Knowing there is Total Victory! (Colossians 2:15)

KING

WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW

There is a common colloquialism that, "what you don't know, won't hurt you", which is reinforced by the equally erroneous statement, "ignorance is bliss". Basically, the fallacy of these two phrases is that lack of knowledge is not only detrimental to you, but it can greatly limit your capacity for advancement and growth and even lead to your demise, physically and spiritually.

LACK OF KNOWLEDGE

Hosea 4:6 says, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you...", where, specifically, the verse is referring to a lack of intimate relationship with the Lord. However, the principle is that not knowing the truth about something, or someone, puts you at a severe disadvantage in life.

KNOW THE TRUTH

By contrast, Jesus said, "...you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:32), where the word 'know', is (ginosko), 1097, which is also used for sexual intercourse between a man and a woman, implying a deep, intimate understanding of something, or someone. This deep, intimate understanding, in regards to the scripture, is sometimes referred to as 'revelation', concerning 'knowing' the Word, which affects, not only what you think, and believe, but ultimately alters, or conforms your behavior to be in complete agreement and alliance with what the scripture teaches, by the Holy Spirit; causing you to 'live out', what the Word declares to be true, in your life. In other words, it is no longer simply words on the page, but rather, your life becomes a living demonstration of Jesus' full intention, so that you are "...not conformed to this world: but ...transformed by the renewing of your mind..." (Rm.12:2). 'Knowing' the truth concerning the scriptures, a verse, or a passage, affects the way you think; what you believe; what you speak; your behavior; and your entire life and relationships.

COLOSSIANS 2:15 says, "...having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it" (KJV).

SPOILED

The word 'spoiled', in the Greek, is [ἀπεκδύομαι], (apĕkduŏmai), 554 [ap-ek-doo´-om-ahee], which is only used in Colossians 2:15 and 3:9, in all of scripture. It has the dual meanings of both:

1) 'taking off, or stripping off clothes', which is the metaphor used in Colossians 3:9, in regards to the 'old man', and 'putting off' the old man.

2) 'disarm', 'to strip' or 'divest of power or authority' (Col.2:15), a metaphor of stripping a vanquished foe of their armor and weapons, rendering them powerless.

MADE A SHOW OF THEM

This phrase is one word in the Greek.

[δειγματίζω], (deigmatízō), 1165, from (deígma),1164, 'an example'. To make a public show or spectacle as the Romans did when they exposed their captives and the spoils of the conquered enemies to public view in their triumphal processions. It occurs only in Colossians 2:15; 'putting into open and painful shame', referring to the principalities and powers. [Spiros Zodhiates, The Complete Word Study Dictionary].

The usage is extremely rare in the Greek, and contains not only the idea of public humiliation, ridicule, scorn, disgrace, and dishonor, but also, the thought that the malefactor(s) having been punished, with painful justice inflicted, was then put on public display, for all to see.

OPENLY

This word is commonly associated with boldness of speech. [παρρησία], (parrēsía), 3954, a feminine noun from (pás), 3956, 'all', and (rhḗsis), [not found in the NT], 'the act of speaking', so basically, the idea is literally, "the act of speaking all", not holding anything back. The presupposition of (parresia) is that one should be a full citizen of a Greek city. At the height of Greek democracy the full citizen alone had the right to say anything publicly in the [ἐκκλησία], (ekklesia), 'assembly'. Aliens and slaves had no such right. "This candor opposes all those who would limit the right to reveal the truth or hamper the unveiling of the truth" [Kittel]. The importance of this act of boldness, translated here as 'openly', is that the dominant thought, in this context especially, is the declaration of the truth, or 'openly', exposing the truth, regarding the utter defeat of demonic forces.

TRIUMPHING OVER

[θριαμβεύω], (thriambeúō), 2358, from (thríambos), [not found in the NT], 'a triumph' (Zodhiates). This word is only found twice in the NT (2 Cor.2:14; Col.2:15). The meaning is 'to celebrate a triumph' (the usual sense). It is derived from (thriambos), a hymn that was sung in festival processions, and it is kin to the Latin (triumphus), 'our triumph', a triumphal procession of victorious Roman generals.[A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures, p.495].The word referred to a victorious general, home from the wars, leading a triumphal procession through the streets of Rome. The captives and spoils of war would precede him, and he would follow in a chariot, a slave holding over his head a jeweled crown. Then would come the victorious army. [Wuest, Bypaths, p. 50-51], sometimes with the general's sons, and various officers that rode behind his chariot.

The following historical description is illuminating, "... the processions they call triumphs [θριάμβους], in which the generals bring the actual spectacle of their achievements before the eyes of their fellow-citizens..." (Polyb. 6.15.7–8). In other words, the triumphal procession was not only a demonstration of the defeat of demonic forces, through the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, but it was essential for all to see, that this triumph was complete and final! The demonic forces have no power over us, and that was put on public display, in the spiritual realm.

COLOSSIANS 2:15 (A Paraphrase)

[Carefully considering the full import of the Greek text]

''Having totally and completely rendering powerless, taking away all the armor and weapons of the demonic principalities and powers, He made a public display, for all the spiritual realm to see, boldly and openly declaring the truth, for all to know, of their massive and absolute defeat, and He led them in a triumphant procession, of public disgrace and humiliation, before all the spiritual realm, showing Himself as the victorious conqueror over all demonic forces"

You are God's Best and God's Best is Yours