11. Not made with hands. Compare Mark xiv. 58; 2 Cor. v. 1. In allusion to the literal circumcision insisted on by the false teachers.
In the putting off (ev 77 amexdvcer). Only here in the New Testament; and the kindred verb dmexdvopat to put off, only ver. 15 and ch. iii. 9. The verb éxdvouai means to strip off from one’s self, as clothes or armor; é« out of, having the force of getting out of one’s garments. By the addition to the verb of dé from, there is added to the idea of getting out of one’s clothes that of getting away from them ; so that the word is a strong expression for wholly putting away from one’s self. In the putting off, is in the act or process of. Not by.
The body of the sins of the flesh (10d cwpatos Tay ayap- Tiav Ths capKos). Omit of the sins. The body of the flesh (compare on ch. i. 22) is the body which consists of the flesh, jiesh having its moral sense of that material part which is the seat and organ of sin, “the flesh with its passions and lusts” (Gal. v. 24; compare 1 John ii.16). See on ch.i. 24. For the distinction between o@pa body and cdp& flesh, see on flesh, Rom. vii. 5, sec. 3.
In the circumcision of Christ (€v 77 mepitoyA tod Xpic- rod). The spiritual circumcision effected through Christ. See Eph. ii. 11; Philip. iii. 3; Rom. ii. 29. Jn, as above. The fleshly circumcision removed only a portion of the body. In spiritual cireumcision, through Christ, the whole corrupt, carnal nature is put away like a garment which is taken off and laid aside.
“See Henry Drummond, ‘‘ Natural Law in the Spiritual World,” p. 276 8qq.
Cx. IL THE EPISTLE TO THE COLOSSIANS. 489
12. Buried (cvvtadévtes). See on Rom. vi. 4. The aorist tense puts the burial as contemporaneous with the circumcis- ion. Ye were circumcised when ye were buried, etc.
In baptism (év 76 Bamrticuats or Barticud). The article, the baptism points to the familiar rite, or may have the force of your.
Wherein also (év § xal). Referring to baptism, not to
Christ.
Ye were raised with Him (cuvyyépSnre). The burial and the raising are both typified in baptism. The raising is not the resurrection to eternal life at Christ’s second coming, but the moral resurrection to a new life. This corresponds with the drift of the entire passage, with the figurative sense of buried, and with Rom. vi. 4, which is decisive.
Through the faith of the operation of God. Not the faith which God works, but your faith in God’s working : faith in God’s energy as displayed in Christ’s resurrection. Hence the emphasis which is laid on faith in the resurrection. See 1 Cor. xv. 3, 4 (note); Rom. x. 9; Eph. i.19. Vv. 11, 12 should be compared with Rom. vi. 2-6.
13. Dead (vexpovs). Morally, as Eph. ii. i. 5; Rom. vi. 11. In your sins (€v tots mapartopuacw). The best texts omit ép im, and the dative is instrumental, through or by. Rev., through your trespasses. See on Matt. vi. 14.
The uncircumcision of your flesh. That sinful, carnal nature of which uncircumcision was the sign, and which was the source of the ¢trespasses. Compare Eph. ii. 11.
He quickened together (cuve{worotncev). Only here and Eph. ii. 5. Endowed with a new spiritual life, as ver. 12. This issues in immortal life. Compare Eph. ii. 6.
Having forgiven us (yapicdpevos jpiv). Freely (ydpus grace, free gift), as Luke vii. 42; 2 Cor. ii. 7, 10; Col. iii. 13. Note the change of pronoun from you to us, believers gener- ally, embracing himself. This change from the second to the
490 WORD STUDIES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. (Cu. II.
first person, or, vice versa, is common in Paul’s writings. See ch. i. 10-13; iii. 3, 4; Eph. ii 2, 3, 18, 14; iv. 31, 32.