2:11–15

In 2:10 Paul said “you have been given fullness in Christ.” This was a general statement. Here in 2:11–15 Paul described in more detail the fullness believers have in Christ through salvation.

2:11a

In Him you were also circumcised: In this verse Paul used the Jewish rite of circumcision as a figure of speech for what Christ has done for believers. You should keep this figure of speech in your translation if possible. Paul used this figure of speech for two reasons:

(a) When the Jews circumcised a baby boy, they removed a piece of skin, and Paul was comparing this to Christ removing the sinful nature of those who believe in him.

(b) Also, circumcision was the rite that marked the Jews as God’s people. When a boy was circumcised, this was the sign that he was part of God’s people, the Jews. Here Paul was saying that the Colossian Christians did not become the people of God because someone physically circumcised them, but because Christ freed them from the old sinful way they used to behave.

2:11b

in the putting off of your sinful nature: The Greek word apekdusis that the Berean Standard Bible translates as putting off is used for “removing, stripping off” something, such as clothes. In this context Paul used it as a figure of speech. When a person is circumcised, the priest removes a piece of skin from his body. In the same way, when a person is united with Christ, Christ removes his sinful nature.

sinful nature: Literally “body of flesh.” Paul was referring to human nature, which is naturally sinful. Good News Translation translates it, “this sinful self” (see 2:11 in Good News Translation). If it is not possible in your language to talk about “removing” sins, you can say:

he freed us from the power that sin has in our hearts

2:11c

with the circumcision performed by Christ: Paul said it was Christ who removed a person’s sinful nature. It is “the circumcision done by Christ” (see 2:11 in Good News Translation, New International Version).

2:11d

and not by human hands: By saying this, Paul explained that he was not writing about literal circumcision. The phrase not by human hands means “this is not something that people did to you,” or “you were not circumcised physically.”

General Comment about 2:11

It may be clearer in some languages to reorder the parts of 2:11. One way to do this might be:

When you were united to Christ, ⌊it is as if⌋ you were circumcised. You were not circumcised physically. No, rather it was Christ who circumcised you ⌊spiritually⌋; he ⌊cut away and⌋ removed your sinful nature.

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