Traditions - Part 2

We continue our journey through the book of Colossians

Paul has made his case for you and told you to be careful of deception and tradition:

He is up against people who are fighting to keep their traditions

He addressed the Roman Gentiles

He addressed the Hebrews

All of these, which are a part of your culture, are deeply ingrained.

Paul is going to use a poetic device called a Chiasm

1st the Gentiles

2nd the Hebrews

2nd the Hebrews

1st the Gentiles

Let’s see what Paul has to say to the Hebrews after he goes after circumcision

BTW…Paul is not against physical circumcision

He arranges the circumcision of Timothy!

And you, being dead in [your] trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, he made [you] alive together with him, having forgiven us all [our] trespasses, having blotted out the handwritten document against us [with its] decrees, which was opposed to us, and he has taken it out of the midst, having nailed it to the cross; having stripped off the rulers and the authorities, he made [them] a public spectacle in boldness, having triumphed over them in him. (Colossians 2:13-20)

Dead in trespass: Hebrews

Uncircumcision: Gentiles

TOGETHER: He made you alive

How did he do this?

The handwritten document was removed (Hebrews)

The rulers and authorities (other gods) have been defeated (Gentiles)

Therefore, let no one judge you in eating or in drinking or in respect to a festival, new moon, or sabbaths, which are a shadow of the things [to] come, but the body [belongs to] Christ. Let no one disqualify you, desiring [to do so] in humility and worship of the angels, [things] which, having seen [and] entering into, [he is] vainly puffed up by the mind of his flesh, and not holding the head, from whom all the body, through the joints and ligaments being supplied and being knit together, grows the growth of God.

Traditions - Part 2