Colossians 2:18-19

18. Let no man rob you of your prize, by a voluntary humility and worshipping of the angels, dwelling in the things which he hath seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19. and not holding fast the Head, from whom all the body, being supplied and knit together through the joints and bands, increaseth with the increase of God.

Translation and Paraphrase

18. Let no one pass judgment against you (as if he were an umpire), or deprive you of your prize, (while he himself is) delighting in (an outward show of pretended humility (and self-abasement), and in a worship of angels, involving himself in things which he (claims he) has seen, proudly puffed up in his fleshly mind without just cause,
19. and not holding fast unto (Christ) the Head, from whom the entire body (the church), being supplied (with its essential nourishment) and coalesced together through the joints and ligaments (as its individual members have close contact with one another), is growing the growth of God (the growth which God intends).

Notes

1.

A second thing we are to let no one do to us, is to let no one rob us of our prize. Rob here (Gr. katabrabeuo) means to deprive of a prize; or give adverse judgment; or disqualify us as an umpire might disqualify a victory or point in athletic competition. This is somewhat similar to the statement in Colossians 2:16; Let no man judge you.

2.

We are disqualified and robbed of our prize from Christ when we let men talk us into making ourselves humble and into falling down to worship angels.

A voluntary humility is a self-willed humility, a humility that is shown by outward acts of self-denial to the body. It is a false humility that covers overbearing inward pride. Colossians 2:23. True humility can neither be voluntarily put on nor put off.

3.

Those who insist on outward exhibitions of humility and worshipping of angels are usually those who say a great deal about what they have seen, about their visions. They dwell on these things, investigating them, entering into the study of them, and going into details in narrating them.

4.

Those who insist on outward exhibitions of humility and worshipping of angels are usually those who are vainly puffed up by their fleshly minds. Vainly means without just cause. They have no real basis for pride. Their minds are fleshly, being concerned only with themselves and their fleshly desires for honor.

5.

There are some variations in the ancient manuscripts as to whether Colossians 2:18 says what he hath not seen (as in KJV), or which he hath seen (ASV). The explanation probably is that the person who tells about his visions really thinks he has seen them, but is probably deluded. Thus ancient copyists of Paul's letters found it easy to insert not in the clause He hath seen, Probably the visionaries had not really seen what they claimed, but they thought they had. The ASV reading without the not is better supported by manuscript evidence than the other.

6.

Those who insist on outward exhibitions of humility do not hold fast to Christ the Head. (Ephesians 1:22). They, imagine that they have seen visions, and this makes Christ less important to them.

The theme of the whole book of Colossians is that Christ is supreme. He is everything to the child of God. False teachers do not hold fast the Head.

7.

To emphasize the importance of Christ as Head, Paul says that from the head (Christ) all the body (the church) increases with the increase of God (literally, is growing the growth of God). In other words if we do not hold on to Christ as head, we cut ourselves off from the marvelous growth that God can cause us to achieve. (Ephesians 4:15-16).

8.

In order for the church to grow Christ causes the church to be supplied and knit together through its joints and bands. This is a rather complicated description of the growth process of the church, as compared to a human body.

The church is supplied by Christ with all the essential food and gifts and help it needs, just as a body is supplied by wholesome food. The church owes its entire growth to Christ. There is no other source of strength and nourishment.

The church is knit together, that is, closely joined and coalesced together. Its members, though coming from many backgrounds, are harmoniously joined together in one body, until their relationship is as solid as two pieces of a broken bone that have knit back together.

This process of knitting men together in one body is done through the joints and bands, that is, through the joints and ligaments. Any nutrition that passes to our feet to cause them to grow along with the rest of our body, has to go through the knee joint and ligaments. Similarly any growth that one member of the church makes comes about through his contact with other members. Each member has to function in the measure that is due for the whole body to grow. (Ephesians 4:16).

Study and Review

45.

Of what are we to let no man rob (or beguile) us? (Colossians 2:18)

46.

What is voluntary humility? (Colossians 2:18)

47.

How could a worshipping of angels rob us of our prize?

48.

In Colossians 2:18 the Amer. Standard version says dwelling in the things which he hath seen, and the King James version says things he hath not seen. Suggest a reason to account for this variation.

49.

Explain the phrase dwelling in the things which he hath seen.

50.

What is the mental condition of those who do such things as angel worship? (Colossians 2:18)

51.

What (or whom) do the angel-worshippers not hold fast? (Colossians 2:19)

52.

What does the Head do for the body? (Colossians 2:19)

53.

What is the subject of Colossians 2:19, and what is the verb?

54.

What sort of increase should the body (the church) make?