Why does Paul emphasize "perish with use" in Colossians 2:22? Canonical Text (Colossians 2:20-23) 20 If you have died with Christ to the spiritual forces of the world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its regulations: 21 “Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!”? 22 These will all perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. 23 Such practices indeed have an appearance of wisdom with their self-imposed worship, their false humility, and their severe treatment of the body, but they are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh. Historical and Cultural Setting Paul writes to believers in Colossae battling a syncretistic pressure that blended Jewish dietary codes (cf. Leviticus 11; Deuteronomy 14) with proto-gnostic asceticism and local folk elements. Archaeological work at the Lycus Valley confirms a diverse milieu—Jewish inscriptions, Phrygian mystery cult symbols, and Greco-Roman civic rites—fertile ground for hybrid regulations. The “regulations” (dogmata, v. 20) echoed the decrees nailed to the cross (v. 14); resurrecting them denied Christ’s sufficiency (2 Corinthians 3:7-11). Paul’s Rhetorical Strategy 1. Contrast of Realms: Believers “died with Christ” (v. 20), exiting the transient “stoicheia” (elemental spirits). Submitting anew to ordinances roots them again in the vanishing. 2. Impermanence vs. Permanence: Ascetic rules focus on perishables; Christ gives an imperishable inheritance (1 Peter 1:4). 3. Exposure of Human Origin: “Human commands and teachings” (v. 22) echo Isaiah 29:13, indicting man-made religion. Theological Implications • Christ’s Sufficiency: His bodily resurrection (attested by 1 Corinthians 15:3-8; early creed dated <5 years post-crucifixion) secures a bodily, not merely spiritual, redemption. Regulations tied to decaying matter cannot augment that. • Freedom from Law’s Shadows: Food, festivals, and Sabbaths are “a shadow of things to come, but the body belongs to Christ” (Colossians 2:16-17). Shadows by definition pass. • Eschatological Perspective: Romans 14:17—“The kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.” What perishes cannot constitute kingdom essentials. Polemic Against Ascetic-Gnostic Tendencies Emerging gnosticism treated the material as intrinsically evil, proposing harsh treatment of the body for spiritual ascent. Paradoxically, such severity “is of no value against the indulgence of the flesh” (v. 23); external repression leaves inner cravings untouched (cf. Matthew 23:25-28). Behavioral science corroborates: legalistic suppression without heart transformation intensifies desire rebound. Paul anchors morality in union with the risen Christ (3:1-4), not in external taboos. Intertextual Echoes • 1 Corinthians 6:13 – “Food is for the stomach and the stomach for food, but God will destroy them both.” • Hebrews 9:10 – Old-covenant ordinances “imposed until the time of reformation.” • Isaiah 40:8 – “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.” Paul implicitly contrasts fading rules with enduring gospel. Practical Application for Believers 1. Evaluate any rule: Does it center on what perishes with use, or on eternal realities? 2. Guard Christian liberty: “For freedom Christ has set us free” (Galatians 5:1). 3. Pursue inward transformation: Set minds “on things above” (Colossians 3:2), not on diet logs. 4. Avoid syncretism: Modern equivalents—diet fads, mystical rituals, or legalistic dress codes—can masquerade as spirituality yet revolve around the perishable. Conclusion Paul emphasizes “perish with use” to unmask the inherent temporality and futility of man-made ascetic regulations. By highlighting their inevitable decay the moment they are practiced, he redirects the Colossians—and every subsequent reader—to the imperishable reality of the risen Christ, whose once-for-all victory renders such external rules obsolete for salvation or sanctification. |
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