---
title: Colossians 2:13
url: https://jw-apologetics.app/verses/colossians-2-13/
markdown: https://jw-apologetics.app/verses/colossians-2-13.md
type: verse
perspective: Protestant (historic Nicene) response to Jehovah's Witness teaching
reference: Colossians 2:13
testament: NT
section: Letters
index: https://jw-apologetics.app/llms.txt
---

# Colossians 2:13

## Text (Berean Standard Bible)

> When you were dead in your trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our trespasses,

## JW Usage

JWs accept that God forgave sins through Christ's sacrifice but teach that individuals must meet ongoing requirements to benefit from it: acquiring accurate knowledge, obeying God's laws as interpreted by the Governing Body, belonging to the organisation, and demonstrating loyalty through field service. The ransom opens the door; personal endurance walks through it. The "handwritten document" (v. 14) is understood as the Mosaic Law abolished at the cross, not as a personal debt record.

## Protestant Usage

Colossians 2:13-14 says God "kindly forgave us all our trespasses and erased the handwritten document that consisted of decrees." The Greek cheirographon means a signed personal debt note (an IOU), not a law code. The verb "erased" (exaleipsas) is used in Acts 3:19 for "sins blotted out" and in Isaiah 43:25 for "blots out transgressions." What was nailed to the cross was the record of everything we owe God — personal sin debt, not merely a change of covenantal administration. Old Testament priests never sat down because their work was never finished (Hebrews 10:11); Jesus "sat down at the right hand of God" because his work is complete (Hebrews 10:12). Hebrews 10:14 in the NWT says "by one sacrificial offering he has made those who are being sanctified perfect for all time." If his one offering perfects for all time, what do field service hours add?

## Arguments Using This Verse

- ["It Is Finished" — The Completed Atonement](https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/tetelestai-finished.md) — John 19:30 / Hebrews 10:11-14 [Salvation]
- [The Certificate of Debt — Erased, Not Replaced](https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/certificate-of-debt-nailed.md) — Colossians 2:13-15 [Salvation]