Colossians 2:21

The Pulpit Commentary - Colossians 2:20-23

The Christian's exemption from bondage to outwardness. "The rudiments of the world," of which our text speaks, are, according to Bishop Lightfoot, "the rudimentary, elementary, ordinances and discipline of the mundane sphere;" or, according to Conybeare, "the childish lessons of outward firings." Taking the two renderings together, does it not seem that Paul is rather speaking of the spirit of outward things, and not of outward things themselves—the spirit of outwardness as opposed to that... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Colossians 2:20-23

The worthlessness of unauthorized ceremonialism. The apostle here reverts to the ethical errors of the false teachers. Combining his teaching here and elsewhere respecting what he calls "the rudiments of the world," we learn the following truths:— I. " THE RUDIMENTS OF THE WORLD " WERE USEFUL IN THEIR OWN TIME AND PLACE . The difficult expression, "rudiments of the world," seems to mean elementary teaching on the religious life which was no part of the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Colossians 2:21

gives examples of the decrees which the Colossians are blamed for regarding and in this respect more than in any other they seem to have yielded to the demands of the false teacher. 'Do not handle, nor taste, nor touch' (verses 16, 23; 1 Corinthians 6:12 , 1 Corinthians 6:13 ; 1 Corinthians 8:8 ; 1 Corinthians 10:25-27 , 1 Corinthians 10:30 ; Romans 14:14-17 ; 1 Timothy 4:3-5 ; Titus 1:15 ). These rules form part of a prohibitory regimen by which sinful tendencies to bodily... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Colossians 2:21

Tough not; taste not; handle not - These words seem intended as a specimen of the kind of ordinances which the apostle refers to, or an imitation of the language of the Jewish teachers in regard to various kinds of food and drink. “Why are ye subject to ordinances of various kinds, such as this - Touch not, taste not, handle not?” That is, such as prohibit you from even touching certain kinds of food, or tasting certain kinds of drink, or handling certain prohibited things. The rapid succession... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Colossians 2:20-23

Colossians 2:20-23. Wherefore The inference begun Col 2:16 is continued. A new inference follows Colossians 3:1. If ye be dead with Christ As by receiving the ordinance of baptism ye profess to be; from the rudiments, or elements, of the world See on Colossians 2:8. From those ceremonies, which persons among the Gentiles or the Jews are apt to place so much dependance on; why, as though living in the world In the manner you formerly did, and being still influenced by the spirit of... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Colossians 2:16-23

Christian freedom in practice (2:16-3:4)In view of the freedom that Christ has won for them, the Colossian believers must not listen to those who try to force them to obey the rules and regulations of the Israelite law. Practices taught in the law may be compared to shadows. They are not solid or permanent, but their existence enables the viewer to know that there is some real object that casts the shadows. That real object is Jesus Christ. Now that he has come, the shadows are of no further... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Colossians 2:21

not . Greek. mede. handle . Greek. thingano. Only here, Hebrews 11:28 ; Hebrews 12:20 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Colossians 2:21

Handle not, nor taste, nor touch (all which things are to perish with the using), after the precepts and doctrines of men?Again reference is made to the great Magna Carta of the Christian religion in the Gospel of Matthew, where the Saviour equated human traditions with the precepts of men, saying, "In vain do they worship me, teaching as their doctrines the precepts of men" (Matthew 15:9). Paul was confronted at Colossae with some of the same punctilious attention to human traditions as that... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Colossians 2:21

Colossians 2:21. (Touch not, &c.— "Touch not any thing ceremonially unclean: taste not any food which the law prohibits:handle not any thing by which legal pollutions may be contracted." The quick succession of these precepts, without any copulative between them, happily expresses the eagerness with which the seducing teachers inculcated these things. But I believe that the Pythagorean philosophy is here also alluded to. See the analysis. read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Colossians 2:21

21. Compare :-, "meat . . . drink." He gives instances of the "ordinances" (Colossians 2:20) in the words of their imposers. There is an ascending climax of superstitious prohibitions. The first Greek word (hapse) is distinguished from the third (thiges), in that the former means close contact and retention: the latter, momentary contact (compare 1 Corinthians 7:1; John 20:17, Greek, "Hold me not"; cling not to me"). Translate, "Handle not, neither taste, nor even touch." The three refer to... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Colossians 2:20-23

The Pulpit Commentary - Colossians 2:20-23

The Pulpit Commentary - Colossians 2:21

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Colossians 2:21

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Colossians 2:20-23

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Colossians 2:16-23

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Colossians 2:21

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Colossians 2:21

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Colossians 2:21

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Colossians 2:21

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