Matthew Poole and continuators on Colossians 2:18

18 Let no man beguile you ofyour reward , in a voluntary humility , and worshipping of angels , intruding into those things which he hath not seen vainly puff'd up by his fleshly mind .

The original compound word peculiar in the N. T. to Paul and that in this Epistle onely (and not very frequent in other Authours) hath occasioned interpreters here to render it variously, some joyning the next following word with it, and some (as we read it) to that which follows after. The simple word is, c. 3.15. read rule, or judge, and it may be rendered intercede. Yet Paul doth not elsewhere use this word simply or in composition where he speaks of judging and condemning, Rom. 2.1. however it is borrow'd from those who were judges or umpires in their games, the Apostle most likely alluding to those who through favour or hatred determin'd unjustly, to the defrauding those victours of their prize or reward to whom it was due. Hence some would have the import to be agreeable to our translation; be carefull these unjust Arbiters do not defraud you of gaining Christ, and deceive you (as, Mat. 24.4. Eph. 5, 6. 2 Thess. 2, 3.) by prescribing false lists and giving you wrong measures, and so judging against you, one renders it, let no man deceive you with subtile argument who pleaseth or delights himself in humility; another, Let no man take your prize; others, Let no man Master it or bear rule over you at pleasure, Let none take upon himself, or usurp to himself the parts or office of a Governour or umpire over you. The Apostle labours to fortifie the true followers of Christ against such superstitious subtile ones who by their artifice did assume a magisterial authority (without any sure warrant from God) to impose their traditionary and invented services upon them, and determine of their state accordingly as the Papists do at this day. One learned man thinks the Apostle had not used this word here, but for some notable advantage, viz. because the simple word may signifie to intercede as well as to judge, it made wonderfully to his purpose in this composition (as he uses concision, Phil. 3.2.) to disparage those seducers who did from some notions of the Platonists, labour to gain credit to that opinion that the Angels were intercessours betwixt God and Man.

Covering their imperious spirit, by being Volunteers in humility, or by a pretence of voluntary uncommanded humility, alledging it would be presumption in them to address themselves immediately to God, and therefore,

They would pay a religious homage to Angels, as of a middle nature betwixt God and them, presuming they would mediate for them, an instance to express all that invented worship, which how specious soever it may seem to be, hath no warrant from Christ, who alone can procure acceptance of our persons and services. He expects that his Disciples should assert his rights and the liberty with which he hath made them free against the traditions of self-willed men, and no more to solemnize for worship, than teach for doctrines the the traditions of men, Mat. 15.2, 6, 9. we must not under any pretext of humility presume to know what belongs to our duty and God's service better than Christ doth, shewing us that he alone is the true and living way and we may come boldly by him, Mat 11.28. Ioh. 14.1, 6. Eph 3.12. Heb 4.16. & 10.20. And therefore the adoring and invocating of Angels as heavenly courtiers, whatever the Papists out of a shew of humility do argue, is not after Christ, but against him.

Yea and for any one to assert it, and the like is to be a bold intruder upon anothers possession, a thrusting a Mans felt into the knowledge and determination of that which is above his reach, Psal. 131.1. and he hath no ground at all for, but doth prie or wade into a secret which a man cannot know. The Apostle useth a Platonick word against those who did indulge themselves out of curiosity in the opinions of the Platonists about Angels, the worshippers of which amongst those who were professed Christians in Phrygia were so tenaceous of their errour that they were not rooted out after the third century, when a Canon was made against them under the name of Angelici in the Council of Laodicea near Coloss[illegible: 1 letter].

The first rise of such foolish presumption was a being rashly puffed up with the sense of their flesh, a deluded mind mov'd by some carnal principle, setting out things with swelling words o[illegible: 1 letter] vanity, wherewith in truth they have no acquaintance, and whereof they have no experience, 1 Tim. 1.7.

Marginal references: Or, judge against you.; Greek being a volun [illegible: 3 letters]y in humility.; Ezek. 13.3.