Colossians 2:18-19

Colossians 2:18-19

[18] no man  of your reward  in  a voluntary  humility  and  worshipping  of angels,  intruding into  those things which  seen,  vainly  puffed up  by  his  fleshly  mind,  [19] And  not  holding  the Head,  from  which  all  the body  by  joints  and  bands  having nourishment ministered,  and  knit together,  increaseth  with the increase  of God. 

What does Colossians 2:18-19 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

A second error was mysticism. Whereas Colossian legalism ( Colossians 2:16-17) was primarily Jewish in origin, Colossian mysticism ( Colossians 2:18-19) seems to have been mainly Gnostic and pagan. Paul"s readers were in danger of becoming diverted as they ran the Christian race and not staying on the track. Thus they could lose the prize that God will give those who run the race well (cf. 2 Timothy 4:7-8). "Self-abasement" is the practice of denying oneself with the idea that this will gain merit with God. Specifically fasting is in view.
The false teachers also advocated the worship of angels probably with the idea that they were the proper mediators of prayer and worship to God. Similarly many Roman Catholics so regard dead Christians, some of whom they have labeled "saints." The basis of such claims was personal experience, not revelation from God.
Some translators added "visions" ( Colossians 2:18) to give the idea of some superior experience. However the contrast intended is between humanly generated ideas and divine revelation. Such ideas gave those who had them a false sense of pride. Rather Christians should get our direction from Christ by divine revelation and enjoy growth that He brings to pass rather than growth that is not genuine. The "joints and ligaments" probably refer to believers in Christ"s body of which He is the Head (cf. Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 4:7-16). [1]
"Precedent for this approach to spirituality in Judaism [2] is seen in a movement that came to be known as "Merkabah mysticism." The Merkabah refers to Ezekiel 1and the throne chariot of God that Ezekiel saw. This teaching spoke of days of fasting to prepare for a journey to the heavens to see God and have a vision of Him and His angelic host in worship (Philo, Die Somniis 133-37; De Vita Mosis 267-70; 1QH6:13; 1Enoch14:8-25; 2Baruch21:7-10; Apocalypse of Abraham9:1-10; 19:1-9; Ascension of Isaiah 7:37; 8:17; 9:28 , 31 , 33). One could withdraw and eventually go directly into God"s presence. Thus this false teaching emphasized the humility of ascetic practice, visions, the rigors of devotion, treating the body harshly, and rules about what should not be eaten or what days should be observed ( Colossians 2:16-23). All this activity was aimed to help prepare individuals for the experience that took them beyond what Jesus had already provided, so they could see God and His angels in heaven." [3]