Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances

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PS

Senior Member
Jan 11, 2013
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#1
I came across this explanation about the “blotting out of the handwriting of ordinances” and thought people might be interested. It is quite long and this is a summery. There is a link to the full article below.

Colosse situated as it is in Asia Minor was dominated by paganism and was the great cultural centre of the region. It was dominated by Greek civilization and philosophy and along with the cities of Laodicea and Hieropolis was considered to be the seat of Greek and Oriental philosophy along with asceticism that permeated the culture of this and other outlying areas. Heathenism, paganism, the mystery religions and Pantheism were everywhere.

The people had lapsed into gross immorality. The teachings of Plato centred on the demiurge which is the Gnostic term for the Creator of the material world, who was considered much lower than and far removed from the Supreme Being. This was one of the main purposes of Paul’s letter — to prove that Yahshua was the Creator and the head of the Assembly, and not at the bottom of the creation ladder (Col.1).

The problem Paul addressed in his letter to the Colossians was the fusion of pagan and oriental asceticism into the truth of the Scriptures. It was the mixing of the Bible with worldly philosophy and esoteric wisdom plus spiritualism and mystery religions.

In chapter 2 of Colossians Paul warns the believers not to be taken in by those who would beguile them, nor to be destroyed through philosophy and vain deceit by the traditions of men and the elementary teachings of the world. In verse 10 Paul points out that the believer who has been baptized is complete in the Messiah, who “Blotted out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing them to the tree” of His Son, Yahshua.

The “handwriting of ordinances” is not the Ten Commandments which were written on two tables of stone by Yahweh’s own finger. These are the ordinances that were handwritten by pagan man. They were not engraved on two tablets of stone as were the Ten Commandments.

In addition, this handwriting of ordinances Paul says is “against us and contrary to us Christians” The problem was always with man and man’s dogma which is not Yahweh-ordained law and is used in the Bible to mean the doctrine, decree, or teaching of man. “Ordinances” here is a man-made teaching. The blotting out of ordinances (erroneous, man-made notions of conduct) referred to in Colossians 2:14 has a parallel in 1:21-22, where Paul explains that our previous life of a worldly, hostile attitude has been set aside and taken away. Yahweh has now forgiven our former way of life. He has reconciled us to Himself, even though we were enemies by our wicked works. We are now brought into His very presence through Yahshua’s shed blood.

The “blotting out the handwriting of ordinances” simply means (as in Acts 3: 19) that the sins committed by the human works of the mind and flesh resulting in disobedience to Yahweh’s law have been blotted out. Yahweh has fully forgiven our sins because of the death of His Son on the cross. Now we are to follow in the footsteps of His Son who is our example. “We need to rid ourselves of sinful, earthly things; dampen down the evil desires lurking within us and have nothing to do with sexual sins, impurity, lust, and shameful desire, neither should we love the good things of carnal life, for that is idolatry,”


Posted on October 3, 2016 by YRM

https://yrm.org/handwriting-ordinances-not-biblical-law/
 
E

eternally-gratefull

Guest
#2
this is a sad sad commentary. Talk about wanting to remain under law. Thats what I mean when I say commentaries are flawed. anyone can find a commentary to support their belief system.

The only ordinances against anyone is the law. No pagan ordinances would be against anyone pagan ordinances have nothing to do with the final judgment.

That's like saying that the law in America can condemn a person to hell. So God took these ordinances away and nailed them to the cross.

Jesus nailed the condemnation of the law (which condemned EVERYONE who did not obey every word see gal 3) and nailed them to the cross.
 

PS

Senior Member
Jan 11, 2013
5,399
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#3
this is a sad sad commentary. Talk about wanting to remain under law. Thats what I mean when I say commentaries are flawed. anyone can find a commentary to support their belief system.

The only ordinances against anyone is the law. No pagan ordinances would be against anyone pagan ordinances have nothing to do with the final judgment.

That's like saying that the law in America can condemn a person to hell. So God took these ordinances away and nailed them to the cross.

Jesus nailed the condemnation of the law (which condemned EVERYONE who did not obey every word see gal 3) and nailed them to the cross.
You are quite right to say no pagan ordinances can be held against us at the final judgement.

What Paul is warning Christians about, is not to be taken in by the doctrines of men, for example "New Age" that can lead us astray, but to continue with the teaching contained within the Bible.

Paul is warning us against those things and to trust in the saving grace of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

It is not about remaining under the Law. Paul is saying Christ freed us from that. Just not to get entangled with false religions.
 
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PS

Senior Member
Jan 11, 2013
5,399
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#4
The handwritten ordinances that are against us were the writings of such philosophers as Plato, who were against Christianity.
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
24,167
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#5
I came across this explanation about the “blotting out of the handwriting of ordinances” and thought people might be interested. It is quite long and this is a summery. There is a link to the full article below.
This interpretation is false. So let's look at the verse (Col 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...

The "handwriting" refers to a handwritten legal document. And with reference to our sins it is the handwritten legal documents which are referred to as "the books were opened". All our sins and transgressions have been meticulously recorded by God, probably through the assignment of this work to angels.

The "ordinances" are all the commandments, ordinances, and decrees in the Law of Moses, which justly condemn each and every human being, since "all have sinned and come short of the glory of God". They were "contrary to us" in that they justly condemned us to Hell. There is not a human being who has not transgressed at least one of the Ten Commandments.

So when Christ became the Sin-Bearer ("He was made Sin for us") all these just judgments against us were placed on Him, and He was nailed to the Cross as the Lamb of God who "taketh away the sin of the world". When He shed His blood for our redemption, these accusations against us were wiped clean provided we would believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and genuinely repent.

As to the validity of the Ten Commandments, they have been incorporated into the New Covenant, and those who are children of God have those commandments written in their hearts and minds. The Ten Commandments are holy, just, and righteous, and they were definitely NOT nailed to the Cross. They have been transformed into the Law of Christ, which is also the Law of Love and the Law of Liberty.
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
24,167
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#6
The handwritten ordinances that are against us were the writings of such philosophers as Plato, who were against Christianity.
That is incorrect. This has nothing to do with Plato, Aristotle, or any of the Greek philosophers. It is all about God's judgments against guilty sinners.
 

PS

Senior Member
Jan 11, 2013
5,399
695
113
#7
This interpretation is false. So let's look at the verse (Col 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...

The "handwriting" refers to a handwritten legal document. And with reference to our sins it is the handwritten legal documents which are referred to as "the books were opened". All our sins and transgressions have been meticulously recorded by God, probably through the assignment of this work to angels.

The "ordinances" are all the commandments, ordinances, and decrees in the Law of Moses, which justly condemn each and every human being, since "all have sinned and come short of the glory of God". They were "contrary to us" in that they justly condemned us to Hell. There is not a human being who has not transgressed at least one of the Ten Commandments.

So when Christ became the Sin-Bearer ("He was made Sin for us") all these just judgments against us were placed on Him, and He was nailed to the Cross as the Lamb of God who "taketh away the sin of the world". When He shed His blood for our redemption, these accusations against us were wiped clean provided we would believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and genuinely repent.

As to the validity of the Ten Commandments, they have been incorporated into the New Covenant, and those who are children of God have those commandments written in their hearts and minds. The Ten Commandments are holy, just, and righteous, and they were definitely NOT nailed to the Cross. They have been transformed into the Law of Christ, which is also the Law of Love and the Law of Liberty.
It is not about the law of God, it is the handwritten ordinances of atheists and philosophers who were against the early Christians.
 

PS

Senior Member
Jan 11, 2013
5,399
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#8
That is incorrect. This has nothing to do with Plato, Aristotle, or any of the Greek philosophers. It is all about God's judgments against guilty sinners.
Read the article, second and third paragraph down.
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
24,167
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#9
It is not about the law of God, it is the handwritten ordinances of atheists and philosophers who were against the early Christians.
If you wish to persist in misunderstanding Scripture that is entirely your prerogative. A lot of people prefer error over truth.

What you said here about "early Christians" contradicts the fact that the crucifixion occurred before they become early Christians. Furthermore, the fact that the Cross of Christ is mentioned makes it clear that God was dealing with the sins of humanity at the Cross.
 

PS

Senior Member
Jan 11, 2013
5,399
695
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#10
If you wish to persist in misunderstanding Scripture that is entirely your prerogative. A lot of people prefer error over truth.

What you said here about "early Christians" contradicts the fact that the crucifixion occurred before they become early Christians. Furthermore, the fact that the Cross of Christ is mentioned makes it clear that God was dealing with the sins of humanity at the Cross.
Of course the Crucifixion took place before they became Christians. (Actually it didn't, people were following Christ while he was alive on earth)

People have been writing against Christianity ever since up to the present day. Paul was saying the same as you, that any writing against Christianity is of no consequence, it is not God's law and anything man may write has been nailed to the cross for all time.
 
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Sep 4, 2012
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#11
I think that website is Hebrew Roots. I wouldn't trust them to give me the time of day.

As I understand it, the handwriting of decrees were the charges against a criminal that the Romans nailed to his cross.

“In the famous Florentine papyrus of A.D. 85, the governor of Egypt gives this order in the course of a trial,—’Let the hand-writing be crossed out,’ which corresponds to the ‘blotting out the hand-writing’ of Col[ossians] 2:14” (Graham Scroggie, forward to Vine’s, Logos Library System, 1997).
The charge against Jesus was nailed to his cross.

And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. Luke 23:38

Through the mutual exchange of the covenant, GOD's charges against us (which rightfully should be on a cross) were blotted out.
 

PS

Senior Member
Jan 11, 2013
5,399
695
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#12
I think that website is Hebrew Roots. I wouldn't trust them to give me the time of day.

As I understand it, the handwriting of decrees were the charges against a criminal that the Romans nailed to his cross.



The charge against Jesus was nailed to his cross.
And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. Luke 23:38

Through the mutual exchange of the covenant, GOD's charges against us (which rightfully should be on a cross) were blotted out.
Well.....let us be aware of false cults. There were plenty in Colosse that was known as "Sin City" and Paul was rightly concerned about the church, warning them of these things, the people, their writings, and the temple prostitutes.
 
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E

eternally-gratefull

Guest
#13
You are quite right to say no pagan ordinances can be held against us at the final judgement.

What Paul is warning Christians about, is not to be taken in by the doctrines of men, for example "New Age" that can lead us astray, but to continue with the teaching contained within the Bible.

Paul is warning us against those things and to trust in the saving grace of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

It is not about remaining under the Law. Paul is saying Christ freed us from that. Just not to get entangled with false religions.
that is not what paul is saying. He is not talking to new believers, he is speaking to an established church. They would have never thought anything about pagan practices when paul spoke those words.
 
E

eternally-gratefull

Guest
#14
The handwritten ordinances that are against us were the writings of such philosophers as Plato, who were against Christianity.
No. He could not condemn us, the law can. That is why jesus went to the cross. To fulfill the law. To do what we could not.
 

PS

Senior Member
Jan 11, 2013
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#15
that is not what paul is saying. He is not talking to new believers, he is speaking to an established church. They would have never thought anything about pagan practices when paul spoke those words.
Paul even wrote to the Corinthian church regarding Plato.

"Everything is permissible for me—but not everything is beneficial" was a common saying among the elite of the day. It originated from Plato. If you notice it is in quotes because Paul is quoting what the Corinthians were saying which was that immorality was permissible. Paul of course set them straight. 1 Corinthians 6:12
Now Paul is writing to the church in Colosse in greater detail. The church was in its infancy during Paul's ministry, he may even have set the church up. What Paul wrote was very relevant to a new church. Even today we are concerned about false religions and we spend a lot of time writing about them. Here is a short extract:

In chapter 2 Paul warns the believers not to be taken in by those who would beguile them (verse 4), nor be spoiled (as spoiled by war) through philosophy and vain deceit by the traditions of men and the elementary teachings of the world, verse 8. In verse 10 Paul points out that the believer who has been baptized is complete in the Messiah, and in verse 13 he says the believer is now living a new life, with his sins forgiven.

Notice that in verse 13 it is the Father who has made the believer alive and has forgiven all trespasses. Yahweh is the subject here. Verse 14 tells how He did it. “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing them to the tree” of His Son, Yahshua.

The “handwriting of ordinances” is not the Ten Commandments which were written on two tables of stone by Yahweh’s own finger. These ordinances were handwritten by man. They were not engraved on two tablets of stone as were the Ten Commandments.

In addition, this handwriting of ordinances Paul says is “against us, contrary to us.” This certainly cannot be the Ten Commandments, for they are not against us. David said, “O, How love I Thy Law! it is my meditation all the day” (Ps. 119:97). If King David, the patriarchs, and Yahshua Himself kept and obeyed Yahweh’s law, how can His law be “against us, contrary to us?” We might act contrary to His Law, but certainly His Law is not against or contrary to us. The problem was always with man, never with the law.
 
E

eternally-gratefull

Guest
#16
Paul even wrote to the Corinthian church regarding Plato.



Now Paul is writing to the church in Colosse in greater detail. The church was in its infancy during Paul's ministry, he may even have set the church up. What Paul wrote was very relevant to a new church. Even today we are concerned about false religions and we spend a lot of time writing about them. Here is a short extract:

In chapter 2 Paul warns the believers not to be taken in by those who would beguile them (verse 4), nor be spoiled (as spoiled by war) through philosophy and vain deceit by the traditions of men and the elementary teachings of the world, verse 8. In verse 10 Paul points out that the believer who has been baptized is complete in the Messiah, and in verse 13 he says the believer is now living a new life, with his sins forgiven.

Notice that in verse 13 it is the Father who has made the believer alive and has forgiven all trespasses. Yahweh is the subject here. Verse 14 tells how He did it. “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing them to the tree” of His Son, Yahshua.

The “handwriting of ordinances” is not the Ten Commandments which were written on two tables of stone by Yahweh’s own finger. These ordinances were handwritten by man. They were not engraved on two tablets of stone as were the Ten Commandments.

In addition, this handwriting of ordinances Paul says is “against us, contrary to us.” This certainly cannot be the Ten Commandments, for they are not against us. David said, “O, How love I Thy Law! it is my meditation all the day” (Ps. 119:97). If King David, the patriarchs, and Yahshua Himself kept and obeyed Yahweh’s law, how can His law be “against us, contrary to us?” We might act contrary to His Law, but certainly His Law is not against or contrary to us. The problem was always with man, never with the law.

It does not matter, No church who is established would even think Paul spoke of Plato. They would have KNOWN that no civil law ever condemned them, and Jesus did not go to the cross in Jerusalem in order to take platos laws and nail them to the cross.

what you have is someone trying to force scripture to fit his belief system, not interpret it correctly.
 

PS

Senior Member
Jan 11, 2013
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#17

It does not matter, No church who is established would even think Paul spoke of Plato. They would have KNOWN that no civil law ever condemned them, and Jesus did not go to the cross in Jerusalem in order to take platos laws and nail them to the cross.

what you have is someone trying to force scripture to fit his belief system, not interpret it correctly.
No, it was very relevant to the day. These were troubled times. Christians were being persecuted and the temptation to go back into the world was very strong if only to avoid persecution. Paul strove to encourage all the churches.
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
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#18
Read the article, second and third paragraph down.
There is no need for anyone to read this nonsensical article since it is promoting FALSE DOCTRINE, and you are doing exactly the same by insisting on this nonsense. Why is it nonsense? Take a look at this sub-heading:

Law Not Against Us
This blatantly contradicts Scripture. Please note:

Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. (Rom 3:19)
 

PS

Senior Member
Jan 11, 2013
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#19
There is no need for anyone to read this nonsensical article since it is promoting FALSE DOCTRINE, and you are doing exactly the same by insisting on this nonsense. Why is it nonsense? Take a look at this sub-heading:

This blatantly contradicts Scripture. Please note:

Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. (Rom 3:19)
The article is speaking about the Ten Commandments that are for all time, including the present day.

Remember the discussions about the 4th commandment?
 
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mailmandan

Senior Member
Apr 7, 2014
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#20
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.

Ephesians 2:15 - Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace.

"He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenantnot of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills...the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone...the ministry that condemns" (2 Corinthians 3:6-9).

The law on our heart and mind is the love of the Spirit, not the law of the letter. This is why Paul tells us that the new covenant is a covenant of the Spirit, and not of the letter.

The moral principles of 9 of the 10 commandments are reiterated under the New Covenant, yet the command to keep the Sabbath day is not binding on Christians under the New Covenant.

1. You shall have no other gods before Me. - Acts 14:15
2. You shall make no idols. - 1 John 5:21
3. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain. - James 5:12
4. Keep the Sabbath day holy. - Not binding on the Church - Colossians 2:16-17
5. Honor your father and your mother. - Ephesians 6:1-2
6. You shall not murder. - Romans 13:9-10; 1 John 3:15
7. You shall not commit adultery. - Romans 13:9-10; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10
8. You shall not steal. - Romans 13:9-10; Ephesians 4:28
9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. - Romans 13:9-10; Colossians 3:9-10
10. You shall not covet. - Romans 13:9-10; Ephesians 5:3