Colossians 2:20 (KJV)

What does Colossians 2:20 mean?

Colossians 2:20 says that if believers have died with Christ and left behind the basic principles of the world, they should not act as if they are still controlled by worldly rules and regulations. The verse questions why, if they have this new life, they would submit themselves again to man-made requirements.

Paul is writing to the Christians in Colossae, reminding them that their spiritual identity is now tied to Christ, not to the old ways of the world. The context is about resisting pressure to follow religious rules that are not truly part of following Jesus, especially those based on human tradition rather than Christ’s teaching.

The Greek behind Colossians 2:20

• "Dead" (ἀποθνῄσκω, apothnēskō): This word means to die or to be separated from something. Here, it points to a spiritual death to the old way of life and its systems.
• "Rudiments" (στοιχεῖον, stoicheion): This term often refers to basic elements or fundamental principles. In this verse, it suggests the simple, worldly rules or systems that people once followed.
• "Ordinances" (δογματίζω, dogmatizō): The Greek word here means to submit to decrees or regulations. Paul is highlighting that believers are not meant to be bound by these external rules anymore.

Why Colossians 2:20 matters

• Colossians 2:20 helps clear up the misunderstanding that Christianity is just about following a new set of rules; instead, it is about a changed relationship with God through Christ.
• The verse emphasizes that believers’ connection to Christ frees them from being controlled by human traditions or religious regulations that do not come from Jesus.
• This verse connects to the wider argument in Colossians 2, where Paul warns against letting anyone judge or control believers by things like food laws, festivals, or other outward practices.