The Certificate
having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us, and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. Colossians 2:14 NASB
It – What is “it”? What is nailed to the cross? According to the Greek text in this verse, it (autos) is the cheirographon, the hand-written certificate of debts. Isn’t that clear enough? What Yeshua nailed to the cross (metaphorically) is our debt accounting record, the record of all our sins that condemns us. Yeshua took away that piece of paper that said, “You owe.” But if you read this verse in the NIV, there is a significant change. The NIV says, “having canceled the written code with its regulations.” According to the NIV, the Torah was nailed to the cross, not the debts we accumulated due to disobedience but the regulations themselves! This mistaken translation (or was it deliberate?) finds its way into popular Greek lexicons too. Thayer’s Greek Lexicon suggests that Paul applies cheirographon metaphorically for “the Mosaic law.” In other words, some Christian theologians and translators simply converted a document that specified our debts into the entire legal system of rules. That’s like going to traffic court with a speeding ticket and claiming that the ticket in your hand is the equivalent of all traffic regulations, and then telling the judge that none of them are valid. What do you think the judge is going to say? The ticket might not be correct but that doesn’t imply that the rules of the road are worthless. The fact that you hold a ticket in your hand means that the rules do apply. The only question is whether or not you are guilty of breaking them.
The idea that God instructions are “nailed to the cross” or discarded is based on ignoring the meaning of cheirographon, the debt certificate. My traffic ticket is a debt certificate. It is not a copy of the traffic laws of the state of Florida. I have the ticket because the laws are in place. If someone comes into the court and pays the fine for me, I am no longer held liable under the law, but that doesn’t mean the rules went away. It only means that I didn’t pay the fine! As long as a debt certificate isn’t equivalent to the legal determinations it stands on, voiding the debt certificate will not erase the legal structure. And in the Bible, my sin is not the same as the Law that tells me I have sinned.
In the NIV, you are actually reading the interpretation and theological position of the translators. Unless you could read the Greek, you would never know this isn’t a translation. Thousands of Christians have been taught that the Law was nailed to the cross when Jesus died. They have been taught that the Law was replaced by grace and that no Christian has any obligation to the Torah. How could they know anything different when the translators change the meaning of the verses? We are called to correct this. We must take a stand on cheirographon. The Law, the Torah, matters. God’s instructions are firmly in place, written so that you and I and all the nations will know how to live. Grace is insufficient! Grace is completely sufficient for our redemption, our deliverance, but it is insufficient for instructions for living. We need God’s instructions in spite of our sins. And fortunately, He provides them.
Topical Index: Colossians 2:14, cheirographon, debts, Torah, grace
Yes, but….What about versus 16-17, 20-23 and 3:1-2? Do I worry about the hundreds of rules, or do I just focus on Christ? Chambers says, “The questions that matter in life are remarkably few, and they are all answered by the words–‘Come unto Me.’ Not–Do this, or don’t do that; but–‘Come unto Me.'” (My Utmost, June 11).
Hi John
Yes I hear what you say but what does ‘come unto me’ mean….do we just ‘cuddle up to Jesus’? Sing a lot of worship songs and do good things….if that is so then why did he say to some ‘ depart from me you workers of iniquity – I never knew you?’ What were they doing or not doing? Why didn’t he know them? If a child came to you and just kept saying I love you, hugging you etc but never kept the house rules…what would you do? Hug them up and say…there, there its ok as long as you love me? Surely in gradual descent the relationship would crumble or at least be very strained? Isn’t that what happens when we ‘go unto him but do not the things he says’? He said ‘walk after me! What does that mean?
Yeshua said (unto us) “if you love me keep my commandments.” “If you love me, you will obey what I command.” The entire life of Yeshua was one of obedience. He did the Father’s will completely. From first to final breath He kept/obeyed/lived every “jot and tittle” of the Torah of YHWH. “Which of you convinces (or convicts) me of sin? No one Lord. No, not one. He is the (only) sinless, spotless, perfect Lamb of G-d.” Jesus (who is the) Christ (the Annointed) is the ONLY perfect man ever to have lived. Ever. He kept/obeyed/lived the Law of G-d in it’s entirety. He (and only He) lived a perfect life of submission and obedience to the Law.
This may come as a shock to some, so be warned… I am not perfect. This model, this carbon unit has “erred.” Well Carl, tell us what you have done so that we may lay down beside you and measure ourselves as to how much longer or taller we might appear. This is where we all “err.” There is ONE standard of measurement (and only ONE). There is only ONE perfect man ever to have lived. (All the popes, preachers,priests,pirates and plumbers included). There is only one perfect man (or woman) ever to have lived.
The law of G-d, brother Skip, as you have said is never “null and void.” “The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple.” (Psalm 19). No, as you have said, the law of the LORD, the words, the instructions of G-d live and abide forever. And G-d’s book is chock-full of instruction.
“Love one another” is the command of Christ. The Ten Words written for our benefit (all of G-d’s words are written for our good) can be “distilled” into two. Love G-d, love people. “The goal of our instruction is love that flows from a pure heart, from a clear conscience, and from a sincere faith.” (1 Timothy 1.5)
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” (John 13.34) This my friends (and family) is a tall order. He said, (are we listening?)- “just as I have loved you.” I am to love you (my neighbor) with the very same love Christ demonstrated toward me. This love is the love that wraps a towel around the waist, and washes the feet of those who are “unworthy.” This love is Calvary’s love. This love is love that says, “not I, but Christ.” This is love that says, “Not my will (what I desire), but your will (what You desire) be done.” This is love that says, “I delight to do your will, O my G-d.” This is the love of a son for His Abba that says, “Here am I, Father.. – “send me.” This is love that recognizes sonship, sacrifice and stewardship. This is love that recognizes need and steps forward to give sacrificial, unconditional compassion, to those in need, physically, emotionally, financially, spiritually.
To be a follower of the Way, we must realize and recognize, this is not about “religion,” it is about “relationship.” We (who are His) are “p-owned.” Lock, stock,and barrel. What do I have that has not been given unto me? Nothing. It all (everything good- everything!) comes from Him. He is the Owner, I am the steward. Will I be faithful, in giving away the gifts G-d has given unto me? Do I live for “self?” Or for the Savior?” What am I doing with my treasure? Building bigger barns or investing in the work of G-d? How am I stewarding my time? Do I squander time or am I (as per instruction) redeeming the time?
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. We all will give an accounting one day, but today- what am I doing with the present, the gift of the present moment?
My beautiful daughter asked me recently, “Daddy, what do you want for Father’s Day?” After a brief pause ( a selah moment?) I replied- “the same thing father’s everywhere want, (including my own Abba..), “obedient children.” How may we please our Abba today?
“He kept/obeyed/lived every “jot and tittle” of the Torah of YHWH.”
Carl makes a good point in his statement above.
But my sense has always been that there is different style of writing in Colossians.
That the Paul in Colossians is not the great writer and spiritual leader of Romans and Corinthians.
Jesus was a revolutionary and in my view Paul was the first “new man” to model himself on Jesus.
In my reading, the Paul of Colossians is reactionary member of the new church.
Who is trying to override the Law.
That’s how I felt and thought the first time I read the Bible and I still feel that way today.
A few years ago I read one of my favorite books on the sayings of Jesus by John Dominic Crossan.
Recently John Dominic Crossan has come out with a book with Marcus J Borg called “The First Paul.”
It is subtitled “Reclaiming the Radical Visionary Behind the Church’s Conservative Icon.”
I would highly recommend it.
Yeshua said (unto us) “if you love me keep my commandments.” “If you love me, you will obey what I command.” The entire life of Yeshua was one of obedience. He did the Father’s will completely. From first to final breath He kept/obeyed/lived every “jot and tittle” of the Torah of YHWH. “Which of you convinces (or convicts) me of sin? No one Lord. No, not one. He is the (only) sinless, spotless, perfect Lamb of G-d.” Jesus (who is the) Christ (the Annointed) is the ONLY perfect man ever to have lived. Ever. He kept/obeyed/lived the Law of G-d in it’s entirety. He (and only He) lived a perfect life of submission and obedience to the Law.
This may come as a shock to some, so be warned… I am not perfect. This model, this carbon unit has “erred.” Well Carl, tell us what you have done so that we may lay down beside you and measure ourselves as to how much longer or taller we might appear. This is where we all “err.” There is ONE standard of measurement (and only ONE). There is only ONE perfect man ever to have lived. (All the popes, preachers,priests,pirates and plumbers included). There is only one perfect man (or woman) ever to have lived.
The law of G-d, brother Skip, as you have said is never “null and void.” “The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple.” (Psalm 19). No, as you have said, the law of the LORD, the words, the instructions of G-d live and abide forever. And G-d’s book is chock-full of instruction.
“Love one another” is the command of Christ. The Ten Words written for our benefit (all of G-d’s words are written for our good) can be “distilled” into two. Love G-d, love people. “The goal of our instruction is love that flows from a pure heart, from a clear conscience, and from a sincere faith.” (1 Timothy 1.5)
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” (John 13.34) This my friends (and family) is a tall order. He said, (are we listening?)- “just as I have loved you.” I am to love you (my neighbor) with the very same love Christ demonstrated toward me. This love is the love that wraps a towel around the waist, and washes the feet of those who are “unworthy.” This love is Calvary’s love. This love is love that says, “not I, but Christ.” This is love that says, “Not my will (what I desire), but your will (what You desire) be done.” This is love that says, “I delight to do your will, O my G-d.” This is the love of a son for His Abba that says, “Here am I, Father.. – “send me.” This is love that recognizes sonship, sacrifice and stewardship. This is love that recognizes need and steps forward to give sacrificial, unconditional compassion, to those in need, physically, emotionally, financially, spiritually.
To be a follower of the Way, we must realize and recognize, this is not about “religion,” it is about “relationship.” We (who are His) are “p-owned.” Lock, stock,and barrel. What do I have that has not been given unto me? Nothing. It all (everything good- everything!) comes from Him. He is the Owner, I am the steward. Will I be faithful, in giving away the gifts G-d has given unto me? Do I live for “self?” Or for the Savior?” What am I doing with my treasure? Building bigger barns or investing in the work of G-d? How am I stewarding my time? Do I squander time or am I (as per instruction) redeeming the time?
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. We all will give an accounting one day, but today- what am I doing with the present, the gift of the present moment?
My beautiful daughter asked me recently, “Daddy, what do you want for Father’s Day?” After a brief pause ( a selah moment?) I replied- “the same thing fathers everywhere want, (including my own Abba..), “obedient children.” How may we please our Abba today?
verily, verily, I “erred!” -my apologies for the dupe! (could the Admin delete the first post?)
Ditto on what Christine Hall wrote. So many say, “Just Give Me Jesus. Just Give Me Jesus.” Who was Jesus (Yeshua)? He was the consummation of the Living Torah in action. He made living out the fulness of Torah an art instead of a science. His devout Jewish parents took him to temple every Shabbat and went to great lengths to make sure they were at Jerusalem on the High Holy Days. Yeshua (G-d in the flesh) came to magnify the true essence of the Torah (His Nature), not dissolve it.
The Apostle Paul came to that realization after his conversion and began to show the Gentile world what it truly meant to be a Jew. It wasn’t segregating oneself from others. His righteousness now had to exceed that of the Pharisees (not in a legalistic manner) but in the spirit of the Torah so that the known world at the time could see that there were life-giving rules in operation that governed heaven and earth. For example: Don’t even think an unkind thought against your brother lest you murder him in your soul/spirit.
When I used to study Martial Arts, and would follow the lead of my 7th degree Black Belt teacher, I realized I was following someone who had mastered every fundamental with respect to that particular martial art style. The positions. The footsteps. How to stay centered. Because he had mastered all the physical fundamentals of the craft, he made it look so easy. So easy, that neophyte students would try the same moves against their opponent and hurt themselves. These students wanted to skip all the steps to become like their Master. They just wanted to be called a “black belt” but not understand or be patient enough to master the techniques to get there.
I heard someone say one time, “I like being around true Christians but don’t want to do what it takes to become one.” In light of the Torah, the same could be said, “I love being around Jesus (Living Torah) but don’t really want to do everything that’s required to be a true follower.”
All to say, the commandments may be fulfilled by saying, Love God with all our heart, body, soul mind and spirit and love your brother/sister as you do yourself” but we define “love” based our Western terms and not according to how God defines love. God revealed this to the priests in Malachi. Love comes in the form of tithing and the other attributes due the Lord.
To finish, I think we are so removed from the Garden of Eden, we don’t see how our Creation intimately ties in with the Creator (the Living Torah) and all the relationships associate with it. There is no sanctity to life anymore and as we separate ourselves more and more from the land so we don’t see the value in the food laws, sacrificial laws, hygiene or health laws, moral codes etc. established since time immemorial. Even our concept of ORDER in the modern day Christian sense is so far removed from God’s concept of ORDER.
In light of yesterday’s great teaching from Today’s Word, the Bible translators throughout God’s Word have tried to diminish if not do away with the Torah. Yet Yeshua came to fulfill it.
I think there was a profound reason why God in the flesh chose to go through the entire stages of human development — to study, live out, and fulfill the Torah during His term here on earth. The very gruesome act of having to hang on the Cross as a complete sacrifice for our pathetic sins was a fulfillment of the Torah. If he was “slain before the foundations of the world,” why couldn’t He have fulfilled this major requirement spiritually versus physically? He went to that length of obedience when it came to living out the Torah, how much should we but now with the power of the Holy Spirit to do it? I think it’s imperative Not by creating God in our own image and living our faith based on our own comfort zone but realizing there is a lot that needs to come into alignment with who and what He is and those things are based on something tangible. There just needs to be more communities of faith living it out so one can see the life-giving power that comes from it.
I love this community because we’re all wanting to become more at One with the One who is the Living Torah and this kind of dialogue is great.
Yes, ditto to you too Christina and to my friend Christine Hall who introduced me to this site – yes to you Skip and to this community!
The Lord God is raising up something awesome – a company of people that desires, and seeks to walk in, truth. The Kingdom of God is continuing to break forth (peretz), in the true Spirit of Yeshua whose proclamation was that ‘The Kingdom is at hand…’ The gates of Hell cannot prevail against this rising tide…
May your Kingdom indeed come on earth as it is in Heaven!
How insidious indeed! Interwoven in the Book of Life are the seeds planted by an Enemy. How? By way of translation!
Thank you Skip!! Your diligence and zeal is adding to the growing company of those being raised up ‘ to root out, to pull down, to destroy and to throw down’ in order ‘to build and to plant’ (Jer1:10).
Keep him humble Lord…
Christina,
Thanks for sharing your comments above. Very much enjoyed!
Love is demonstrated within the context of God’s convenant with His people, and is defined within the boundaries of His instructions and teachings, and is lived out within and tied to a particular place, the land of Israel, and from that place the world will see and be drawn to the ONE and true God!
The Christian church has forgotten the passion of the God of Israel for His people, Torah, and the land! His convenant is irrevocable (He is faithful to fulfill His plan).
Yeshua came to show the length, breadth, depth, and heighth of His Father’s instructions and teachings. God’s instructions and teachings came to a place of full rest and expression through His life, death, and resurrection. His convenant has been renewed and still awaits the final day of full arrival and consummation. The Spirit and bride say, “Come, even so come, Lord Yeshua!”
Shabbat shalom!
Just yesterday. I was thinking about how the curse of Torah had been nailed to the cross. Remembering your TW about Yeshua dying for our intentional sins not unintentional sins, I began to wonder more about the specifis of the curses that had been nailed to the cross. I was thinking it would be good if you addressed this crux of the matter issue. Voila’, here it is today! Thank you
Depending on the bank of English Bible translators to deliver an accurate translation is like being spoon fed. Do you know whose holding the spoon? Why not study the text for yourself and in community with others? Be informed about your scripture diet.
Excellent post and comments.