The word refers properly to the external rites of religion, and so gets to signify an over-scrupulous devotion to external forms. And thus the prayer offered through the angel, was by and by presented to him. The translation above "let no one gain control over your life" (from performed by the power of the devil. The last part of the Origen affirms it of the Jews, and Clement makes the same assertion; both of them, as well as the treatise called the “Preaching of Peter,” describing the Jews as latreuontes aggelois. Colossians 2:18. Inflated (5448) (phusioo from phusia = a pair of bellows!) [⇑ See verse text ⇑] Paul switches to an athletic reference in this verse, stating, "Let no one disqualify you." An old Jewish liturgy distinctly contains angel worship, and exhibits one form of it. There may be several reasons but one that would be very plausible is that the one to whom the experience is related may not think they're as close to God as the one who relates the experience. Amen. A true spiritual experience with God leads to submission and service. Actually, he reveals a subtle kind of pride that substitutes man-made traditions for the Word of God. Pride makes us concentrate on ourselves and our desires rather than on Christ and the needs of His church. Lightfoot writes: The Christian's career is the contest of the stadium...Christ is the umpire, the Dispenser of rewards (Rev 22:12, see note 2 Timothy 4:8): life eternal is the bay wreath, the victor's prize. That is the great mystery which God himself has provided us, by which we have immediate and continual access to the fullness of deity in Christ, and by him, strength, help and comfort along our way. Choose Book of Bible to StudyGenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SolomonIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation, Search Wikipedia using spiritual discretion, Wuest's Word Studies from the Greek New Testament: Eerdmans), Kittel, G., Friedrich, G., & Bromiley, G. W. Theological Dictionary of the New Testament. 2:18. The only NT instance is in Col. 2:18. 1 Corinthians 5:2 You have become arrogant and have not mourned instead, so that the one who had done this deed would be removed from your midst. Not holding fast - The verb "holding fast" is in the present tense indicating that these false teachers are continually not holding fast to Christ and thus have no relationship with Christ. The "things seen" here may be described as "visions", but they are "I haven't had anything like that, so I must not be spiritual!". But who are these strange creatures that are seen in these visions? Not one time! (Read the full sermon Colossians 2:16-23 Things that can Ruin your Faith). (2Pe 3:17-note, 2Pe 3:18-note). Clearly, to worship (A Commentary on the Greek Text), As Robertson observes not holding fast pictures their...actual case of deserting Christ as the Head. Do not suffer yourselves to be robbed of it by any stratagem of the false teachers. If you tell them, then they'll think you're not spiritual because you told them. Keep defrauding you of your prize (2603) (katabrabeuo from katá = against + brabeuo = be a judge or umpire and thus award the prize in a public game) literally refers to an umpire who decides against one, declaring him unworthy of the prize and so defrauding him of the prize of victory. Help us to be increasingly aware of the dangers of allowing the enemy of our soul to defraud us of our heavenly rewards, by falling for foolish flattery, deceptive practices, worldly philosophies and other empty deceptions of religious pretenders. Colossians 2:18 Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize by delighting i n self-abasement and the worship of the angels, taking his stand on visions he has seen inflated without cause by his fleshly mind (NASB: Lockman). The last grace is specially mentioned in the correspondent passage of the twin epistle (see use of "love" in Eph 4:15, 16). Self abasement (5012) (tapeinophrosune from tapeinos = humble + phren = think) refers to a quality of voluntary submission and unselfishness. Vine adds that...A translation which is closer to the proper meaning of the word, as given above, is “let no man decide for or against you” (without any notion of a prize). Without cause (1500) (eike) means in vain, without a cause or legitimate reason, without just cause, without reason, for no reason, for nothing. It was the idea of the owner who, when tempted to call his food “the best,” figured he might get more attention by calling it “the worst.”Well, his strategy worked. The teachers boasted that they were guided by the higher reason. Colossians 2:18-19. Augustine says, with justice, that many had tried the intercession of angels, but had failed; and not only so, but—inciderunt in desiderium curiosarum visionum. Hold on to the Head and whatever experience you need, he will enable you have. If you're in a church that has come up with certain "standards" which if you live by them, that makes you spiritual, then you're in bondage. And, “These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings” (vs. 22). Christianity and specifically Christ (cf Php 2:3, 4, 5-see notes Php 2:3; 4; 5) elevated this term to the supreme virtue - the antidote for the self-love that poisons relationships.