提要
在第二章中，保羅直接指出異端的偏差。它最基本的瑕疵，是奠基在「人為傳統」和「膚淺的學說」上，而不根據基督已完成的工作。「人為傳統」指的是，割禮的儀文（11節），由諾斯底派從猶太教中引來。而所謂膚淺的學說，或「世上的小學」，指的是物質世界構成的基本原素（地、氣、火、水──依希臘哲學的傳統）。這一異端摻入猶太教的傳統／希臘的哲學，又混了一點耶穌的事，弄成了一個很複雜的東西。而保羅認為，這一混雜乃是以假亂真的膺品。信靠耶穌，單獨這件事就夠了──不必再加上些什麼。
那便是為什麼保羅要說：「祂（上帝）赦免了（你們）一切過犯，便叫你們與基督一同活過來。又塗抹了在律例上所寫，攻擊我們、有礙於我們的字據，把它撤去，釘在十字架上」（13、14節）。因為摩西的律法，已被「釘在十字架上」，保羅告訴歌羅西人，不要受律法主義者的脅迫（16節原文）。律法主義能殺人，耶穌卻讓我們活了（13節）。
他也告訴他們不要被拜各種天界之靈的人所脅迫。他「因著故意謙虛和敬拜天使」，且「窺察（他們）所沒見過的」（8節古卷小字）。這些神秘的宗教，保羅說：「與元首（基督）脫節」（19節NIV本）。他們充滿了緊張與狼狽，正如一隻被砍了頭的雞。
保羅的主張很清楚：「上帝本性的一切豐盛，都有形有體的居住在基督裡」（9節）。我們所需的一切是耶穌；有了他一切就足夠了。
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Overview
In chapter two, Paul confronts the heresy spoken of in the introduction. Its most fundamental flaw is its dependence upon "human tradition" and "basic principles of this world" (NIV) rather than on the finished work of Christ. The "human tradition" referred to, among other things, the rite of circumcision (v.ll), borrowed by the Gnostics from Jewish practice. The "basic principles" or "elemental spirits" (RSV) of the world refer to the elementary constitutents of which the physical world is formed (earth, air, fire, and water —in Greek philosophic tradition). The heresy was comprised of a Jewish tradition/Greek philosophy hybrid with a little of Jesus thrown into the mix. As far as Paul was concerned, this mix was bogus. Faith in Christ alone was enough — nothing need be added.
That's why Paul says, "He [God] has made [you] alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements [the written code — NIV] that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross" (vv. 13,14). Because the Mosaic Law has been "nailed to the cross", Paul tells the Colossians not to be intimidated by legalists (v. 16). Legalism kills. Jesus makes us alive (v. 13).
He also tells them not to be intimidated by spiritualizers who "delight in false humility and worship of angels" and "[intrude] into those things which [they have] not seen" (v. 18). These mystics, Paul says, have "lost connection with the Head" (v. 19 NIV). They are full of flapping and flurry, just like a chicken with its head cut off.
Paul's point is clear: "[in Christ] dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily" (v. 9). All we need is Jesus; that's all!
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