Colossians

LeRoy Eims

Two doctrinal errors were threatening the Colossians. In this letter the Apostle Paul does what he can to help the people cope with these things and the false teachers who are troubling them. His approach is fascinating. By example in this letter, the apostle teaches us that the way to overcome darkness is to turn on the light. It does little good to shout at it, beat at it with a club, or plead with it to go away. Darkness disappears in the light, and Jesus Christ is the light of this world.

In this book, therefore, you will find one of the great passages concerning the person of Jesus Christ. To combat the two errors that threatened the people of God, Paul exalts Christ in His Person and work; and the believers union with Him as the one and final answer for all time.

The first problem which was sort of an ascetic legalism, is dealt with in Colossians 2:14‑17. "Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; and, having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Let no man, therefore, judge you in food, or it drink, or in respect of a feast day, or of the new moon, or of a Sabbath day, which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ."

To the legalist, the commandments of God are central and Christ is just sort of a shadow in the background. If we love the Lord Jesus Christ we will obey the commandments as unto Him. If we are all wrapped up in our doctrine, we can grow sour and cranky toward those who do not believe exactly as we do. It is possible to exalt some truth about Christ above Christ Himself.

The second doctrinal error was dealt with in Colossians 2:18‑23. "Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary, humility and worshiping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, and not holding the Head, from whom all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God. 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: touch not; taste not; handle not; which all are to perish with the using, after the commandments and doctrines of men? These things have indeed a show of wisdom in will, worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body, not in any honor to the satisfying of the flesh."

This second problem took the form of a false humility and a worship of angels. This false mysticism resulted from not holding fast to the supreme headship of Christ. Only when the absolute supremacy of Christ is adhered to, can the people of God function normally and grow.

As in the case of the human body, the head must direct all other functions of the body. Grace humbles man and exalts God. A false humility had arisen in the belief that man is too unworthy to approach Christ directly and therefore he needed the mediation of angels. They were proud of their extreme humility.

There was one other group that the apostle takes note of, and deals with. This was a group of philosophers who were teaching things contrary to Christ. "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ." (Colossians 2:8)

Philosophy, the love of knowledge, was in this case a system of religious thought that does not place the person and work of Christ central. He gave his time trying to understand what he knew he could never understand. He may see in Christ certain things that fit in with his philosophy, but his philosophical ideas are central and Christ is just sort of a shadow in the background.

Instead of opposing Christianity this took possession of it and blended its own ideas with it, thus the pure truths of the gospel were perverted. Paul opposed this intellectual exclusiveness because it was Paul's firm belief that every person, not just a few privileged intellectuals, could and should become mature in Christ.

Study this book to see the Lord Jesus Christ in all His glory.