Colossians 2:22 - Exposition

Is the apostle's comment on these rules, in the form of a continuation of their terms. Do not touch— things which are an intended to perish (literally, for corruption ) in their consumption , which, being destroyed as they are used, therefore do not enter into the soul's life, and are of themselves morally indifferent; so the Greek Fathers, and most modern interpreters. This is the position which Christ himself takes in regard to Jewish distinctions of meats ( Mark 7:14-23 , R.V.). We note the same style of sarcastic comment on the language of the false teachers as that exhibited in Colossians 2:18 . Augustine, Calvin, and some ethers render, "which (decrees) tend to (spiritual) destruction in their use;" but ἀποχρῆσις never means simply "use," and the antecedent "decrees" is awkwardly supplied. More plausibly, De Wette and some modems interpret, "things which tend to (spiritual) destruction in their abuse," putting the words in the mouth of the false teacher, as though he said, "Abstain from everything the use of which may be fatal to the soul." But this ascribes to the errorist an argument which fails short of his principles (see note on "hard treatment of the body," Colossians 2:23 ); and to which, specious as it is, and in harmony with the apostle's own teaching ( 1 Corinthians 6:12 ; 1 Corinthians 9:26 , 1 Corinthians 9:27 ), he makes no reply. According to the commandments and teachings of men ; the only passage in this Epistle which distinctly alludes to the language of the Old Testament. But the words are, we may suppose, primarily a reminiscence of the language of Christ, who uses them in connection with his announcement of the abolition of the sacred distinctions of meats. This clause points out the method after which, and direction in which, the new teachers were leading their disciples, on the line of a man-made instead of a God given religion. "Commandments" (or, "injunctions'') include the prescriptions of Colossians 2:21 and all others like them; "teachings" embrace the general principles and doctrines on which these rules were based. So this expression, following "rudiments of the world ( Colossians 2:20 ), leads us back by a rapid generalization from the particulars specified in Colossians 2:21 to the general starting point given in Colossians 2:8 (see note), and prepares us for the brief and energetic summary of the whole Colossian error which we find in—