Submit...to decrees (1379) (dogmatizo from dogma = rule, decree, regulation, ordinance - a formalized rule or set of rules prescribing what one must do) means to put others under obligation by imposition of rules. In the passive sense as used in this passage the idea is to submit to rules and regulations ("dogma"). There are 3 uses in the Septuagint - Esther 3:9; Dan 2:13, 15. The saints at Colossae were being told that it was wrong to eat certain foods, etc. They were told that keeping these man-made rules was the key to spirituality. The practices Paul is alluding to appear to be forms of asceticism and legalism. IVP Background Commentary... The (Col 2:20) “decrees” (NASB) or “rules” (NIV, TEV) may be Jewish “regulations” (NRSV), as in Col. 2:14. (Although the language with which Paul describes them in Col. 2:21 has been compared to descriptions of Pythagorean asceticism, the language could fit Old Testament purity rules just as well.) Most Jews outside Palestine still kept the food laws, and some Jews forbade even touching particular foods (Letter of Aristeas 129); other Old Testament laws explicitly decreed one impure for touching some things. (This application would be especially appropriate if Paul thought of people adding to those rules, as Jewish teachers noted that Eve or Adam her tutor apparently added “Do not touch” to God’s “Do not eat”—Genesis 2:17; Genesis 3:3.) Ironside... In Colossians 2:20, 21, 22, 23 the apostle Paul warned against the folly of seeking holiness through asceticism. He connected ascetic practices with the philosophies alluded to in Col 2:8, which he designated "the rudiments of the world." Challenging the believer, who as a new man in Christ (see New Man or New Self) has died with Him to his old place and condition in the world, Paul asked, "Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances... after the commandments and doctrines of men?" All these rules and regulations for the subduing of the body are based on the principles of the world. They take for granted that God is still trying to improve the flesh, and this we know is not His purpose. Through John the Baptist, God said, "The ax is laid unto the root of the trees" (Mt 3:10). But from the early days of Christianity to modern times, men have used the ax, or the pruning knife, on the fruit of the trees, as though the trees might be improved if the bad fruit were cut off. Men say, Get people to reform, to sign pledges, to put themselves under rules and regulations, to starve the body, to inflict physical suffering on it, and surely its vile propensities will be annulled if not eliminated. Little by little people will become spiritual and godlike. Thousands have agreed with the one who said, Every day, in every way I am getting better and better. But no amount of self-control, no physical suffering whatever can change the carnal mind, which Scripture emphatically calls the flesh. Saint Jerome lived a lecherous life in his youth, but after he became a Christian he fled from all contact with the gross and vulgar world in which he had once sought to gratify every fleshly desire. He left Rome, wandered to Palestine, and lived in a cave near Bethlehem, where he sought to subdue his carnal nature by fasting almost to starvation. So he was greatly disappointed when, exhausted and weary, he fell asleep and dreamed he was still rioting among the dissolute companions of his godless days. The flesh cannot be starved into subjection. It cannot be improved by subjecting it to ordinances, whether human or divine. But as we walk in the Spirit and fill our minds with thoughts of the risen Christ, we are delivered from the power of "fleshly lusts, which war against the soul" (1Peter 2:11-note). Eadie explains that since the Colossians had been translated into the kingdom of God's dear Son, therefore the code of the realm which they had left had no more force upon them. A Russian naturalized in Britain need not trouble himself about any imperial ukase, as if he yet lived under the Autocrat. (A Commentary on the Greek) ASCETICISM Asceticism is the teaching that spirituality is attained through renunciation of physical pleasures and personal desires while concentrating on “spiritual” matters. It describes the practicing of strict self-denial as a measure of personal and spiritual discipline. Asceticism often proceeds on the assumption that the physical body is evil and is ultimately the cause of sin but this is not a biblical concept. The Columbia Encyclopedia says that asceticism involves... rejection of bodily pleasures through sustained self-denial and self-mortification, with the objective of strengthening spiritual life. Asceticism has been common in most major world religions, including Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, and Christianity: all of these have special ascetic cults or ascetic ideals. The most common ascetic practice is fasting, which is used for many purposes—to produce visions, as among the Crow; to mourn the dead, as among various African peoples; and to sharpen spiritual awareness, as among the early Christian saints. More extreme forms have been flagellation (see flagellants) and self-mutilation, usually intended to propitiate or reach accord with a god." (The Columbia Encyclopedia) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia adds that ... Asceticism is not easily defined because of its diverse manifestations, but in general it involves self-deprivation and is usually pursued out of a desire to glorify God by avoiding what is harmful and by limiting oneself to what is necessary to maintain life. It is unfortunately susceptible to the danger that the pursuit may become subtly diverted to a desire to outstrip one’s fellows and to be credited with a holiness of life unattained by ordinary mortals. These spiritually elite, in turn, may seek to dominate other lives. “There is no pride like that which bases on ascetic austerity the claim to direct with authority the life and conduct of others” (James Denney). (Bromiley, G. W. The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Revised. Wm. B. Eerdmans) LEGALISM Legalism refers to an emphasis on man-made rules and prohibitions as the standard for spirituality. Have you been around people like this? The specific rules and prohibitions may be different today, but the error is the same. And so people come into the body of Christ and tell you how wrong it is to drink alcohol, to watch secular movies, to play cards, to wear make-up or fashionable clothes, to listen to secular music, to dance, and on and on. These individuals are not only convinced that these practices are wrong but consider it as their duty to judge you as unspiritual because you do them! Nelson's New Christian Dictionary says that legalism is a... Moral attitude that identifies Christian morality with the literal observance of biblical laws and claims superiority in so doing. The allegation of legalism is often leveled at Christians who believe that God’s Word in Scripture gives specific teaching against certain actions and behavior. (Kurian, G. T. Nelson's new Christian dictionary: Nashville, Tenn.: Thomas Nelson) Legalism tends to promote self-righteousness and pride and hypocrisy, which are some of the most hateful attitudes to God (Mt 23:25,26)! Legalism commonly denotes preoccupation with form at the expense of substance. Legalism needlessly alienates non-Christians. It misrepresents God as a Cosmic Killjoy instead of the Giver of Abundant Life. It implies that we have to clean ourselves up morally before we can come to Christ, instead of coming to him as we are and allowing him to change us from the inside out. It creates ghettoes of finger-pointers instead of people like Jesus, who never compromised morally, but loved lost people and became known as "the friend of sinners." Legalism and asceticism do not work to make one more like Christ, Who was the epitome of "spirituality" and perfect righteousness! These genre of "religiosity" may look impressive, but they only manages the outside, the externals and fail to cleanse our inner heart and so fail to liberate us from the control of our sin nature inherited from Adam. Jesus leveled some of His harshest criticism at the penultimate legalists of His day declaring "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness. Even so you too outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness." (Mt 23:27-28) How then can one achieve control his or her evil desires? The only thing that can control the depraved lusts that originate from our old sin nature inherited from Adam is death. Why? Because death separates. Death liberates. Death frees. In Romans 6 Paul explains that when Christ died, believers died to the power of sin once and for all. It does not matter whether we "feel" like we are dead to sin or not! Scripture teaches that this is now a believer's position (and possession) in Christ and nothing can change that truth. Now our goal is to work out that salvation truth in fear and trembling, knowing that it is still God Who is at work in us to give us the desire and the power to work it out! (Phil 2:12-note) See notes on Ro 6:1,2, 3-note for discussion of how to walk in victory (Also see notes on Ro 6:4, 5, 6,7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14-- Ro 6:4-5, 6-7, 8-10, 11, 12-14) Lightfoot paraphrases Colossians 2:20-23 as follows... "You died with Christ to your old life. All mundane relations have ceased for you. Why then do you—you who have attained your spiritual manhood—submit still to the rudimentary discipline of children? Why do you—you who are citizens of heaven—bow your necks afresh to the tyranny of material ordinances as though you were still living in the world? It is the same old story again; the same round of hard, meaningless, vexatious prohibitions, “Handle not,” “Taste not,” “Touch not.” What folly! All these things—these meats and drinks and the like—are earthly, perishable, wholly trivial and unimportant! They have already been used, and there is an end of them. What is this but to draw down on yourselves the denunciations uttered by the prophet of old? What is this but to abandon God’s word for precepts which are issued by human authority and inculcated by human teachers? All such things have a show of wisdom, I grant. There is an officious parade of religious devotion, an eager affectation of humility; there is a stern ascetic rigor which ill-treats the body. But there is nothing of any real value to check indulgence of the flesh." WHAT ABOUT FASTING? Aren't believers encouraged to fast? The answer of course is yes but it is a qualified "yes" even as our Lord Jesus warned... And whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they neglect their appearance in order to be seen fasting by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But you, when you fast, anoint your head, and wash your face (see notes Matthew 6:16; 6:17; 6:18) There are a number of books available on this discipline but many are less than spiritually sound and border on the mystical. In his Preface to A Hunger for God (excellent resource available free for download as a Pdf) Dr John Piper gives believers wise counsel regarding the spiritual discipline of fasting writing... Beware of books on fasting. The Bible is very careful to warn us about people who “advocate abstaining from foods, which God created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth” (1Timothy 4:1, 2, 3). The apostle Paul asks with dismay, “Why .. . do you submit yourself to decrees, such as ‘Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch’?” (Colossians 2:20, 21). He is jealous for the full enjoyment of Christian liberty. Like a great declaration of freedom over every book on fasting flies the banner, “Food will not commend us to God; we are neither the worse if we do not eat, nor the better if we do eat” (1Corinthians 8:8). There once were two men. One said, “I fast twice a week”; the other said, “God be merciful to me a sinner.” Only one went down to his house justified (Luke 18:12, 13, 14). The discipline of self-denial is fraught with dangers— perhaps only surpassed by the dangers of indulgence. These also we are warned about: “All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything” (1Cor 6:12). What masters us has become our god; and Paul warns us about those “whose god is their appetite” (Php 3:19-note). Appetite dictates the direction of their lives. The stomach is sovereign. This has a religious expression and an irreligious one. Religiously “persons . . . turn the grace of our God into licentiousness” (Jude 4) and tout the slogan, “Food is for the stomach and the stomach is for food” (1Corinthians 6:13). Irreligiously, with no pretext of pardoning grace, persons simply yield to “the desires for other things [that] enter in and choke the word” (Mark 4:19). “Desires for other things”—there’s the enemy. And the only weapon that will triumph is a deeper hunger for God. The weakness of our hunger for God is not because he is unsavory, but because we keep ourselves stuffed with “other things.” Perhaps, then, the denial of our stomach’s appetite for food might express, or even increase, our soul’s appetite for God. (Piper, John. available in Pdf online - A Hunger for God) Colossians 2:21 Do not handle (2PAMS), do not taste (2SAMS), do not touch (2SAAS)! (NASB: Lockman) Greek: Me apse (2PAMS) mede geuse (2SAMS) mede thiges, (2SAAS) Amplified: Do not handle [this], Do not taste [that], Do not even touch [them], (Amplified Bible - Lockman) Barclay: “Handle not! Taste not! Touch not!” are their slogans. (Westminster Press) Lightfoot: ‘Handle not,’ ‘Taste not,’ ‘Touch not.’ What folly! Phillips: "Don't touch this," "Don't taste that" and "Don't handle the other"? (Phillips: Touchstone) Wuest: do not begin to touch, neither begin to taste, nor begin to handle, (Eerdmans) Young's Literal: "Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!" DO NOT HANDLE: HANDLE:me apse (2PAMS): DO NOT HANDLE! Legalism (see previous note) Handle (680) (haptomai from from hapto = to fasten to, to connect, bind) means to make close contact and to touch or take hold of something or someone. Haptomai refers to such handling of an object as to exert a modifying influence upon it or upon oneself. Although Paul uses the verb literally in this verse, elsewhere he uses it figuratively meaning to not "touch a woman" sexual sense (see 1 Cor 7:1). Haptomai involves a conscious effort to touch, an idea that is absent from the other word for touch, thiggano (see below) The NAS picks up the sense translating it "handle". Think for a moment about the distinction between ''handling'' something versus simply ''touching'' it. The meaning is still further explained in the next verse. These are prohibitions which are manmade, as is indicated by the expression according to the commandments and doctrines (teachings to shape hearer's will) of men. Paul is describing the essence of the practice of asceticism, an over-developed zeal, a dedication that goes far beyond true Christian discipline and seeks to please God by extreme forms of self-denial. Dedication and discipline are a proper part of the Christian life. You must often make yourself (enabled by grace and the indwelling Spirit) do what God wants you to do, simply because you love him. Love is the proper motive for obedience and the Spirit and grace (in contrast to self effort) is the proper power. Paul has already commended the Colossians because they led disciplined (Col 2:5-note), well-ordered lives. But you can make a god of discipline. You can take perverse delight in making yourself do difficult things that win the approval of others, and (you deceptively imagine), of God as well. As a monk, Martin Luther fell into such empty practices before he became a believer. He would lie naked in his cell all night long in the bitter cold and he beat his body and tortured himself, trying to find peace of heart. Ray Stedman writes: "I grew up in Christian evangelical churches that taught there were certain things that Christians must always avoid, and if you observed these taboos you not only were acceptable to the religious community but you were actually pleasing God. I was taught that Christians never drink, never dance, never smoke, never go to movies, never play cards, and never read novels. These prohibitions were usually thundered at us! I do not deny that refraining from some of these things is a perfectly proper discipline of the spirit, but any idea that giving up of things of itself is pleasing to God, is wrong. Christianity is a positive faith. If you want to know what pleases God, read the last twelve verses of Ro 12. You will not find anything negative there. Rather, we are asked to "bless those who persecute you," to love the unlovely and minister to the strangers in our midst. Do things that other people cannot do; that is how true faith is demonstrated." But what is wrong with fasting until one is close to death, wearing hair shirts, refusing to marry, eating only vegetables, praying by the clock, etc.? Three things: First, it shows you do not understand your death with Christ. "Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world [or, as we saw earlier, "to the elemental spirits of the universe"], why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules?" To do so is to return to childish behavior---thinking that God will be pleased by your negative approach to life. In the church this becomes what we call "legalism," which is to pursue holiness by self-effort, instead of accepting the holiness that God freely gives, by faith, and then living it out in terms of experience. A legalist looks at life and says, "Everything is wrong unless you can prove by the Bible that it is right. Therefore, we must have nothing to do with anything that the Bible does not say is right." That reduces life to a very narrow range of activity. But the biblical Christian looks at life and says, "Everything is right! God has given us a world to enjoy and live in. Everything is right, unless the Bible specifically says it is wrong." Some things are wrong; they are harmful and dangerous. Adultery is always wrong. So is fornication. Sexual promiscuity is wrong. Lying and stealing are wrong. These things are never right. But there is so much that is left open to us. If we are willing to obey God in the areas that he designates as harmful and dangerous, then we have the rest of life to enter into in company with a Savior who loves us, and who guides and guards us in our walk with him. Secondly, Paul says that whatever benefit these things may gain it is only temporary, it all ends at death. "These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings." That is why Jesus took the Pharisees to task: "You observe these minute rituals, but inwardly you are tombs, filled with dead men's bones." Outwardly you look good, but inwardly you are like a grave full of rotting bones. Your scrupulous refusal to live normal lives gives you certain status and privilege, but it will all prove worthless in the end. Thirdly, the apostle declares these things are of no value in restraining the indulgence of the flesh. People may outwardly appear dedicated and disciplined, but inwardly sin rages unchecked. Inside they are angry, resentful, filled with vituperation and a spirit of vengeance. Many Christians have this problem. They are trying to regulate the externals instead of walking in the fullness and freshness of life with Jesus Christ, finding the inward purity and cleansing that He alone provides. All of these errors have one thing in common---they lose the vital relationship we have "in Christ"! If you fall into any, you lose the vitality and vigor of your Christian walk. Life becomes dull and often desperate. Many Christians discover this has happened to them. What they need to do is to return to Jesus (Rev 2:4). When these things take over even here in this place, return to Him. We must take care that every day we are in touch (Col 2:19 "hold fast to the head") with our loving Lord and walking in fellowship with Him. He is the One who can develop the "self-life", and yet keep us from being captured by the great god, "Self". He will restore and comfort us when we fail and falter, and in submission to Him we will find the freedom we seek. (see full message The Things that can Ruin your Faith) (Bolding added) DO NOT TASTE: mede geuse (2SAMS): DO NOT TASTE! Taste (1089) (geuomai) means to taste with the mouth and is used literally in this verse. Geuomai is used figuratively in Hebrews 6:9 to mean to come to know, which conveys the idea of experiencing something to the full. Christ had freed them from the taboos of asceticism, which can only give a pretense of wisdom, promote a self-made religion, and deal severely with the body. Yet it cannot succeed in combating the desires of the flesh. Some would come along and say that if you smoke, you can't be spiritual. C. H. Spurgeon, the "prince of preachers" smoked a big cigar daily until the day he died. At Southwestern Seminary in Ft. Worth, there is a picture of Spurgeon with two fingers painted out because he was holding a stogie and that didn't look very "spiritual"! One of Spurgeon's "spiritual" friends ask him when he was going to get right with God and stop smoking cigars to which Spurgeon replied: "When I start smoking to excess." The "legalist" queried him further: "What is excess?" to which Spurgeon quipped "Two at a time!" The message is that we must be very careful how we handle someone else's supposedly non-conformity. We are all under grace not law (Ro 6:14, Gal 4:9) and grace is not license but balance. Legalism is largely negative in nature. Christianity is balanced between God ordained (and empowered) negative and positive aspects. Denying the body its desires merely arouses them, as is well known by many who have tried to lose weight by sticking to rigid diets. Neglecting the body, Paul argued, does not nourish the spirit. This principle is found in Romans 7 where Paul wrote... while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were aroused by the Law, were at work in the members of our body to bear fruit for death. (see note Romans 7:5) DO NOT TOUCH: mede thiges (2SAAS): (Ge 3:3; Isa 52:11; 2Cor 6:17; 1Ti 4:3) DO NOT TOUCH! Touch (2345) (thiggano from thigo = to touch) means to come into contact with or to touch Each of theses negative statements speak of asceticism which is the extreme practice of self-denial. This can never succeed in combating the desires of the flesh. Only the Cross is able to do that (Ro 8:13-note) These prohibitions increase from not handling to not even touching. This same legalism was manifest in Eve’s carnal exaggeration, “You must not touch it, or you will die” (Ge 3:3; cf. Ge 2:16,17). There is a legitimate "no touch" (2Co 6:17 read context 2Co 6:14, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 2Cor 7:1-note). but this obedience from the heart (Ro 6:17-note) is made possible because now we serve in newness of the Spirit (Ro 7:6-note) in the atmosphere of grace (Titus 2:11-note; Titus 2:12-note). But the Bible does talk about Self-denial -- It becomes extreme (and driven by the flesh) when we do the denying in an attempt to make a statement to ourselves or to others about our "high degree" of spiritual maturity and our high standing before God! As those who have been bought with a price, all believers must remember that we were not saved by our fleshly deeds of righteousness (Titus 3:5-note, 2Ti 1:9- note, Ep 2:9-note). We are not sanctified by our own deeds of righteousness. Self-denial can be extreme and still be right for our Lord Himself said that... "If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me." (Lk 9:23) So with every deed (every prayer, every day of fasting, etc), we need to ask the important question "What's my MOTIVE?" Am I doing this deed out of loving obedience to my Lord, my absolute Master? We cross the line into asceticism when we begin to deny the body to prove to others how spiritual we are -- this can be a subtle trap for us all. Be alert. Remember that one day even our motives will be brought to the light (1Cor 4:5). Abide in the Vine (Jn 15:5). Walk by faith (2Cor 5:7, cp Col 2:6-note). An ascetic individual practices rigorous self-denial and even self-mortification in order to become more spiritual. Ascetic practices were popular during the Middle Ages: wearing hair shirts next to the skin, sleeping on hard beds, whipping oneself, not speaking for days (maybe years), going without food or sleep, etc. There is a definite relationship between legalism and asceticism, for the ascetic often subjects himself to rules and regulations. Certain foods or practices are unholy and must be avoided. Other practices are holy and must never be neglected. The ascetic’s entire life is wrapped up in a system of rules. A good test to apply to our "deeds" is given by Paul in Galatians 1:10 "For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ." Let us all be "trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord." (Ep 5:10-note) Remember that prohibitions from whatever these material things are, that the ascetics say is "unclean" has nothing to say to believers who have died to those kinds of decrees (dogma). In Col 2:14 (see note) Paul reminds us that Jesus has canceled out decrees. Ascetics take something that is potentially good, pervert it and make it wrong and of no real spiritual or eternal value. They take legalism (which is simply adding works to God), and say that if you do these things, it makes you spiritual. A T Robertson has some insightful comments writing that... "The Essenes took the Mosaic regulations and carried them much further and the Pharisees demanded ceremonially clean hands for all food. Later ascetics (the Latin commentators Ambrose, Hilary, Pelagius) regard these prohibitions as Paul's own instead of those of the Gnostics condemned by him. Even today men are finding that the noble prohibition law needs enlightened instruction to make it effective. (This is an excellent point...many evangelicals do not understand our relationship to the prohibitive commands in the NT , as well as those still relevant from the OT, and how we are now to carry them out...so sadly on one hand we see those who turn grace into LICENSE & on the other hand those who put us who are now under grace back up under the law ~ LEGALISM.) That is true of all law. The Pharisees, Essenes, Gnostics made piety hinge on outward observances and rules instead of inward conviction and principle. These three verbs are all in the aorist subjunctive second person singular with mê, a prohibition against handling or touching these forbidden things. Two of them do not differ greatly in meaning. Hapsêi is aorist middle subjunctive of haptô, to fasten to, middle, to cling to, to handle. Thigêis is second aorist active subjunctive of thigganô, old verb, to touch, to handle. In N.T. only here and Hebrews 11:28; 12:20 Geusêi is second aorist middle subjunctive of geuô, to give taste of, only middle in N.T. to taste as here. "Copy and paste the address below into your web browser in order to go to the original page which will allow you to access live links related to the material on this page - these links include Scriptures (which can be read in context), Scripture pop-ups on mouse over, and a variety of related resources such as Bible dictionary articles, commentaries, sermon notes and theological journal articles related to the topic under discussion." http://preceptaustin.org/colossians_220-23.htm#s