Colossians 2:14 Meaning and Explanation
“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;”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →God canceled the record of debt that stood against us with its decrees, taking it away by nailing it to the cross.
What Does Colossians 2:14 Mean?
Paul pictures forgiveness as the wiping out of a damning document. The handwriting of ordinances was the written record of obligations and charges that stood against us, contrary to us -- a debt we could never pay.
God's solution was total: blotting out the record and then took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross. The charge sheet that condemned us was fastened to the cross of Christ and dealt with there once for all. The image is vivid -- the certificate of debt removed, canceled, destroyed in his death. This means the Colossians have no list of unmet demands hanging over them; it has been erased at the cross. For those tempted by teachers who would reimpose burdensome rules, Paul's answer is that the record against us is already gone. What condemned us, Christ took to his cross and abolished.
Colossians 2:14 in the Original Language
Cheirographon (χειρόγραφον), 'handwriting' -- a handwritten document, especially a certificate of debt or bond of indebtedness.
Frequently Asked Questions About Colossians 2:14
What does Colossians 2:14 mean?
God canceled the record of debt that stood against us with its decrees, taking it away by nailing it to the cross.