John Calvin Commentary Colossians 2:15

"having despoiled the principalities and the powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it." — Colossians 2:15 (ASV)

Spoiling principalities. There is no doubt that he means devils, whom Scripture depicts as accusing us before God. Paul, however, says that they are disarmed, so that they cannot bring forward anything against us, the record of our guilt being itself destroyed. Now, he expressly adds this to show that the victory of Christ, which He has secured for Himself and us over Satan, is marred by the false apostles, and that we are deprived of its fruit when they restore the ancient ceremonies. For if our liberty is the spoil which Christ has rescued from the devil, what do others, who would bring us back into bondage, but restore to Satan the spoils of which he had been stripped bare?

Triumphing over them in it. The expression in the Greek, it is true, can be read as—in Himself; furthermore, the greater part of the manuscripts have ἐν αὑτῷ with an aspirate. The connection of the passage, however, demands that we read it otherwise; for what would be inadequate as applied to Christ, is perfectly suited to the cross. For as he had previously compared the cross to a remarkable trophy or show of triumph, in which Christ paraded His enemies, so he now also compares it to a triumphal chariot, in which He conspicuously displayed Himself. For although in the cross there is nothing but curse, it was, nevertheless, swallowed up by the power of God in such a way that it has taken on, as it were, a new nature. For there is no tribunal so magnificent, no throne so majestic, no show of triumph so splendid, no chariot so lofty, as is the gibbet on which Christ has subdued death and the devil, the prince of death; indeed, He has utterly trampled them under His feet.