20. Wherefore--The oldest manuscripts omit "Wherefore."
if ye be dead--Greek, "if ye died (so as to be freed) from," &c.
(compare
Ro 6:2; 7:2, 3;
Ga 2:19).
rudiments of the world--
(Col 2:8).
Carnal, outward, worldly, legal ordinances.
as though living--as though you were not dead to the world like your
crucified Lord, into whose death ye were buried
(Ga 6:14;
1Pe 4:1, 2).
are ye subject to ordinances--By do ye submit to be made subject to
ordinances? Referring to
Col 2:14:
you are again being made subject to "ordinances," the "handwriting" of
which had been "blotted out"
(Col 2:14).
JFB.
Picture Study Bible