Colossians 2 11

Colossians 2:11 kjv

In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:

Colossians 2:11 nkjv

In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ,

Colossians 2:11 niv

In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ,

Colossians 2:11 esv

In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ,

Colossians 2:11 nlt

When you came to Christ, you were "circumcised," but not by a physical procedure. Christ performed a spiritual circumcision ? the cutting away of your sinful nature.

Colossians 2 verses

Colossians 2 11 Meaning

Colossians 2:11 signifies that believers, through their union with Christ, have undergone a profound spiritual transformation akin to circumcision, but divinely wrought and far superior to the physical ritual. This spiritual "circumcision made without hands" involves the radical putting off, or removal, of the old sinful nature—the "body of the sins of the flesh"—which was a decisive work of Christ, securing deliverance from the power and dominion of sin. It underscores the complete sufficiency of Christ's work for salvation and sanctification, negating the need for any human religious rituals or efforts to attain spiritual standing.

Colossians 2 11 Context

Colossians chapter 2 serves as Paul's strong admonition against deceptive philosophies and legalistic practices that were threatening the spiritual maturity and theological purity of the believers in Colossae. The chapter emphasizes the absolute supremacy and all-sufficiency of Christ for salvation, spiritual life, and knowledge, presenting Him as the full embodiment of the Deity in whom all believers are made complete (Col 2:9-10). Paul confronts the "Colossian heresy," which seems to have combined elements of Jewish legalism (insisting on rituals like circumcision, food laws, festivals), philosophical asceticism (harsh treatment of the body), and a mystical fascination with angelic worship. Verse 11 directly addresses the issue of physical circumcision, which the false teachers were likely promoting as necessary for full spiritual standing or greater spiritual insight. Paul asserts that physical circumcision is now obsolete for believers, having been superseded by a far more profound, spiritual reality accomplished by Christ Himself.

Colossians 2 11 Word analysis

• In him also: Indicates the sphere and agent of this profound spiritual work. It emphasizes Christ's centrality; outside of Him, this spiritual reality cannot be attained. This act is entirely dependent on one's union with Christ.
• you were circumcised: (Greek: perietmēthēte). This verb is in the aorist passive, signifying a past, completed action that was performed upon them by an external agent (Christ/God), not by their own efforts. It highlights a definitive, spiritual reality experienced by every believer at the point of conversion.
• with a circumcision made without hands: (Greek: acheiropoiētō peritomē). This is a crucial phrase. Acheiropoiētō means "not made by human hands" or "divinely made." It contrasts sharply with physical circumcision (which is made by human hands, often with a knife). This distinction underlines that the Christian's true spiritual cleansing and initiation are God's supernatural work, entirely independent of human ritualistic action or effort, setting it apart from any Jewish ceremonial law or external act promoted by false teachers. It echoes the concept of spiritual temples not made with hands (Mk 14:58, 2 Cor 5:1).
• by putting off: (Greek: apekdysis). This word literally means "a stripping off" or "a taking off," like stripping off old clothes. It describes a decisive removal, not a gradual improvement. This action denotes the abandonment and severing of the old sinful way of life.
• the body of the sins of the flesh: This phrase points to the power and dominion of sin inherent in the unredeemed human nature, often referred to as the "sinful nature" or "flesh." It signifies the realm or condition of being dominated by sinful desires and rebellion against God. The "putting off" implies a radical breaking of the hold that sin has over the believer. This is not referring to the physical body itself, but the sphere of sin's control, operating through fallen human nature (sarx).
• by the circumcision of Christ: (Greek: tē peritomē tou Christou). This can be interpreted in two main ways, both valid within Pauline theology:
  1. Objective Genitive: "The circumcision effected by Christ." This refers to Christ's own work on the cross, His death and resurrection, through which He breaks the power of sin. It is His work that brings about this spiritual severance from the dominion of sin.
  2. Subjective Genitive: "The circumcision that belongs to Christ," or "the circumcision that is Christ." This would emphasize that Christ himself is the embodiment and fulfillment of this spiritual circumcision, and through union with Him, believers partake in this reality.Most scholarly views favor the objective genitive: Christ performs this spiritual circumcision. It underlines that this act is entirely Christ's doing and His spiritual work accomplished on behalf of believers.

Colossians 2 11 Bonus section

The spiritual circumcision described in Colossians 2:11 is often understood in theological discourse as the inward reality symbolized by water baptism. While the verse doesn't explicitly mention baptism, the very next verse (Col 2:12) directly links this "burial" and "raising" with Christ to "baptism," suggesting that baptism is the outward sign and testimony to this spiritual cutting off of the old nature and resurrection to new life. This concept reinforces the Christian understanding that entry into God's new covenant is not by human ritual alone (like physical circumcision) but by a supernatural act of God's grace experienced through union with Christ. This profound transformation in Christ grants believers true spiritual completeness (Col 2:10), rendering all other human-initiated rites or attempts at self-perfection unnecessary and indeed detrimental to reliance on Christ's finished work.

Colossians 2 11 Commentary

Colossians 2:11 powerfully declares the definitive spiritual identity of believers in Christ. Paul confronts the insistence on external Jewish rituals like physical circumcision, which the Colossian heretics were pushing, by asserting that genuine circumcision is not an outward, fleshly act, but a divine, inward transformation accomplished by Christ Himself. This spiritual circumcision symbolizes the decisive cutting off or stripping away of the "body of the sins of the flesh"—the sinful nature and its power over the believer. Through their spiritual union with Christ's death and resurrection, believers have been supernaturally delivered from the dominion of sin, liberating them from its power and enabling them to live a new life. This profound spiritual reality, distinct from human rituals, underscores the complete sufficiency of Christ for salvation, sanctification, and wholeness, leaving no room for human effort or adherence to ceremonial laws as a means of gaining divine approval or greater spiritual access. The verse thus serves as a foundational declaration of Christian freedom and the completeness found solely in Christ.