{Not holding fast the Head} (ou krat(936e) t(886e) kephal(886e)). Note
negative ou, not m(885c), actual case of deserting Christ as the
Head. The Gnostics dethroned Christ from his primacy ( 1:18 ) and
placed him below a long line of aeons or angels. They did it with
words of praise for Christ as those do now who teach Christ as
only the noblest of men. The headship of Christ is the keynote of
this Epistle to the Colossians and the heart of Paul's
Christology. {From whom} (ex hou). Masculine ablative rather
than ex h(8873) (kephal(8873)) because Christ is the Head. He
develops the figure of the body of which Christ is Head
( 1:18,24 ). {Being supplied} (epichor(8867)oumenon). Present
passive participle (continuous action) of epichor(8867)e(935c), for
which interesting verb see already  2Co 9:10  Ga 3:5  and further
 2Pe 1:5 . {Knit together} (sunbibazomenon). Present passive
participle also (continuous action) of sunbibaz(935c), for which see
 Col 2:2 . {Through the joints} (dia t(936e) haph(936e)). Late word
haph(885c) (from hapt(935c), to fasten together), connections
(_junctura_ and _nexus_ in the Vulgate). {And bonds} (kai
sundesm(936e)). Old word from sunde(935c), to bind together. Aristotle
and Galen use it of the human body. Both words picture well the
wonderful unity in the body by cells, muscles, arteries, veins,
nerves, skin, glands, etc. It is a marvellous machine working
together under the direction of the head. {Increaseth with the
increase of God} (auxei t(886e) aux(8873)in tou theou). Cognate
accusative (aux(8873)in) with the old verb auxei.