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;
• 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.
• New Living Translation (NLT)He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing 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 your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead. 13When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 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. 15And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. 16Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration 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

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“ ‘The priest is to write these curses on a scroll and then wash them off into the bitter water.
• Nehemiah 4:5Do not cover up their guilt or blot out their sins from your sight, for they have thrown insults in the face of the builders.
• Psalms 51:1Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.
• Isaiah 43:25“I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.
• Isaiah 44:22I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you.”
• Acts 3:19Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,
• Colossians 2:20Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules:
• Esther 3:12Then on the thirteenth day of the first month the royal secretaries were summoned. They wrote out in the script of each province and in the language of each people all Haman’s orders to the king’s satraps, the governors of the various provinces and the nobles of the various peoples. These were written in the name of King Xerxes himself and sealed with his own ring.
• Esther 8:8Now write another decree in the king’s name in behalf of the Jews as seems best to you, and seal it with the king’s signet ring—for no document written in the king’s name and sealed with his ring can be revoked.”
• Daniel 5:7The king summoned the enchanters, astrologers and diviners. Then he said to these wise men of Babylon, “Whoever reads this writing and tells me what it means will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around his neck, and he will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom.”
• Luke 1:6Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly.
• Galatians 4:1What I am saying is that as long as an heir is underage, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate.
• Ephesians 2:14For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility,
• Hebrews 7:18The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless
• Hebrews 8:13By calling this covenant “new,” he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear.
• Hebrews 9:9This is an illustration for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper.

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