translated “strengthened with all might” (Eph. 3:16). In another pas sage it is used to picture Jesus (kraton) “holding” the church of Ephesus in His hands (Rev. 2:1). Thus, it is used with the Trinity indicating power. The word (kraton) “holding” is a metonymy of speech to invoke serious thought on the part of the Colossians. It is a negative assumption to enforce a positive dec laration. They were to see the tenac ity of the false teachers to remove Christ as Head of the Church. This was the sole purpose of their theo logical syllogisms (2:8), and their meticulous, ornate rituals (2:18). The Gnostics wanted to substitute the supplication and worship of an angel for the Head of the Church. These inferior emanations and aeons they wanted to place as mediators between man and God. To remove the head would be to destroy the only source of spiritual life and energy. To obstruct the flow of grace to the believer from the head would surely result in spiritual blight. The body was receiving grace direct from God and was growing continually in and through Him who is the Head. When the body is in vital and direct connection with Christ, it is con tinually growing by intercommunion between every part. Beware of any heresy which would destroy the body.
grace. The word (threskeia) “wor shipping” refers properly to the ex ternal rites of religion, and so sig nifies an over-scrupulous devotion to external forms (Acts 26:5; Jas. 1: 26, 27). This was the heart of their doctrine and bespeaks the desire of the human soul. How can the soul find access to God? The Gnostics had made merchandise of this devotion to lead them to presumptuous worship. The worship of angels might have the semblance of humility but it was in fact a contemptuous defiance of the fundamental idea of the gospel. This was a flat denial of the absolute character of Christ’s person and office. DISPLAYS A VANITY OF THE FLESHLY MIND The word (phusioumenos) “vainly puffed up” is a present participle which indicates a constant inflation of the ego. The instrument of this inflation is the mind of the flesh. It is the unconsecrated exercise of thought in the unregenerate mind, the process of wandering afar in speculations and imaginations which have not God but man for their origin. BEWARE OF DESTRUCTIVE INFORMATION (2:19) The Gnostics seemed to have a good teaching staff. They peddled their wares with diligent fervency. There was no pink of a blushing face when they were seeking to snare the Colossian Christians away from the teachings of the gospel. There were no apologies when they de throned Christ from His primacy (1:18),' and placed Him below a chain of eschelons of angels. The participle (ou kraton) “not holding” (v. 19) the head reaches the heart of this destructive Gnostic heresy. It is translated in 1:11 as “all mighty” in connection with God’s power (Eph. 1:19). It is used in connection with the Holy Spirit and
Student body officers of the Arizona Bible College meet for prayer and business. Pictured above from left to right around the fable are Emalia Keohokalole, Andrew Graham, Ronald Sheets, RichardPulk, Lawrence Corcoran (presi dent), Bet yanne Shepperson, Lawrence Robert son, Albert Gerber, John Bechtle.
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