Commentaries:
Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown
Wherefore—The oldest manuscripts omit "Wherefore."
if ye be dead—Greek, "if ye died (so as to be freed) from," etc. (compare Romans 6:2; Romans 7:2-3; Galatians 2:19).
rudiments of the world— (Colossians 2:8). Carnal, outward, worldly, legal ordinances.
as though living—as though you were not dead to the world like your crucified Lord, into whose death ye were buried (Galatians 6:14; I Peter 4:1-2).
are ye subject to ordinances—By do ye submit to be made subject to ordinances? Referring to Colossians 2:14 : you are again being made subject to "ordinances," the "handwriting" of which had been "blotted out" (Colossians 2:14).
Other Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown entries containing Colossians 2:20:
1 Corinthians 6:13
Galatians 2:19
Galatians 4:3
Galatians 6:14
Colossians 2:8
Colossians 2:21
Colossians 2:22
Colossians 3:2
2 Thessalonians 2:7
1 Timothy 1:4
1 Timothy 4:3
2 Timothy 3:16
Titus 1:14
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