Colossians 2:14

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

12having been 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 your wrongdoings and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our wrongdoings, having canceled the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him. 16Therefore, no one is to act as your judge in regard to food and drink, or in respect to a festival or a new moon, or a Sabbath day--

Colossians 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

• having canceledἐξαλείφωexaleiphō · to blot outG1813
• the certificateχειρόγραφοςcheirographon · writen recordG5498
• consisting of decreesδόγμαdogma · decreeG1378
• againstκατάkata · according toG2596
• us, whichὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• was hostileὑπεναντίοςhupenantios · opposedG5227
• He has takenαἴρωairō · to take upG142
• it out of the wayμέσοςmesos · midstG3319
• having nailedπροσηλόωprosēloō · to nailG4338
• it to the crossσταυρόςstauros · crossG4716

Cross-references for Colossians 2:14

• Numbers 5:23‘The priest shall then write these curses on a scroll, and he shall wash them off into the water of bitterness.
• Nehemiah 4:5Do not forgive their guilt and do not let their sin be wiped out before You, for they have demoralized the builders.
• Psalms 51:1Be gracious to me, God, according to Your faithfulness; According to the greatness of Your compassion, wipe out my wrongdoings.
• Isaiah 43:25“I, I alone, am the one who wipes out your wrongdoings for My own sake, And I will not remember your sins.
• Isaiah 44:22I have wiped out your wrongdoings like a thick cloud And your sins like a heavy mist. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you.”
• Acts 3:19Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord;
• Colossians 2:20If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as,
• Esther 3:12Then the king’s scribes were summoned on the thirteenth day of the first month, and it was written just as Haman commanded to the king’s satraps, to the governors who were over each province and to the officials of each people, each province according to its script, each people according to its language, being written in the name of King Ahasuerus and sealed with the king’s signet ring.
• Esther 8:8Now you write to the Jews as you see fit, in the king’s name, and seal it with the king’s signet ring; for a decree which is written in the name of the king and sealed with the king’s signet ring may not be revoked.”
• Daniel 5:7The king called aloud to bring in the sorcerers, the Chaldeans, and the diviners. The king began speaking and said to the wise men of Babylon, “Anyone who can read this inscription and explain its interpretation to me shall be clothed with purple and have a necklace of gold around his neck, and have authority as third ruler in the kingdom.”
• Luke 1:6They were both righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord.
• Galatians 4:1Now I say, as long as the heir is a child, he does not differ at all from a slave, although he is owner of everything,
• Ephesians 2:14For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall,
• Hebrews 7:18For, on the one hand, there is the nullification of a former commandment because of its weakness and uselessness
• Hebrews 8:13When He said, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is about to disappear.
• Hebrews 9:9which is a symbol for the present time. Accordingly both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make the worshiper perfect in 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

• Contracts
• Cross
• Jesus, the Christ
• Justification
• Law
• Ordinance
• Types

In the dictionaries

• Blot
• Complete
• Conflict
• Handwriting
• Nail
• Subject
• Treasure
• Trespass
• Apostolic Age
• Astrology

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