Colossians 2:20 BSB

Colossians 2:20

If you have died with Christ to the spiritual forces of the world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its regulations:

BSB

Parallel translations (2) ▾

ASV

If ye died with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, do ye subject yourselves to ordinances,

KJV

Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,

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Commentary

2 voices

Ambrose of Milan

Commentary (church-history corpus) (397)

With the knowledge of what Paul had seen and heard in paradise, he cried out saying: "Why, as if still viewing the world do you lay down rules: 'Do not touch; nor handle; nor taste!'—things which must all perish in their very use!" He wished us to be in the world in figure, not in actual possession and use of it.

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

John Wesley

1703–1791

Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament (1755)

Therefore - The inference begun, Colossians ii, 16; is continued. A new inference follows, Colossians iii, 1. If ye are dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world - That is, If ye are dead with Christ, and so freed from them, why receive ye ordinances - Which Christ hath not enjoined, from which he hath made you free.

The Nineteenth Century2 voices

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible (1832)

If ye be dead with Christ - See the notes on Rom 6:3, Rom 6:5 (note). From the rudiments of the world - Ye have renounced all hope of salvation from the observance of Jewish rites and ceremonies, which were only rudiments, first elements, or the alphabet, out of which the whole science of Christianity was composed. We have often seen that the world and this world signify the Jewish dispensation, or the rites, ceremonies, and services performed under it.

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

Wherefore--The oldest manuscripts omit "Wherefore." if ye be dead--Greek, "if ye died (so as to be freed) from," &c. (compare Ro 6:2; Ga 2:19). rudiments of the world-- (Col 2:8).

Voices on this verse

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Original language & word study

15 tagged words

Original	Transliteration	Meaning	Word study
Εἰ	Ei	If	G1487 →
ἀπεθάνετε	apethanete	you have died	G599 →
σὺν	sun	with	G4862 →
Χριστῷ	Christō	Christ	G5547 →
ἀπὸ	apo	away from	G575 →
τῶν	tōn	the	G3588 →
στοιχείων	stoicheiōn	principles	G4747 →
τοῦ	tou	of the	G3588 →
κόσμου,	kosmou	world,	G2889 →
τί	ti	why	G5101 →
ὡς	hōs	as if	G5613 →
ζῶντες	zōntes	living	G2198 →
ἐν	en	in	G1722 →
κόσμῳ	kosmō	[the] world	G2889 →
δογματίζεσθε;	dogmatizesthe	do you submit to decrees?	G1379 →

Rare words are the text's own signal of a deliberate thread: the fewer the occurrences, the more the places it appears belong together.

The walk

The walk8

Where the connections lead

Follow this verse’s cross-references two steps out. Each card is a verse this one points to, and beneath it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several different paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it. Every stop shows its own words, and every stop is a page.

Through
Colossians 2:8
See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, which are based on human tradition and the spiritual forces of the world rather than on Christ.
leads to
- Galatians 4:9
  But now that you know God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you are turning back to those weak and worthless principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them…
  Reached by 2 independent paths from here.
- 1 Timothy 6:20
  O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you. Avoid irreverent, empty chatter and the opposing arguments of so-called “knowledge,”
- Ephesians 5:6
  Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience.
- Matthew 7:15
  Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.
Through
Colossians 2:14
having canceled the debt ascribed to us in the decrees that stood against us. He took it away, nailing it to the cross!
leads to
- Ephesians 2:14–16
  For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has torn down the dividing wall of hostility
- Isaiah 44:22
  I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud, and your sins like a mist. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you.
- Isaiah 43:25
  I, yes I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake and remembers your sins no more.
Through
Colossians 2:16
Therefore let no one judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a feast, a New Moon, or a Sabbath.
leads to
- Romans 14:5–6
  One person regards a certain day above the others, while someone else considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.

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About Colossians

The Word Made Flesh — Gustave Doré (engraving, public domain)

Colossians: the study guide →Read chapter 2 →The featured study →

Continue: Colossians 2 →

01Commentary

The record, by era

Voices on this verse

02Original language & word study

03The walk

Where the connections lead

04Related verses

05Featured studies on this passage

06About Colossians

The record, by era

Where the connections lead

Commentary

Original language & word study

The walk

Related verses

Featured studies on this passage

About Colossians