Religion & Spirituality:Christianity
Colossians 2:8-15 (NIV)
Read by: Melissa Murphy
As with all the letters in the New Testament, the historical context is essential to understanding today’s passage. There are two contextual keys that will unlock a lot of meaning for us.
The first is that when Pauls warns the church to not be taken captive, the word he uses there is sylagogon which would have been heard as a not-so- subtle reference to the synagogue, whose leaders were trying to convince the church that Jesus wasn’t enough. He goes on to talk about circumcision and the Law of Moses, which they were advocating for. He compares them to an empty philosophy and urges the church to center themselves on the total authority of Jesus.
The second detail that comes alive with a bit of context is the image of Jesus disarming the powers and authorities and making a public spectacle of them through the cross. This ironic image is a reference to a common practice in the ancient world carried out by the victors of war. Conquerors would come back home with the rulers and authorities of the now-defeated enemy in tow. They would parade them through the town and execute them at the end of the road. Paul says that this is what Jesus was doing as he carried the cross to Golgotha. What looked like his shame was actually him disarming and shaming evil itself.
----------REFLECT----------
1. What part of this passage did you find most encouraging? What part did you find challenging?
2. Paul says clearly that Jesus' death and resurrection is all sufficient for our forgiveness and redemption. In what ways are you most tempted to earn this from God by your own merit or works?
3. If Jesus, through the cross and the resurrection really did disarm the powers and authorities, then how do we square that with the pain that we experience in the world today--with the way we see unjust power wielded against the oppressed? And how would your life look different today if you lived as if the powers and authorities really have been disarmed by Jesus? In what way can you follow the way of the cross?
----------GO DEEPER----------
Bible Project Podcast: New Testament Letters >>
Bible Project Video: New Testament Letters: Historical Context >>
Bible Project Video: New Testament Letters: Literary Context >>
Bible Project Video: Colossians >>
----------CONNECT----------
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