In
the debate on the connection between circumcision and baptism, you get
all the debate on what connection there is, if any, between vss. 11 and
12 in Col. 2. But it seems to me that vs. 13 seals the deal (pardon the
pun): "And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision
of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all
our trespasses...". To be uncircumcised
is to be dead. You need to be circumcised (vs. 11), you need to put
off your flesh by being buried (vs. 12), so then you can be raised from
the dead with Christ. OT circumcision => NT baptism.
Paul,
inspired by the Holy Spirit, is a good writer. He isn't spinning out
random, unconnected thoughts or doctrines. We might have a hard time
following his flow of thought at times, but that there is a flow is
apparent.
