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

13And even though you were dead in your transgressions and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he nevertheless made you alive with him, having forgiven all your transgressions. 14He has destroyed what was against us, a certificate of indebtedness expressed in decrees opposed to us. He has taken it away by nailing it to the cross. Disarming the rulers and authorities, he has made a public disgrace of them, triumphing over them by the cross. 16Therefore do not let anyone judge you with respect to food or drink, or in the matter of a feast, new moon, or Sabbath days – 17these are only the shadow of the things to come, but the reality is 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 3:15And I will put hostility between you and the woman and between your offspring and her offspring; her offspring will attack your head, and you will attack her offspring’s heel.”
• Psalms 68:18You ascend on high, you have taken many captives. You receive tribute from men, including even sinful rebels. Indeed the Lord God lives there!
• Isaiah 49:24Can spoils be taken from a warrior, or captives be rescued from a conqueror?
• Isaiah 53:12So I will assign him a portion with the multitudes, he will divide the spoils of victory with the powerful, because he willingly submitted to death and was numbered with the rebels, when he lifted up the sin of many and intervened on behalf of the rebels.”
• Matthew 12:29How else can someone enter a strong man’s house and steal his property, unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can thoroughly plunder the house.
• Luke 10:18So he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.
• Luke 11:22But when a stronger man attacks and conquers him, he takes away the first man’s armor on which the man relied and divides up his plunder.
• John 12:31Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out.
• John 16:11and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been condemned.
• Ephesians 4:8Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he captured captives; he gave gifts to men.”
• Hebrews 2:14Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, he likewise shared in their humanity, so that through death he could destroy the one who holds the power of death (that is, the devil),
• Revelation 12:9So that huge dragon – the ancient serpent, the one called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world – was thrown down to the earth, and his angels along with him.
• Revelation 20:2He seized the dragon – the ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan – and tied him up for a thousand years.
• Colossians 1:16for all things in heaven and on earth were created by him – all things, whether visible or invisible, whether thrones or dominions, whether principalities or powers – all things were created through him and for him.
• 2 Corinthians 4:4among whom the god of this age has blinded the minds of those who do not believe so they would not see the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God.
• Ephesians 6:12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens.

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