In 1:29, Paul mentioned his labor and striving to complete the task that Christ gave him, to wit, the spreading of the Gospel to all the Gentile peoples, that is, to the nations (which is literally what Gentiles means—the Hebrew for Gentiles is גוים, goyim and the Greek is εθνων, ethnon—both literally mean 'nations'). Such labor necessarily included praying, studying, preaching, traveling, tent making (so that he would not need to depend on the support of others), and so forth. Here in this verse, which is a continuation of the thought he began in verse 29, he is speaking of the conflict he had in prayer, striving with God, and struggling over the brethren of Colossae, Laodicea, and over those whom he had not yet met in person.

He was very anxious for the Colossians and Laodiceans, hence the conflict. The two cities were geographically close together, thus it would be prudent to expect that both the churches would read the epistle. This verse tells us the epistle was an encyclical for at least the churches at Laodicea and Colossae. His anxiety was over the false teachings he knew were creeping into the two churches. (He mentions these false teachings later).

That there were those near Colossae and Laodicea that had never seen Paul's face does not mean that he had never been there. Apparently, these were later additions to the congregations at those cities.

Paul spent much time in prayer and supplication for the brethren at these two cities. He was anxious for them and spent many hours agonizing in effectual and fervent prayer for them. His letter was to be read by both congregations and Paul wanted them to know that he had not been idle on their account, but he had spent many hours on his knees with God in their behalf.

Paul was speaking directly to the Colossians. He wanted them to understand that his conflict was as much for the Laodiceans and the new converts who had never met Paul as for them. Of course, they would all read this epistle or would at least have it read to them. He wanted them to know these things because of all the false and conflicting information bombarding them from every corner. The Judaizers, philosophers, pagans, and false teachers were causing them great distress and Paul wanted them to be comforted. Such conflicting information still bombards the church today.

Being knit together in love - He prayed that they would keep together in the love they had for one another. The word rendered "knit together" is συμβιβασθεντων, sumbibasthenton, passive genitive plural aorist of συμβιβάζω, sumbibatzo. Passive means that they had to take no action for they did love one another already. The aorist indicates no time frame, that is, that action was taken but there is no reference to its completion or continuation. Therefore, we may infer that this is not just for that particular moment, but for all time. The context seems to confirm this inference. Certainly Christians are to be knit together in love. The genitive means that the love is theirs, being put there by the Holy Spirit. And of course the plural indicated that Paul applies it to all of them. Sumbibatzo has several meanings, such as to uplift, to exalt, to cause to come together, to bring together, to join or knit together, or unite. Here we can see by the context that Paul wants them to unite in love so they may stand against the false teachings around them. After all, it is easier for a family to get through trials if they stick together in love.

And unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery - Paul used rich symbolism in his letter because he was trying to be persuasive. He compared the assurance and understanding of their refuge in Christ to great wealth. Such assurance of our security in Christ is riches indeed. He explained that their understanding and assurance was the recognition of the mystery of God. And what is the mystery? It is the Gospel. It was Christ in them. It was the assurance of their salvation in Christ, that they have eternal life, and that Christ would never leave or forsake them. They had the peace that surpasses all understanding and Paul reminded them of this in order to help comfort them. They had the knowledge that God would supply all their "need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (Philippins 4:19). They were rich in these things.

Of God, and of the Father, and of Christ - Paul adds "of the Father, and of Christ". He is simply acknowledging God as Father and Son. The Greek is του θεου και πατρος και του χριστου, tou theou kai patros kai tou christou. Literally, it is, "the God and Father and the Christ." It does not appear that the definite ('the') article is reflexive here. It appears that Paul is distinguishing Christ as a Person of the Godhead. If so the Greek is clearer than the KJV rendering. The Greek simply refers to God as the Father. Read basically, "to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God the Father and the Christ." Therefore, we see that the Christ and the Father are both God.

The wisdom of the world is foolishness to God. Paul assured them that all, that is, everyone without exception, of the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are in God. If you receive your wisdom apart from God, then it is no wisdom. Any knowledge you have apart from God is worthless. The only wisdom and knowledge you can treasure is that which comes from God. The only way to partake of this knowledge is to believe on the Son of God. All of the things being bandied about by the false teachers were of no repute to men and women of God. Be comforted in this assurance.

In other words, do not listen to them for their knowledge is not of God and therefore it is of no consequence. Don't listen to it. There is nothing wrong with healthy and loving debate, but it is senseless to argue with someone who does not have the truth.

Paul's thoughts were often with the folks of Colossae and Laodicea even though he was not physically present with them. He made it a point to inform them of that fact—not to chastise, but so they would be comforted.

Joying and beholding your order – Joy is a usually a noun, but it is also a verb, which may appear as the present participle, 'joying'. The Greek uninflected χαιρω (chairō) means to be glad, to rejoice, or to joy. Paul was continually happy and rejoicing because of their order. The Greek word for order, ταξιν, taxin, the accusative (or object) form of ταξις, taxis, is a military term referring to orderliness, standardization, rank, etc. Paul rejoiced over their orderliness in the affairs of Christ. By adding "and steadfastness of your faith in Christ", Paul shows that they were orderly in their worship assemblies, and their general deportment in all things in their lives. Like the military, they had sound doctrine and strict church discipline. Paul rejoiced in that as though he was actually there among them; seeing those things.

The Colossians had much going for them, foremost of which was their faith in Christ. Paul was reassuring them that if they would continue to walk in Him, then their road would be far smoother.

Paul used the metaphor of a healthy plant with a good root system. Our walk with Christ means we are rooted like a healthy tree, and built up as a stately tree is grown up on a vigorous root system. As a tree is established upon its roots, so Christians are to be established upon our roots, which is our faith in Christ. We are to be grounded, edified, and mature in our faith. We are to be orderly and have sound doctrine as we have been taught by Scripture and by Godly teachers. The Apostle had taught them. He had laid a proper foundation, built upon it, and established teachers to continue their edification. In such they were to abundantly thankful.

Here we get to the point of all of this fortification givne them by the Apostle up to this point. There were men that made it their goal to drive a wedge between the Colossian Christians and their faith. They wanted to cause those Christians to leave their belief in the vicarious atonement of Christ and to practice religious rites. Thus, instead of trusting Christ with their salvation, they would revert to trusting their works. Even today, the world wants us to do works, for the world wrongly believes that good works are the true route to salvation. See the study about works entitled, Filthy Rags.

The word spoil means plunder—the spoil taken in war. Paul was telling them not to let anyone plunder their faith and hope in Christ. In other words, Paul said do not let any man take from you the true doctrines of the faith through philosophy, deceitfulness, traditions of men, or the religious liturgy or rituals of the Jews or Gentiles. Paul did not want them to replace their faith and hope in Christ with faith and hope in themselves, which is futile.

After the rudiments of the world – Rudiments, of course, refers to the basic elements or parts of a thing. The four elements of the world were earth, water, wind, and fire. Of course, we know that the elements of the world are molecular, atomic, and sub-atomic in scope. All elements are made from electrons, protons, and neutrons. Those are the real elements of the world. There are smaller particles than these, but these will suffice to make the point. However, Paul was not referring to the physical rudiments of the world; he was referring to the basic principles of the world. One of those principles, for example is "get or be gotten". That negates the Golden rule. Another is taking correct actions according to the world's wisdom. That means such things as religious rites, politically correct speech, doing good works so one may see, or even be, God, etc.

Religious duties qualify as these rudiments. The Jews required many religious works to be righteous. Circumcision is an example. Other examples are ritual washings, blood sacrifices, and eating regulations. The Judaizers required Christians to be circumcised, and to follow all of the law in addition to their faith in Christ in order to be saved. Paul was speaking about these rudiments.

Following these rudiments instead of Christ would not work. Christ did the atoning work for us, which was a work that none of us could do. To begin again to follow those rudiments would be to make Christ's work worthless. These would entail a turning away from Christ and keeping them from His protection and blessings. Such a thing is idolatry.

The fullness of the Godhead is the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In that fullness is also omniscience, omnipotence, and omnipresence. The world is vain and empty as are its worldly doctrines. The fullness of Christ is opposed to that emptiness. That is because the fullness of the Trinity is in Christ.

The debate goes on. Was Jesus God in the flesh? The argument goes something like this,"There is really no place in the Bible where we are actually told that Jesus is God in the flesh." Aside from the obvious Immanuel and Emmanuel, there are plenty of indications that Jesus was God. This is just such an example.

What exactly is the Godhead? Let us consider the original language. The Greek is Θεοτητος, Theotetos, which means deity, divinity, or the state of being God. Latin Vulgate translates it divinitatis, which is divinity or the nature of God. The English literal translation of the Peshitto (Murdock) says, "in whom dwelleth all the fullness of the Divinity corporeally". The Apostle quite specifically and expressly says that the fullness or completeness of deity, or divinity, or the nature of God, dwells in or inhabits Christ. That is to say, that deity is the nature of Christ. Christ is Divine, being Deity on earth. All of the fullness of Deity means every smidgen of it. There is no limit to it. He is fully Divine. Yet he is fully human or corporeal. He is in the body, a human who has the full amount of Deity in Him.

We need nothing else for we are complete in Christ. Got that? You are complete, fully, absolutely, eternally, with need for nothing else. Being complete in Him guarantees our happiness. We can be satisfied with nothing else but Him. Our toys do not fulfil us. Our bank accounts do not fulfill us. Our wardrobes do not fulfill us. Our plasma TV sets do not fulfill us. Our mansions do not fulfill us. Our SUVs do not fulfill us. Nothing in this world is able to fulfill us except God. Moreover, through His Son, we are fully complete. The world wanders around trying to find something besides God to make them happy. They are on a fruitless search. Only God can complete us.

We do not need to follow the advice of the world because Christ is our all in all. He is King of kings and Lord of lords. He holds sway over all, including those that would force the rudiments of the world upon us. Principalities and powers can be Satan and the demonic hosts, but here they refer to the rulers and those in power in the world. This includes religious leaders and well as military and political leaders. Christ is over all of them. Priests, kings, princes, centurions, senators, generals, consuls, governors, satraps, emperors, pharaohs, mayors, police chiefs, council members, bosses, etc., are all under the dominion of Christ. If we are complete in Him and they are under His dominion, we need not fear them. We must respect their authority, and are to obey the civil magistrates in the law, but we need not allow them to alienate us from Christ.

Paul goes on to show us how and why we are complete in Christ:

Circumcision of the flesh was the identifying mark of the Old Covenant with God. It was the earnest, if you will, of the covenant. If you believed in God under the Old Covenant, then you became circumcised as proof of that belief, and of the relationship you had with God. We are speaking of men only. The Bible only refers to the circumcision of men, which is the cutting away of the prepuce of the male organ. Women were not circumcised. The circumcision of the man covered his wife and daughters under that Covenant.

Physical circumcision is not required under the New Covenant. The shed blood of Christ is enough to pay for our sins and our belief in Him is enough to prove our part in the Covenant. Our circumcision is of the heart. Paul said, in Romans 2:29, "…circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God." In the Old Testament, God also spoke of the circumcision of the heart: Deuteronomy 30:6, "And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live."

The circumcision of the heart is not made with hands; Christ makes it. The Spirit calls us to Christ and when we hear and accept the call and believe, that is when our heart is circumcised. When we believe in Christ, our sins are forgiven; they are put off our body because of His work at Calvary. This removal of our sins is the circumcision of the heart. Christ circumcises our hearts when we believe on Him as our Savior. Physical circumcision is then moot. It makes no difference to our eternal salvation whether we are circumcised in our flesh or not. To make circumcision of the flesh a requirement of salvation is to make the crucifixion of Christ a mockery.

Thus Baptism signifies that we have died and been buried. God the Father, by His power, raised Christ from the dead. So when we believe in Christ we die to ourselves and to sin. We are submerged in the water and that signifies our burial. Just as God was able to raise Christ from the dead, so our coming up out of the water signifies that we are also raised from the dead. When we are saved, we die to our old life, we die to sin, and we walk in new life. The baptism does not accomplish this. It merely signifies that we have died to sin and our old life and that we walk in new life. It is an outward sign of what is in our heart. Romans 6:4, "Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life."

Baptism does not save us. It does not wash our sins away as some teach. What saves us is our faith. It is our faith that God is able to perform an operation that cleanses us and makes us whole and new and fresh and without sin. It is by the same operation that raised Christ from the dead that we are saved. God raised Christ from the dead and through our faith in that operation, we are saved. The blood of Christ washes away our sins, not the water of baptism.

As sinners, we were all dead. Without salvation, mankind is the walking dead. The unsaved are just as dead as if their bodies had already died. Before our salvation, we were among the dead.

The uncircumcised were the Gentiles. Jews referred to Gentiles as uncircumcised. But this also applies to the circumcised who are only circumcised in the flesh and not the heart, for as Paul said in Romans 2:25 "For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision." Paul is speaking of both the Gentiles and the Jews who were the saved among the Christians at Colossae. All of the members of the church at Colossae were once sinners, that is, they were uncircumcised. The unbelieving Jews who broke the law were uncircumcised (that is, all of them, for there is no one without sin), even though they were circumcised in the flesh. Gentiles were uncircumcised in both flesh and heart. So of the members of the church at Colossae there were both Jews and Gentiles and all of them were uncircumcised in the heart. They were all sinners in need of salvation through Christ.

Nevertheless, Christ has quickened us, which means He has given us life together with Him, which is eternal life, for He is eternal. We have that same quickening that He had when raised from the dead. We are enlivened together with Him in the same way that He lives. When we believed on Him, our trespasses, that is, our disobedience of the law, which is our sins, were forgiven. Thus we could be without sin, like He is, and we can have eternal life, just like He does. Simply put, circumcision is not required for salvation.

When he quickened us, he blotted out the ordinances that were against us. What ordinances? Did He blot out the law? No, for He said that not one jot or tittle of the law was abolished (Matthew 5:18). So we must understand what these ordinances were, if not the law. The context of this chapter is the Judaizers and false teachers that would have the saved go back to following the religious rites of the Jews. These Judaizers were indeed teaching and preaching that.

The law, though still in existence today, can only show us our sins. It cannot save. Ordinances were religious rites, which, when properly performed, allowed temporary justification from sins. Every religious ordinance was a part of God's plan for the forgiveness of sin under the old covenant. That covenant provided for the remission of sins by the shedding of the blood of animals such as bulls, goats, lambs, pigeons, doves, etc. Thus atonement was temporary, and had to be performed repeatedly.

Attached to those sacrifices were numerous rules and regulations such as how to kill the victim, how to dress for the occasion, the layout of the tabernacle/temple, the functions of the two different altars, and so forth. The festivals or feast days of the old covenant were also involved in those sacrifices. Passover and the Day of Atonement are specific festivals regarding the shedding of blood for the atonement of sins. The other festivals, also ordinances, looked forward to the Messiah and His sacrifice at Calvary. Since our atonement is no longer dependent on the sacrifices of animals, then there is no longer any need for those blood ordinances. Today, we simply practice the ordinance of the Lord's Supper in commemoration of all those ordinances that Christ nailed to the cross. The ordinances commemorated by the Lord's Supper are no longer necessary and therefore are no longer in force. Christ fulfilled the ordinances that looked forward to Him and there is no point participating in an observance fulfilled by Him. We observe those ordinances by worshipping Him.

The opinion of some is that the handwriting of ordinances was the Mosaic Law. I think we can safely say that is not what is meant, for the law has not been rescinded according to Jesus in Matthew 5:18. Others claim that the handwriting is the record of our sin debts and it was our indebtedness to the law that was nailed to the cross. Still others say that the handwriting was an indictment written against us that was canceled by Christ's work at Calvary. While these are true statements, they do not fit the context of this chapter.

From the context, we see several ordinances mentioned that were nailed to the cross with Christ. I will state that it is my belief, that is, my opinion, that this refers to those religious rites mentioned in this chapter and any rite or ordinance practiced as a means of atonement or that looked forward to Christ. Christ is our atonement and He fulfilled those ordinances. The ones mentioned in this chapter are, as written, meat, drink, holyday, new moon, Sabbaths, tasting, touching, and handling. These things are specific references to specific religious rites. Those rites include clean and unclean things (touch not, handle not), the food laws (taste not, meat, drink) the feasts (holydays), the New Moon observances, and all of the Sabbaths. The Sabbath days include the weekly Sabbath, and the Sabbaths attached to all the feasts. We will discuss each of those, in turn, when we arrive at them.

Those religious ordinances, which were written ordinances, were nailed to the cross of Jesus. The Judaizers were trying to get the Christians of Colossae to do those things. They wanted Christians to observe the clean and unclean laws, the food laws, the feast days, the New Moon observances, and the Sabbaths. They wanted to add these things to faith as a means of salvation. They wanted people to combine faith and works (specifically adherence to the Jewish ceremonial laws). Paul told them these things were not required and that they should avoid them. They were not only not required, but were actually harmful, because they were idolatrous. If a person allowed those ordinances to replace what Christ did at Calvary such was idolatry.

A comment. Many supposed "Christian" organizations today advocate the observance of one or more of these things as a means of salvation. Some insist on obedience to the Sabbath. Some require certain food laws. Some require penance. Some require the wearing of certain clothing. Some will not mention or write the words God, Lord, etc. The list could go on. The fact is that all of these things were nailed to the cross and are not effective for salvation. In fact, because they are practiced in lieu of or along with belief in Christ, they are idolatrous. When you perform any work at all in order to be saved, you are practicing idolatry or spiritual adultery.

Remember verse 10, "And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power". Paul is still listing the ways we are complete in Christ. Christ was and is head over all principalities and powers. Additionally, I will add here that He is head over all hosts including the hosts of Satan. The word rendered spoiled in this verse means to strip off clothing, coverings, etc., or to expose. He divested them of all of their power and authority and exposed them for what they were.

These principalities and powers were rulers and chiefs of Israel in the Sanhedrin, the scribes, Pharisees, and Sadducees, the synagogue leaders, and all who had great authority among the people. By their power, they were leading the people astray. Christ triumphed over them. He triumphed as well over Satan and his minions. The idea of making a show of them is from the military tactic of openly exposing the fallen enemy leaders to all who would see. He triumphed over them and exposed them for who they were at Calvary. Who were they? They were blind guides, blinded to the truth, and they were reactionaries. They were intent on preventing the truth from shining out by keeping the people tied to the old covenant and its rites.

Let no one tell you what you may eat or what you may not eat. In other words, the food ordinances were no longer required. All of the foods (and drinks) declared unclean by those ordinances were now clean. The holydays were those original seven feasts of God, Passover (Pecach), Unleavened Bread (Matzot), Firstfruits (Bikkurim), Pentecost (Shavout), Trumpets/New Year (Teruah/Rosh Hashanah), Atonement (Kippur), and Tabernacles (Sukkot), plus Chanukah and Purim, which were added after the Exile. We need not observe them. Some provided atonement, others looked forward to Christ. All were fulfilled by Him. The New Moon festivals were held each month at the new moon. Special sacrifices were killed, and trumpets were blown (Numbers 10:10). They are no longer required.

Sabbath days – The Greek is σαββατων, sabbatōn, or simply, Sabbaths. The meaning of this word is much disputed. Some say that all Sabbaths, including the weekly Sabbaths are done away with. Others say that they refer only to the Sabbaths connected with the feasts. Some say we must worship on the Sabbath, that is, on the last day of the week (Saturday). They say though the festival Sabbaths are done away with, the weekly Sabbath is not.

I believe that anything that Christ fulfilled, including all of the feasts, the food laws, and clean and unclean laws were abrogated at Calvary. Christ fulfilled the Sabbath. He has provided our rest (Hebrews 4:9). The word for rest in Hebrews 4:9, is σαββατισμος, sabbatismos, which means "sabbath-rest". Jesus Christ has provided our Sabbath rest because of the work He did on the cross. Our Sabbath rest is eternity with God. Without Jesus' work at Calvary, we would have no Sabbath rest. Therefore Jesus is our Sabbath rest.

With Jesus, the spirit of the fourth commandment is fulfilled. God provided the Sabbath so we can rest. The ultimate rest, of which the Old Covenant Sabbath is a type or shadow, is our eternity with Christ. Christ fulfilled that type. Since He fulfilled it, we only need Him. Since Jesus fulfilled it, we no longer need to observe the Sabbath as provided in the Law.

Having said that, we are still to meet together for worship on a weekly basis. The early church met every Sunday. We should still do that for the Bible says, in Hebrews 10:25, "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." It is not a requirement for Salvation, but is an ordinance we are instructed to observe after we are saved.

All of those things we have just reviewed are a shadow of things to come. In fact, everything in the Old Testament is an example for us. All of those religious observances were shadows of things to come (Hebrews 8:5, 10:1).

Apparently there were false teachers teaching false humility and angel worship. False humility can mean mortifying the body and becoming an aesthetic. It can mean going into orders, like monasteries, where humility is forced. It can mean pretending to be humble so that others can see you (like the Pharisees). It can mean that the false teachers were using a false humility to insinuate themselves into the assembly and thus lead people astray, thus beguiling them of their rewards for their works. Perhaps this last idea is the most compelling because it seems to fit the context.

Intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind – These were unsaved people that thought they knew the truth about things they have never seen. If they were not saved, then they could not have known the truths about Christianity. The Spirit must come into their hearts and teach them those things. The flesh mind can get vainly puffed up when it thinks it knows about things of the Spirit when there is no Spirit in the heart. They think they know all of the things about God and worship, yet they truly do not. Avoid those fools.

The Head, of course, is Christ. Not holding the Head is not having Christ as their Savior. The body and joints are the church, ever dependent on the Head for all things, including spiritual nourishment served to us by the Head, which nourishment is our lifeblood. The body is knit together in unity. No outsider may really have a part in that body until he embraces the Head as his Savior. The increase give by God causes the church to increase. This means in maturity, numbers, and standing. Those false teachers, using false humility to worm themselves into the assembly still do not have the Head and therefore are not a part of the Body. They will not have increase because increase comes from God. They will ultimately fail. Watch out for them.

We are not, yet some of them were led astray.

Touch not and handle not have respect to the laws of the clean and unclean. One could not touch or handle a dead body, a dead animal, and unclean person or thing, a woman after childbirth, etc., without becoming unclean. Then they would have to observe a specific ritual to become clean again. This was nailed to the cross. Christ fulfilled the clean and unclean laws. All who are not saved are unclean, all who are saved are clean and cannot become unclean again because of the blood of Christ. Since Christ fulfilled these, they are no longer in effect.

No observance of the law, any law, will save you. Though we obey every ordinance and every law, we will still die without Christ. We should not follow after the commandments of men when they oppose what God wants us to do.

A show of wisdom in this case, is an affront, designed to make others believe it is true wisdom. The things said give the impression of wisdom, but they truly are not wise things.

Will worship (εθελοθρησκεια, the dative singular case of εθελοθρησκια) is worship styled by the person's will, that is, by his desire. It is not worship inspired by the Holy Ghost, but is worship designed by the person involved in it. It is making God in your own image—that is, worship in any you want or see fit. Those folks were advocating worship through ceremony and ordinance, which is idolatry. Interestingly, the Vulgate used the word superstitione, from superstitionis, to render εθελοθρησκεια. Superstitionis, when translated, is superstition or irrational religious awe.

Humility here is false humility, designed for observation by others.

The neglecting of the body is asceticism. Asceticism is the practice of monasteries, where neglecting the body is deemed an asset to worship. Paul told them not to observe the ordinances, many of which included neglecting the body.

There was no honor in these things except to the honoring of the flesh. They did not honor God, nor did they provide any spiritual benefit. In fact they were actually a spiritual detriment, being idolatrous.

These things were practiced as good works. These good works, (will worship, false humility, denying oneself, denying the needs of the body) are of no value in overcoming sins of the flesh. As with any good work, it is only good if it is done by a Christian who has been credited with the righteousness of Christ because of the Christian's faith. All other works are as filthy rags in God's eyes.