No one (3367) (medeis from medé = and not, also not + heís = one) means not even one, no one, no one whoever he may be.

Keep defrauding you of your prize (2603) (katabrabeuo from katá = against + brabeuo = be a judge or umpire and thus award the prize in a public game) literally refers to an umpire who decides against one, declaring him unworthy of the prize and so defrauding him of the prize of victory. Figuratively, as used by Paul in this verse, katabrabeuo refers to the depriving one of his or her spiritual reward.

The judge at athletic games was the brabeus and the prize was the brabeion. The Greek word as noted above describes a referee who excludes from competition any athlete who fails to follow the rules.  The contestant did not cease to be a citizen of the land, but he forfeited the honor of winning the prize.

Katabrabeuo is translated "beguile" in several versions which stresses the use of charm and persuasion in deceiving.

The verb is in the present imperative which when combined with a negative, calls for the hearer to stop an action already in progress. In other words...

Stop letting people act as your umpire to disqualify you or beguile you of your prize

Webster says that to "defraud" means to deprive of something by deception and stresses depriving one of their rights and usually connotes deliberate perversion of the truth [defrauded of her inheritance by an unscrupulous lawyer].

There is a true "disqualification" but that is not what Paul is referring to in this verse. In the Christian "disqualification" just as a judge disqualifies those who turn the wrong way in a race, so believers who turn from faithfully following Christ will be “robbed” of their rewards from Him (cf. 1Cor 3:10-15, 2Jn 1:8). They will not lose their salvation, just their rewards. Paul is warning against those who come with a message of persuasive, empty doctrines that if the believers were to accept them and practice them, would rob them of their spiritual blessings, not only in this present life but in the life to come. To reiterate they would still be saved.

Specifically the Colossian saints were not to permit any false teacher come in and try to say they were not saved because they were not delighting in false humility and in the worship of angels.

Paul's description helps us recognize what we should be alert for and avoid being beguiled by -- those who show "false humility", always talking about angels, grand visions. These people are not humble but in fact are puffed up and filled with hot air by their own unregenerate mind, by their own assessment.

Lightfoot writes:

"The Christian's career is the contest of the stadium...Christ is the umpire, the Dispenser of rewards (Rev 22:12, see note 2 Timothy 4:8): life eternal is the bay wreath, the victor's prize. The Colossians were in a fair way to win this prize; they had entered the lists duly; they were running bravely: but the false teachers , thrusting themselves in the way, attempted to trip them up or otherwise impede them in the race, and thus to rob them of their just reward."

Vine adds that...

"A translation which is closer to the proper meaning of the word, as given above, is “let no man decide for or against you” (without any notion of a prize). This is in close agreement with the preceding exhortation, “let no man judge you,” and the meaning is “do not give yourselves up to the judgment and decision of any man”"

BY DELIGHTING IN SELF-ABASEMENT: thelon (PAPMSN) en tapeinophrosune:

Delighting (2309) (thelo) refers to a desire that comes from one’s emotions and represents an active decision of the will. Thus thelo implies volition and purpose. It is a conscious willing and denotes a more active resolution urging on to action. Note the present tense indicates this was their continual practice.

Self abasement (5012) (tapeinophrosune from tapeinós = humble + phren = think) refers to a quality of voluntary submission and unselfishness. It represents self-effacement or humiliation of one's mind. This word always conveyed a negative meaning in classical Greek. Christianity and specifically Christ (cf see  notes Philippians 2:3; 2:4; 2:5) elevated this term to the supreme virtue - the antidote for the self-love that poisons relationships. However this particular context it is not a virtue but a vice!

When one delights in humility it ceases to be genuine humility and becomes pride!

Tapeinophrosune was often used in connection with fasting and several Jewish Christian writings specify that the consequence of this ascetic practice is entrance into the heavenly realm. The idea in context seems to be that the individual in question loves to talk on and on about his spiritual experiences, but in reality they are only coming out of his own sinful flesh...

holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; and avoid such men as these. (see note 2 Timothy 3:5)

AND THE WORSHIP OF THE ANGELS (lit = the messengers) TAKING HIS STAND ON VISIONS HE HAS SEEN: kai threskeia ton aggelon a eoraken (3SRAI) embateuon (PAPMSN):  (Ro 1:25; 1Cor 8:5,6; 1Ti 4:1;Rev 19:10; 22:8, 9) (Dt 29:29; Job 38:2; Ezek 13:3; 1Ti 1:7)

Paul is warning against dependence on ecstatic, non-rational visions.

Worship (2356) (threskeia from threskos = religious, pious)  refers to religion in its external aspect, worship especially ceremonial service of religion, external ceremonial observances or religious zeal

Angels (32) (aggelos)  refers to one sent to tell or bring a message and so a messenger or envoy. Here Paul uses aggelos to refer to a transcendent power who carries out various missions or tasks.

Worship of angels is a practice which the Bible clearly prohibits (see Mt 4:10; Rev 19:10; 22:8, 9, 1Cor 6:3)

Taking his stand (1687) (embateuo) from  en = in +  bateuo = to step) means to set foot upon, enter, visit, intrude into. Figuratively as it appears to be used in this verse, embateuo means to go into a matter, investigating it with the idea of impertinence.

The TDNT summarizes embateuo as meaning...

a. “To enter,” “go into,” usually military occupation in the LXX, entering on an inheritance in the papyri, also used of gods coming to a holy place or a demon indwelling a person.
b. The word is used for initiation in the mysteries.
c. “To approach with a view to examining,” i.e., “to inquire into” is also a possible meaning, as in 2 Mac 2:30; Philo On Noah’s Life as a Planter 80.

The only NT instance is in Col. 2:18. Exegetes favor sense b. or sense c. Against b. it should be noted that the inscriptions never use embateúein alone (as here) and it always takes place in a sanctuary (unlike here).

The sense, then, seems to be c. What the false teachers try to achieve by ecstasy and asceticism is opposed to adherence to the exclusiveness of Christ (Col 2:19). All wisdom is present in Christ, so that there is no need to enter by painful investigation into what is seen in ecstatic visions, as the false teachers require (Kittel, G., Friedrich, G., & Bromiley, G. W.  Theological Dictionary of the New Testament. Eerdmans)

Wiersbe says embateuo was a technical term used by the mystical religions of that day and it meant

“to set foot in the inner shrine, to be fully initiated into the mysteries of the religion.”

Rienecker proposes embateuo here could refer to

"the entering into heavenly spheres as a sort of super spiritual experience."

Ray Stedman has an excellent exposition of this verse noting that...

The key elements in this portion of Paul's warning are "false humility and worship of angels." Those are two invariable elements of false teaching in this context. In Colossae there was an ancient teaching (later called "Gnosticism," meaning knowledge) which held that there is a hierarchy of angels between all human beings and God which must be placated and acknowledged, and that one's knowledge, which began in virtual ignorance, increased with such contact until at last one entered into the fullness of understanding of the Oneness of all things. That ancient heresy is known as the New Age Movement in which adherents seek the true Oneness of things bc we are all part of the universe of created matter, and are united in Oneness with God. It claims to move you beyond self, but in actual practice, if you examine teachings like this, you discover that they focus on self; that the real goal is to develop all your self powers. That is why it is called the human potential movement --- the idea that everything is already there inside of you, and all you need to do is bring it out and develop your possibilities and full potential (Cp Col 1:27). It's like the sign on a wall "The Light you seek is in your own lantern." So the teaching is that you already have it all---now discover it.

Whitney Houston sings, "To love yourself is the greatest love there is." which could be the theme song for the human potential quest. What is the danger of that? The apostle puts it very plainly: it "disqualifies you for the prize."

He has been referring to this "prize" all through this letter. It will eliminate you from the race, removing you from the possibility of experiencing "Christ in you, the hope of glory." That is the great mystery which God himself has provided us, by which we have immediate and continual access to the fullness of deity in Christ, and by him, strength, help and comfort along our way. Such error will effectively remove all opportunity for the continued experience of love, joy and peace. If you observe Shirley MacLaine and other advocates of the New Age Movement you will discover there is very little evidence that they derive real satisfaction from their experiences. Fascination, yes; satisfaction, no! They are forever seeking. They are never at rest. They are on a quest for a will-o'-the-wisp, that seems to be further away from them the longer they pursue it. Such pursuit effectively removes one from experiencing the prize that God has in mind for his own: daily fellowship with a loving, living Lord!

We all remember the claim made by Oral Roberts that he had seen a nine hundred foot vision of Jesus who told him to build a hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Now Roberts is under attack by the media because of his statement that unless people send him four and a half million dollars by March First, God is going to take his life! This ridiculous claim has turned many people away from Christian truth. But who are these strange creatures that are seen in these visions? According to the Bible they are fallen angels, otherwise known as demons, often masquerading as people who once lived on the earth. Thus, they give some degree of credence to the teaching of reincarnation, which is widespread in our day. (Read the full sermon Colossians 2:16-23 Things that can Ruin your Faith)

"Visions" are an important element in Mormonism, Spiritism, Catholicism (apparitions of Mary), and Swedenborgianism. Those who were members of the inner circle are naturally proud of their secret knowledge. Paul is warning against the false teachers in Colossae who had visions and made contact with angels. In bypassing the Word of God and the Spirit of God, they were opening themselves to all kinds of demonic activity because Satan knows how to give counterfeit experiences to people (2Cor 11:13-15).

INFLATED WITHOUT CAUSE BY HIS FLESHLY MIND: eike phusioumenos (PPPMSN) hupo tou noos tes sarkos autou:   (8; 1Cor 4:18; 8:1; 13:4)  (Ro 8:6-8;  Gal 5:19;20 Ja 3:14-16; 4:1-6)

Inflated (5448) (phusioo) means literally to puff up, cause to swell up or blow up. Figuratively, as used here by Paul phusioo means make proud or arrogant (active sense) or to become conceited, proud or haughty (the passive sense as used in this verse). It describes one who has  an exaggerated self-conception.

Without cause (1500) (eike) means in vain, without a cause or legitimate reason, without just cause, without reason, for no reason.

Fleshly (4561) (sarx) has numerous somewhat subtle meanings in the NT (see word study on sarx) but in this verse is used in its ethical sense to refer to the sinful and sensual power tending toward sin and opposing the Spirit's working. It refers to life apart from the Spirit of God and controlled by Sin.

Mind (3563) (nous) refers to the faculty of intellectual perception (mind, intellect, understanding).

Barclay comments that...

The Gnostic prided himself upon special visions of secret things which were not open to the eyes of ordinary men and women. No one will deny the visions of the mystics, but there is always danger when a man begins to think that he has attained a height of holiness which enables him to see what common men-as he calls them-cannot see; and the danger is that men will so often see, not what God sends them, but what they want to see. There is the worship of angels [2:20]. Jews had a highly-developed doctrine of angels and Gnostics believed in all kinds of intermediaries. They worshipped these, while the Christian knows that worship must be kept for God and for Jesus Christ." (Barclay, W: The Daily Study Bible Series, Rev. ed. Philadelphia: The Westminster Press)

They took a superior attitude toward others and created the impression that one could be happy only through entering into these deep secrets. Much of this behavior is characteristic of the secret fraternal organizations of our day. The Christian who is walking in fellowship with his Lord will have neither time nor sympathy for such organizations.

Paul clearly states that the basic problem of the false teachers in Colossae was their egoistic, fleshly minds. Their professed "humility" was a cloak for excessive pride!

Religious knowledge and spiritual experience can be occasions for sin when they lead to pride. Pride makes us concentrate on ourselves and our desires rather than on Christ and the needs of His church. The false teachers claimed that by their asceticism they purified themselves from the flesh, whereas they were actually governed by it!

Perhaps the best answer to such a claim was expressed by G. K. Chesterton earlier in this century when he said to someone who made a similar claim:

The person who worships through angels or saints now in heaven does not prove his humility, for he is not submitting to the authority of God’s Word. Actually, he reveals a subtle kind of pride that substitutes man-made traditions for the Word of God. “His unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions” (Col 2:18).

True worship humbles one, for the mind that gets a glimpse of God is awed by His greatness and responds with a heart filled with love and a will submitted to His purposes.  The ones who were defrauding by taking their stand on their “inner secrets” resulted in big heads, but not burning hearts or submissive wills (1Co 8:1). True worship always humbles a person. A true spiritual experience with God leads to submission and service. (Job 42:5,6, Isa 6:, Lu 5:8, Rev 1:17, etc). 

F. F. Bruce writes:

"“Whatever may have been the precise nature of the spiritual experience which this teacher had undergone, his exploitation of it forms a remarkable contrast to Paul’s apologetic account of the strange thing that happened to him once when he was ‘caught up into Paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter’ (2Cor 12:4).”

But such is the difference between the spiritual man and the man puffed up by his fleshly mind. One glorifies Christ, the other glorifies himself and his experiences.

Illustration entitled "The Worst Food You Ever Ate"...

The proprietors of the “Worst Food in Oregon” restaurant say that what they serve in the “worst food you ever ate, and the service is even worse.” Actually, the restaurant is unusually clean and the food is very good. Diners are served generous portions, and the prices are very reasonable. The name is just a gimmick. It was the idea of the owner who, when tempted to call his food “the best,” figured he might get more attention by calling it “the worst.”

Well, his strategy worked. Customers who come the first time out of curiosity soon come back for more. They like the food so much that they even ask what the chef recommends. With a twinkle in his eye he tells them to “take their money and spend it at another restaurant down the road.” Self-denial can be merely a cover for self-promotion. --Source unknown

SUPPLEMENTAL NOTES
(Adapted from notes by Dr. Wayne Barber)

MYSTICISM differs from legalism in that the mysticism is based on subjective experiences, which you think will make you more "spiritual" than someone else who has not had that experience. Mysticism is so subjective that no one can prove or disprove it. Paul's main point in these first 2 chapters of "sound doctrine" is all you need is Christ. You don't need experiences outside of Jesus to make yourself complete. Don't misunderstand, we are not saying believers will never have legitimate supernatural experiences serving Christ, but just that those experiences are not to become the focus of your spiritual life and you don't begin to depend on always having them to the point that when you don't experience them, you think you are not "spiritual".

If someone keeps on defrauding another believer, they are actually sitting in judgment as they make the determination that the one being judged does not "get the prize" unless they have a specific "experience". It's not so much that these "judges" are cheating you out of something, but it is more the idea of

"Who has a right to come into my life and say that I will not get the prize in the sense of my fulfillment in Jesus unless I have a certain subjective experience."

These "defrauders" rob one of his or her ability to walk worthy in the Lord, to share in the inheritance of the saints, etc. No human has the right to judge whether you get the prize for we all have one Judge, the Lord Jesus Christ, in Whom we have been made complete.

SELF-ABASEMENT is the Greek word tapeinophrosune which is the word for humility or humbling ones self. In the present context this word conveys the idea of false humility. For example, the person who says you don't get the prize, may try to show by his own example, how you should get the prize. This person says

"Look how humble I am. I'm not good enough to go to God so I have to go through angelic mediators."

Humility is a trait that can fool us and make us think that surely that person has got to be right with the Lord since they manifest such a spirit of humility. But in this case Paul says it is not genuine but false humility.

The word "intruding" was used in the Mystery Religions of Paul's day and when such a person was able to "intrude" into the heavenly sanctum of these spiritual beings, that meant that he had been initiated and passed the test so that he was now qualified to be "spiritual" in that mystery religion. The false teachers were saying that you don't get your prize if you don't get initiated into the inner sanctum, exalted into the heavens, communicate with the angels, etc.

Remember that the key problem is not holding fast tot he Head Christ Jesus. If one begins to hold to any experience outside of Christ, then they are inflating their ego, and "blowing smoke". Remember that the entire body of believers has access to Jesus, so don't listen to others who say only certain ones are allowed entry and that you don't qualify for the prize.

ASCETICISM is probably being alluded to in Col 2:20ff. Asceticism is the practice of extreme self-denial  which becomes extreme when it is done to say something about your spirituality and your standing with God. There is a proper God ordained "self-denial" which Jesus taught in Lu 9:23

"If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny (aorist imperative~ do this now, conveys sense of urgency)  himself, & take up his cross daily and follow Me"

A key question to ask with any spiritual practice or spiritual discipline is

 "What is my motive? Am I doing it out of loving obedience to my Lord?"

We tend to cross the line into asceticism when we begin to deny the body to prove to ourselves and to others that we are "spiritual".

FASTING: (see notes on fasting) Have you ever been around anyone who thought that fasting made them SPIRITUAL? Who do you let know about it? No one. Then how do they know you're spiritual? They won't unless you tell them! If you tell them, then they'll think you're not spiritual because you told them. Note that Fasting is not something that makes you more spiritual. (For an excellent treatment of the discipline of fasting see John Piper's free online book A Hunger for God)

Fasting describes the environment in which you prepare & thereby make yourself more sensitive to the things that God is trying to communicate. You can fast once a week & it may help your weight, but it has nothing to do with your standing with God and really nothing to do with your spirituality. Now if God tells you to fast, to prohibit certain things, that's different. You do so out of love and you don't talk about it. When a person does what does because he loves Jesus and he keeps silent about it letting God take care of the results, this is

" pure & undefiled religion in the sight of our God & Father" (Ja 1:27)

Greek: kai ou