Christian Standard Bible
Colossians 2:14
14He erased the certificate of debt, with its obligations, that was against us and opposed to us, and has taken it away by nailing it to the cross.
Colossians 2:14 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
- New International Version (NIV)having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.
- English Standard Version (ESV)by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.
- New King James Version (NKJV)having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.
Context of Colossians 2:14
12when you were buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead. 13And when you were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he made you alive with him and forgave us all our trespasses. He erased the certificate of debt, with its obligations, that was against us and opposed to us, and has taken it away by nailing it to the cross. 15He disarmed the rulers and authorities and disgraced them publicly; he triumphed over them in him. 16Therefore, don’t let anyone judge you in regard to food and drink or in the matter of a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day.
Read all of Colossians 2Colossians 2:14 word by word
ἐξαλείψας τὸ καθ᾽ ἡμῶν χειρόγραφον τοῖς δόγμασιν ὃ ἦν ὑπεναντίον ἡμῖν, καὶ αὐτὸ ἦρκεν ἐκ τοῦ μέσου προσηλώσας αὐτὸ τῷ σταυρῷ·Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Blotting outἐξαλείφωexaleiphō · to blot outG1813
- the handwritingχειρόγραφοςcheirographon · writen recordG5498
- of ordinancesδόγμαdogma · decreeG1378
- thatὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
- wasεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- againstκατάkata · according toG2596
- usἐγώegō · I/weG1473
- contraryὑπεναντίοςhupenantios · opposedG5227
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- tookαἴρωairō · to take upG142
- itαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- out ofἐκek ex · out fromG1537
- the wayμέσοςmesos · midstG3319
- nailingπροσηλόωprosēloō · to nailG4338
- to his crossσταυρόςstauros · crossG4716
Cross-references for Colossians 2:14
- Numbers 5:23“Then the priest is to write these curses on a scroll and wash them off into the bitter water.
- Nehemiah 4:5Do not cover their guilt or let their sin be erased from your sight, because they have angered the builders.
- Psalms 51:1Be gracious to me, God, according to your faithful love; according to your abundant compassion, blot out my rebellion.
- Isaiah 43:25“I am the one, I sweep away your transgressions for my own sake and remember your sins no more.
- Isaiah 44:22I have swept away your transgressions like a cloud, and your sins like a mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you.
- Acts 3:19Therefore repent and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped out,
- Colossians 2:20If you died with Christ to the elements of this world, why do you live as if you still belonged to the world? Why do you submit to regulations:
- Esther 3:12The royal scribes were summoned on the thirteenth day of the first month, and the order was written exactly as Haman commanded. It was intended for the royal satraps, the governors of each of the provinces, and the officials of each ethnic group and written for each province in its own script and to each ethnic group in its own language. It was written in the name of King Ahasuerus and sealed with the royal signet ring.
- Esther 8:8Write in the king’s name whatever pleases you concerning the Jews, and seal it with the royal signet ring. A document written in the king’s name and sealed with the royal signet ring cannot be revoked.”
- Daniel 5:7The king shouted to bring in the mediums, Chaldeans, and diviners. He said to these wise men of Babylon, “Whoever reads this inscription and gives me its interpretation will be clothed in purple, have a gold chain around his neck, and have the third highest position in the kingdom.”
- Luke 1:6Both were righteous in God’s sight, living without blame according to all the commands and requirements of the Lord.
- Galatians 4:1Now I say that as long as the heir is a child, he differs in no way from a slave, though he is the owner of everything.
- Ephesians 2:14For he is our peace, who made both groups one and tore down the dividing wall of hostility. In his flesh,
- Hebrews 7:18So the previous command is annulled because it was weak and unprofitable
- Hebrews 8:13By saying a new covenant, he has declared that the first is obsolete. And what is obsolete and growing old is about to pass away.
- Hebrews 9:9This is a symbol for the present time, during which gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the worshiper’s conscience.
Commentaries on Colossians 2:14
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 14Blotting out the hand-writing of ordinances - By the hand-writing of ordinances the apostle most evidently means the ceremonial law: this was against them, for they were bound to fulfill it; and it was contrary to them, as condemning them for their neglect and transgression of it. This law God himself has blotted out. Blotting out the hand-writing is probably an allusion to Numbers 5:23, where the curses written in the book, in the case of the woman…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 14Blotting out the handwriting - The word rendered handwriting means something written by the hand, a manuscript; and here, probably, the writings of the Mosaic law, or the law appointing many ordinances or observances in religion. The allusion is probably to a written contract, in which we bind ourselves to do any work, or to make a payment, and which remains in force against us until the bond is cancelled. That might be done, either by blotting out the…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 8-17Verses 8-17 There is a philosophy which rightly exercises our reasonable faculties; a study of the works of God, which leads us to the knowledge of God, and confirms our faith in him. But there is a philosophy which is vain and deceitful; and while it pleases men's fancies, hinders their faith: such are curious speculations about things above us, or no concern to us. Those who walk in the way of the world, are turned from following Christ. We have in Him…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 14the decrees that stood against us: The Greek phrase suggests a signed acknowledgment of debt. We cannot pay what we owe, so it stands against us. The law of God requires obedience that people cannot give. But God has forgiven our debt through the work of Christ (2:13).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1414. Blotting out--Greek, "Having wiped out"; coincident in time with "having forgiven you" (Col 2:13); hereby having cancelled the law's indictment against you. The law (including especially the moral law, wherein lay the chief difficulty in obeying) is abrogated to the believer, as far as it was a compulsory, accusing code, and as far as "righteousness" (justification) and "life" were sought for by it. It can only produce outward works, not inward…Read the comment
Topics related to Colossians 2:14
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Colossians 2
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
Christian Standard Bible — © 2017 Holman Bible Publishers
Commentaries