Colossians 2:16-23

16aTherefore let no one pass judgment on

you

16bin questions of food and drink, or with

regard to a festival or a new moon or a

Sabbath.

17aThese are a shadow of the things to

come,

17b but the substance belongs to Christ.

18a Let no one disqualify you,

18binsisting on asceticism and worship of

angels,

18c going on in detail about visions,

18dpuffed up without reason by his

sensuous mind,

19a and not holding fast to the Head,

19b from whom the whole body, nourished

19cand knit together through its joints and

ligaments,

19d grows with a growth that is from God.

20aIf with Christ you died to the elemental

spirits of the world,

20b why, as if you were still alive in the

world,

20cdo you submit to regulations [according

to human precepts and teachings]--

21a "Do not handle,

21b Do not taste,

21c Do not touch"

22(referring to things that all perish as they

are used)-- according to human precepts

and teachings?

23a

These have indeed an appearance of

wisdom in promoting self-made religion

and asceticism and severity to the body,

23bbut they are of no value in stopping the

indulgence of the flesh.

S

 

S

Cf

Id

Exp

S

P

Mn

Ac

S

S

G

Csv

Csv

Id

Exp

Id

Exp

Sit

R

not holding fast to the Head

is the root cause which lead

to all these false practices

or manifestations

 

not holding fast to the Head

is the root cause which lead

to all these false practices

or manifestations

Ac

Mn

P

G

G

G

 

Colossians 2:16-23

Notes

There's a strong point Paul is making here. First he talks about allowing no one to pass judgment, and he explains in

what respects, then giving the reason why. But then he brings it up a notch saying let no one disqualify them. From

passing judgment in more trivial things to the issue of salvation, Paul's tone is getting more serious here. The flow of

thought is generally quite similar but it is definitely building up to his big question.

Paul's big question to the reader is 'why are you doing all these things?' It poses as a question but also becomes a

ground for the previous issues because he argues that they've died to worldly elemental spirits with Christ and these

are regulations according to human precepts and teachings. Not only that, they are regulations concerning perishable

objects. He really drives the nail home in giving the reason for his frustration. The fact that these things have an

appearance of wisdom but are worthless isn't an answer to the question, because the question is rhetorical.

v20-23 really form the basis of his instruction to not allowing other people to judge them according to trivial issues like

food and festivals or letting others sway them in their worship and practices because they are of no value .They do

not and cannot add anything to their salvation.