Colossians 2:13

And you It is as if the Apostle would have written, "and you with Him" carrying on the last sentence. But he pauses on the word "you," and makes a new statement.

dead inyour sins See Ephesians 2:1; Ephesians 2:5, for a close parallel written about the same time.

" Dead" :devoid of spiritual and eternal life, in its Christian sense. For the truth that unregenerate man is thus "dead" see Ephesians 5:14; Joh 5:24; 1 John 3:14; 1 John 5:12; and cp. John 3:3; John 6:53. See also Genesis 2:17. The state indicated is one not of dormancy, or imperfect development, but one in which a living principle necessary for organization, growth and energy, in reference to God and holiness, is entirely lacking, and in which there is no innate tendency to develop such a principle. The "life eternal" must come ab extra.

in your sins Better, in respect of your trespasses; the conditions and the symptoms of the "death." On the word rendered "trespass" see Trench, N. T. Synonyms, on ἁμαρτία, and our note on Ephesians 2:1. It has a slight tendency by usage to denote sin in its less grievous aspects; but this must not be pressed here.

the uncircumcision of your flesh A phrase explained by the previous passage (Colossians 2:11) where the spiritual circumcision is in view, and "the body of the flesh." It is the unregenerate state, in which man is separated neither from the guilt of sin nor from its power.

hath he quickened Better, He quickened, He raised to life; ideally, when your Lord rose, actually when you came into union with Him by faith.

The word "you" should be repeated after "quickened," by the best documentary evidence.

having forgiven Better, forgiving; at the moment, in the act, of the "quickening." The Lord's Resurrection was the expression of the fact of His acceptance by the Father; our entrance on union with Him as the Risen One was the expression of our acceptance in Him.

you Better, us; all believers, not Gentiles only. "St Paul is eager to claim his share in the transgression, that he may claim it also in the forgiveness" (Lightfoot).

all trespasses Lit., all the trespasses; with reference to the recent mention of "your trespasses" (see last note but three). Observe the Divine fulnessof the remission.