Peace.
The “rudiments” of the world:
“Rudiments” = Greek “stoicheion” = “orderly, fundamental principles, elements”.
The “tradition” of men:
“Tradition” = “transmission”.
Colossians 2:8 KJV
(8) Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
The “rudiments” of the world are the fundamental principles of the nations that are put into handwritings/documents such as CONSTITUTIONS and laws that govern themselves. They judge others using their laws, statutes, etc. They fight wars over their differences.
Constitution = a body of “fundamental principles” (the RUDIMENTS/elements of the world) or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is acknowledged to be governed.
These handwritings/documents of men are transmitted down to future generations. They move not as they are established by the “founding fathers”…earthly men… and are passed down through generations. They are the "traditions"...transmissions...of men.
The nations of the world do not follow after our God and His government and so come up with their own system of government….their handwritings…that they serve and “worship” instead of God.
We as His people are not to “learn” the way of the nations that have their constitutions, bylaws and various other documents that rule over them. We are not to copy them and place them in our churches where we worship God. It is an "image"...a graven image.
The “customs”….that is, the ORDINANCES… of the people are emptiness and are dead works of “wood” that burn up. A tree cut out of a forest is dead and will burn easily.
They are highly exalted documents (in the heavens so to speak) that they subject themselves to.
They are the “principalities and powers” in high places and they are “dismayed”…meaning “to PROSTRATE”…at them. They highly revere their handwritings and bow themselves to them as they serve and worship them instead of God and His government.
Jeremiah 10:1-5 KJV
(1) Hear ye the word which the LORD speaketh unto you, O house of Israel:
(2) Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.
Again, the “customs”….the ordinances...their handwriting of ordinances…of the people are vain (emptiness).
The “people” = any congregation of people (including churches that have their “handwritings”: statements of faith, church constitutions, creeds, etc). They are “dead” works that burn us up with the using of them.
(3) For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe.
The “customs of the people”...the ordinances of... are not to be found in any church assembly….but yet, we find them in EVERY gathering supposedly in His name. We find statements of faith, constitutions, creeds, bylaws, etc. These handwritings are copied in structure and language like the world's constitutions, etc.
They …their handwritings….are highly regarded…are precious to them. They are seen as “wise” for doing them.
They fasten it with “nails” …words as preached by their preachers. Their documents are supported by their words and move not out of their churches ….ever….where it should not be found. They have to be continually reinforced/supported through their words...their teachings ...or they will totter over. They appear “righteous”…upright…but they are dead works. They do nothing for us. They are like wood and hay that burn up easily. The elements burn.
(4) They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.
(5) They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good.
We find this language (goads, nails) in Ecclesiastes of the true Preacher. They are seen as “wise” to keep….acceptable words in their estimation. The words that support them are as goads and as nails fastened…..
Ecclesiastes 12:10-11 KJV
(10) The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth.
(11) The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.
The handwriting of “ordinances” (Greek: DOGMAS) are against us and are contrary to us. “Dogma” = “what one thinks/believes is true or correct”.
How many “Statements of faith”…handwritings ….start with those very words : “WE BELIEVE”? About all of them do.
Then follows a list of “dogmas” of what they think/believe is true and correct and are expected to voluntarily and solemnly serve and worship them.
Colossians 2: KJV
(13) And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
(14) Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
The handwritings of men….such as their statements of faith or church constitutions ….are highly regarded and served/worshipped. They are the “principalities and powers” that rule over their churches as they serve and worship them. They are placed in “high places”…in the heavens so-to-speak.
(15) And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
Why as living in the world are we subject to “ordinances”….church constitutions, statements of faith, creeds, dogmas, etc?
These handwritings of men are patterned after the world’s handwritings and are found in about every church gathering.
Learn not the way of the nations of the world. Do not copy the structures and language of their documents with our own and place them in the church alongside our worship of God. We our to submit ourselves to God and His government instead of man's government that he has written down and placed in his church gathering. It is a "graven image".
Colossians 2:20-23 KJV
(20) 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,
(21) (Touch not; taste not; handle not;
(22) Which all are to perish with the using) after the commandments and doctrines of men?
(23) Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.
These things have a show of wisdom in will worship and humility. We are seen as wise to keep them …but they do nothing to save our mortal flesh as all perish with the using up of them.
The elements “burn” as we perish with the keeping of the commandments and doctrines of men that are placed highly up in their churches and are contained in handwritings of ordinances (church constitutions, etc.)
Why be subject to ordinances …that are patterned after the “rudiments of the world”….the fundamental principles that are contained in handwritings (constitutions)?
Many church constitutions have this kind of language in their preambles:
“…we establish the following articles to which we voluntarily submit…”
“….we declare and establish this constitution to which we voluntarily submit ourselves…”
“….do ordain and establish this church constitution, to which we voluntarily and solemnly submit ourselves…”
Again, why be subject to these handwritings that are patterned after the world’s ….after the “rudiments of the world”?
Men …fleshly-minded church scribes…have trespassed into the Scriptures and have “cut” out of the Scriptures their own rules and regulations…putting them down in their own handwritings for their congregations to serve and worship.
They have intruded into those things which they thought they “saw” and put them into their own fabrications…their own handwritings.
Then they use them to judge others with. Let no man judge you according to his handwritings of dogmas.
Colossians 2: KJV
(16) Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
These things are a “SHADOW” of things to come. Their handwritings of church dogmas are an “image”…a shadow. Don't be beguiled of eternal life by the "voluntary"...solemn and voluntary keeping of their handwritings of words...of "angels"...of messengers.
(17) Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
(18) Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
The fleshly-minded church scribes and their handwritings of commandments and doctrines were written without the mind of Christ. If they had the mind of Christ, they would not have come up with their handwritings.
(19) And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.
(20) 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,
(21) (Touch not; taste not; handle not;
(22) Which all are to perish with the using) after the commandments and doctrines of men?
(23) Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.
They worship and serve the "creature"...the ordinance...the fabrication...more than the Creator.
Romans 1:25 KJV
(25) Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
Matthew 15:8-9 KJV
(8) This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
(9) But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
We are not to have other “gods”…other Elohim (judges)….before (or beside) Him. These handwritings are "other gods" in the sense that they are being used to judge others with. We have only One Judge….our God who is in Heaven...whom we are to submit to.
Exodus 20:1-6 KJV
(1) And God spake all these words, saying,
(2) I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
(3) Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
The “graven image” is the handwriting of ordinances put into the church that many serve and worship. “Image” = “shadow”. Their handwritings are “shadows” containing external commandments that are “shadows of things to come”. They are made in the form of man....the external world's handwritings (constitutions, etc) that they have made for themselves to worship.
(4) Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
We are not to bow down ourselves to them nor serve them…the handwritings of the church scribes ... their “graven images” they have made for themselves.
(5) Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
We are to keep God’s commandments only and not the handwriting of the commandments and doctrines of men.
(6) And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
These principalities and powers…the handwritings of men…are exalted by men. They are in the “high places”…in the “heavens” so to speak.
The “sun” in the heavens rules over the day….the moon “rules” over the night…and the stars do also. This speaks of GOVERNMENT…contained in the handwritings of constitutions, bylaws, statutes of the nations.
We are not to go and desire to put like-documents in our churches where we worship God also.
God has divided these things unto all nations under the whole heaven. But we are to keep His commandments and His statutes and not invent our own.
Deuteronomy 4:19 KJV
(19) And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun, and the moon, and the stars, even all the host of heaven, shouldest be driven to worship them, and serve them, which the LORD thy God hath divided unto all nations under the whole heaven.
to be continued...
The “rudiments” of the world:
“Rudiments” = Greek “stoicheion” = “orderly, fundamental principles, elements”.
The “tradition” of men:
“Tradition” = “transmission”.
Colossians 2:8 KJV
(8) Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
The “rudiments” of the world are the fundamental principles of the nations that are put into handwritings/documents such as CONSTITUTIONS and laws that govern themselves. They judge others using their laws, statutes, etc. They fight wars over their differences.
Constitution = a body of “fundamental principles” (the RUDIMENTS/elements of the world) or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is acknowledged to be governed.
These handwritings/documents of men are transmitted down to future generations. They move not as they are established by the “founding fathers”…earthly men… and are passed down through generations. They are the "traditions"...transmissions...of men.
The nations of the world do not follow after our God and His government and so come up with their own system of government….their handwritings…that they serve and “worship” instead of God.
We as His people are not to “learn” the way of the nations that have their constitutions, bylaws and various other documents that rule over them. We are not to copy them and place them in our churches where we worship God. It is an "image"...a graven image.
The “customs”….that is, the ORDINANCES… of the people are emptiness and are dead works of “wood” that burn up. A tree cut out of a forest is dead and will burn easily.
They are highly exalted documents (in the heavens so to speak) that they subject themselves to.
They are the “principalities and powers” in high places and they are “dismayed”…meaning “to PROSTRATE”…at them. They highly revere their handwritings and bow themselves to them as they serve and worship them instead of God and His government.
Jeremiah 10:1-5 KJV
(1) Hear ye the word which the LORD speaketh unto you, O house of Israel:
(2) Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.
Again, the “customs”….the ordinances...their handwriting of ordinances…of the people are vain (emptiness).
The “people” = any congregation of people (including churches that have their “handwritings”: statements of faith, church constitutions, creeds, etc). They are “dead” works that burn us up with the using of them.
(3) For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe.
The “customs of the people”...the ordinances of... are not to be found in any church assembly….but yet, we find them in EVERY gathering supposedly in His name. We find statements of faith, constitutions, creeds, bylaws, etc. These handwritings are copied in structure and language like the world's constitutions, etc.
They …their handwritings….are highly regarded…are precious to them. They are seen as “wise” for doing them.
They fasten it with “nails” …words as preached by their preachers. Their documents are supported by their words and move not out of their churches ….ever….where it should not be found. They have to be continually reinforced/supported through their words...their teachings ...or they will totter over. They appear “righteous”…upright…but they are dead works. They do nothing for us. They are like wood and hay that burn up easily. The elements burn.
(4) They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.
(5) They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good.
We find this language (goads, nails) in Ecclesiastes of the true Preacher. They are seen as “wise” to keep….acceptable words in their estimation. The words that support them are as goads and as nails fastened…..
Ecclesiastes 12:10-11 KJV
(10) The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth.
(11) The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.
The handwriting of “ordinances” (Greek: DOGMAS) are against us and are contrary to us. “Dogma” = “what one thinks/believes is true or correct”.
How many “Statements of faith”…handwritings ….start with those very words : “WE BELIEVE”? About all of them do.
Then follows a list of “dogmas” of what they think/believe is true and correct and are expected to voluntarily and solemnly serve and worship them.
Colossians 2: KJV
(13) And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
(14) Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
The handwritings of men….such as their statements of faith or church constitutions ….are highly regarded and served/worshipped. They are the “principalities and powers” that rule over their churches as they serve and worship them. They are placed in “high places”…in the heavens so-to-speak.
(15) And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
Why as living in the world are we subject to “ordinances”….church constitutions, statements of faith, creeds, dogmas, etc?
These handwritings of men are patterned after the world’s handwritings and are found in about every church gathering.
Learn not the way of the nations of the world. Do not copy the structures and language of their documents with our own and place them in the church alongside our worship of God. We our to submit ourselves to God and His government instead of man's government that he has written down and placed in his church gathering. It is a "graven image".
Colossians 2:20-23 KJV
(20) 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,
(21) (Touch not; taste not; handle not;
(22) Which all are to perish with the using) after the commandments and doctrines of men?
(23) Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.
These things have a show of wisdom in will worship and humility. We are seen as wise to keep them …but they do nothing to save our mortal flesh as all perish with the using up of them.
The elements “burn” as we perish with the keeping of the commandments and doctrines of men that are placed highly up in their churches and are contained in handwritings of ordinances (church constitutions, etc.)
Why be subject to ordinances …that are patterned after the “rudiments of the world”….the fundamental principles that are contained in handwritings (constitutions)?
Many church constitutions have this kind of language in their preambles:
“…we establish the following articles to which we voluntarily submit…”
“….we declare and establish this constitution to which we voluntarily submit ourselves…”
“….do ordain and establish this church constitution, to which we voluntarily and solemnly submit ourselves…”
Again, why be subject to these handwritings that are patterned after the world’s ….after the “rudiments of the world”?
Men …fleshly-minded church scribes…have trespassed into the Scriptures and have “cut” out of the Scriptures their own rules and regulations…putting them down in their own handwritings for their congregations to serve and worship.
They have intruded into those things which they thought they “saw” and put them into their own fabrications…their own handwritings.
Then they use them to judge others with. Let no man judge you according to his handwritings of dogmas.
Colossians 2: KJV
(16) Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
These things are a “SHADOW” of things to come. Their handwritings of church dogmas are an “image”…a shadow. Don't be beguiled of eternal life by the "voluntary"...solemn and voluntary keeping of their handwritings of words...of "angels"...of messengers.
(17) Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
(18) Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
The fleshly-minded church scribes and their handwritings of commandments and doctrines were written without the mind of Christ. If they had the mind of Christ, they would not have come up with their handwritings.
(19) And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.
(20) 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,
(21) (Touch not; taste not; handle not;
(22) Which all are to perish with the using) after the commandments and doctrines of men?
(23) Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.
They worship and serve the "creature"...the ordinance...the fabrication...more than the Creator.
Romans 1:25 KJV
(25) Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
Matthew 15:8-9 KJV
(8) This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
(9) But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
We are not to have other “gods”…other Elohim (judges)….before (or beside) Him. These handwritings are "other gods" in the sense that they are being used to judge others with. We have only One Judge….our God who is in Heaven...whom we are to submit to.
Exodus 20:1-6 KJV
(1) And God spake all these words, saying,
(2) I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
(3) Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
The “graven image” is the handwriting of ordinances put into the church that many serve and worship. “Image” = “shadow”. Their handwritings are “shadows” containing external commandments that are “shadows of things to come”. They are made in the form of man....the external world's handwritings (constitutions, etc) that they have made for themselves to worship.
(4) Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
We are not to bow down ourselves to them nor serve them…the handwritings of the church scribes ... their “graven images” they have made for themselves.
(5) Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
We are to keep God’s commandments only and not the handwriting of the commandments and doctrines of men.
(6) And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
These principalities and powers…the handwritings of men…are exalted by men. They are in the “high places”…in the “heavens” so to speak.
The “sun” in the heavens rules over the day….the moon “rules” over the night…and the stars do also. This speaks of GOVERNMENT…contained in the handwritings of constitutions, bylaws, statutes of the nations.
We are not to go and desire to put like-documents in our churches where we worship God also.
God has divided these things unto all nations under the whole heaven. But we are to keep His commandments and His statutes and not invent our own.
Deuteronomy 4:19 KJV
(19) And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun, and the moon, and the stars, even all the host of heaven, shouldest be driven to worship them, and serve them, which the LORD thy God hath divided unto all nations under the whole heaven.
to be continued...
