Colossians 2:19

and not holding fast the Head, from whom all the body, being supplied and knit together through the joints and bands, increasing with the increase of God.

'AND' -The description of these false teachers continues.

'NOT HOLDING FAST' -'fails to maintain union with' (TCNT); 'He doesn't cling to the Head'.

'THE HEAD' -i.e. Jesus Christ (Colossians 1:18)

Point to Note:

Carefully consider the explosive ramifications of this statement. The verse is connected ('and') with the previous verses: (a) Claiming visions, etc...when God hasn't really spoken to you, is to abandon Christ. Putting words into the mouth of God isn't an innocent or dumb but well-intentioned exercise. It is to forsake Christ! (b) Going back to the Law of Moses, is to forsake Jesus Christ. Jesus has been abandoned by those groups who insist on following parts of the Law of Moses. Christ isn't their Savior, they have abandoned Him for the Law. (c) When you stop listening to Christ, you make yourself. prime target for believing something that is false (2 Thessalonians 2:10).

'FROM WHOM' -'Fixing the personal reference to the head to Christ.' (Vincent p. 497)

'ALL THE BODY' -Paul doesn't conceive of. "Christianity" or. relationship with God which can exist apart from being in the body of Christ, i.e. the Church (Ephesians 1:22). 'Lone-wolf' or an 'all-on-my-own' spirituality, isn't spiritual after all.

'BEING SUPPLIED AND KNIT TOGETHER THROUGH JOINTS AND BANDS, INCREASETH WITH THE INCREASE OF GOD'

Points to Note:

1. This passage is much like Jesus' teaching about the vine and the branches (John 15:1). The inference is that spiritual growth and maturity are impossible if you lose your grip on Jesus and His teachings. The inference also is, that growth is only possible, spiritual blessings are only available to those in "the body" (Ephesians 1:3). Compare with Ephesians 4:15.

2. Notice the expression "THE ENTIRE BODY" (NASV). 'Paul condemns the tendencies to intellectual or spiritual exclusiveness, which cripple alike the body and the members who exhibit such tendencies.' (Gr. Ex. N.T. p. 533)

3. False teaching severs you from Christ and the body (2 John 1:9). Spiritual growth, maturity and enlightenment happen either in God's prescribed way or they don't happen at all.

4. Disloyalty to the Head works destruction in the body. 'Gnosticism from the beginning tended to disintegrate the Church, by the caste-feeling.' (P.P. Comm. p. 94)

WARNING AGAINST ASCETICISM: