Preocupación de Pablo por los colosenses

Porque quiero que sepáis qué gran lucha(A) tengo por vosotros y por los que están en Laodicea(B), y por todos los que no me han visto en persona[a], para que sean alentados sus corazones(C), y unidos(D) en amor, alcancen todas las riquezas(E) que proceden de una plena seguridad de comprensión, resultando en un verdadero conocimiento del misterio de Dios[b](F), es decir, de Cristo(G), en quien están escondidos todos los tesoros de la sabiduría y del conocimiento(H). Esto lo digo(I) para que nadie os engañe con razonamientos persuasivos[c](J). Porque aunque estoy ausente en el cuerpo[d], sin embargo estoy con vosotros en espíritu(K), regocijándome al ver[e] vuestra buena disciplina[f](L) y la estabilidad[g] de vuestra fe(M) en Cristo.

Por tanto, de la manera que recibisteis a Cristo Jesús(N) el Señor, así andad[h] en Él(O); firmemente arraigados(P) y edificados en Él(Q) y confirmados en[i] vuestra fe(R), tal como fuisteis instruidos(S), rebosando de[j] gratitud[k].

Jesucristo: Dios, salvador y vencedor

Mirad que nadie os haga cautivos(T) por medio de su filosofía y vanas sutilezas, según la tradición de los hombres(U), conforme a los principios[l] elementales del mundo(V) y no según Cristo. Porque toda la plenitud de la Deidad reside(W) corporalmente en Él, 10 y habéis sido hechos completos[m] en Él(X), que es la cabeza sobre[n] todo poder y autoridad(Y); 11 en Él también fuisteis circuncidados con una circuncisión no hecha por manos(Z), al quitar el cuerpo de la carne(AA) mediante la circuncisión de Cristo; 12 habiendo sido sepultados con Él en el bautismo, en el cual también habéis resucitado con Él(AB) por la fe en la acción del poder de Dios, que le resucitó de entre los muertos(AC). 13 Y cuando estabais muertos en[o] vuestros delitos(AD) y en la incircuncisión de vuestra carne, os dio vida juntamente con Él, habiéndonos[p] perdonado todos los delitos(AE), 14 habiendo cancelado el documento de deuda que consistía en decretos contra nosotros(AF) y que nos era adverso, y lo ha quitado de en medio, clavándolo en la cruz(AG). 15 Y habiendo despojado(AH) a[q] los poderes y autoridades(AI), hizo de ellos un espectáculo público, triunfando sobre ellos por medio de Él[r].

Advertencias contra mandamientos de hombres

16 Por tanto, que nadie se constituya en vuestro juez[s] con respecto a comida o bebida(AJ), o en cuanto a día de fiesta, o luna nueva, o día de reposo(AK); 17 cosas que solo son sombra de lo que ha de venir(AL), pero el cuerpo[t] pertenece a Cristo[u]. 18 Nadie os defraude de vuestro premio[v](AM) deleitándose en la humillación de sí mismo[w](AN) y en la adoración de los ángeles, basándose en las visiones que ha visto, hinchado sin causa(AO) por su mente carnal(AP), 19 pero no asiéndose a la Cabeza(AQ), de la cual todo el cuerpo, nutrido y unido por las coyunturas y ligamentos[x], crece con un crecimiento(AR) que es de Dios.

20 Si habéis muerto con Cristo a los principios[y] elementales del mundo(AS), ¿por qué, como si aún vivierais en el mundo(AT), os sometéis a preceptos tales(AU) como: 21 no manipules[z], no gustes, no toques 22 (todos los cuales se refieren a cosas destinadas a perecer con el uso[aa](AV)), según los preceptos y enseñanzas de los hombres(AW)? 23 Tales cosas tienen a la verdad, la apariencia de sabiduría en una religión humana[ab], en la humillación de sí mismo[ac](AX) y en el trato severo del cuerpo(AY), pero carecen de valor alguno contra los apetitos de la carne(AZ).

Footnotes

  1. Colosenses 2:1 Lit., mi rostro en la carne
  2. Colosenses 2:2 Algunos mss. dicen: de Dios el Padre
  3. Colosenses 2:4 O, sutiles, o, capciosos
  4. Colosenses 2:5 Lit., en la carne
  5. Colosenses 2:5 Lit., y viendo
  6. Colosenses 2:5 O, vuestro buen orden
  7. Colosenses 2:5 O, firmeza
  8. Colosenses 2:6 O, vivid
  9. Colosenses 2:7 O, por
  10. Colosenses 2:7 Algunos mss. dicen: en ella con; otros: en ello con
  11. Colosenses 2:7 O, acción de gracias
  12. Colosenses 2:8 O, las normas
  13. Colosenses 2:10 O, habéis sido llenos, o, habéis alcanzado plenitud
  14. Colosenses 2:10 Lit., de
  15. Colosenses 2:13 O, por causa de
  16. Colosenses 2:13 Algunos mss. dicen: habiéndoos
  17. Colosenses 2:15 O, habiéndose deshecho de
  18. Colosenses 2:15 O, ella; i.e., la cruz
  19. Colosenses 2:16 Lit., nadie os juzgue
  20. Colosenses 2:17 O, la sustancia
  21. Colosenses 2:17 Lit., es de Cristo
  22. Colosenses 2:18 O, Nadie juzgue contra vosotros
  23. Colosenses 2:18 O, humildad
  24. Colosenses 2:19 Lit., ataduras,
  25. Colosenses 2:20 O, las normas
  26. Colosenses 2:21 O, no manosees
  27. Colosenses 2:22 O, siendo consumidas
  28. Colosenses 2:23 Lit., arbitraria, o, autocreada
  29. Colosenses 2:23 O, humildad

You Are Built Up in Christ

For I want you to know how great a (A)struggle I have in your behalf and for those who are at (B)Laodicea, and for all those who have not [a]personally seen my face, that their (C)hearts may be encouraged, having been (D)knit together in love, and that they would attain to all (E)the wealth [b]that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a (F)true knowledge of (G)God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself, in whom are hidden all (H)the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (I)I say this so that no one will deceive you with (J)persuasive arguments. For even though I am (K)absent in body, I am nevertheless with you in spirit, rejoicing [c]to see [d]your (L)orderly manner and the (M)stability of your faith in Christ.

Therefore, as you have received (N)Christ Jesus the Lord, so [e](O)walk in Him, having been firmly (P)rooted and now being (Q)built up in Him and (R)established [f]in [g]your faith, just as you (S)were instructed, and overflowing [h]with gratitude.

(T)See to it that there is no one who takes you captive through (U)philosophy and empty deception in accordance with human tradition, in accordance with the (V)elementary principles of the world, [i]rather than in accordance with Christ. For in Him all the (W)fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, 10 and in Him you have been (X)made [j]complete, and (Y)He is the head [k]over every (Z)ruler and authority; 11 and in Him (AA)you were also circumcised with a circumcision performed without hands, in the removal of (AB)the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ, 12 having been (AC)buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also (AD)raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who (AE)raised Him from the dead. 13 And [l]when you were (AF)dead [m]in your wrongdoings and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He (AG)made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our wrongdoings, 14 having canceled (AH)the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and (AI)He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15 When He had [n](AJ)disarmed the (AK)rulers and authorities, He (AL)made a public display of them, having (AM)triumphed over them through [o]Him.

16 Therefore, no one is to [p](AN)act as your judge in regard to (AO)food and (AP)drink, or in respect to a (AQ)festival or a (AR)new moon, or a (AS)Sabbath [q]day— 17 things which are only a (AT)shadow of what is to come; but the [r]substance [s]belongs to Christ. 18 Take care that no one keeps [t](AU)defrauding you of your prize by (AV)delighting in humility and the worship of the angels, [u]taking his stand on visions he has seen, [v](AW)inflated without cause by his (AX)fleshly mind, 19 and not holding firmly to (AY)the head, from whom (AZ)the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and [w]ligaments, grows with a growth [x]which is from God.

20 (BA)If you have died with Christ [y]to the (BB)elementary principles of the world, (BC)why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to (BD)decrees, such as, 21 “Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!” 22 (which all refer (BE)to things destined to perish [z]with use)—in accordance with the (BF)commandments and teachings of man? 23 These are matters which do have the [aa]appearance of wisdom in [ab](BG)self-made religion and humility and (BH)severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against (BI)fleshly indulgence.

Footnotes

  1. Colossians 2:1 Lit in the flesh
  2. Colossians 2:2 Lit of the full assurance
  3. Colossians 2:5 Lit and seeing
  4. Colossians 2:5 Or your good order
  5. Colossians 2:6 Or lead your life
  6. Colossians 2:7 Or by
  7. Colossians 2:7 Or the faith
  8. Colossians 2:7 One early ms in it with
  9. Colossians 2:8 Lit and not
  10. Colossians 2:10 Lit full
  11. Colossians 2:10 Lit of
  12. Colossians 2:13 Or although
  13. Colossians 2:13 Or by reason of
  14. Colossians 2:15 Or divested Himself of
  15. Colossians 2:15 Or it; i.e., the cross
  16. Colossians 2:16 Lit judge you
  17. Colossians 2:16 Or days
  18. Colossians 2:17 Lit body
  19. Colossians 2:17 Lit of Christ
  20. Colossians 2:18 Or deciding against you
  21. Colossians 2:18 Or going into detail about
  22. Colossians 2:18 Or conceited
  23. Colossians 2:19 Lit bonds
  24. Colossians 2:19 Lit of God
  25. Colossians 2:20 Lit from
  26. Colossians 2:22 Or by being consumed
  27. Colossians 2:23 Lit report; Gr logos
  28. Colossians 2:23 Or would-be religion

I want you to know how hard I am contending(A) for you and for those at Laodicea,(B) and for all who have not met me personally. My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart(C) and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery(D) of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.(E) I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments.(F) For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit(G) and delight to see how disciplined(H) you are and how firm(I) your faith in Christ(J) is.

Spiritual Fullness in Christ

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord,(K) continue to live your lives in him, rooted(L) and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught,(M) and overflowing with thankfulness.

See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy,(N) which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces[a] of this world(O) rather than on Christ.

For in Christ all the fullness(P) of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10 and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head(Q) over every power and authority.(R) 11 In him you were also circumcised(S) with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh[b](T) was put off when you were circumcised by[c] Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism,(U) in which you were also raised with him(V) through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.(W)

13 When you were dead in your sins(X) and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you[d] alive(Y) with Christ. He forgave us all our sins,(Z) 14 having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness,(AA) which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.(AB) 15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities,(AC) he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them(AD) by the cross.[e]

Freedom From Human Rules

16 Therefore do not let anyone judge you(AE) by what you eat or drink,(AF) or with regard to a religious festival,(AG) a New Moon celebration(AH) or a Sabbath day.(AI) 17 These are a shadow of the things that were to come;(AJ) the reality, however, is found in Christ. 18 Do not let anyone who delights in false humility(AK) and the worship of angels disqualify you.(AL) Such a person also goes into great detail about what they have seen; they are puffed up with idle notions by their unspiritual mind. 19 They have lost connection with the head,(AM) from whom the whole body,(AN) supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.(AO)

20 Since you died with Christ(AP) to the elemental spiritual forces of this world,(AQ) why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules:(AR) 21 “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? 22 These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish(AS) with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings.(AT) 23 Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility(AU) and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.

Footnotes

  1. Colossians 2:8 Or the basic principles; also in verse 20
  2. Colossians 2:11 In contexts like this, the Greek word for flesh (sarx) refers to the sinful state of human beings, often presented as a power in opposition to the Spirit; also in verse 13.
  3. Colossians 2:11 Or put off in the circumcision of
  4. Colossians 2:13 Some manuscripts us
  5. Colossians 2:15 Or them in him