We are living in a day of false prophets and false teachers – wolves wrapped in sheep’s clothing. We hear clever words that sound humble, when in reality, they are a false humility wrapped in self-will, self-wisdom, and self-righteousness, with a contempt for others less knowledgeable. Their false humility equals pride, the original sin of Lucifer that got him cast out of heaven.
The Apostle Peter writes an interesting thing about the Apostle Paul in I Peter 3:16:
“….Some of his comments are hard to understand, and those who are ignorant and unstable have twisted his letters to mean something quite different, just as they do with other parts of Scripture. And this will result in their destruction”.
Colossians 2:18 seems to be one of these hard to understand scriptures of the Apostle Paul. At first glance, it seems to encourage the worshiping of angels; and some teach that it is okay to pray to angels, and even departed saints.
The King James Version reads, “Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshiping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,”
The New Living Translation reads, “Don’t let anyone condemn you by insisting on pious self-denial or the worship of angels, saying they have had visions about these things. Their sinful minds have made them proud,”
The New American Standard reads, “Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize by delighting in self-abasement and the worship of the angels, taking his stand on visions he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind,”
The Young’s Literal Translation reads, “let no one beguile you of your prize, delighting in humble-mindedness and in worship of the messengers, intruding into the things he hath not seen, being vainly puffed up by the mind of his flesh,”
One of the rules of Bible interpretation is the Rule of Context, which states that the meaning must be gathered from the context, drawing from the words before and after, throughout the whole Bible.
The Word of God never contradicts itself. Whatever subject you research in the Bible, it is always the same teaching throughout the Bible. God is the author, and He does not contradict Himself.
Another rule of Bible interpretation is the Rule of Definition, which is simply “what does the word mean?”. We cannot invent another meaning to make it mean what we want it to mean. The Bereans were noble for searching the Scriptures daily to determine that which Paul taught them was true.
The King James translation is better understood by referring to several other translations. When comparing together and then referring to several Bible Commentators, we arrive at the meaning of the Scripture. Just because the words of Paul are sometimes difficult to understand, doesn’t mean that they are impossible to understand.
It was a common belief among the Jews that since the Law was given by angels, it was okay to worship angels as intermediaries carrying our prayers to God, and His answers back to the one praying. Paul says we should allow no man to beguile us, or condemn us, or hinder us of our reward or crown. There are five crowns mentioned in scripture: the Crown of Rejoicing in I Thessalonians 2:19, the Crown of Incorruption in I Corinthians 9:24, the Crown of Life in James 1:12, the Crown of Righteousness in II Timothy 48, and the Crown of Glory, or the Pastor’s crown, in I Peter 5:1-4.
Angels are not more powerful than Jesus Christ. By attaching oneself to angels as intermediaries, instead of attaching oneself to Christ, we stand to lose our Crowns and the benefits of Christ as our mediator between God and man, and as our Great High Priest who continually makes intercession before His Father in our behalf.
Paul says that by worshiping angels, we are seeking to intrude into things which are not seen and pretending to discover secrets of the unseen world. This puffs one up with pride and contempt for others, while not holding the ‘Head’, or Jesus Christ, as supreme above angels and all other creatures of God’s creation.
Look at these scriptures to see how the Bible shows angels as inferior to Christ:
I Peter 1:12, “….It is all so wonderful that even the angels are eagerly watching these things happen.”
Hebrews 1:6-9, “….And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says,
‘Let all God’s angels worship him.’ In speaking of the angels he says, ‘He makes his angels spirits, and his servants flames of fire.’ But about the Son he says, ‘Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.’”
Revelation 22:9, “But he said, ‘No, don’t worship me. I am a servant of God, just like you and your brothers the prophets, as well as all who obey what is written in this book. Worship only God!'”
Throughout the Bible, angels are messengers sent by God to deliver a message from God to man, or to protect, deliver, or in some way bless man. Angels always deferred any worship to their Creator. Nowhere in Scripture did angels receive worship from man.
To read this into Colossians 2:18 is a false teaching, and Paul says that by worshiping angels instead of Christ, we will lose our rightful reward at the Judgment.
The reality is that when you pray to angels or to dead ancestors, you are praying to demons pretending to be good angels or your dead ancestor. This is idolatry and will ensnare your soul in spiritual darkness for eternity.
Jesus Christ is the only true God, and only He died for your sins, and only He deserves your worship, and only He can provide the payment to enable the Father to bless and save you.
Revelation 4:11, “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”
