Colossians 2:20

The Pulpit Commentary - Colossians 2:20-23

A warning against asceticism. The apostle now proceeds to deduce the practical consequences of our fellowship in the death of Christ. "If ye died with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, do ye subject yourselves to ordinances, Handle not, nor taste, nor touch (all which things are to perish with the using) after the precepts and doctrines of men?" I. MARK THE PRACTICAL CONSEQUENCES OF OUR SHARING IN THE DEATH OF CHRIST . ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

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

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Colossians 2:20

Wherefore - In view of all that has been said. If it be true that you are really dead to the world, why do you act as if you still lived under the principles of the world?If ye be dead with Christ - If you are dead to the world in virtue of his death. The apostle here, as elsewhere, speaks of a very close union with Christ. We died with him; that is, such was the efficacy of his death, and such is our union with him, that we became dead also to the world; Notes, Romans 6:2, note, 4, note, 8,... 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 2:20

if . App-118 ., a. be dead = died. from , App-104 . subject , &c. Mid. of Greek. dogmatizo, which means to impose dogmas upon one. Supply Ellipsis with " such as ". read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Colossians 2:20

If ye died with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, do ye subject yourselves to ordinances?The rudiments of the world ... has reference to the forms, shadows and ceremonial ordinances of Judaism. See comment on this under Colossians 2:14.As though living in the world ... A Christian is committed to a different life-style, in which the value-judgments of the world are rejected; and for a Christian to undertake all the ceremonies of Judaism, such would be... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Colossians 2:20

Colossians 2:20. Wherefore, if ye be dead with Christ— Mr. Peirce and some others have considered this as the beginning of a new paragraph, addressed particularly to the Jewish zealots at Colosse; and they plead in support of this opinion, that the subjection to ordinances, which the Apostle here reproves, is inconsistent with the applauses that he had before bestowed on the Colossians. But it seems most natural to suppose that he addresses the society in general, and leaves it to their own... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Colossians 2:20

20. Wherefore—The oldest manuscripts omit "Wherefore." if ye be dead—Greek, "if ye died (so as to be freed) from," c. (compare Romans 6:2 Romans 7:2; Romans 7:3; Galatians 2:19). rudiments of the world— (Colossians 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 (Galatians 6:14; 1 Peter 4:1; 1 Peter 4:2). are ye subject to ordinances—By do ye submit to be made subject to... read more

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