What does Colossians 2:18 mean?

Explanation

Colossians 2:18 warns against allowing anyone to disqualify or cheat one from their spiritual reward through false humility and the worship of angels.

The verse cautions against adhering to teachers who indulge in practices based on visionary experiences they claim to have had, emphasizing that such individuals are driven by their earthly, unspiritual mind.

This scripture is indicating that their claims are grounded in pride and not in divine revelation.

In a deeper sense, the verse speaks against false teachings and ascetic practices that deviate from the core message of the Gospel, encouraging believers to hold firm to the truth they have been taught and not be swayed by exotic or speculative spiritual experiences.

Historical Context

Colossians was written by the Apostle Paul to the church in Colossae, a city in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey), in the first century AD.

At that time, the church faced the challenge of false teachers promoting a syncretistic mix of Jewish and pagan religious elements, resulting in heresies that threatened the integrity of Christian faith.

These false teachers were advocating for the worship of angels and insisting on false humility and strict adherence to ascetic practices as means for spiritual enlightenment and favor, which Paul deemed heretical and contrary to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Theological Insights

Different theological viewpoints provide insights into this verse:

• Evangelical Perspective: Mainly focuses on the sufficiency of Christ and the completeness of His work on the cross. It interprets this verse as a warning against legalism and any religious system or practice that detracts from the centrality of Christ in salvation and Christian living.

• Catholic Perspective: While emphasizing the importance of traditions and the veneration of angels and saints, Catholic theology would agree that the worship of angels or excessive asceticism, not in line with Church teachings, is erroneous.

• Orthodox Perspective: Similar to the Catholic view, it places significant emphasis on tradition and the “Cloud of Witnesses” but would also caution against any practices that elevate angelic worship over devotion to God and Christ.

• Liberal Theology: May see this verse as highlighting the diversity of early Christian thought and cautioning against gnostic or mystical tendencies that could align with philosophical rather than apostolic teachings.

Practical Applications

This passage can be applied in various practical ways:

Avoid letting others dictate one’s faith or spirituality based on subjective experiences that are not grounded in Scripture. 2.

Recognize the centrality of Christ and the Gospel message as the basis for one’s faith. 3.

Be wary of any religious practices that might seem like “deeper spirituality” but are not supported by the teachings of the Bible. 4.

Practice humble discernment by testing all teachings against the Word of God.

Cross-References

• Colossians 2:8: "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."
• Galatians 1:8: "But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed."
• 1 Timothy 4:1-3: "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils."
• Romans 16:17-18: "Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them."

Language Study

• Beguile: The Greek word used here is "katabrabeuo," meaning to deliver an adverse verdict, to defraud or to rob of a prize.
• Voluntary humility: The Greek is "tapeinophrosyne," which can suggest a false or affected humility.
• Worshipping of angels: "Threskeia ton angelon" in Greek, which implies the religious devotion directed towards angels.
• Vainly puffed up: "Eikei phusioumenos" translates to being wrongly inflated or swelled up without reason, referring to having an unwarranted sense of spiritual superiority.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

This verse may be compared to religious practices in the Greco-Roman world, where mystical religions and worship of intermediary spirits were common.

The early Christian stance against such practices distinguished it from Gnosticism, which often included complex hierarchies of angels and spiritual beings.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific perspective, this verse may not have direct relevance.

However, science does explore the workings of the human mind, including the propensity for spiritual experiences and the psychological impact of religious practices.

The verse's reference to being "puffed up by his fleshly mind" could be examined through the lens of psychology to understand the nature of spiritual delusions and the human tendency towards prideful thoughts.

Commentaries

Various Bible scholars and theologians offer insights on Colossians 2:18:

• Matthew Henry’s Commentary emphasizes that Christians should be firm in Christ and not sway under the influence of those who insist on unnecessary rituals as means of salvation.
• The Pulpit Commentary discusses the asceticism present in the early church and warns against false humility and unauthorized worship that undermines the sole mediatorship of Christ.
• John Gill's Exposition of the Bible points to the danger of false doctrine and how it may lead individuals away from the simplicity of the Gospel toward vain traditions and practices.