is another kind of heresy thinking that they are above others,
because they have practiced unto an excellent degree that they are enabled to
see the vision which the common people cannot see.
Literal
Meaning: “in false humility”, it is not out of a true heart, but is the
feigned humility.
“Cheat
you of”, the word in the
original means that a referee disqualifies an unlawful athlete and gets him
tossed out of a game.
“Intruding
into those things which he has not seen”, it relates to the desire and indulgence of the
heretics towards the supernatural visions.
According to the appearance, those “who worship the angels” seem to be
“humble”. However, in fact, they think only they themselves “have intruded into
the angels which they have not seen” ---- only they are
able to understand the spiritual mysteries, so they are “puffed up”.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Humility is the virtue of Christians. If it
is presented without cause, it will be of no value.
2) The self-complacent humility is often false
humility, and it is actually out of self-conceitedness.
3) He who has earnest spiritual pursuit often
makes a mistake ---- he considers himself as a holy one and yet despises
others.
4) There is never a self-righteous Christian who
is a real good Christian.
5) Believers should pay attention to the truth
more than their experiences, because our experience may be wrong, but the truth
of God is always right.
6) If believers are satisfied with their
experience in the past, they will not be increased in spirit.
7) Men’s religious zeal for the worship and
service of God may be out of the fleshly mind and desire.
8) The mind of the flesh is death and the mind
of the spirit is life and peace (
Col. 2:19 “and not holding fast to the
Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and
ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God.”
YLT: “and not holding the head, from which all the body --
through the joints and bands gathering supply, and being knit together -- may increase
with the increase of God.”
Meaning of Words: “hold fast”: seize, retain, lay hand on;
“nourish”: supply;
Literal
Meaning: “and not holding fast to the
Head”: not seizing Christ any more and being
attracted to turn to seek what is outside of Christ;
“Nourished
and knit together by joints and ligaments”,
it points that the head is the commanding
center that joints all the parts of the body together and carries nutrient.
Once the body is separated from the head, it will be of no life at all.
“Grows with the increase that is from God”: increase with the increase of God;
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) “Not holding fast to the Head”, it is the secret of the increase of the whole
body. If the church is separated from the head Christ, she will be in disruption.
2) The biggest fault of the common believers in
the church today is holding fast one certain servant of God, or one certain
aspect of truth or one certain kind of policy.
3) Every believer is able to have direct
contact with Christ Himself without any intermediator.
4) The increase of believers lies in God, so
men shall not uphold men (1Cor. 3:6-7).
5) The normal increase of Christians’ life is
the increase of God in them.
Col. 2:20 “Therefore, if you died with
Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the
world, do you subject yourselves to regulations--”
YLT: “If, then, ye did die with the Christ from the rudiments
of the world, why, as living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances?”
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Believers have been delivered from the
worldly things through the death with the Lord (Gal. 6:14).
2) The regulations of the world cannot rule the
dead, for the dead cannot obey them. If a believer has the mind of keeping the
regulations, it proves that he has not died with the Lord.
3) If man desires to keep any regulations, it
shows that he is still under the control of the world.
Col. 2:21 “"Do not touch, do not
taste, do not handle,"”
YLT: “-- thou mayest not touch, nor taste, nor handle --”
Literal
Meaning: “do not touch”, it especially refers to the controlling
of the
indulgence of the flesh in the heretical
teaching (Col. 2:23), e.g. do not touch the member of the opposite sex;
“Do not taste”: abstain from meats (1Tim.
4:3), e.g. do not take alcohol;
“Do not handle”: abstain from common things,
e.g. food;
Col. 2:22 “which all concern things
which perish with the using--according to the commandments and doctrines of
men?”
YLT: “which are all for destruction with the using, after the
commands and teachings of men,”
Meaning of Words: “perish”: ruin, corrupt,
destroy;
Literal
Meaning: “which all concern things
which perish with the using”, it means that all
these things are corrupted once they are used (Matt. 15:17). It is an irony
that the living person shall even be controlled and manipulated by dead things.
How ridiculous!
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Men’s “commandments” and “doctrines” often
make believers unable to hear the words of God.
2) The “commandments” and “doctrines” that are
not according to Christ cannot stand any test at all.
Col. 2:23 “These things indeed have an
appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of
the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.”
YLT: “which are, indeed, having a matter of wisdom in
will-worship, and humble-mindedness, and neglecting of body -- not in any
honour, unto a satisfying of the flesh.”
The Background: the ascetics, one sect of the heresy, think
men should take the body as a humble thing since it is evil ---- they have to
scourge the body and let it suffer hunger and thirst and control the lusts of
the body so as to achieve the purpose of their faith.
Literal
Meaning: “self-imposed religion”: the faith devised by men according to
their own mind;
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) The regulations are
inefficacious, for the lusts of the flesh can not be bound by several
regulations, but be dealt with on the cross.
2) Men’s commandments and doctrines often make
the children of God “have
an appearance of wisdom” only. However,
they themselves suffer in the body ---- “neglect of the body”, and yet “of no value”.
3) The liberty of Christians is not obtained by
keeping the regulations or controlling their lusts, but by living with the Lord
and letting the Lord reign in us.
III.
Outlines of the Spiritual Lessons
The
Signs of the Faithfulness of the Church to the Lord
A. Have the mind of encouragement (v.2);
B. Be knit together in love (v.2);
C. Have the knowledge of Christ in truth
(v.2-3);
D. Not be deceived by the persuasive words (v.4);
E. Keep the order as it is in the army ---- good order and steadfastness
(v.5);
F. Walk in Him (v.6);
G. Be rooted and built in Him (v.7);
H. Abound with thanksgiving (v.7);
The Contrasts
between Christ and the Heretical Doctrines
A. The First Contrast (v.1-7):
1. All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden in Christ can establish men’s faith.
2. The heresy merely deceives men with
persuasive words.
B. The Second Contrast (v.8-15):
1. All the fullness of the Godhead dwells in Christ bodily, which leads men into triumph.
2. The heresy is merely the empty deceit which makes men captivated.
C. The Third Contrast (v.16-19):
1. Christ is the substance of all types which
make men increase.
2. What the heresy keeps is merely shadow,
which cheats men of their reward.
D. The Fourth Contrast (v.20-23):
1. Dying with Christ delivers men from the
bondage of regulations.
2. The death of the heretical regulations is of
no value.
The Balanced Service
of the Lord’s Worker toward the Saints (v.2)
A. Who encourages them to be hopeful toward
themselves ---- their hearts may be encouraged;
B. Who encourages them to have love toward men
---- be knit together;
C. Who encourages them to have faith in God
---- because of the knowledge of Christ in truth;
The Coherent Effects
of Faith
A. Once man has the full assurance, he will
truly know that the mystery of God is Christ (v.2).
B. Once man has the knowledge of Christ in
truth, he will not be deceived and be more established in faith (v.3-5);
C. Once man has been established in faith, he
will be more united with Christ and walk in Him and abound with thanksgiving (v.6-7).
How to Discern the
Heretical Doctrines (v.8)?
A. Which present a series of seemingly subtle
“philosophy”;
B. Which are actually empty “deceit”;
C. Which are “not according to the teachings of
the truth of Christ”;
D. Which pay more attention to the theoretical
doctrines imparted by the leaders;
E. If they are carefully analyzed, the elements
of the world and superstition therein will be easily found.
F. If men are careless, they will be captivated
by them.
The Characteristics
of the True Circumcision (v.11)
A. It is not the circumcision made with hands, but “the
circumcision of Christ”.
B. If is not external or physical, but internal
and spiritual.
C. It is able to put off the body of the sins of the flesh.
What We Have
Obtained in Christ
A. Put off the body of the sins of the flesh
(v.11);
B. Bury with him and be raised with Him (v.12);
C. The forgiveness of all trespasses (v.13);
D. Be delivered from the handwriting of requirements (v.14);
E. Be divorced from the bondage of the power of
darkness (v.15);
The Judgments of the
Heretical Doctrines (v.23)
A. Have an appearance of wisdom ---- it is folly in fact;
B. In self-imposed religion ---- it is not of God;
C. False humility
---- it is puffed up;
D. Neglect of the body ---- it is cruel;
E. Be of no value against the indulgence of the flesh ---- be unable to control the flesh;
Be Rooted
and Built up
A. The Meaning of Being Rooted and Built up
(v.7):
1. In Christ ---- the realm of life;
2. Be rooted ---- the hidden aspect;
3. Be built up ---- the manifested aspect;
B. The Help of Being Rooted and Built up ----
the Conflict of the Lord’s Workers (v.1):
C. The Profits of Being Rooted and Built up
(v.2-5):
1. The hearts are encouraged;
2. Be knit together in love;
3. The full assurance;
4. The knowledge of the mystery of God;
5. Obtain all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden in Christ;
6. So as not to be deceived;
7. Good order;
8. The steadfastness of the
faith in Christ;
D. The Connotations of Being Rooted and Built
up (v.6-7):
1. Walk in Him ---- live and act in Christ;
2. Be established in the faith ---- not be deceived or moved;
3. Be taught ---- be skilled in the word of
righteousness;
4. Abound with thanksgiving ---- because of the knowledge of God’s will;
E. The Obstructions of Being Rooted and Built
up (v.8):
1. Philosophy;
2. Empty deceit
---- politics
3. The tradition of men ---- religion;
4. The basic principles of the world ---- science;
F. The Ways of Being Rooted and Built up
(v.9-15):
1. The knowledge of all the fullness of the
Godhead;
2. Obtain the fullness of Christ in Christ;
3. Experience the circumcision of Christ which
puts off the
body of the sins of the flesh;
4. Be dead, and buried and raised with Christ;
5. The triumph by the cross;
G. The Life of Being Rooted and Built up
(v.16-23):
1. Not stick to the regulations like food, or
festival;
2. Not stick to things which one has seen ---- false humility and worship of angels;
3. Not be puffed up ---- hold fast to the Head
and grow with the increase of God;
4. Not live according to the basic principles of
the world ---- not according to the
commandments and doctrines of men;
──
Caleb Huang《Christian Digest Bible
Commentary Series》
Translated by Mary Zhou