²⁰ Since you died with Christ^(A) to the elemental spiritual forces of this world,^(B) why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules:^(C)

⁸ See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy,^(A) which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces^[a] of this world^(B) rather than on Christ.

Freedom From Human Rules

¹⁶ Therefore do not let anyone judge you^(A) by what you eat or drink,^(B) or with regard to a religious festival,^(C) a New Moon celebration^(D) or a Sabbath day.^(E)

¹⁴ having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness,^(A) which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.^(B)

³ So also, when we were underage, we were in slavery^(A) under the elemental spiritual forces^[a] of the world.^(B)

⁴ So, my brothers and sisters, you also died to the law^(A) through the body of Christ,^(B) that you might belong to another,^(C) to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God. ⁵ For when we were in the realm of the flesh,^[a](D) the sinful passions aroused by the law^(E) were at work in us,^(F) so that we bore fruit for death.^{(G) 6} But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law^(H) so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.^(I)

¹⁹ We know that we are children of God,^(A) and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.^(B)

⁹ Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings.^(A) It is good for our hearts to be strengthened^(B) by grace, not by eating ceremonial foods,^(C) which is of no benefit to those who do so.^(D)

Living for God

4 Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body,^(A) arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin.^{(B) 2} As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires,^(C) but rather for the will of God. ³ For you have spent enough time in the past^(D) doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry.^(E)