In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it. (Col 2:11–15).
What are the principalities and powers?
Popular culture has a strong fascination with occult and spiritual entities such as angels and demons. I became aware of this a few years ago when I heard that some children in a nearby elementary school were claiming to have pet demons that would perform tasks for them. Whether this is just a product of youthful imagination or a true story is unclear. Nonetheless, it highlights that, at least in North America, there is a fascination with the supernatural. Even Netflix has a show called Lucifer, which I personally choose not to watch due to my principles. From what I gather, the show portrays Lucifer as a crime-fighting hero. However, amidst all the fanciful imaginations and Hollywood portrayals, a critical question remains: According to the Bible and the Christian worldview, do spiritual entities interact with mankind?
It is evident to anyone who reads the Bible that the answer to the previous question is a resounding yes. A mere glance through the New Testament will reveal numerous instances where Jesus and his disciples cast out demons. Furthermore, the New Testament documents conversations between individuals possessed by spiritual entities, with these entities speaking through them to Jesus and other humans. For instance, the Bible recounts the account of a man with a legion of demons named Legion. We also have the story of Paul encountering a woman possessed by demons. After the two men proclaimed that they were servants of the highest God, the woman acknowledged their divine affiliation to which Paul responded by casting the devil out of her.
It may surprise the reader, but spiritual forces exist not only in the form of angels and demons but also hold different ranks in a spiritual hierarchy and government. Although this may sound preposterous, it is the worldview of the New Testament writers.
In this passage, Paul refers to spiritual forces and entities that oppose God's kingdom and rule, commonly referred to as "principalities and powers" throughout the New Testament. It is thought that Paul drew upon Jewish and Greco-Roman ideas about spiritual hierarchies when using this terminology. Interestingly, in the opening chapter of Colossians, Paul declares that all things were created through and for Christ, including thrones, powers, rulers, and authorities - both visible and invisible. This implies that there are two types of thrones or senses of authority and two types of power: those that can be seen and those that are unseen.
The idea of spiritual hierarchies is also found in the New Testament. For example, in Romans 8:38, Paul mentions "powers" and "angels" as distinct from other spiritual forces. In Ephesians 1:20-21, he also speaks of Christ being seated at God's right hand "far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come."
One of the most obvious references to spiritual forces opposing God's kingdom can be found in Ephesians 6:12, where Paul states, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."
What does it mean that He made a public spectacle of them?
The idea of an eternal cosmic battle between good and evil is popular in modern culture. This concept suggests that good and evil are equal and opposing forces, like the yin-yang symbol. This idea is often portrayed in stories such as Popeye and Pluto, where the hero, representing good, is continually caught off guard by the villain, who never ceases to cause trouble. The hero only prevails after consuming a particular item or achieving another temporary advantage. However, this is not a biblical or Christian worldview. The Bible teaches that Jesus has been given all authority and power, as evidenced in the first chapter of Colossians. Everything was made by and for him, making him unrivalled.
The phrase "made a public spectacle of them" can also be translated as "made a show of them openly," It suggests that Christ publicly exposed and shamed these spiritual entities by triumphing over them. This can be understood as a reference to Christ’s victory through his death and resurrection, which defeated the power of sin and death and provided a way for humanity to be reconciled with God.
Christ's triumph over these spiritual forces is a significant aspect of the Christian worldview. It is often seen as a demonstration of his power and authority over all physical and spiritual things.
Wrapping up
As believers, we must remember that our battle is not against flesh and blood but against spiritual forces that oppose God's kingdom. It is important to discern and resist these forces through prayer and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. We must also remember that Christ has already triumphed over these spiritual forces through his death and resurrection. His victory gives us hope and assurance that we can overcome any spiritual battle.
In a world where the fascination with the occult and supernatural continues to grow, let us remain steadfast in our faith and not be swayed by the temptations of popular culture. Instead, let us focus on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who has already won the ultimate victory over all spiritual forces. May we be encouraged and strengthened by this truth as we live out our faith and spread the good news of the Gospel to those around us! Amen.