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

Quiero que sepan qué gran lucha sostengo por el bien de ustedes y de los que están en Laodicea, y de tantos que no me conocen personalmente. Quiero que lo sepan para que cobren ánimo, permanezcan unidos por amor, y tengan toda la riqueza que proviene de la convicción y del entendimiento. Así conocerán el misterio de Dios, es decir, a Cristo, en quien están escondidos todos los tesoros de la sabiduría y del conocimiento. Digo esto para que nadie los engañe con argumentos que parecen convincentes. Aunque estoy físicamente ausente, los acompaño en espíritu, y me alegro al ver su buen orden y la firmeza de su fe en Cristo.

Libertad en Cristo

Por eso, de la manera que recibieron a Cristo Jesús como Señor, vivan ahora en él, arraigados y edificados en él, confirmados en la fe como se les enseñó y llenos de gratitud.

Cuídense de que nadie los cautive con la vana y engañosa filosofía que sigue tradiciones humanas, la que está de acuerdo con los principios[a] de este mundo y no conforme a Cristo.

Porque toda la plenitud de la divinidad habita en forma corporal en Cristo; 10 y en él, que es la cabeza de todo poder y autoridad, ustedes han recibido esa plenitud. 11 Además, en él fueron circuncidados, no por mano humana, sino con la circuncisión que consiste en despojarse del cuerpo pecaminoso. Esta circuncisión la efectuó Cristo. 12 Ustedes la recibieron al ser sepultados con él en el bautismo. En él también fueron resucitados mediante la fe en el poder de Dios, quien lo resucitó de entre los muertos.

13 Antes de recibir esa circuncisión, ustedes estaban muertos en sus transgresiones. Sin embargo, Dios nos[b] dio vida en unión con Cristo, al perdonarnos todos los pecados 14 y anular la deuda[c] que teníamos pendiente por los requisitos de la Ley. Él anuló esa deuda que nos era adversa, clavándola en la cruz. 15 Desarmó a los poderes y a las autoridades y, por medio de Cristo,[d] los humilló en público al exhibirlos en su desfile triunfal.

16 Así que nadie los juzgue a ustedes por lo que comen, beben o con respecto a días de fiesta religiosa, de luna nueva o de sábado. 17 Todo esto es una sombra de las cosas que están por venir; la realidad se halla en Cristo. 18 No dejen que les prive de esta realidad ninguno de esos que presumen fingiendo humildad y adoración de ángeles. Los tales hacen alarde de lo que han visto y, envanecidos por su razonamiento humano, 19 no se mantienen firmemente unidos a la Cabeza. Por la acción de esta, todo el cuerpo, sostenido y ajustado mediante las articulaciones y los ligamentos, va creciendo como Dios quiere.

20 Si con Cristo ustedes ya han muerto a los principios de este mundo, ¿por qué, como si todavía pertenecieran al mundo, se someten a preceptos tales como 21 «no tomes en tus manos, no pruebes, no toques»? 22 Estos preceptos, basados en reglas y enseñanzas humanas, se refieren a cosas que van a desaparecer con el uso. 23 Tienen sin duda apariencia de sabiduría, con su afectada devoción, falsa humildad y severo trato del cuerpo, pero de nada sirven frente a los apetitos de la carne.[e]

Footnotes

  1. 2:8 los principios. Alt. los poderes espirituales, o las normas; también en v. 20.
  2. 2:13 nos. Var. les.
  3. 2:14 la deuda. Lit. el pagaré.
  4. 2:15 por medio de Cristo. Alt. mediante la cruz.
  5. 2:23 En contextos como estos la palabra griega para carne (sarx) se refiere a la naturaleza pecaminosa de los seres humanos, a menudo presentada en oposición al Espíritu.

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

For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;

That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;

In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.

For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.

As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:

Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:

12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:

17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,

19 And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.

20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,

21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not;

22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?

23 Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body: not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.

Not Philosophy but Christ

For I want you to know what a great (A)conflict[a] I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, [b]both of the Father and of Christ, (B)in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Now this I say (C)lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words. For (D)though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing [c]to see (E)your good order and the (F)steadfastness of your faith in Christ.

(G)As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, (H)rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding [d]in it with thanksgiving.

Beware lest anyone [e]cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to (I)the tradition of men, according to the (J)basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. For (K)in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead [f]bodily; 10 and you are complete in Him, who is the (L)head of all [g]principality and power.

Not Legalism but Christ

11 In Him you were also (M)circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by (N)putting off the body [h]of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 (O)buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through (P)faith in the working of God, (Q)who raised Him from the dead. 13 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, 14 (R)having wiped out the [i]handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15 (S)Having disarmed (T)principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.

16 So let no one (U)judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a [j]festival or a new moon or sabbaths, 17 (V)which are a shadow of things to come, but the [k]substance is of Christ. 18 Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has [l]not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19 and not holding fast to (W)the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, (X)grows with the increase that is from God.

20 [m]Therefore, if you (Y)died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, (Z)why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations— 21 (AA)“Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,” 22 which all concern things which perish with the using—(AB)according to the commandments and doctrines of men? 23 (AC)These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and [n]neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.

Footnotes

  1. Colossians 2:1 struggle
  2. Colossians 2:2 NU omits both of the Father and
  3. Colossians 2:5 Lit. and seeing
  4. Colossians 2:7 NU omits in it
  5. Colossians 2:8 Lit. plunder you or take you captive
  6. Colossians 2:9 in bodily form
  7. Colossians 2:10 rule and authority
  8. Colossians 2:11 NU omits of the sins
  9. Colossians 2:14 certificate of debt with its
  10. Colossians 2:16 feast day
  11. Colossians 2:17 Lit. body
  12. Colossians 2:18 NU omits not
  13. Colossians 2:20 NU, M omit Therefore
  14. Colossians 2:23 severe treatment, asceticism