Meaning of Colossians 2:20

Paul's exhortation in Colossians 2:20 addresses the danger of believers falling back into the practices and philosophies of the world, even after their spiritual union with Christ and His resurrection. The phrase "elemental spiritual forces of this world" (στοιχεῖα τοῦ κόσμου, stoicheia tou kosmou) refers to the basic, foundational principles and powers that govern the physical and spiritual realm as understood by the world's systems, which often include legalistic regulations, ascetic practices, and perhaps even a recognition of angelic or spiritual beings that are not aligned with God. By dying with Christ, believers have been liberated from the dominion of these forces and their enslavement to sin and worldly wisdom. Therefore, Paul argues, it is illogical and detrimental to continue submitting to the rules and regulations derived from these worldly systems, as if their spiritual freedom and new identity in Christ were not a decisive reality.

Context and Background

This verse is situated within the broader argument of Colossians, where Paul combats a syncretistic heresy that was influencing the church in Colossae. This false teaching likely blended elements of Jewish legalism, Hellenistic philosophy, and possibly early Gnostic ideas. It emphasized strict adherence to rituals, dietary laws, observance of festivals, and a veneration of angelic beings, all of which were presented as essential for spiritual advancement and a deeper knowledge of God. Paul's letter aims to redirect the Colossian believers' focus back to the supremacy and sufficiency of Christ, who is the head of all principalities and powers, and in whom they have been made complete.

Key Themes and Messages

• Spiritual Liberation: The core message is that through Christ's death and resurrection, believers are freed from the bondage of worldly systems and their controlling spiritual forces.
• Sufficiency of Christ: The verse implicitly argues that Christ alone provides all that is needed for salvation and spiritual maturity, rendering external rules and philosophies obsolete and unnecessary.
• Inconsistency of Practice: Paul highlights the logical contradiction of professing faith in Christ while simultaneously adhering to the dictates of a world from which they have been redeemed.
• Worldly Rules vs. Christ's Authority: It draws a sharp distinction between the regulations imposed by worldly philosophies and the new life and freedom found in submission to Christ.

Spiritual Significance and Application

The spiritual significance of Colossians 2:20 lies in its call for discerning adherence to biblical truth and a rejection of man-made religious systems or philosophies that detract from Christ. For contemporary believers, this means critically evaluating any teachings, practices, or ideologies that claim to offer spiritual insight or salvation but ultimately lead away from the singular focus on Christ. It encourages a confident trust in the finished work of Christ and a life lived out of the freedom and identity He has secured, rather than attempting to earn favor or attain spiritual depth through external observances. The application is to live a life that reflects the new reality of being "crucified with Christ" and "raised with Christ," demonstrating a distinctiveness from the world's values and practices.

Relation to the Broader Biblical Narrative

This verse fits within the overarching biblical narrative of redemption and restoration. From the Fall, humanity has been subject to the dominion of sin and the world. The Old Testament law, while holy, served to reveal sin and point towards a coming Savior. The New Testament, particularly through the work of Christ, inaugurates a new covenant where believers are no longer under the law as a means of justification but live by the Spirit. Colossians 2:20 underscores this transition, emphasizing that the redemptive work of Christ has fundamentally altered the believer's relationship to the spiritual forces that once held them captive. It is a pivotal point in understanding the New Covenant emphasis on grace and the transformative power of the Holy Spirit over external regulation.

Analogies

• A Prisoner Released: Imagine a prisoner who has been legally pardoned and released from jail. If this person were to continue obeying the prison rules and living within the prison walls, even though they are no longer confined, it would be illogical and defeat the purpose of their freedom. Similarly, believers have been released from the "prison" of worldly spiritual forces and should no longer live by their rules.
• A Child Coming of Age: A child under the strict rules of their parents is gradually given more freedom as they mature. When a child becomes an adult, they are no longer bound by those same childish regulations. Believers, having "died with Christ," have come of spiritual age and are no longer bound by the elemental rules of their spiritual infancy.
• Shedding an Old Skin: A snake sheds its old skin to grow. The old skin is restrictive and no longer fits. Continuing to wear the old skin would hinder its growth. Believers are called to shed the "old skin" of worldly regulations and philosophies to embrace the new life in Christ.

Relation to Other Verses

• Galatians 3:23-25: "Before the coming of this faith, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the coming faith was to be revealed. So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith. Now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian." This passage directly parallels the idea of being freed from the tutelage of the law and its associated regulations, which were part of the "elemental forces."
• Romans 6:1-4: "What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life." This passage explains the theological basis for the "died with Christ" concept, emphasizing a new life that should not be characterized by the old ways of sin and worldly influence.
• 1 John 2:15-17: "Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and pride in one’s possessions—is not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever." This verse warns against being entangled with worldly desires and systems, which are distinct from the will of God and the life found in Him, aligning with the warning against submitting to worldly rules.