Interesting Words
take captive
(συλαγωγέω – Greek) – sulagógeó ► verb: to seduce, lead away as booty, carry away as spoil – used only once in NT, here…. Root word ago is used in many places (71 times)… Rom 8:14;
empty
(κενός – Greek) – kenos ► adj: vain, empty-handed, empty, foolish, futile things – Luke 1:53; Acts 4:25; 1Cor 15:14;
deception
(ἀπάτη – Greek) – apaté ► noun: deceitful, deceiving, delusion, cheat, motivated by guile and treachery – Matt 13:22, Eph 4:22; Heb 3:13; 2Peter 2:13;
elementary principles
(στοιχεῖον – Greek) – stoicheion ► noun: element, rudimentary principle – Gal 4:9; Col 2:20-21; Heb 5:12;
fullness
(πλήρωμα – Greek) – pléróma ► noun: fullness, fulfilling, full, complete – Eph 3:19, 4:13; Col 1:19;
complete
(πληρόω – Greek) – pléroó ► verb – accomplish, complete, fulfill – John 17:12; Rom 15:14; Eph 1:23; 3:19; 5:18;
certificate of debt
(χειρόγραφον – Greek) – cheirographon ► noun: hand-written (“chirograph”), i.e. a manuscript (specially, a legal document, manuscript, record of debts – used only once in NT, here.
decrees
(δόγμα – Greek) – dogma ► noun: law (civil, ceremonial or ecclesiastical), decrees, ordinances – Luke 2:1; Acts 16:4-5; Eph 2:15;
Cross References
▪︎ 1Peter 3:21;
▪︎ Gal 2:20;
▪︎ Eph 6:11, 12;
Discussion Questions
1. Why was Paul so eager to give a warning right up front (Col 2:8)?
▪︎ It is important for all humanity to follow Christ and not be sidetracked.
▪︎ Its critical enough to be started immediately, no time to waste, not even to finish reading the sentence.
▪︎ The fact that people are being taken captive (taken as spoil in a battle) implies an irreversible state if completed. Thankfully, God is not finished with them even if they succumb to a false tracher or two (heaven forbid)… Eph 4:14.
▪︎ False teaching is empty, has no value, total vainity (Eph 5:6)
▪︎ It is deception, crafted by the devil himself (John 8:44; Rev 12:10;).
▪︎ Traditions of men are of no value in God’s economy and habit forming (Rom 16:18).
2. What is Christ’s goal for each of us (Col 2:10)?
▪︎ He wants us to be completely His… 100 percent, totally His.
▪︎ To be completely in Him… 100 percent, all in, all the chips.
▪︎ He wants us to experience all His fullness, all the fullness of God (Eph 3:19, 4:13).
▪︎ He wants us to see Him as He is and to honor Him as Lord (John 17:6-7), giving Him complete control (Col 1:18).
▪︎ Typo originally had Col 3:10 talking about how we are a new creation in Christ.. 2Cor 5:17; Rom 8:29;
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3. How does He plan to accomplish that goal?
▪︎ One person at a time, one test at a time, purifying us one step at a time (1Peter 1:7; 2Cor 3:18)
▪︎ Through the intimate relationships we have in the church (Eph 5:31-32)
▪︎ Each member contributing to the overall result (Eph 4:11-12), and the word of God (Heb 4:12).
▪︎ Spiritual reproduction – Matt 28:19-20, 2Tim 2:2;
▪︎ “You have been made” (Col 2:10) implies that it is something He, Himself does it in us. The Holy Spirit is the one who accomplishes this in our lives.
4. What is the role of baptism?
▪︎ It is a picture of the process we just went through in accepting Christ as Savior… His death paid our debt of sin, our old man of the flesh died with Him on the cross, and we are transformed by the resurrected Christ indwelling in the Holy Spirit from that moment on.
▪︎ It shows our commitment to Christ, that we are willing to stand up for Him (publicly) in front of friends and neighbors expounding on how Christ has changed our lives.
▪︎ It clarifies for us the process of sanctification that we all must go through (Heb 12:14)… pursuing holiness from Christ’s work in me.
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5. What are the details of the gospel as described in Col 2:13, 14?
▪︎ We were dead before we were Christians, and without Christ we are still dead in trespasses and sins.
▪︎ Christ is our only hope to live godly and holy lives.
▪︎ He legally pardoned us for our sins, transforming us into new creatures in Christ.
▪︎ He has transported us out of our present state (in the world) and placed us into Christ, into His kingdom, spiritually.
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6. What were the full effects of this transaction per Col 2:15?
▪︎ He disarmed the devil and his demons, giving full advantage to us.
▪︎ He embarrassed them publically, putting them to shame,
▪︎ He completely triumphed over them (John 12:31-32).
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7. Why is doctrine important?
▪︎ These are all legal proceedings, spiritually speaking.
▪︎ We need to arm ourselves with the data we need to defend ourselves against the adversary (in all its forms)
▪︎ God makes promises (oaths, covenants) with us, to us and for us, against world forces.
▪︎ We need to understand His oaths to us and for us so that we do not miss out on any of His blessings, no matter what the context or venue (NT or OT, Gospels, Epistles, Revelation, etc.)
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