Warning against the Colossian Heresy

Warning against the Colossian Heresy

The Colossian Heresy as a Philosophy

• Warnings against Deceptive Philosophy – 2:8-15

The Colossian Heresy as a Religion

• Warning against Rituals and Regulations (2:16–23)


Therefore do not let anyone judge youin food or drinkin regard to a festival

new moon, sabbaths, these are a shadow of thing to comeChrist is the substance/realityLet no one disqualify/condemn you

by insisting on self-humiliation the worship of angels entering into these things that he as seen,conceited without reason by his carnal mind . . .


if you have died with Christ to the stoicheia of the world Why do you submit to its rules? as though you still belongs to the world do not handle do not taste do not touch all these rules have to do with things that perish,

they are merely human commands and teachings Such rules lack any value in restraining sinful indulgencealthough they have the appearance of wisdom

self-imposed worshipself-humiliationharsh treatment of

the body


• 2:16 – Because God has completely reconciled the Colossians in Christ, they are free from condemnation and practicing formerly obligatory customs for God’s covenant people or from the requirements of Pagan ritualism/mystery cults.

– It is possible that the Colossian believers were experiencing judgment from within the church regarding Jewish dietary laws and holy days.

– It is also possible that these regulations were related to magical rituals and rites related to initiation into a mystery cult.

• Either way Paul gives a strong command to stop allowing someone to judge or pass a condemning sentence against them.

•


• 2:17 – Paul uses the words shadow and substance (lit. “body”) to contrast the incomplete nature of these former obligations with the fullness brought about by Christ.

• God instituted the dietary laws and holy days as a means to foreshadow the coming reconciliation in the Messiah.

• The actual contrast comes from Jewish eschatology (“what was to come”) rather than a Platonic dualism (i.e., material versus immaterial). This is another way of saying that Jesus is the fulfillment of the Law (cf. Heb 10:1).


• 2:18 – Since they are complete in Christ, Paul commands them not to allow anyone to disqualify them.

• The word disqualify comes from the athletic arena where a referee determines that an athlete has violated the rules and is subsequently barred from competition.

• This threat of disqualification relates to practicing spiritual disciplines imposed by the false teachers.


• Ascetic practice is the translation of the normal word for humility, but in context of the false teaching it most likely refers to harsh treatment of the body (i.e. self-humiliation).

• The worship of angels may be understood as the worship rendered to angels but is more likely the worship performed by angels. It is also likely to be a reference to worshiping the angels as evidenced by apotropic magical incantations.

• This worship was conducted through entrance into the visionary realm. Paul, however, identified these visions as egotistical delusions of a carnal mind.


• 2:20 – Since they have died with Christ (Cf. 2:11) to the elemental forces of this world, they are liberated from worldly rules.

• 2:21 – Paul seemingly quotes some of the obligations imposed by the false teachers who were judging and disqualifying the believers.

• 2:22 –Although these false teachers believed that their obligations promoted spirituality, Paul alludes to Isa 29:13 when he identifies these regulations as human commands and doctrines (see note 2:8 human traditions), rather than divine in origin


• 2:23 – Paul concedes that these regulations have a reputation of wisdom in that it appears to provide enlightened spiritual understanding (cf. Col 1:9).

• However, he avers that in reality these practices offer no real value against fleshly indulgence. – The term for fleshly indulgence or “gratification”

could constitute a play on the word “fullness.”

– As such, this false philosophy promises a fullness of wisdom through severe aestheticism but it fails miserably in achieving its intended goal.

Questions for Reflection

• What were some of the practices associated with the “Colossian heresy”?

• How does Paul combat the influences of the “Colossian heresy”?

• How do we apply Paul’s teachings on these matters in our contemporary context?

OutlineI. II. BODY: THE SUPREMACY AND ALL-

SUFFICIENCY OF CHRIST (1:9–4:6)B. Believers’ New Life in Christ (3:1–4:6)1. Pursuing the Things Above (3:1–4)2. Putting Earthly Things to Death (3:5–8)3. Putting off the Old Self and Putting on the New Self (3:9–11)4. Extending Grace and Forgiveness to Others (3:12–17)5. Bringing the Christian Household under the Realm of Christ’s Lordship (3:18–4:1)6. Encouragement to Prayer and Circumspect Interaction with Unbelievers (4:2–6)

Warning against the Colossian Heresy

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