For (A)in him the whole fullness of deity dwells (B)bodily, 10 and (C)you have been filled in him, who is (D)the head of all rule and authority. 11 In him also (E)you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by (F)putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 (G)having been buried with him in baptism, in which (H)you were also raised with him through faith in (I)the powerful working of God, (J)who raised him from the dead. 13 (K)And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God (L)made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by (M)canceling (N)the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 (O)He disarmed the rulers and authorities[a] and (P)put them to open shame, by (Q)triumphing over them in him.[b]

Let No One Disqualify You

16 Therefore let no one (R)pass judgment on you (S)in questions of food and drink, or with regard to (T)a festival or (U)a new moon or a Sabbath. 17 (V)These are a shadow of the things to come, but (W)the substance belongs to Christ. 18 Let no one (X)disqualify you, (Y)insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, (Z)going on in detail about visions,[c] (AA)puffed up without reason by (AB)his sensuous mind, 19 and (AC)not (AD)holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.

20 If with Christ (AE)you died to the (AF)elemental spirits of the world, (AG)why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— 21 (AH)“Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” 22 ((AI)referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to (AJ)human precepts and teachings? 23 These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in (AK)promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are (AL)of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.

Put On the New Self

(AM)If then you have been raised with Christ, seek (AN)the things that are above, where Christ is, (AO)seated at the right hand of God. (AP)Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.

Footnotes

  1. Colossians 2:15 Probably demonic rulers and authorities
  2. Colossians 2:15 Or in it (that is, the cross)
  3. Colossians 2:18 Or about the things he has seen

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