Colossians 2:16-3:17

English Standard Version

Let No One Disqualify You

¹⁶ Therefore let no one ^(A)pass judgment on you ^(B)in questions of food and drink, or with regard to ^(C)a festival or ^(D)a new moon or a Sabbath. ^17 (E)These are a shadow of the things to come, but ^(F)the substance belongs to Christ. ¹⁸ Let no one ^(G)disqualify you, ^(H)insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, ^(I)going on in detail about visions,^{[a] (J)}puffed up without reason by ^(K)his sensuous mind, ¹⁹ and ^(L)not ^(M)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 ^(N)you died to the ^(O)elemental spirits of the world, ^(P)why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— ^21 (Q)“Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” ²² (^(R)referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to ^(S)human precepts and teachings? ²³ These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in ^(T)promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are ^(U)of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.

Put On the New Self

3 ^(V)If then you have been raised with Christ, seek ^(W)the things that are above, where Christ is, ^(X)seated at the right hand of God. ^2 (Y)Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. ³ For ^(Z)you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. ⁴ When Christ ^(AA)who is your^[b] life ^(AB)appears, then you also will appear with him ^(AC)in glory.

^5 (AD)Put to death therefore ^(AE)what is earthly in you:^{[c] (AF)}sexual immorality, impurity, ^(AG)passion, evil desire, and covetousness, ^(AH)which is idolatry. ^6 (AI)On account of these the wrath of God is coming.^{[d] 7 (AJ)}In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. ⁸ But now ^(AK)you must put them all away: ^(AL)anger, wrath, malice, ^(AM)slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. ^9 (AN)Do not lie to one another, seeing that ^(AO)you have put off ^(AP)the old self^[e] with its practices ¹⁰ and ^(AQ)have put on ^(AR)the new self, ^(AS)which is being renewed in knowledge ^(AT)after the image of ^(AU)its creator. ^11 (AV)Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave,^[f] free; but Christ is ^(AW)all, and in all.

^12 (AX)Put on then, as ^(AY)God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, ^(AZ)compassionate hearts, ^(BA)kindness, ^(BB)humility, meekness, and patience, ^13 (BC)bearing with one another and, ^(BD)if one has a complaint against another, ^(BE)forgiving each other; ^(BF)as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. ¹⁴ And above all these put on ^(BG)love, which ^(BH)binds everything together in ^(BI)perfect harmony. ¹⁵ And let ^(BJ)the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called ^(BK)in one body. And ^(BL)be thankful. ¹⁶ Let ^(BM)the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, ^(BN)singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, ^(BO)with thankfulness in your hearts to God. ¹⁷ And ^(BP)whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, ^(BQ)giving thanks to God the Father through him.