Colossians 2:14

Colossians 2:14 - Take 3

Introduction

Colossians 2:14 wiping out the handwriting in ordinances which was against us. He has taken it out of the way, nailing it to the cross.

This text has been a challenge to my thinking for quite awhile.

Take 1

In August of 2024, I used the above translation as part of a verse-by-verse study of the entire chapter. But, I didn't really understand this verse. So, this is what I wrote about it, guessing about what it meant =>

Regarding "the handwriting in ordinances which was against us ", this is likely a reference to the laws of the Jewish leaders that were not written in the Torah - the instructions of Jehovah which were given to Moses in the first five books of the Bible. The added laws of the Jewish leaders are the laws of which Jesus spoke against in His arguments with the scribes and Pharisees. But, this is a topic for a future study...

But now, in my understanding, there seems to be a flaw with this theory: Why would man-made laws, which never had legitimacy in the first place, need to be nailed to the cross?! It seems absurd to me that Yeshua would need to die for any such thing as that! I really wasn't totally sure about that theory at that time, which is why I said that "this is a topic for a future study".

Take 2

On November 1, 2025, I presented that "future study", thinking that the mystery of what was nailed to the cross was solved. This is what I said about that, just last week =>

Regarding "the handwriting in ordinances which was against us" in verse 14, and "nailing it to the cross", there are about 23 English Bible versions that support this idea of nailing the law to the cross. But, was it really the Torah Law that was nailed to the cross of our Messiah? There are about 40 English Bibles that give an understanding that is more in context with the previous and following verses. Notice in verse 13 how God forgives all our sins? Notice how there's only a comma that separates verses 13 and 14? Those two verses are one sentence - one thought. Here is how the NLT, one of the 40 translations, verses 13-15 reads =>
- Colossians 2:13-15 => "You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. 14 He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. 15 In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross."
So, rather that nailing the Torah law to the cross, God nailed the penalty of your sins to the cross. Why? =>
- Romans 6:23 For the wages{penalty} of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.
- 2 Corinthians 5:21 Him{Jesus} who knew no sin he{God} made to be sin on our behalf; that we might become the righteousness of God in him{Jesus}.
- Galatians 3:13 But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.( Deut 21:23 )”

It was around 3 days later that I realized that this theory is also flawed! Let us now count the ways in which it is flawed =>

The charges against us are NOT because of our sins! When considering the Greek words used in this text, the most accurate reading of this text is that it was "the handwriting in ordinances" that was done away with, "by nailing it to the cross". Was the Decalogue(10 Commandments) done away with and nailed to the cross? Of course not! Why would I even ask such a thing?! Because, if we say that the charges against us are because of our sins, then we must assume that the "ordinances" are the Decalogue and that's absurd!
The "handwriting in ordinances" is NOT the Decalogue, for the reasons stated above.
It was NOT our sins that were nailed to the cross. Why not?! If the Torah portrays a shadow of better things to come(Col2:17;Heb10:1), we need to understand the path(so to speak) that our sins take

Remember that our sins were not nailed to the cross. If the Torah portrays a shadow of better things to come, then our sins, after being stored in the Sanctuary, are finally lain on the scapegoat, who is finally destroyed

(WMB) Colossians 2:8-15 ¶ Be careful that you don’t let anyone rob you through his philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the elemental spirits of the world, and not after Messiah. 9 For in him all the fullness of the Deity dwells bodily, 10 and in him you are made full, who is the head of all principality and power. 11 In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, in the putting off of the body of the sins of the flesh, in the circumcision of Messiah, 12 having been buried with him in immersion, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead. 13 You were dead through your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh. He made you alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 wiping out the handwriting in ordinances which was against us. He has taken it out of the way, nailing it to the cross. 15 Having stripped the principalities and the powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

Desiring to live by every word that comes from the mouth of Jehovah ( Deut8:3; Matt4:4 )

-Sid Nash: 11/06/2025. Latest version: