Exegesis of Colossians 2:9-15

Exegesis of Colossians 2:9-15

"To emphasize the deity and supremacy of Christ in the face of the Colossian heresy and encourage the Colossian believer to lead and motivate them to spiritual maturity" (http://www.basic-bible-knowledge.com)

Colossians is a letter that was written in C.A.D. 60, the same year that Philemon was written and they were both written by Paul the Apostle (http://www.oldpaths.com). Colossians is known as one of the prison epistles (http://www.nwcmpls.org) because Paul wrote the letter while being under house arrest in Rome. Paul the Apostle, also known as Saul, was once a Jew who persecuted Christians. While Saul was on the road to Damascus, God talked to him and asked Saul why he persecuted him (http://www.theologyweb.com). This made Saul realize what he was doing and at that moment he was saved, however, he also became blind for three days (http://www.ncbi.nlm). When Saul reached Damascus, a man named Ananias sent to Saul, by God, to go pray for his eyesight to be restored (http://www.catholiccourier.com). After Saul received his sight he became a true follower of the way. When Saul returned to Jerusalem he was rejected by both, the Jews for converting and the Christians for persecuting them, in result, Saul went back to Tarsus longing to be in the ministry but not able to do so. Saul's chance at being in the ministry came across him when Barnabas became his mentor and gave him a chance to minister to the Gentiles (http://www.catholiccourier.com). In their ministry together, they traveled to many different areas teaching Gentiles the true way. When Paul was in Ephesus, he led a man to Christ by the name of Epaphras who then took the Gospel to the City of Colosse. When Epaphras took the Gospel to Colosse, he started a church that seemed to be successful but soon became a target for all kinds of attack from the enemy (http://www.angelfire.com/sc3). Epaphras went to Paul for help, considering Paul was under house arrest in Rome, the only thing he could do was write a letter for guidance. Paul's letter was to the church of Colosse was filled with Encouragement for the people to stay strong in their beliefs and not to give into the false teachings around them (http://www.maclellan.net). Paul encourages them by stating "My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." (2:2-3). Paul also reminds them of the type of God they serve by stating; "For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority. In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands'' (2:9-11).

In Colossians 2:9-15 Paul talks about Jesus being the "bodily form" of God and how we have been given fullness through Christ who is "the head over every power and authority" (2:10). Paul speaks on circumcision in a way that is not "done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ" (2:11) meaning that if we believe that Christ died on the cross for our sins then we are seen as clean and we do not need a ritual such as circumcision to prove our beliefs (http://www.intothyword.org). The NIV Study Bible states that the theme of Colossians is "to demonstrate that Christ is supreme over every human philosophy and accomplishment" the verses 2:9-15 contribute to that statement because it shows Christ's overall supremacy and how he is the exact bodily form of God. The Book of Colossians is written to refute the Colossian heresy focuses on earthly things and the rules of "Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!" (2:21). This passage is located under the title "Freedom From Human Regulations Through Life With Christ" and 2:9-15 definitely shows the freedom that we have gained through our belief in Jesus Christ as our Savior; this passage mentions how we have been "given fullness in Christ" (2:10), "raised with him through your faith in the power of God" (2:12), we have been made "alive with Christ" (2:13), and states how Jesus was more than able to get rid of our sins and "make a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross" (2:15).

The section before 2:9-15, (2:6-8), is a valid starter for the section titled "Freedom From Human Regulations Through Life With Christ" because it reminds the Colossians to "continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness" (2:6-7). That statement is a good beginning to this whole passage because it shows Paul reminding the Colossians to stay rooted in their beliefs and then he goes into his warning to "see to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy" (2:8). This passage, 2:6-8, sets up 2:9-15 really well because it reminds us, it warns us, and then goes into an in-depth reminder of our freedom through Christ.

The verses 2:16-23 is Paul talking about the Colossians not allowing anyone to make them feel guilty for what they eat or drink because according to Jesus, that doesn't matter as long as we believe in what Christ did for us. Paul also tells them to not allow people who "delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize" (2:18). Paul also speaks on people who have "lost connection with the head" (2:19), refferring to the false teachers. Paul asks the Colossians a very valid question that we can still ask ourselves to this day; "Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules" (2:20). Paul says that these rules are insignificant when it comes to the kingdom and that they will soon "perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings" (2:22). 2:9-15 sets up this last part of the section because it tells the Colossians how they have come to obtain this freedom and then leads into what they have freedom from and what rules and beliefs to not indulge in. 2:9-15 ends with Paul talking about how our sins have been taken away by Christ and how "he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross" (2:15). That ending sets up 2:16-23 perfectly because after that last statement, the next section starts off with "Therefore, do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink..." (2:16), meaning; that because God sent his son to die on the cross and pay the ransom for our sins, we need