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Colossians 2

Col. 2:20 KJV (With Strong’s)

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Wherefore
oun (Greek #3767)
(adverbially) certainly, or (conjunctionally) accordingly
KJV usage: and (so, truly), but, now (then), so (likewise then), then, therefore, verily, wherefore.
Pronounce: oon
Origin: apparently a primary word
if
ei (Greek #1487)
if, whether, that, etc.
KJV usage: forasmuch as, if, that, (al-)though, whether. Often used in connection or composition with other particles, especially as in 1489, 1490, 1499, 1508, 1509, 1512, 1513, 1536, 1537. See also 1437.
Pronounce: i
Origin: a primary particle of conditionality
ye be dead
apothnesko (Greek #599)
to die off (literally or figuratively)
KJV usage: be dead, death, die, lie a-dying, be slain (X with).
Pronounce: ap-oth-nace'-ko
Origin: from 575 and 2348
with
sun (Greek #4862)
with or together (but much closer than 3326 or 3844), i.e. by association, companionship, process, resemblance, possession, instrumentality, addition, etc.
KJV usage: beside, with. In composition it has similar applications, including completeness.
Pronounce: soon
Origin: a primary preposition denoting union
Christ
ho (Greek #3588)
the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
KJV usage: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.
Pronounce: ho
Origin: ἡ (hay), and the neuter τό (to) in all their inflections
Christos (Greek #5547)
anointed, i.e. the Messiah, an epithet of Jesus
KJV usage: Christ.
Pronounce: khris-tos'
Origin: from 5548
from
apo (Greek #575)
"off," i.e. away (from something near), in various senses (of place, time, or relation; literal or figurative)
KJV usage: (X here-)after, ago, at, because of, before, by (the space of), for(-th), from, in, (out) of, off, (up-)on(-ce), since, with. In composition (as a prefix) it usually denotes separation, departure, cessation, completion, reversal, etc.
Pronounce: apo'
Origin: a primary particle
the λrudiments
ho (Greek #3588)
the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
KJV usage: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.
Pronounce: ho
Origin: ἡ (hay), and the neuter τό (to) in all their inflections
stoicheion (Greek #4747)
something orderly in arrangement, i.e. (by implication) a serial (basal, fundamental, initial) constituent (literally), proposition (figuratively)
KJV usage: element, principle, rudiment.
Pronounce: stoy-khi'-on
Origin: neuter of a presumed derivative of the base of 4748
of the world
ho (Greek #3588)
the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
KJV usage: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.
Pronounce: ho
Origin: ἡ (hay), and the neuter τό (to) in all their inflections
kosmos (Greek #2889)
orderly arrangement, i.e. decoration; by implication, the world (in a wide or narrow sense, including its inhabitants, literally or figuratively (morally))
KJV usage: adorning, world.
Pronounce: kos'-mos
Origin: probably from the base of 2865
, why
tis (Greek #5101)
an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what (in direct or indirect questions)
KJV usage: every man, how (much), + no(-ne, thing), what (manner, thing), where (-by, -fore, -of, -unto, - with, -withal), whether, which, who(-m, -se), why.
Pronounce: tis
Origin: probably emphatic of 5100
, as though
hos (Greek #5613)
which how, i.e. in that manner (very variously used, as follows)
KJV usage: about, after (that), (according) as (it had been, it were), as soon (as), even as (like), for, how (greatly), like (as, unto), since, so (that), that, to wit, unto, when(-soever), while, X with all speed.
Pronounce: hoce
Origin: probably adverb of comparative from 3739
living
zao (Greek #2198)
to live (literally or figuratively)
KJV usage: life(-time), (a-)live(-ly), quick.
Pronounce: dzah'-o
Origin: a primary verb
in
en (Greek #1722)
"in," at, (up-)on, by, etc.
KJV usage: about, after, against, + almost, X altogether, among, X as, at, before, between, (here-)by (+ all means), for (... sake of), + give self wholly to, (here-)in(-to, -wardly), X mightily, (because) of, (up-)on, (open-)ly, X outwardly, one, X quickly, X shortly, (speedi-)ly, X that, X there(-in, -on), through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), under, when, where(-with), while, with(-in). Often used in compounds, with substantially the same import; rarely with verbs of motion, and then not to indicate direction, except (elliptically) by a separate (and different) preposition.
Pronounce: en
Origin: a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), i.e. a relation of rest (intermediate between 1519 and 1537)
the world
kosmos (Greek #2889)
orderly arrangement, i.e. decoration; by implication, the world (in a wide or narrow sense, including its inhabitants, literally or figuratively (morally))
KJV usage: adorning, world.
Pronounce: kos'-mos
Origin: probably from the base of 2865
, are ye subject to ordinances
dogmatizo (Greek #1379)
to prescribe by statute, i.e. (reflexively) to submit to, ceremonially rule
KJV usage: be subject to ordinances.
Pronounce: dog-mat-id'-zo
Origin: from 1378
,
λ
or, elements.

More on:

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Christ,
Ordinance,
Rudiments,
The World

Cross References

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Ministry on This Verse

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if.
Col. 3:3• 3Porque muertos sois, y vuestra vida está escondida con Cristo en Dios. (Col. 3:3)
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Ro. 6:2‑11• 2En ninguna manera. Porque los que somos muertos al pecado, ¿cómo viviremos aún en él?
 3¿O no sabéis que todos los que somos bautizados en Cristo Jesús, somos bautizados en su muerte?
 4Porque somos sepultados juntamente con él á muerte por el bautismo; para que como Cristo resucitó de los muertos por la gloria del Padre, así también nosotros andemos en novedad de vida.
 5Porque si fuimos plantados juntamente en él á la semejanza de su muerte, así también lo seremos á la de su resurrección:
 6Sabiendo esto, que nuestro viejo hombre juntamente fué crucificado con él, para que el cuerpo del pecado sea deshecho, á fin de que no sirvamos más al pecado.
 7Porque el que es muerto, justificado es del pecado.
 8Y si morimos con Cristo, creemos que también viviremos con él;
 9Sabiendo que Cristo, habiendo resucitado de entre los muertos, ya no muere: la muerte no se enseñoreará más de él.
 10Porque el haber muerto, al pecado murió una vez; mas el vivir, á Dios vive.
 11Así también vosotros, pensad que de cierto estáis muertos al pecado, mas vivos á Dios en Cristo Jesús Señor nuestro. (Ro. 6:2‑11)
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Ro. 7:4‑6• 4Así también vosotros, hermanos míos, estáis muertos á la ley por el cuerpo de Cristo, para que seáis de otro, á saber, del que resucitó de los muertos, á fin de que fructifiquemos á Dios.
 5Porque mientras estábamos en la carne, los afectos de los pecados que eran por la ley, obraban en nuestros miembros fructificando para muerte.
 6Mas ahora estamos libres de la ley, habiendo muerto á aquella en la cual estábamos detenidos, para que sirvamos en novedad de espíritu, y no en vejez de letra. (Ro. 7:4‑6)
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Gá. 2:19‑20• 19Porque yo por la ley soy muerto á la ley, para vivir á Dios.
 20Con Cristo estoy juntamente crucificado, y vivo, no ya yo, mas vive Cristo en mí: y lo que ahora vivo en la carne, lo vivo en la fe del Hijo de Dios, el cual me amó, y se entregó á sí mismo por mí. (Gá. 2:19‑20)
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Gá. 6:14• 14Mas lejos esté de mí gloriarme, sino en la cruz de nuestro Señor Jesucristo, por el cual el mundo me es crucificado á mí, y yo al mundo. (Gá. 6:14)
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1 P. 4:1‑3• 1Pues que Cristo ha padecido por nosotros en la carne, vosotros también estad armados del mismo pensamiento: que el que ha padecido en la carne, cesó de pecado;
 2Para que ya el tiempo que queda en carne, viva, no á las concupiscencias de los hombres, sino á la voluntad de Dios.
 3Porque nos debe bastar que el tiempo pasado de nuestra vida hayamos hecho la voluntad de los Gentiles, cuando conversábamos en lascivias, en concupiscencias, en embriagueces, abominables idolatrías. (1 P. 4:1‑3)
from.
Col. 2:8• 8Mirad que ninguno os engañe por filosofías y vanas sustilezas, según las tradiciones de los hombres, conforme á los elementos del mundo, y no según Cristo: (Col. 2:8)
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Ef. 2:15• 15Dirimiendo en su carne las enemistades, la ley de los mandamientos en orden á ritos, para edificar en sí mismo los dos en un nuevo hombre, haciendo la paz, (Ef. 2:15)
rudiments.
or, elements.
living.
Jn. 15:19• 19Si fuerais del mundo, el mundo amaría lo suyo; mas porque no sois del mundo, antes yo os elegí del mundo, por eso os aborrece el mundo. (Jn. 15:19)
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Jn. 17:14‑16• 14Yo les he dado tu palabra; y el mundo los aborreció, porque no son del mundo, como tampoco yo soy del mundo.
 15No ruego que los quites del mundo, sino que los guardes del mal.
 16No son del mundo, como tampoco yo soy del mundo. (Jn. 17:14‑16)
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2 Co. 10:3• 3Pues aunque andamos en la carne, no militamos según la carne. (2 Co. 10:3)
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Stg. 4:4• 4Adúlteros y adúlteras, ¿no sabéis que la amistad del mundo es enemistad con Dios? Cualquiera pues que quisiere ser amigo del mundo, se constituye enemigo de Dios. (Stg. 4:4)
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1 Jn. 5:19• 19Sabemos que somos de Dios, y todo el mundo está puesto en maldad. (1 Jn. 5:19)
subject.
Col. 2:14,16• 14Rayendo la cédula de los ritos que nos era contraria, que era contra nosotros, quitándola de en medio y enclavándola en la cruz;
 16Por tanto, nadie os juzgue en comida, ó en bebida, ó en parte de día de fiesta, ó de nueva luna, ó de sábados: (Col. 2:14,16)
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Gá. 4:3,9‑12• 3Así también nosotros, cuando éramos niños, éramos siervos bajo los rudimentos del mundo.
 9Mas ahora, habiendo conocido á Dios, ó más bien, siendo conocidos de Dios, ¿ cómo os volvéis de nuevo á los flacos y pobres rudimentos, en los cuales queréis volver á servir?
 10Guardáis los días, y los meses, y los tiempos, y los años.
 11Temo de vosotros, que no haya trabajado en vano en vosotros.
 12Hermanos, os ruego, sed como yo, porque yo soy como vosotros: ningún agravio me habéis hecho. (Gá. 4:3,9‑12)
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He. 13:9• 9No seáis llevados de acá para allá por doctrinas diversas y extrañas; porque buena cosa es afirmar el corazón en la gracia, no en viandas, que nunca aprovecharon á los que anduvieron en ellas. (He. 13:9)
• He applies the principle of death to all the ordinances and to the asceticism which treated the body as a thing vile in itself which ought to be rejected. (“Colossians 2” by J.N. Darby)
• Col. 2:20 and Col. 3:1 follow on Col. 2:11-12, and we have the putting off of the old and putting on of the new man. (“Colossians 2” by J.N. Darby)
• Ordinances which apply to things which perish in the use of them and which have no connection with that which is heavenly and eternal….They put a man in and under the flesh, while pretending to deliver us from it, and they separate the believer from Christ by putting angels between the soul and the heavenly place and blessing. (“Colossians 2” by J.N. Darby)
• From verse 20 the Apostle applies our death and resurrection with Christ ...to the deliverance of the Colossians by raising their thoughts on high. (“Colossians 2” by J.N. Darby)
• The passage we are going to consider shows that this system is absurd, cannot be applied to us, has no possible application, because of our position. On the one hand, it is a false system, null and void in all its parts, if Christ is true and is in heaven; and, on the other hand, it is an absurd system in its application to us, if we are Christians. (“Colossians 2” by J.N. Darby)
• It is the knowledge of Jesus as the truth, which alone manifests the character of rudiments or elements of the world. The expression is applied by the Apostle Paul to ordinances instituted by God Himself, as well as to the current philosophical dogmas or ordinances. As elements or rudiments simply, it is applied by the same Apostle in the Hebrews, to that measure of the knowledge of Christ, great and blessed as it was, which might have been gathered from the ancient oracles of God, but which fell amazingly below the fullness of that gospel, preached "with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven." (“Rudiments of the World”)
• the principle of making "religious duties" supplemental to man's defective righteousness. It is this principle which calls forth the most cutting reproof from the Apostle, and at the same time leads him to speak in terms so disparaging of the ancient ordinances of God. (“Rudiments of the World”)
• Paul exposed the folly of seeking spiritual attainment through carnal ordinances and ascetic practices (punishing the body in an attempt to keep it from obeying the lusts of the flesh). He gives an example of the rules and regulations that accompany many of these ordinances—“Touch not, taste not, handle not.” (“The Believer's Identification With the Death and Resurrection of Christ: Colossians 3:1-11” by B. Anstey)
• They will say, “We have to die to ourselves so that Christ can live in us.” The truth is that the Christian is “dead with Christ” (vs. 20). He is also “dead to sin” (Rom. 6:2) and “dead to the Law”(Rom. 7:4). (“The Believer's Identification With the Death and Resurrection of Christ: Colossians 3:1-11” by B. Anstey)

J. N. Darby Translation

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If ye have died with Christ from the elements of the world, why as if alive in the world do ye subject yourselves to ordinances?

W. Kelly Translation

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If ye died with Christ from the elements of the world, why, as alive in [the] world, do ye subject yourselves to ordinances?