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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• 3For ye died, and your life is hid with the Christ in God. (Col. 3:3)
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Rom. 6:2‑11• 2Let it not be. We which died to sin, how shall we live any longer in it?
 3What, know ye not that as many of us as were baptized unto Christ Jesus were baptized unto his death?
 4We were buried therefore with him by baptism unto death, that as Christ was raised out of [the] dead by the glory of the Father, so also, we should walk in newness of life.
 5For if we are become identified with the likeness of his death, so also of his resurrection shall we be,
 6knowing this, that our old man was crucified with [him], that the body of sin might be disannulled, that we should no longer serve sin.
 7For he that died hath been justified from sin.
 8Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him,
 9knowing that Christ risen out of [the] dead dieth no more: death hath no more dominion over him.
 10For in that he died, to sin he died once for all; but in that he liveth, he liveth to God.
 11So also do ye reckon yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. (Rom. 6:2‑11)
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Rom. 7:4‑6• 4So that, my brethren, ye also have been made dead to the law through the body of Christ, that ye should belong to another, him that was raised out of [the] dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God.
 5For when we were in the flesh, the passions of sins that [were] by the law wrought in our members bringing forth fruit to death;
 6but now have we got quittance from the law, having died in what we were held so as for us to serve in newness of spirit and not in oldness of letter. (Rom. 7:4‑6)
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Gal. 2:19‑20• 19For I, by law, died to law that I may live to God.
 20With Christ I am crucified, yet I live, no longer I, but Christ liveth in me; but that which I now live in flesh, I live in the faith of the Son of God that loved me and gave himself up for me. (Gal. 2:19‑20)
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Gal. 6:14• 14But be it not for me to boast, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified to me and I to the world. (Gal. 6:14)
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1 Peter 4:1‑3• 1Since Christ then suffered [for us] in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind; because he that suffered in flesh hath ceased from sin,
 2no longer to live the rest of time in flesh to men's lusts but to God's will.
 3For the past time [is] sufficient to have wrought out the will of the Gentiles, walking as ye had done in lasciviousness, lusts, wine-bibbings, revels, carousings, and unhallowed idolatries; (1 Peter 4:1‑3)
from.
Col. 2:8• 8See that there shall be no one that leadeth you a prey through philosophy and vain deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the elements of the world, and not according to Christ. (Col. 2:8)
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Eph. 2:15• 15having annulled the enmity in his flesh, the law of the commandments in ordinances, that he might create the two in himself into one new man, making peace, (Eph. 2:15)
rudiments.
or, elements.
living.
John 15:19• 19If ye were of the world, the world would love its own; but because ye are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, on this account doth the world hate you. (John 15:19)
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John 17:14‑16• 14I have given them thy word; and the world hated them because they are not of the world, as I am not of the world.
 15I do not ask that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them out of the evil.
 16Of the world they are not, as I am not of the world. (John 17:14‑16)
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2 Cor. 10:3• 3For walking in flesh we do not war according to flesh. (2 Cor. 10:3)
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James 4:4• 4Adulteresses, know ye not that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore shall be minded to be friend of the world is constituted enemy of God. (James 4:4)
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1 John 5:19• 19We know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in the wicked one. (1 John 5:19)
subject.
Col. 2:14,16• 14having blotted out the handwriting in ordinances [that was] against us, which was contrary to us; and he has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to his cross;
 16Let none therefore judge you in eating and in drinking, or in respect of feast or new moon or Sabbaths, (Col. 2:14,16)
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Gal. 4:3,9‑12• 3So also we, when we were infants, were held in bondage under the principles of the world;
 9but now having known God, yea rather being known by God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly principles to which ye wish again afresh to be in bondage?
 10Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.
 11I am afraid of you, lest somehow I have laboured in vain as to you.
 12Be as I, for I also [am] as ye, brethren, I beseech you: ye have in nothing wronged me; (Gal. 4:3,9‑12)
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Heb. 13:9• 9Be not carried away with divers and strange doctrines; for [it is] good that the heart be confirmed with grace; not with meats, in which those that walked were not profited. (Heb. 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?