“Blotting out the
handwriting of the decree against us”: εξαλειψας το καθ' ημων χειρογραφον τοις δογμασιν, lit., “blotting out the
bringing down of us in the handwriting in decrees,” although the το κατα is difficult to translate into English. Some interpret the “handwriting”
as a debtor’s bond (Ex 24:3), but the meaning here is much wider due to “the decrees”
(τοις δογμασιν), but Paul is speaking
more generally here. Paul uses similar language to Cl 2:14 in Ep 2:15’s
“commandments in decrees” (εντολων εν δογμασιν). Paul uses the analogy to “handwriting” because the Commandments were
written with the “finger of God” (Ex 31:18; 2Co 3:7) and their main purpose was
to expose sin (Rm 3: 9-20; 5:20) and thus was a “decree against us.” Continuing
the analogy, the “blotting out” refers to the revocation of the Old Covenant
and everything contained in it, i.e., civil, ceremonial and moral laws (2Co
3:4-14; Gl 3:10-12; Hb 7:18; 8:1-13; 10:9). This was accomplished as Christ
died on the cross (i.e., “fastening it to the
cross”). The Church reinstituted the OT moral laws (Rm 13:1-10) and some of the
ethical and worship principles of the OT civil and ceremonial laws (1Co 9:9;
2Co 13:1; Jm 5:14; Ac 2:28-29) under the New Covenant in Christ. (Robert A.
Sungenis, The Epistles to the
Philippians, Colossians, and Thessalonians [Catholic Apologetics Study
Bible IX; State Line, Pa.: Catholic Apologetics International Publishing, Inc.,
2020], 45-46 n. 44
Further Reading
Does Galatians 2:20 and Colossians 2:14 support Forensic Justification?
