2/26/2024 0 Comments Elemental spiritsThe Law required people to do certain things in order to approach God, but Christ removed any need for an intermediary. In Colossians 2:8, Paul is telling believers that when they adhere to the Law (to any degree), they are CHOOSING to become enslaved once more, when Christ has indeed SET THEM FREE. 2:13-15), and gives us access to God (Eph. Jesus (by His life, death, and resurrection) not only paid our debt and gave us eternal life in Himself, but also “disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him” (Col. Under the Law, humans are dead, condemned, and enslaved. The main point that Paul is getting at, however, is that believers are ALIVE in Christ! Our standing in Christ is completely different from our standing under the Law. Um, what? This is a new thought for me, and my guess is it probably is for you too. Look at what Galatians 3:19 says about the relationship between angels and the Law: “Why then the Law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary.”Īccording to Scripture, the Law was put in place by angels. How exactly are we to understand the term “elemental spirits?” The Greek word “stoicheia” (used here in Colossians 2:8 as well as in Colossians 2:20, Galatians 4:3, and Galatians 4:9) is translated both as “elemental spirits” and “elemental principles.”Īccording to Oxford Biblical Studies Online, the most common way to understand these elemental spirits is as angels.īut why would angels want to take us captive? Aren’t they the good guys? In Colossians 2:8, Paul charges believers to not be taken captive by philosophy and empty deceit, “according to human tradition, according to elemental spirits of the world, and not to Christ.”
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