Bible Strands
Colossians 2:15
And having disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Paul, writing to the Colossian church, is mid-argument against a syncretic teaching that adds requirements to the gospel (2:8–15). He has just said Christ nailed the debt to the cross (v. 14) and now explains what that act accomplished before turning to practical conduct (v. 16).
The words — ἐδειγμάτισεν (edeigmatisen, G1165) is a rare verb meaning "to make a public spectacle of" or "to disgrace." It evokes the Roman triumph, where defeated enemies are stripped, mocked, and paraded before the crowd.
The thread — The same victory-over-powers motif appears in Hebrews 2:14 (destroying the one holding the power of death), Ephesians 4:8 (leading captives away on His ascent), and Matthew 12:29 (tying up the strong man to plunder his house).
Why it lands — The cross is not a shameful defeat but a public humiliation of the powers that held humanity in debt and fear. The reader is asked to stop treating the cross as something to be explained away and start treating it as the event that already settled the account.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
Cross-references
- Hebrews 2:14 Now since the children have flesh and blood, He too shared in their humanity, so that by His death He might destroy him who holds the power of death, that is, the devil,
- Ephesians 4:8 This is why it says: “When He ascended on high, He led captives away, and gave gifts to men.”
- Matthew 12:29 Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man’s house and steal his possessions, unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can plunder his house.
- John 12:31 Now judgment is upon this world; now the prince of this world will be cast out.
- Isaiah 53:12 Therefore I will allot Him a portion with the great, and He will divide the spoils with the strong, because He has poured out His life unto death, and He was numbered with the transgressors. Yet He bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors.
- Ephesians 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
- Luke 10:18 So He told them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.
- John 16:11 and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world has been condemned.
- Isaiah 49:24 Can the plunder be snatched from the mighty, or the captives of a tyrant be delivered?
- Revelation 20:10 And the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, into which the beast and the false prophet had already been thrown. There they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.