Previously, in verse 15, Jesus has " disarmed the powers and authorities." Back in chapter one, verse 16, the powers and authorities were created by him and for him. In chapter two verse 8, The colossians are to reject philosophy which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world. In verse 10, Jesus is the head over every power and authority, and the Colossians are in Jesus. In verse 14, Jesus cancelled the written code with its regulations.
This is quite subversive stuff. Paul is laying the ground for the Colossians to disregard all "earthly" laws, authorities, and traditions, Jewish and gentile. How do you think that went over with the general public and the powers that be of that time and place? Of course there would be backlash and consequences.
Paul goes on in verse 16 to imply that observing religious festivals is unnecessary because they are just shadows of the reality in Jesus (metaphors?). In verse 18, people who claim to have had angelic visions, are puffed up and unspiritual.
In verses 20-21, Paul implies that they no longer need to follow any rules or regulations concerning what they can touch or eat. Dietary laws and strict personal restrictions based on religious regulations are said to promote false humility while not actually tempering lusts. He's got a point there. It is seen even today, where there are strict religious regulations, there is often great secret harm happening. Generally, the more strict, the more harm. Look at Catholic priests, fundamentalist muslims, fundamentalist Jews, fundamentalist Christians, and religious cults. However, even if there is no real "spiritual" value to religious regulations, lines often have to be drawn somewhere, for public health and safety. There are legitimate reasons why you might not want to touch a dead body or eat diseased animals, just not because it will damage your heavenly standing.
In chapter three, Paul continues by telling them earthly things no longer matter, only things above, whatever they are. After all, they "died." Now the life they have is with Christ. Does Christ ever have to go to the bathroom? Scratch an itch? Earthly things matter to human beings. There is no way to get around it. Paul gets specific. He says earthly things are "sexual immorality, impurity (what is that?), lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry."
First of all, most of these sound like thought crimes, specific actions haven't been defined. No examples are given, so Christians feel free to give them their own definitions, which often end up causing just as much harm as the rules and regulations that Paul is trying to do away with. Second Paul has created a false equivocation of greed and idolatry that still plagues us to this day. Idolatry is the act of worshiping idols that represent divine beings. No one actually worships the things they are greedy for. Christians will say that anything replacing god in a person's heart is an idol that they are worshipping. I say baloney. Sure, greed can be hurtful and destructive, but it is not idolatry.
Paul goes on in verse 8 of chapter three, saying the Colossians must rid themselves of all anger, malice, rage, slander, and filthy language. This sounds admirable, but to what extent? Malice, rage, and slander are usually detrimental, but is all anger bad? What did filthy language mean to the Colossians? Is it as bad as slander? What will happen if someone slips up?
Paul is trying to create new standards to replace the ones he wants to do away with. He can't see into the future when those standards become just as legalistic for Christians as the old law was for the Jews.
More to come.
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