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The verb "having spoiled" in Col. 2: 15 is in the middle voice, and means literally
"to divest oneself of clothing". Commentators have interpreted this passage in a variety
of ways:--
"Divested Himself of His flesh."
"He divested Himself", as (with reverence be it said) Joseph did when he extricated
himself from the grasp of Potiphar's wife.
"He divested Himself of the principalities and powers which had mediated the law."
At first sight, this diversity of opinion among scholars is discouraging, but
remembering the proverb, "In the multitude of counselors there is safety" (Prov. 11: 14),
we perceive that the paradox of the cross solves the problem. The cross was, from one
angle, the lowest depth of ignominy; yet it proved to be the wisdom and power of God.
The cross marked the most complete victory of the powers of darkness; and yet it proved
their most complete defeat. The Lord did indeed strip Himself at the cross, but at the
same time He stripped His foes. He made His very shame His greatest glory; He turned
the malefactor's gibbet into His triumphal car; He "death by dying slew".
We now proceed with our study, bearing in mind the two sides to this marvelous truth.
In Col. 2: 15 we have a series of military metaphors, apekdoumai refers to the
stripping of the vanquished foe; and deigmatizo ("to make a show") refers to the
"exposure" of the vanquished to the vulgar gaze. Cleopatra's fear of this public exposure
upon Cæsar's triumphant entry into Rome is well expressed by Shakespeare:--
Cleopatra.
Know you what Cæsar means to do with me?
Dolabella.
I am loth to tell you what I would you knew.
Cleopatra.
He'll lead me, then, in triumph?
Dolabella.
Madam he will, I know it.
Cleopatra.
. . . . . Now Iras, what think'st thou?
Thou, an Egyptian puppet, shall be shown
In Rome, as well as I: mechanic slaves,
With greasy aprons, rules, and hammers, shall
Uplift us to the view . . . . .
Saucy lectors
Will catch at us like strumpets; and scald rhymers
Ballad us out of tune . . . . .
And I shall see
Some squeaking Cleopatra boy my greatness.
The word "openly" (parrhesia) means "publicly", as may be seen in John 7: 4,
11: 54, etc.
"Triumphing over them."--Thriambaio is from thriambos, a triumph, which
originally signified a hymn in honour of Bacchus, sung in solemn procession. Plutarch
uses the word in the phrase, "He led Kings in triumph".