Colossians 2:15

Colossians 2:15 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
• New International Version (NIV)And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
• English Standard Version (ESV)He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.

Context of Colossians 2:15

13You were once dead because of your failures and your uncircumcised corrupt nature. But God made you alive with Christ when he forgave all our failures. 14He did this by erasing the charges that were brought against us by the written laws God had established. He took the charges away by nailing them to the cross. He stripped the rulers and authorities ⌞of their power⌟ and made a public spectacle of them as he celebrated his victory in Christ. 16Therefore, let no one judge you because of what you eat or drink or about the observance of annual holy days, New Moon Festivals, or weekly days of rest—holy days. 17These are a shadow of the things to come, but the body ⌞that casts the shadow⌟ belongs to Christ.

Colossians 2:15 word by word

ἀπεκδυσάμενος τὰς ἀρχὰς καὶ τὰς ἐξουσίας ἐδειγμάτισεν ἐν παρρησίᾳ, θριαμβεύσας αὐτοὺς ἐν αὐτῷ.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• having spoiledἀπεκδύομαιapekduomai · to take offG554
• principalitiesὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• principalitiesἀρχήarchē · beginningG746
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• powersἐξουσίαexousia · authorityG1849
• he made a shewδειγματίζωdeigmatizō · to disgraceG1165
• openlyπαρρησίαparrhēsia · boldnessG3954
• triumphing overθριαμβεύωthriambeuō · to triumphG2358
• themαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846

Cross-references for Colossians 2:15

• Genesis 3:15I will make you and the woman hostile toward each other. I will make your descendants and her descendant hostile toward each other. He will crush your head, and you will bruise his heel.”
• Psalms 68:18You went to the highest place. You took prisoners captive. You received gifts from people, even from rebellious people, so that the Lord God may live there.
• Isaiah 49:24Can loot be taken away from mighty men or prisoners be freed from conquerors?
• Isaiah 53:12So I will give him a share among the mighty, and he will divide the prize with the strong, because he poured out his life in death and he was counted with sinners. He carried the sins of many. He intercedes for those who are rebellious.
• Matthew 12:29How can anyone go into a strong man’s house and steal his property? First he must tie up the strong man. Then he can go through his house and steal his property.
• Luke 10:18Jesus said to them, “I watched Satan fall from heaven like lightning.
• Luke 11:22But a stronger man than he may attack him and defeat him. Then the stronger man will take away all the weapons in which the strong man trusted and will divide the loot.
• John 12:31“This world is being judged now. The ruler of this world will be thrown out now.
• John 16:11He will convince the world that God judges it, because the ruler of this world has been judged.
• Ephesians 4:8That’s why the Scriptures say: “When he went to the highest place, he took captive those who had captured us and gave gifts to people.”
• Hebrews 2:14Since all of these sons and daughters have flesh and blood, Jesus took on flesh and blood to be like them. He did this so that by dying he would destroy the one who had power over death (that is, the devil).
• Revelation 12:9The huge serpent was thrown down. That ancient snake, named Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world, was thrown down to earth. Its angels were thrown down with it.
• Revelation 20:2He overpowered the serpent, that ancient snake, named Devil and Satan. The angel chained up the serpent for 1,000 years.
• Colossians 1:16He created all things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible. Whether they are kings or lords, rulers or powers— everything has been created through him and for him.
• 2 Corinthians 4:4The god of this world has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. As a result, they don’t see the light of the Good News about Christ’s glory. It is Christ who is God’s image.
• Ephesians 6:12This is not a wrestling match against a human opponent. We are wrestling with rulers, authorities, the powers who govern this world of darkness, and spiritual forces that control evil in the heavenly world.

Commentaries on Colossians 2:15

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 15And having spoiled principalities and powers - Here is an allusion to the treatment of enemies when conquered: they are spoiled of their armor, so much the word implies; and they are exhibited with contumely and reproach to the populace, especially when the victor has the honor of a triumph; to the former of which there is an allusion in the words ̔ͅ, making a public exhibition of them; and to the latter in the words , triumphing over them. And the…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 15And having spoiled - Plundered as a victorious army does a conquered country. Notes, Colossians 2:8. The terms used in this verse are all military, and the idea is, that Christ has completely subdued our enemies by his death. A complete victory was achieved by his death, so that every thing is now in subjection to him, and we have nothing to fear. Principalities and powers - Notes, Ephesians 1:21; Ephesians 6:12, note. The “principalities and powers” here…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. 15He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them (literally he led [them] in a victory parade): The Roman army celebrated a big victory with a parade. The winning Roman general would lead the embarrassed captives into the conquered city. This image clearly pictures the great victory of God. Through the cross of Christ, God has defeated all hostile spiritual forces (see also Ephesians 4:7–11).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1515. Alford, Ellicott, and others translate the Greek to accord with the translation of the same Greek, Col 3:9, "Stripping off from Himself the principalities and the powers: " God put off from Himself the angels, that is, their ministry, not employing them to be promulgators of the Gospel in the way that He had given the law by their "disposition" or ministry (Ac 7:53; Ga 3:19; He 2:2, 5): God manifested Himself without a veil in Jesus. "The…Read the comment

Topics related to Colossians 2:15

• Jesus, the Christ
• Law
• Power
• Satan
• Types

In the dictionaries

• Complete
• Conflict
• Subject
• Treasure
• Trespass
• Angel
• Apostolic Age
• Astrology
• Authority in Religion
• Colossians, Epistle to the

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