Christ Preeminence is Detailed to the Colossians Volume 23

Paul Warns the Colossian Beleivers to Stay Clear of False Worship, but Cling only to Christ Jesus Our Lord Part 2

Colossians 2:18-19 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God. KJV

The emphatic tone the Apostle Paul takes at the very beginning of this verse lets us know how serious he is about desiring and wanting these Colossian believers to cling to our Lord Jesus Christ, so he says, "Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind" (Colossians 2:18) (KJV). The English phrase 'let no man' is translated by three (3) Greek words medeis medemia meden which means emphatically not any man; no man; not even one. The English phrase 'beguile you of your reward' is translated by one Greek word katabrabeuo (used this one and only time in the entire New Testament) ( It is a word which was employed with reference to the distribution of prizes at the Grecian games) and means here to arbitrate or to act as judge over you or rule over you depriving them of their reward or rewards waiting for them in heaven from our Lord Jesus Christ Himself; figuratively it means to defraud. In other words, Paul wants there to be no doubt in the minds of these Colossian Christians and for we Christians today and for all time that we are to never yield ourselves to the mind bending and mind numbing philosophy of the worldly thinkers and scholars or even the Judaizing teachers then and the legalistic ones today (not even one, no matter how good it seems or sounds) seeking to add rules, rituals, and regulations i.e. do's and dont's on top of the Gospel of Grace, because no man made anything will ever be more powerful than grace coming from the Throne of Grace our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ sits on right now at the Right Hand of God the Father.

This same Apostle declared the same thing to the Galatian believers with these very powerful words, "[Therefore, I do not treat God's gracious gift as something of minor importance and defeat its very purpose]; I do not set aside {and} invalidate {and} frustrate {and} nullify the grace (unmerited favor) of God. For if justification (righteousness, acquittal from guilt) comes through [observing the ritual of] the Law, then Christ (the Messiah) died groundlessly {and} to no purpose {and} in vain. [His death was then wholly superfluous.] O YOU poor {and} silly {and} thoughtless {and} unreflecting {and} senseless Galatians! Who has fascinated {or} bewitched {or} cast a spell over you, unto whom--right before your very eyes--Jesus Christ (the Messiah) was openly {and} graphically set forth {and} portrayed as crucified? Let me ask you this one question: Did you receive the [Holy] Spirit as the result of obeying the Law {and} doing its works, or was it by hearing [the message of the Gospel] and believing [it]? [Was it from observing a law of rituals or from a message of faith?] Are you so foolish {and} so senseless {and} so silly? Having begun [your new life spiritually] with the [Holy] Spirit, are you now reaching perfection [by dependence] on the flesh? Have you suffered so many things {and} experienced so much all for nothing (to no purpose)--if it really is to no purpose {and} in vain?" (Galatians 2:21-3:1-4) (Amplified Bible).

The English phrase 'in a voluntary humility' is translated by one Greek word tapeinophrosune meaning humiliation of mind, that is, modesty: - humbleness of mind, humility (of mind), lowliness (of mind). In other words, this really means a pretended humility or pretended unimportance and lowliness of mind and actions when it is not that which our Lord Jesus Christ requires from His followers, for example some people took to afflicting not only their souls in fasting and abstaining from certain food delicacies, but they also sought to afflict their physical bodies by beating their backs with whips until they would bleed seeing this as a great act of humility and penitence for sinful acts or actions of the flesh or spirit against God. This is not the humility God seeks, but He sees man's humility to be that of clemency or  leniency and compassion shown toward offenders by a person; modesty and meekness of soul in one's actions to others, even when defrauded or taken advantage of, not beating one's self for their sin, for Christ was smitten once for sin the just for the unjust, we need but go to God the Father with a contrite spirit being repentant and reverent to His Holy Word (Isaiah 66:2).

When Paul says, 'and worshipping of angels', this is a very hard passage that has stumped many a Bible Scholar over the centuries. Whether Paul is fearful of these Colossian believers setting aside God the Holy Spirit to give praise and reverence to 'angels' is unclear to me, for he could mean that these men and women in the Church @ Colosse were attempting to take on the disposition of angels supposing themselves to have the sanctity and superior knowledge of angels thinking that they themselves could live the life of angels here on the earth still in their flesh. Whatever the meaning, Paul is clearly desiring to stear them clear of either notion and keep them focused on the only One they need to continually come to and that is our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ for as he declared to Brother Timothy, He (Christ) is the only buffer between us and God the Father as he said with these words, "For there [is only] one God, and [only] one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, Who gave Himself as a ransom for all [people, a fact that was] attested to at the right {and} proper time." (1 Timothy 2:5-6) (Amplified Bible).

The English phrase 'intruding into' is translated by one Greek word embateuo (used this one and only time in the entire New Testament) meaning to walk on or firguratively to embark aboard a vessel or to take a ship; to enter into. Therefore, putting this phrase back with the rest of the text 'intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind', the Apostle is saying those with pretended humility and superior knowledge who taught others to add to the Gospel of Grace were also those who were desiring and declaring themselves to know more of the order and structure of the Holy Angels of God than what the Scriptures reveal, this supposed knowledge is without reason coming from a haughty and proud spirit. Note: "The modern Greeks have a legend that the Arch Angel Michael opened a chasm to draw off an inundation threatening the Colossian Christians." JFB Commentary.

The Apostle Paul comes to one conclusion of all that he has written in verse 18 and that is that all of that only serves to take one farther away from Christ Jesus our Lord as he says with these words, "And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God." (Colossians 2:19) (KJV). The English word 'holding' is translated by the Greek word krateo meaning great vigor, power, might, strength; to use strength, that is, seize or retain (literally or figuratively): In other words, to hold on to the Head of the Church Christ Jesus our Lord we must completely trust Him alone for our salvation as well as our source of strength during our pilgrimage here on the earth still clothed by our fleshly tent. The English phrase 'having nourishment ministered' is translated by one Greek word epichoregeo meaning to furnish besides, that is, fully supply, (figuratively) aid or contribute: - add, minister (nourishment, unto). In other words, as we declared above it is grace and grace only that enables a believer to grow spiritually, not any imagined or even real contact with angels for they are sent forth only to aid, help, and support the Christian here on earth in certain circumstances ordained by God the Father for that person or persons, but they are never sent forth to grow the believer in Christ likeness, this only comes through the believers obedience to the Holy Spirit and the Word of God.

"Let no man make you shoot at a wrong mark, which, after his own imagination, walketh in the humbleness of angels.” Tyndale

"The meaning is, that they would not announce their opinions with dogmatic certainty, but they would put on the appearance of great modesty. In this way, they would become really more dangerous - for no false teachers are so dangerous as those who assume the aspect of great humility, and who manifest great reverence for divine things." Albert Barnes

"Those who do not hold the head, they do in effect disclaim Christ, who is the only Mediator between God and man. It is the highest disparagement to Christ, who is the Head of the Church, for any of the members of it to make use of any intercessors with God but Him. When men let go their hold of Christ, they catch at that which is next them and will stand them in no stead." Matthew Henry

"True Christian humility joins consciousness of utter personal demerit, with a sense of participation in the divine life through Christ, and in the dignity of our adoption by God. Without the latter being realized, a false self-humiliation results, which displays itself in ceremonies and ascetic self-abasement, which after all is but spiritual pride under the mock guise of humility." JFB Commentary

"There is always going to be those around Christianity who think that they can go beyond the Word of God themselves and discover things concerning angels that were never meant for Christians to know. This comes with a WARNING because we must always remember that there are also fallen angels or demons all around who have succeeded in seducing spiritually thirsty souls into believing error and lies. This is what I believe happened to Joseph Smith the founder of the Mormon church who declared that he had been visited by an angel named Moroniah or Meronie who gave him the words to the Book of Mormon, this Book is in total contradiction or opposition to what the Bible teaches and is an adding to the Bible which the Apostle John warned against with these very stern words, "I [personally solemnly] warn everyone who listens to the statements of the prophecy [the predictions and the consolations and admonitions pertaining to them] in this book: If anyone shall add anything to them, God will add {and} lay upon him the plagues (the afflictions and the calamities) that are recorded {and} described in this book." (Revelation 22:18) (Amplified Bible). We must always also remember these words written by the Apostle Paul to Brother Timothy when he wrote, 'BUT THE [Holy] Spirit distinctly {and} expressly declares that in latter times some will turn away from the faith, giving attention to deluding {and} seducing spirits and doctrines that demons teach' (1 Timothy 4:1) (Amplified Bible)." Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…