Colossians 2.10b-Jesus Christ is the Head Over Every Ruler and Authority
Wenstrom Bible Ministries
Pastor-Teacher Bill Wenstrom
Sunday November 29, 2015
Colossians: Colossians 2:10b-Jesus Christ is the Head Over Every Ruler and Authority
Lesson # 50
Colossians 2:8 See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ. 9 For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form 10 and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority. (NASB95)
“He” is the relative pronoun hos (ὅς), which refers of course to Jesus Christ.
“Is” is the verb eimi (εἰμί), which means “to exist a particular state or condition,” which is identified by the expression ἡ κεφαλὴ πάσης ἀρχῆς καὶ ἐξουσίας, “the head over all rule and authority.”
This indicates that Jesus Christ exists in the state or condition of being the head over all rule and authority.
The present tense of the verb eimi is a gnomic present, which is used for a general timeless fact or spiritual axiom, or an eternal spiritual truth.
This indicates that Jesus Christ “as an eternal spiritual truth” exists in the state or condition of being the head over all rule and authority.
The present tense is also a customary present tense or stative present used to signal an ongoing state indicating that Jesus Christ exists in the ongoing state of being the head over all rule and authority.
“The head” is the noun kephalē (κεφαλή), which is employed in a metaphorical or figurative sense and means “head” expressing the fact that Jesus Christ is the sovereign ruler over every ruler and authority.
It expresses the idea of Jesus Christ’s sovereign authority over every human and angelic ruler and authority.
This word kephalē is functioning as a predicate nominative indicating that it is making an assertion about Jesus Christ, namely that He is the ruler or head over every ruler and authority.
The articular construction of this word is monadic meaning that there is only one head over every ruler and authority, namely Jesus Christ.
So the article expresses the idea that Jesus Christ is in a class by Himself and is the one and only head over every ruler and authority.
“Over all rule and authority” is composed of the following: (1) adjective pas (πᾶς), “all” (5) noun archē (ἀρχή), “over rule” (6) conjunction kai (καί), “and” (7) noun exousia (ἐξουσία), “ authority.”
The noun archē means “rulers” since it pertains to both human and angelic governmental rulers.
It refers to the highest rank of angels and governmental rulers in the human race.
This word is modified by the adjective pas, which denotes totality and is used in a distributive sense meaning “each and every one” emphasizing that there are no exceptions.
This word archē functions as a genitive of subordination meaning that the word specifies that which is subordinated to or under the dominion of the head noun which in our context is the noun kephalē.
Therefore the noun archē is specifying for the Colossians that every human and angelic governmental ruler is under the dominion or authority or headship of Jesus Christ.
The conjunction kai is adjunctive meaning it is introducing another word which presents an additional group that is under the sovereign authority of Jesus Christ.
It presents a group under the sovereign rulership of Jesus Christ which is in addition to the human and angelic governmental rulers.
The noun exousia and refers to the rank of angels and human beings who have been given “dominions” and are subordinate only to the archē, “rulers” who have been given “thrones.”
This word is modified by the adjective pas, which denotes totality and is used in a distributive sense meaning “each and every one” emphasizing that there are no exceptions.
This word exousia also functions as a genitive of subordination meaning that the word specifies that which is subordinated to or under the dominion of the head noun which in our context is the noun kephalē.
Therefore the noun exousia is specifying for the Colossians that every rank of angels and humans under the authority of the human and angelic governmental rulers is also under the dominion or authority or headship of Jesus Christ.
Colossians 2:8 Don’t stop making it your habit of watching out for anyone belonging to a group who would seek to take each and every one of you captive through empty, deceitful philosophy based upon the tradition produced by human beings, based upon the elementary teachings promoted by the cosmic system, which are by no means based upon to the teaching originating from Christ. 9 The reason for this command is that in Him, the totality of attributes which compose the divine nature permanently dwell in bodily form. 10 Also, by means of your union and identification with Him, each and every one of you as an eternal spiritual truth exist in the state of being made complete, who is, as an eternal spiritual truth existing in the state of being the head over each and every ruler and authority. (My translation)
The second statement in Colossians 2:10 asserts that Jesus Christ is as an eternal spiritual truth existing in the state of being head over each and every ruler and authority.
This statement brings out the implication for the Colossians of being in union with Jesus Christ and identified with Him.
Since they are complete by means of their union and identification with Jesus Christ and He, Jesus Christ is the head over every angelic and human ruler and authority, the Colossians are therefore also in a position of authority and are superior to human and angelic rulers and authority.
This second statement serves to refute the Essene branch of Judaism with its incipient form of Gnosticism whose teaching elevated angelic beings over Jesus Christ and worshipped angels (cf. Col. 2:18).
This second statement in Colossians 2:10 is asserting that the Christian has victory over Satan’s kingdom since they are identified by Paul as being rulers and authority.
The rulers are human and angelic governmental rulers whereas the authorities are those human beings and angels who are under the authority or have been delegated authority to them by these human and angelic governmental rulers.
Each and every one of them are under the authority of Jesus Christ.
Since the Christian is identified with Jesus Christ in His crucifixion, death, burial, resurrection and session at the right hand of the Father, the Christian is sovereign over these human and angelic governmental rulers and authorities.
This sovereign rulership of the church will be manifested on earth during the millennial reign of Jesus Christ.
If you recall, Paul taught in Colossians 1:16 that each and every one of these human and angelic rulers and authorities was created by Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ is greater than any angelic or human ruler and authority because He created them all and is superior to these since they are united and identified with Jesus Christ in His crucifixion, death, burial, resurrection and session at the right hand of the Father.
Paul is thus saying in Colossians 2:10 that Christians share in Jesus Christ sovereign authority over the human and angelic races by means of their union and identification with Jesus Christ.
Therefore, the Colossians must reject the false doctrine taught by the Essence branch of Judaism with its incipient form of Gnosticism.
They should thus worship only Jesus Christ and never the angels.