Colossians 2:20
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If you have died with Christ to the spiritual forces of the world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its regulations:
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
Wherefore--The oldest manuscripts omit "Wherefore." if ye be dead--Greek, "if ye died (so as to be freed) from," &c. (compare Rom 6:2; Rom 7:2-3; Gal 2:19). rudiments of the world-- (Col 2:8). Carnal, outward, worldly, legal ordinances. as though living--as though you were not dead to the world like your crucified Lord, into whose death ye were buried (Gal 6:14; Pe1 4:1-2). are ye subject to ordinances--By do ye submit to be made subject to ordinances? Referring to Col 2:14 : you are again being made subject to "ordinances," the "handwriting" of which had been "blotted out" (Col 2:14).
Open source ↗I. The apostle expresses concern for the Colossians (Col 2:1-3). II. He repeats it again (Col 2:5). III. He cautions them against false teachers among the Jews (Col 2:4, Col 2:6, Col 2:7), and against the Gentile philosophy (Col 2:8-12). IV. He represents the privileges of Christians (Col 2:13-15). And, V. Concludes with a caution against the judaizing teachers, and those who would introduce the worship of angels (Col 2:16-23).
Open source ↗2:20 You have died with Christ: Christ’s death on the cross marked his victory over the spiritual powers (2:15), so we who participate in his death have likewise been set free from the evil spiritual powers of this world (see 2:8).
Open source ↗Cross-references
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See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, which are based on human tradition and the spiritual forces of the world rather than on Christ.
having canceled the debt ascribed to us in the decrees that stood against us. He took it away, nailing it to the cross!
Therefore let no one judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a feast, a New Moon, or a Sabbath.
So also, when we were children, we were enslaved under the basic principles of the world.
Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace and not by foods of no value to those devoted to them.
We know that we are of God, and that the whole world is under the power of the evil one.
For though we live in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh.
by abolishing in His flesh the law of commandments and decrees. He did this to create in Himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace
If you were of the world, it would love you as its own. Instead, the world hates you, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world.
But as for me, may I never boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.