Bible Study - Colossians 2
S – And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.
Colossians 2:13–15 ESV
O – Commentary
The term translated "written code" (v. 14, niv) was used for "handwritten" (see kjv) notes, usually "certificates of debt" (nasb) with penalties attached. Paul intends his readers to think of an IOU before God; Jewish tradition also portrayed sins as "debts" before God. Jewish people used the term translated "decrees" (nasb) or "regulations" (niv) for God's laws; decrees were often posted in public locations. The Jewish people believed that their sins were forgiven when they repented; records of sins would be blotted out on the annual Day of Atonement. Paul says the *atonement occurred when the debt was nailed to the cross in Christ and thus paid. (Crucifixion did not require nails, but these were used in Jesus' case; Jn 20:25; cf. Acts 2:23.)
2:15. On "rulers and authorities" (nasb, nrsv), see comment on 1:16 and 2:10. In 2:8 Paul used a word that could mean "take as a prisoner of war"; here the cosmic powers themselves are shown off as captives in Christ's triumphal procession, an image familiar to Romans and presumably known to others throughout the empire.
Craig S. Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament, Second Edition (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2014), 574.
A – Two powerful truths.
First, the debt is paid. Every sin we've ever committed left a handwritten IOU with our name on it. It was a debt we owed and could never repay. Jesus didn't negotiate it down. He didn't give us more time. He took the bill and nailed it to the cross. Paid in full. So why are we still living like we owe? We don't have to earn what's already been settled. We walk in gratitude, and we walk in confidence.
Second, the enemy is defeated. Paul borrows a picture every Roman knew: the victory parade. The conquering general marched home with his captives on display for the whole city to see. That's what Jesus did to every spiritual power that stands against us. He disarmed them and put them on parade. Their defeat was public and it was final. The forces you're contending with today are not in charge. They're captives in Christ's procession.
So walk in victory, and walk in reverence. We serve a God who has already won.
R – Heavenly Father, You are loving and You are fierce. Thank You for paying a debt I could never pay. You nailed it to the cross, and because of that I can walk with You. Thank You for defeating every power that comes against me. Help me live like the debt is paid and the battle is won, because it is. We love You. In Jesus' name, amen.
