INTRODUCTION
Some who advocate the doctrine of baptismal regeneration use Colossians 2:11-13 to support their position. Dr. Jack Cottrell uses this text in his book Baptism – Biblical Study (College Press Publishing, Joplin, MO (1989) [7th printing in 2006]). On pages 131-132 he writes [italics in the original]:
First, baptism is the time when we are buried with Christ into His death to bring about the death of our sinful nature, an event called spiritual circumcision, thus preparing the way for our resurrection to new life. Second, baptism is the time when this resurrection to new life occurs. This resurrection has two senses: we are raised up after we have died to sin, and we are raised up out of the state of death in sin. Third, though it occurs in baptism, this burial and resurrection with Christ take place through faith, thus ruling out baptismal regeneration and infant baptism. Finally, the only circumcision connected with baptism is the spiritual circumcision of the heart, which occurs at the time of baptism. There is no intrinsic relationship between physical circumcision and baptism at all.
Post 37 sets forth the results of my observation of Colossians 2:11-14, as well as the larger literary context of Colossians 2:6-19.
Post 38 sets forth my discussion of the impact the doctrine of the analogy of faith has on my interpretation of Colossians 2:11-14. Post 38 presents my interpretation of Colossians 2:11-14 and the application thereof to ascertain whether or not Colossians 2:11-14 supports the doctrine of baptismal regeneration.
In summary, my observations are below.
First, Paul reminded his audience that they were believers whose substance of their instruction was consistent with Paul’s teaching (vv. 6-7). The substance of Paul’s gospel was faith alone in Jesus Christ (e.g., Ephesians 1:13; 2:8-9; 1 Corinthians 1:21-25; 15:2, 11; Galatians 3:22; 2 Thessalonians 1:10; 2:11-12; 1 Timothy 1:16; Titus 3:8; Romans 1:6; 3:22, 24-25; 4:3-5, 24: 10:9-9-14). Water baptism was not a necessary element of Paul’s gospel message.
Second, Paul warned his audience that not to be taken captive by false teaching (v. 8). These false teachings included “food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day,” (v. 16), self-abasement, the worship of the angels, and visions (v. 18).
Third, using the metaphor of physical circumcision for spiritual circumcision, Paul reminded his audience that Jesus Christ is the One who saved them (v. 11).
Fourth, as we will discuss in detail hereinafter, using the metaphor of water baptism for spiritual baptism, Paul reminded his audience that they had been immersed into union with Christ so as to be dead to sin and resurrected with Christ to the Christian life (v. 12).
THE TEXT
The Text – Selected English Translations and NA28th
The New American Standard Bible (1995 update) translation of Colossians 2:11–14 (NASB95) reads:
11 and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; 12 having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. 13 When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, 14 having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.
The Wuest English translation of Colossians 2:11–14 (WUESTNT) reads:
in whom you were circumcised by a circumcision not effected by hand, in the putting off and away from yourselves the body of the flesh in the circumcision of Christ, having been entombed with Him in the placing into [Christ by the Holy Spirit], in which act of placing into [Christ] you were also raised with Him through your faith in the effectual working energy of the God who raised Him out from among the dead. 13 And you being dead with reference to your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He gave life together with Him, having in grace forgiven you all your trespasses, 14 Having obliterated the bond consisting of ordinances, the one against us, which was directly opposed to us, and it He removed out of the midst with the result that it is no longer there, having nailed it to the Cross.
The Complete Jewish Bible translation of Colossians 2:11-12 (CJB) reads:
Also it was in union with him that you were circumcised with a circumcision not done by human hands, but accomplished by stripping away the old nature’s control over the body. In this circumcision done by the Messiah,you were buried along with him by being immersed; and in union with him, you were also raised up along with him by God’s faithfulness that worked when he raised Yeshua from the dead.
The Hebrew Names Version translation of Colossians 2:11-12 (HNV) reads:
in whom you were also circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, in the putting off of the body of the sins of the flesh, in the circumcision of Messiah;having been buried with him in immersion, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.
The Nestle-Arndt 28th Edition of Colossians 2:11–14 (NA28) reads:
11 Ἐν ᾧ καὶ περιετμήθητε περιτομῇ ἀχειροποιήτῳ ἐν τῇ ἀπεκδύσει τοῦ σώματος τῆς σαρκός, ἐν τῇ περιτομῇ τοῦ Χριστοῦ, 12 συνταφέντες αὐτῷ ἐν τῷ βαπτισμῷ, ἐν ᾧ καὶ συνηγέρθητε διὰ τῆς πίστεως τῆς ἐνεργείας τοῦ θεοῦ τοῦ ἐγείραντος αὐτὸν ἐκ νεκρῶν· 13 καὶ ὑμᾶς νεκροὺς ὄντας [ἐν] τοῖς παραπτώμασιν καὶ τῇ ἀκροβυστίᾳ τῆς σαρκὸς ὑμῶν, συνεζωοποίησεν ὑμᾶς σὺν αὐτῷ, χαρισάμενος ἡμῖν πάντα τὰ παραπτώματα. 14 ἐξαλείψας τὸ καθʼ ἡμῶν χειρόγραφον τοῖς δόγμασιν ὃ ἦν ὑπεναντίον ἡμῖν, καὶ αὐτὸ ἦρκεν ἐκ τοῦ μέσου προσηλώσας αὐτὸ τῷ σταυρῷ·
BACKGROUND MATERIAL
Initial Comment about the Church at Colosse
To provide a brief background, O’Brien (O’Brien, P. T. (1994). Colossians. In D. A. Carson, R. T. France, J. A. Motyer, & G. J. Wenham (Eds.), New Bible commentary: 21st century edition (4th ed., p. 1260). Inter-Varsity Press) describes the beginning of the church at Colosse:
The Christian community at Colosse came into existence during a period of vigorous evangelism, linked with Paul’s ministry at Ephesus (ad 52–55), recorded in Acts 19. Paul was helped by several co-workers who planted a number of churches in the province of Asia. Among these were the congregations of Colosse, Laodicea and Hierapolis, which were the fruit of Epaphras’s evangelistic efforts (1:7; 4:12–13). Epaphras, a native of Colosse (4:12), who may have become a Christian during a visit to Ephesus, was ‘a faithful minister of Christ’ and as Paul’s representative (1:7) he had taught the Colossians the truth of the gospel.
No doubt the substance of the gospel that Paul preached was the substance of the teaching at Colosse.
Comments about the Message Paul Preached
It is important to keep in mind Paul did not preach that water baptism was a requirement for salvation. Paul preached that the message of salvation was by grace through faith alone in Jesus Christ. Exemplary passages that show the substance of what Paul preached include Ephesians 2:8–9 (NASB95), which reads:
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
In 1 Corinthians 1:21-25 (NASB95), Paul wrote that those who believe (no mention of baptism) are saved according to [emphasis added]:
21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. 22 For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, 24 but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
According to Paul, faith alone in Christ is all that is necessary for salvation per 1 Corinthians 15:2, 11 (NASB95):
2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. … 11 Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.
Faith alone in Christ is all that is necessary for salvation per Galatians 3:22 (NASB95):
22 But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
Paul set out a sequence of listening, believing (alone) and being sealed with the Holy Spirit in Ephesians 1:13 (NASB95):
13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise,
Faith alone in Christ is all that is necessary for salvation per 2 Thessalonians 1:10 (NASB95):
10 when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed—for our testimony to you was believed.
Failure to believe the truth, not failure to be baptized, is what condemns according to 2 Thessalonians 2:11–12 (NASB95):
11 For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, 12 in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness.
Faith alone in Christ is what leads to eternal life per 1 Timothy 1:16 (NASB95):
16 Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life.
Paul wrote that faith alone in Christ results in salvation per Titus 3:8 (NASB95):
8 This is a trustworthy statement; and concerning these things I want you to speak confidently, so that those who have believed God will be careful to engage in good deeds. These things are good and profitable for men.
Paul made it clear that faith alone in Christ is all that is necessary for salvation per the following passages:
Romans 1:16 (NASB95) – 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
Romans 3:22, 24-25 (NASB95) – 22 even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; … 24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; 25 whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed;
Paul set out an evangelistic plan that required faith alone in Jesus Christ per Romans 10:9–14 (NASB95):
9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; 13 for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 14 How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?
Consistent with Ephesians 2:8-9, in Romans 4:3-5, 24 (NASB95) Paul taught that works do not save [emphasis added]:
3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” 4 Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due. 5 But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness, … 24 but for our sake also, to whom it will be credited, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead,
The principle of the harmony of Scripture and the analogy of faith require a person to look at Colossians 2:11-14 through the lens of what Paul preached about salvation. More specifically, Paul taught that salvation was by faith alone in Jesus Christ, which excludes water baptism as a requirement for salvation.
OBSERVATIONS
The Broader Literary Context – Colossians 2:6-19
The broader literary context, i.e., Colossians 2:6–19 (NASB95), reads:
6 Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude. 8 See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ. 9 For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, 10 and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority; 11 and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; 12 having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. 13 When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, 14 having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15 When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him. 16 Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day— 17 things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ. 18 Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize by delighting in self-abasement and the worship of the angels, taking his stand on visions he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind, 19 and not holding fast to the head, from whom the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and ligaments, grows with a growth which is from God.
Observations from the Broader Literary Context
My observations from the broader literary context, i.e., Colossians 2:6–19 are below.
First, Paul reminded his audience that they were believers whose substance of their instruction was consistent with Paul’s teaching (vv. 6-7). The substance of Paul’s gospel was faith alone in Jesus Christ (e.g., Ephesians 1:13; 2:8-9; 1 Corinthians 1:21-25; 15:2, 11; Galatians 3:22; 2 Thessalonians 1:10; 2:11-12; 1 Timothy 1:16; Titus 3:8; Romans 1:6; 3:22, 24-25; 4:3-5, 24: 10:9-9-14). Water baptism was not a necessary element of Paul’s gospel message.
Second, Paul warned his audience that not to be taken captive by false teaching (v. 8). These false teachings included “food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day,” (v. 16), self-abasement, the worship of the angels, and visions (v. 18).
The Narrower Text – Colossians 2:11-14
Verse 11 (NASB95) reads, “11 and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ.” Paul referred to the metaphor of circumcision to refer to spiritual conversation that was representative of what happened at salvation, i.e., the moment of conversion. Melick (Melick, R. R. (1991). Philippians, Colossians, Philemon (Vol. 32, p. 259). Broadman & Holman Publishers) points out that spiritual circumcision occurs at salvation [emphasis added]:
Paul related the concept of circumcision to baptism. The primary stress lies on the spiritual experience of believers in their union with Christ. The three points of identification with Christ are death, burial, and resurrection. The many references to “in him” and “with him” demonstrate that this is done vicariously, as believers accept the work of Christ on their behalf. Clearly, it is at the time of salvation that this spiritual circumcision was performed.
Verse 12 (NASB95) reads:
12 having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.
In the Nestle-Arndt 28th edition, verse 12 begins with the Greek verb συνταφέντες, which the NASB95 translates as “having been buried with.” According to Louw et al., supra at Vol. 1, p. 530, it means:
to bury someone along with someone else—‘to bury together with.’
The Greek verb συνταφέντες is in the aorist passive participle plural nominative masculine. A believer being buried (or entombed) with Christ was a one-time snap shot event with respect to the main verb of συνηγέρθητε (“you were … raised up with Him”). Paul’s audience was re recipient of being buried with Christ and God was the implied agent of burial.
The next phrase is αὐτῷ ἐν τῷ βαπτισμῷ, which the NASB95 translates as “Him in baptism.” The preposition ἐν is a preposition of means which is a preposition used to express the means of an action. See Lukaszewski, A. L. (2007). The Lexham Syntactic Greek New Testament Glossary. Lexham Press. The NASB95 translates the Greek noun (τῷ ) βαπτισμῷ as “baptism,” and is dative singular masculine. It functions as a metaphor for the transaction that happens upon conversion where a believer is immersed into union with Christ (Complete Jewish Bible translation) or “having been entombed with Him in the placing into [Christ by the Holy Spirit].” (Wuest). Anders (Anders, M. (1999). Galatians-Colossians (Vol. 8, p. 306). Broadman & Holman Publishers) emphasizes that circumcision and baptism are metaphors:
Paul chooses to explain our full salvation are circumcision and baptism. The point of these metaphors is that we are saved totally and exclusively through the work of God, not through any human activity.
The next phrase begins with ἐν ᾧ, which the NASM95 translates as “in which.” The preposition ἐν is a preposition of location which shows the physical relationship of one entity to another. See Lukaszewski, Id. The relative pronoun ᾧ expresses an equalitative relationship between the clause which it introduces and the substantival element (i.e., noun, adjective, or clause) which it modifies. See Lukaszewski, Id. There is a relationship between burial (buried with Christ in baptism) and resurrection (raised with Christ).
The NASB95 translates the emphatic conjunction καὶ as “also,” and it functions to show some form of stress—usually either by intensifying the force of a word or by expressing inclusion. See Lukaszewski, Id. Next is the Greek verb συνηγέρθητε which the NASB95 translates as “you were … raised up with.” According to Louw et al., supra at Vol. 1, p. 262, it means:
to cause to live again together with others—‘to raise to life together with.’ συνεγείρω: εἰ οὖν συνηγέρθητε τῷ Χριστῷ ‘since you have been raised to life with Christ’ Col 3:1.
It is in the aorist passive indicative second person plural so that being raised with Christ was a snap shot past event done to the recipient by God. The verb συνηγέρθητε experiences the benefit of the emphatic conjunction καὶ.
The next expression is διὰ τῆς πίστεως, which the NASB95 translates as “through faith.” The preposition διὰ functions as a preposition of means. What follows is τῆς ἐνεργείας τοῦ θεοῦ, which the NASB95 translates as “in the working of God,” where according to Louw et al., supra at Vol. 1, p. 510, ἐνεργείας is a noun that means:
to be engaged in some activity or function, with possible focus upon the energy or force involved—‘to function, to work, to be at work, practice.’
The faith is that of the believer. Note that Sam Storms (link: Sam Storms: Oklahoma City, OK > Faith in What?! (2:12)) has an interesting discussion of faith as used in connection with God’s power:
But why would he say that our faith (indeed, our saving faith) is in God’s “energy” or “power”? Someone might answer by saying that we shouldn’t differentiate between God and his “power.” In other words, our faith is in the God whose power is responsible for raising us to newness of life in Christ. I certainly agree with that. It isn’t just any power at all, as if raw, independent power has saved us. It is specifically “God’s” power. Indeed, it is the very power that was manifested and expressed when God the Father raised God the Son from the dead (v. 12b; see especially Ephesians 1:19-20).
But we are still left with the fact that Paul thought it important, for whatever reason(s), to highlight the power of God as the focus of faith. In what sense do we “trust” in or “believe” or exercise “faith” in God’s power?
Surely part of the answer is in the verses that follow. In Colossians 2:13 Paul says we were “dead” in our trespasses. To bring to spiritual life what was formerly dead is no small feat! Nothing could accomplish this other than the “power” of God regenerating and renewing our lifeless hearts.
As if that were not enough, God also forgave us our sins by canceling the debt that stood against us, by nailing it to the cross (v. 14). He also triumphed over and disarmed demonic spirits through the work of Christ at Calvary.
My point is simply that these were obviously “powerful” expressions of divine grace and activity on our behalf. Only God could pull it off, so to speak. If we do not have faith in the fact that God did this in and through Christ we cannot be saved. That may be the sense, then, in which Paul declares that we are saved through “faith in the powerful working of God.”
Saving faith entails confidence that God and God alone is able and powerful enough to deliver us from spiritual death and the guilt of sin. This isn’t separable from faith in Christ as the one who by his death and resurrection made it all possible. But here in Colossians 2:12 Paul wanted to highlight the importance of faith in God’s “power”. That is to say, it’s important for us to know and trust in the omnipotence of God, the limitless energy of the divine will, to do for us what we are helpless and hopeless to do for ourselves.
Verse 12 ends with the phrase τοῦ ἐγείραντος αὐτὸν ἐκ νεκρῶν·, which the NASB95 translates as “who raised Him from the dead.” According to Louw et al., supra at Vol. 1, p. 262, the Greek verb ἐγείραντος, which the NASB95 translates as “raised,” means:
to cause someone to live again after having once died—‘to raise to life, to make live again
It is in the aorist active participle singular genitive masculine. The physical bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ was a one-time sap shot event done by the working of God prior to the main verb of συνηγέρθητε (“you were … raised up with Him). Today, Jesus is the resurrected ascended Lord Jesus Christ of Revelation 1. Wuest (Wuest, K. S. (1997). Wuest’s word studies from the Greek New Testament: for the English reader (Vol. 6, p. 206). Eerdmans) links Romans 6:3-4 with Colossians 2:12 in saying that Paul referred to baptism effected by the Holy Spirit, i.e., spiritual baptism [emphasis added]:
To understand this verse we must go back to Romans 6:3, 4, where Paul says: “Do you not know that so many of us as were placed in Jesus Christ, were introduced into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him by this aforementioned introduction into His death in order that just as Christ was raised up from among the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also may be able to order our behavior in the energy of a new life imparted.” The believing sinner’s identification with Christ in His death, broke the power of indwelling sin. His identification with Him in His resurrection, resulted in the impartation of the divine nature. The baptism (placing, introduction into) is that effected by the Holy Spirit. The baptism in our Colossian passage is the same. Thus, “risen with Him” does not refer to our future physical resurrection, but to that spiritual resurrection from a sinful state into divine life. This was in answer to our faith in the operation of God who raised Christ from the dead
Verse 13 (NASB95) reads:
When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions.
The NASB95 translates the Greek verb ὄντας as, “When … were,” and it means to be. It is in the present active participle plural accusative masculine. It functions as a circumstantial participle to express the conditions, or circumstances, under which either an action occurs or a substantive exists in the relevant clause. See Lukaszewski, Id. The previous condition of Paul’s audience was they were lost, i.e., dead in sin and trespasses and uncircumcision of their flesh. Their sin nature had not yet been crucified with Christ.
The NASB95 translates the Greek verb συνεζωοποίησεν as “He made … alive together,” and according to Louw et al., supra at Vol. 1, p. 262, it means:
to cause to live again together with others—‘to raise to life together with.’
The Greek verb συνεζωοποίησεν is in the aorist active indicative 3rd person singular.
The NASB95 translates the Greek expression ὑμᾶς σὺν αὐτῷ as “you with Him.” The preposition σὺν is a preposition of accompaniment used to express accompaniment. See Lukaszewski, Id. Murray J. Harris (Prepositions and Theology in the Greek New Testament Zondervan Academic (2012)) writes on page 201:
It is not that the spiritual resurrection of believers occurred at the time of the bodily resurrection of Christ or simply that His resurrection formed the pattern for theirs. Rather, the resurrection of Christians from spiritual deadness to new life is grounded in, and is a consequence of, Christ’s own rising from the realm of the dead to immortal life.
The NASB95 translates the Greek verb χειρόγραφον as “having forgiven,” and it is in the aorist middle participle singular nominative masculine. It functions as a simultaneous participle to portray the activity as occurring at the same time as the main verbal action of the superceding clause. See Lukaszewski, Id. A believer’s spiritual resurrection and forgiveness of sins occurs at the same time.
Verse 14 (NASB95) reads:
having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.
In Nestle-Arndt 28th, verse 14 begins with the Greek verb ἐξαλείψας, which the NASB95 translates as “having canceled out.” According to Louw et al., supra, at Vol. 1, p. 159, it means:
(a figurative extension of meaning of ἐξαλείφωa ‘to wipe off, to wipe away,’ 47.18) to cause something to cease by obliterating any evidence—‘to eliminate, to do away with, to wipe out
It is in the aorist active participle singular nominative masculine. God wiped the slate clean by a one-time past event.
The NASB95 translates the Greek verb ἦν as “was,” and it means to be. It is in the imperfect active indicative third person singular so that our certificate of debt(decrees against us) is always hostile to us. Yet, the NASB95 translates the Greek verb ἦρκεν as “He has taken,” and according to Louw et al., supra at Vol. 1, p. 206, it means, “to lift up and carry (away)—‘to carry (away), to carry off, to remove, to take (away).’” This verb is in the perfect active indicative third person singular which means that God’s taking away our sins was complete in the past and still has effect, or defines, our present state today.
The NASB95 translates the Greek verb προσηλώσας as “having nailed … to,” and according to Louw et al., supra, at Vol. 1, p. 221, it means:
to cause something to be fixed in place by means of nails—‘to nail onto, to nail fast to.’ προσηλώσας αὐτό τῷ σταυρῷ ‘nailing it to the cross’ Col 2:14.
It is in the aorist active participle singular nominative masculine. Because of Christ’s one-time crucifixion in the past, our sin dept was and still remains completely forgiven.
O’Brien (O’Brien, P. T. (1994). Colossians. In D. A. Carson, R. T. France, J. A. Motyer, & G. J. Wenham (Eds.), New Bible commentary: 21st century edition (4th ed., pp. 1270–1271). Inter-Varsity Press) comments on verses 13-14:
The standpoint now changes: no longer are the Colossians viewed as having been joined with Christ in his death, burial and resurrection. Rather, Paul contrasts their pagan past with the present. Dead points to the state of separation from God as a present condition of those outside of Christ. This dreadful condition had been caused by their sins and the uncircumcision of their sinful nature. Sins are acts of rebellion against God, while sinful nature speaks of a permanent state of disobedience; the Colossians had been both heathen and godless. But now because of the death of Christ God has made them alive in him. He has graciously forgiven all ‘our’ trespasses (those of Jews and Gentiles alike) and therefore the cause of spiritual death has been done away. God has not only removed the debt; he has also destroyed the document on which the debt was recorded.
**
The debt was impossible to pay, but God dealt with it; he had blotted it out and cancelled the bond by nailing it to the cross. This is a vivid way of saying that because Christ was nailed to the cross, our debt has been completely forgiven.
In summary, my takeaway from Colossians 2:11-14 is by using the metaphor of water baptism, Paul reminded his audience that they had been immersed into union with Christ so as to be dead to sin and resurrected with Christ to the Christian life. Salvation was by faith (v. 12) and not by works, e.g., food, drink, festivals, etc. (vv. 16, 18).
Summary of My Observations
My summary of my observations are below.
First, using the metaphor of physical circumcision for spiritual circumcision, Paul reminded his audience that Jesus Christ is the One who saved them (v. 11).
Second, using the metaphor of water baptism for spiritual baptism, Paul reminded his audience that they had been immersed into union with Christ so as to be dead to sin and resurrected with Christ to the Christian life.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, my takeaways from my observation of Colossians 2:6-19 are below.
First, Paul reminded his audience that they were believers whose substance of their instruction was consistent with Paul’s teaching (vv. 6-7). The substance of Paul’s gospel was faith alone in Jesus Christ (e.g., Ephesians 1:13; 2:8-9; 1 Corinthians 1:21-25; 15:2, 11; Galatians 3:22; 2 Thessalonians 1:10; 2:11-12; 1 Timothy 1:16; Titus 3:8; Romans 1:6; 3:22, 24-25; 4:3-5, 24: 10:9-9-14). Water baptism was not a necessary element of Paul’s gospel message.
Second, Paul warned his audience that not to be taken captive by false teaching (v. 8). These false teachings included “food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day,” (v. 16), self-abasement, the worship of the angels, and visions (v. 18).
Third, using the metaphor of physical circumcision for spiritual circumcision, Paul reminded his audience that Jesus Christ is the One who saved them (v. 11).
Fourth, using the metaphor of water baptism for spiritual baptism, Paul reminded his audience that they had been immersed into union with Christ so as to be dead to sin and resurrected with Christ to the Christian life.
VERY IMPORTANT IF YOU BELIEVE IN BAPTISMAL REGENERATION
Finally, let me quote gotquestions.org (link: https://www.gotquestions.org/baptism-Mark-16-16.html ):
If you believe in baptismal regeneration, you would do well to prayerfully consider whom or what you are really putting your trust in. Is your faith in a physical act (being baptized) or in the finished work of Christ on the cross? Whom or what are you trusting for salvation? Is it the shadow (baptism) or the substance (Jesus Christ)? Our faith must rest in Christ alone. “We have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace” (Ephesians 1:7).
Please read and take to heart what I write in the section entitled “IF YOU ARE NOT A CHRISTIAN.”
IF YOU ARE UNSURE ABOUT YOUR SALVATION
If you are unsure about your salvation, you need to check out my book The Salvation Meter: Biblical Self-Diagnostic Tests to Examine Your Salvation and Spiritual Growth (book link at Xulon Press: https://www.xulonpress.com/bookstore/bookdetail.php?PB_ISBN=9781662828638 ). At Amazon the book link is https://www.amazon.com/Salavation-Meter-Biblical-Self-Diagnostic-Spiritual/dp/1662828632 . I also have a website in which I am updating the content in the book. The link to my website for the book is https://thesalvationmeter.com .
IF YOU ARE NOT A CHRISTIAN
… please (1) read through “God’s Plan of Salvation” so you can understand what God did for you through His only unique Son, Jesus Christ, and (2), from the bottom of your heart, pray the “Sinner’s Prayer” meaning every word. If you do, you will be reconciled to God – saved – through Jesus Christ.
God’s Plan of Salvation
In the beginning, God, who is holy, created the entire universe. As a part of His creative actions, He made humans in His image to know Him. For a while, everything was right between God and our ancestors, Adam and Eve. But Adam sinned, and his sin was passed down to all of humankind whereby we became separated from God. Nothing we could do on our own could bridge that separation so that without God’s intervention, hell would be our eternal destination.
Fortunately for us, in His great love and mercy God provided humankind with the only means of salvation, which is through Jesus Christ who is God’s only unique Son. While retaining His deity, God the Son became a man in Jesus, lived a perfect life, and died on the cross, thus fulfilling the law Himself and taking on Himself the punishment for the sins of all those who would ever repent and trust in Him for their salvation. Jesus rose from the dead, showing that God the Father accepted Christ’s sacrifice and that God’s wrath against us has been exhausted. He now calls us to repent of our sins and trust alone in what Christ did to save us.
If we repent of our sins and completely trust in Christ alone that He died for our sins and rose to life from the dead, we are born again into a new life, an eternal life with God.
Scripture References: Genesis 1:1, 27, 31; Habakkuk 1:13; Genesis 2:7, 18, 21-25; Genesis 3:1-7, 23-24; Isaiah 59:2; Romans 3:19-20, 23; 5:17-19; Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 6:23; John 14:6; Acts 4:12; 1 Corinthians 15:3; 1 John 4:10; John 3:16-18; Mark 1:15; Romans 1:4; 4:25; John 3:5-8; 1 Peter 1:3.
“Sinner’s Prayer”
Lord, Jesus Christ, the only unique Son of God, thank You for Your free gift of eternal life. I know I’m a sinner who cannot save myself no matter what I do, and I deserve to spend eternity in hell. But, I know that because You loved me so much, You voluntarily died on the cross for me taking my sins upon Yourself, and You physically bodily rose from the grave showing that Your sacrificial death was sufficient payment to give me eternal life in Heaven. I now repent of my sins and trust alone in what You did for my eternal salvation. Please take control of my life as I now receive You as my Lord and Savior. Thank You so much for saving me. I am now Yours forever! (Scripture references: John 1:1-4, 11-14; John 3:16; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 3:21-26; Isaiah 53:4-6; Mark 1:15; Acts 16:31; Acts 4:12; Romans 10:9-10, 13; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; John 10:27-29).
Upon your salvation, you must find a spiritually solid Bible-believing church that (1) teaches that the sixty-six books of the Bible are the inspired, inerrant, and infallible Word of God, (2) believes in the doctrine of the Trinity, which means that there is one God who eternally exists as three distinct Persons — the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – and each Person is fully God, and (3) teaches that salvation is by grace through faith and not by works (e.g., water baptism by immersion).
ONE CAUTIONARY POINT. Please do not make the mistake of thinking that once you become a Christian, your life will become easy. Most likely, it will become more difficult. God’s blessing of salvation and life’s difficulties are not mutually exclusive. Jesus told His disciples, “If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first.” John 15:18 (NLT). Always keep in mind that you have an eternal home in heaven waiting for you per John 14:2–4 (NLT):
2 There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? 3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.”
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