Chapter III: POLEMICAL (ii. 4-iii. 4)

Warning against errors.

(1) ii. 4–8. The Colossians charged to abide in the truth of the
Gospel as they received it at first, and not to be led astray by a
strange philosophy which the new teachers offer.

(2) ii. 9–15. The truth stated first positively and then negatively.

[In the passage which follows (ii. 9–23) it will be observed how St
Paul vibrates between the theological and practical bearings of
the truth, marked α, β, respectively.]

(i) _Positively._

(α) The _pleroma_ dwells wholly in Christ and is communicated
through Him (ii. 9, 10).

(β) The true circumcision is a spiritual circumcision (ii. 11,
12).

(ii) _Negatively_. Christ has

(β) annulled the law of ordinances (ii. 14);

(α) triumphed over all spiritual agencies, however powerful (ii.
15).

(3) ii. 16-iii. 4. Obligations following thereupon.

(i) Consequently the Colossians must not

(β) either submit to ritual prohibitions (ii. 16, 17),

(α) or substitute the worship of inferior beings for allegiance to
the Head (ii. 18, 19).

(ii) On the contrary this must henceforth be their rule:

1. They have _died_ with Christ; and with Him they have died to
their old life, to earthly _ordinances_ (ii. 20–23).

2. They have _risen_ with Christ; and with Him they have risen to
a new life, to heavenly _principles_ (iii. 1–4).