Colossians 2:8

Colossians 2:8 - 2:23
Don't add

Observe

Read Passage
Transition Words

'for' - v9
'therefore' - v16
the 'therefore' seems to split the passage in half...

Structure (grammatical / literary)

8-15 - don't move from the truth of christ

8 - don't be taken captive

'rather than' - contrast with christ

9-15 - because of christ (you don't need anything else)

(note the 'for' in 9 as the 'grammatical marker' for the explanation)
(there are a million pronouns here about christ...)
(most/all of what is said about christ is in the past tense - note that a lot of the verbs are in the past - these things have been done

9-12 - the person of christ
13-15 - the work of christ

16-23 - don't let people add rules and prohibitions

16,17 - don't accept the judgement (rules) of others

therefore - the big transition
let no one act as your judge.
negative /positive structure again - let no one be your judge / the substance belongs to christ

18,19 - don't be impressed by those who don't hold to christ

another imperative - let no one keep defauding you of your prize
picture of the body...

20-23 - summary

summary of section

Imperatives

This section marks the start of the use of imperatives in this book...
there are 4 here (w/ v6) and 27 (roughly) in the book from here forward.

'see to it' - v8
'let no one judge you' - v16
'let no one rob you of your prize' - v18

'so walk in him' - v6

Key Words/Phrases?

(identify and write down, don't explain or discuss)
philosophy and empty deception
elementary principles of the world
worship of angels

Interpret

what are the lies/untruths in the passage?

philosophy or empty deception

elementary principles of the world

worship of angels

bock's article

food / drink / festival / new moon / sabbath day

have them define the heresy :

jewish or greek?

what are the truths to hold in the passage?

the person and work of christ

fulness of diety dwells in him bodily (v9)
in him we've been made complete (v10)
over all rulers and authorities (v10)
circumcised with him (v11)
buried with him in baptism (v12)
raised with him (v12)
cancelled out the debt (v13)
raised with him (v12)

how does this tie to 'things which are a shadow of what is to come'

what is more real in light of the spiritual reality of christ and his actions?

current self-abasement?
'what is to come'

our identity in christ

buried with him in baptism (v12)
raised with him (v12)
cancelled out the debt (v13)
raised with him (v12)

notice paul's pictures :

circumcsion
baptism
crucifixion
public display

Summary :

there are things we should abstain from.
but there is no reason to add to scripture in this area.

Apply

1. notice how much time we've had spent on our salvation

i (at least) take this for granted nonetheless...

2. what 'philosophies and empty deceptions' do we struggle with?

matt has the amy grant story
alcohol
hymns vs contemporary music
voting republican
we should be fearful to add to biblical ethics