Colossians 2:18

Beguile ... of ... reward. Gr. katabrabeud, “to render adverse judgments against,” “to decide against,” “to condemn.” There is a possible reference to the figure of an umpire disqualifying a contestant, since brabeus means “umpire.” The apostle now moves to another source of danger faced by the Colossian believers. He proceeds to handle the peculiar problems resulting from the false teachings advocated among them (see p. 184).

Voluntary humility. The artificial humility practiced to increase merit, self-imposed abasement resulting in unnecessary and unworthy asceticism — these are the results of pride. They are performed to win merit by personal, human effort. In practice they deny the righteousness of Christ, leaving no room for its operation in the human heart through faith. Compare IT 297.

Worshipping of angels. These false teachers apparently accepted the guidance of angels, whom they considered to be lower emanations of God. They dwelt upon the weakness of man and his inferiority to and distance from the great and eternal God. This viewpoint was probably an extension of the voluntary humility they advocated. If man’s body was utterly worthless, then he could not approach God; he needed intermediaries.

So these they worshiped as being superior to man and, in a sense, extensions of the Deity. Paul warns the Colossians against accepting this philosophy. It runs contrary to the teaching of Christ. Jesus, citing Deuteronomy 6:13, declared, “Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve” (Matthew 4:10). Heavenly angels prohibit adoration of themselves (see Revelation 22:9).

Intruding. Gr. embateuo, literally, “to step upon,” “to stand upon”; also “to enter upon,” as to invade a country; figuratively, “to investigate,” “to pry into.” Embateuo was used as a technical term in the terminology of the mystery religions, as shown in several inscriptions from Asia Minor dated about the 2d century after Christ. The term was thus probably common on the lips of the false teachers, and may have been used for initiation into the mysteries of the cult, in which case its meaning would be “to initiate.”

Things ... not seen. Textual evidence favors (cf. p. 10) the omission of the negative, thus reading “things . . . seen,” meaning, probably, “visions.” Compare the RSV translation of this phrase, “taking his stand on visions.” If the translation “to initiate” is adopted for embateuo (see above on “intruding”), the passage may be translated, “which they have seen while being initiated.”

Vainly puffed up. This indicates a state of self-glorification and self-satisfaction.

Fleshly mind. That is, a mind controlled by the flesh in contrast with a mind controlled by the Spirit (cf. Romans 8:1-13).