Colossians 2:11

[Van]

When you came to Christ, you were “circumcised,” but not by a physical procedure. Christ performed a spiritual circumcision—the cutting away of your sinful nature.[fn] NLT

and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision performed without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ, NASB

The translation of this verse presents an interesting issue. The footnote of the NLT indicates the cutting away "of your sinful nature" might also be translated as "of the body of the flesh" or the exact same words found in the NASB.

1) Our first point of difference is "came to Christ" and "in Him." Both refer to our spiritual position within Christ, rather than our mental mindset or viewpoint of trusting Christ. This within Christ understanding is required by the spiritual transformation, the spiritual circumcision, or the removal of "the body of the flesh."

2) The "circumcision of Christ" (NASB translation) removes "the body of the flesh" thought to be our sinful nature by the NLT translators. Translators using the TR or MT use a longer phrase, the body of the sins of the flesh. The RGT has the sinful body of the flesh. At least part of the basis of this translation choice comes from Colossians 2:14 which has the removal of "the certificate of debt" which are the decrees against us. Thus rather than our sinful nature, our stack of stored wrath, past, present and future is removed by the "circumcision of Christ" also called the "washing of regeneration.

In summary, Colossians 2:11 could be understood to say: (interpretive translation)
After being transferred into Christ spiritually, you were spiritually circumcised by Christ, by the cutting away or removal of whatever God might hold against you, also called the washing of regeneration.

 

[JD731]

When you came to Christ, you were “circumcised,” but not by a physical procedure. Christ performed a spiritual circumcision—the cutting away of your sinful nature.[fn] NLT

and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision performed without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ, NASB

The translation of this verse presents an interesting issue. The footnote of the NLT indicates the cutting away "of your sinful nature" might also be translated as "of the body of the flesh" or the exact same words found in the NASB.

1) Our first point of difference is "came to Christ" and "in Him." Both refer to our spiritual position within Christ, rather than our mental mindset or viewpoint of trusting Christ. This within Christ understanding is required by the spiritual transformation, the spiritual circumcision, or the removal of "the body of the flesh."

2) The "circumcision of Christ" (NASB translation) removes "the body of the flesh" thought to be our sinful nature by the NLT translators. Translators using the TR or MT use a longer phrase, the body of the sins of the flesh. The RGT has the sinful body of the flesh. At least part of the basis of this translation choice comes from Colossians 2:14 which has the removal of "the certificate of debt" which are the decrees against us. Thus rather than our sinful nature, our stack of stored wrath, past, present and future is removed by the "circumcision of Christ" also called the "washing of regeneration.

In summary, Colossians 2:11 could be understood to say: (interpretive translation)
After being transferred into Christ spiritually, you were spiritually circumcised by Christ, by the cutting away or removal of whatever God might hold against you, also called the washing of regeneration.

I would take the position that we must view this in a collective sense, not an individual sense. This is the body of Christ and it is he in whom we dwell, that is, in his body. It is he who is being spiritually circumcised here. Read it carefully here. We as a collective make up the members of his body but we do not sin by virtue of his cleansing power of taking away the sins of each individual who is in this body.

Col 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

God views the church as "one new man" in Christ.

Eph 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

Christ illustrated this at his own bodily resurrection. His body was sown in weakness and raised in power. The flesh first and then the Spirit.

 

[Van]

I would take the position that we must view this in a collective sense, not an individual sense. This is the body of Christ and it is he in whom we dwell, that is, in his body. It is he who is being spiritually circumcised here. Read it carefully here. We as a collective make up the members of his body but we do not sin by virtue of his cleansing power of taking away the sins of each individual who is in this body.

Col 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

God views the church as "one new man" in Christ.

Eph 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

Christ illustrated this at his own bodily resurrection. His body was sown in weakness and raised in power. The flesh first and then the Spirit.

I disagree. Paul writes in Col 2:8, we are to see to it no one takes you (plural) captive. Thus it could be translated, see to it no one takes "any of you" captive. rather than see to it no one takes you collectively captive. Ditto for Colossians 2:10, it could be translated, in Him "all of you" have been made complete. Note, the church has not even yet been made complete, people are still being added. Ditto for Col. 2:11, where in Him "all of you were circumcised, rather than the one church was circumcised. Lastly, Colossians 2:12, all of us who were individually baptized into Him were baptized into His death.

Turning to Ephesians 4:11 and following, God gave to the church various leaders for the equipping of the saints (individual members of the church).
In verse 13, the "pas" is plural and could be translated until "all of us" addressing us as individual members rather than the singular whole. Our goal is for all of us to attain the same level of maturity as set by Christ. Thus in verse 14, all of us individually are no longer children, tossed and carried about by deceit. In verse 15, all of us individually are to grow up in all spiritual aspects into the image of Christ, who is our role model. Finally in verse 16, we see the result, the whole body (singular) works as one because of the effective working of every part (individual member) guided by the love of Christ.