Colossians 2 · Verse 20

Colossians 2:20

Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,
Colossians 2:20, King James Version

Colossians 2:20 in other translations

BSBIf you have died with Christ to the spiritual forces of the world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its regulations:
WEBIf you died with Christ from the elemental spirits of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to ordinances,
ASVIf ye died with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, do ye subject yourselves to ordinances,
YLTIf, then, ye did die with the Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances?
DARBYIf ye have died with Christ from the elements of the world, why as if alive in the world do ye subject yourselves to ordinances?
BBEIf you were made free, by your death with Christ, from the rules of the world, why do you put yourselves under the authority of orders
WebsterWherefore, if ye are dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,

What does Colossians 2:20 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
20. Wherefore--The oldest manuscripts omit "Wherefore." if ye be dead--Greek, "if ye died (so as to be freed) from," &c. (compare Ro 6:2; 7:2, 3; Ga 2:19). rudiments of the world--(Col 2:8). Carnal, outward, worldly, legal ordinances. as though living--as though you were not dead to the world like your crucified Lord, into whose death ye were buried (Ga 6:14; 1Pe 4:1, 2). are ye subject to ordinances--By do ye submit to be made subject to ordinances? Referring to Col 2:14: you are again being made subject to "ordinances," the "handwriting" of which had been "blotted out" (Col 2:14).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 20. Wherefore. In view of all that has been said. If it be true that you are really dead to the world, why do you act as if you still lived under the principles of the world?

If ye be dead with Christ. If you are dead to the world in virtue of his death. The apostle here, as elsewhere, speaks of a very close union with Christ. We died with him; that is, such was the efficacy of his death, and such is our union with him, that we became dead also to the world. Rom 6:2; Rom 6:4; Rom 6:8; Rom 6:11.

From the rudiments of the world. Marg., elements. The elements or principles which axe of a worldly nature, and which reign among worldly men. Gall 4:3.

Why, as though living in the world? Why do you allow them to influence you, as though you were living and acting under those worldly principles? They ought no more to do it than the things of this world influence those who are in their graves.

Are ye subject to ordinances. The rites and ceremonies of the Jewish religion. Gall 5:1-4.

(1) "rudiments" "elements"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 20 If ye be dead with Christ - See the notes on Rom 6:3, Rom 6:5 (note). From the rudiments of the world - Ye have renounced all hope of salvation from the observance of Jewish rites and ceremonies, which were only rudiments, first elements, or the alphabet, out of which the whole science of Christianity was composed. We have often seen that the world and this world signify the Jewish dispensation, or the rites, ceremonies, and services performed under it. Why, as though living in the world - Why, as if ye were still under the same dispensation from which you have been already freed, are ye subject to its ordinances, performing them as if expecting salvation from this performance?

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Colossians 2:18-23

It looked like humility to apply to angels, as if men were conscious of their unworthiness to speak directly to God. But it is not warrantable; it is taking that honour which is due to Christ only, and giving it to a creature. There really was pride in this seeming humility. Those who worship angels, disclaim Christ, who is the only Mediator between God and man. It is an insult to Christ, who is the Head of the…

Read the full comment on Colossians 2:18-23 →

Colossians 2:20 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ΕἰEiIfG1487
οὖνounthereforeG3767
ἀπεθάνετεapethaneteyou have diedG599
σὺνsunwithG4862
ΧριστῷChristōChristG5547
ἀπὸapoaway fromG575
τῶνtōntheG3588
στοιχείωνstoicheiōnprinciplesG4747
τοῦtouof theG3588
κόσμου,kosmouworld,G2889
τίtiwhyG5101
ὡςhōsas ifG5613
ζῶντεςzōnteslivingG2198
ἐνeninG1722
κόσμῳkosmō[the] worldG2889
δογματίζεσθε;dogmatizesthedo you submit to decrees?G1379

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Colossians 2:20

  • Colossians 2:8

    Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

  • Colossians 2:14

    Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

  • Colossians 2:16

    Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:

  • Galatians 4:3

    Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:

  • Romans 7:4-6

    Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.

  • 1 John 5:19

    And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.

  • Hebrews 13:9

    Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.

  • 2 Corinthians 10:3

    For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:

  • Galatians 4:9-12

    But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain. Brethren, I beseech you, be as I am; for I am as ye are: ye have not injured me at all.

  • 1 Peter 4:1-3

    Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:

  • Galatians 2:19-20

    For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

  • John 17:14-16

    I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
if.
3:3; Ro 6:2-11; 7:4-6; Ga 2:19,20; 6:14; 1Pe 4:1-3
from.
8; Eph 2:15
rudiments. or, elements. living.
Joh 15:19; 17:14-16; 2Co 10:3; Jas 4:4; 1Jo 5:19
subject.
14,16; Ga 4:3,9-12; Heb 13:9

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Colossians 2:19

    And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.

  • Colossians 2:20

    Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,

  • Colossians 2:21

    (Touch not; taste not; handle not;

Read all of Colossians 2

Colossians 2:20 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Pues si sois muertos con Cristo cuanto á los rudimentos del mundo, ¿por qué como si vivieseis al mundo, os sometéis á ordenanzas,
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Si vous êtes morts avec Christ aux éléments du monde, pourquoi, comme si vous étiez encore en vie dans le monde, établissez-vous des ordonnances,
German
Elberfelder 1871		Wenn ihr mit Christo den Elementen der Welt gestorben seid, was unterwerfet ihr euch Satzungen, als lebtet ihr noch in der Welt?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Si ergo mortui estis cum Christo ab elementis hujus mundi: quid adhuc tamquam viventes in mundo decernitis?