Colossians 2:15

5. The angels themselves subjected to Christ, Colossians 2:15.

15. Having spoiled The verse relates to that feature in “the philosophy” which pertains to the worship of the holy angels. It is wholly irrelevant to say, with most commentators, that Christ in his death conquered and triumphed over the infernal powers: it proves nothing on the point in hand. The principalities and the powers refers us back to Colossians 2:10, where Christ is said to be their Head. We, therefore, hold the holy angels to be meant, as is absolutely essential to a conclusiveness in the argument. The verse closely connects with the preceding one. The Mosaic ritual was given through the ministry of angels, (Galatians 3:19; Hebrews 2:2,) who were thus the revealers of God in that shadowy dispensation. He now took away that handwriting, first, suspending it on the cross that it might die, and, second, he divested himself (instead of spoiled) of the principalities and the powers as promulgators of his law, and subjected them to the incarnate Son as their Head, through whom alone, thenceforth, he will reveal himself. He then openly at the ascension exhibited them as subject to Christ, and as if following him in triumphal procession as their Lord. Whatever power, then, the false teacher supposed the angels to have had in revealing God, their office in that respect was at an end. Nor could the worship which belonged to Christ be given to them.