13 He has delivered us from (A)the power of darkness (B)and [a]conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 (C)in whom we have redemption [b]through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.

15 He is (D)the image of the invisible God, (E)the firstborn over all creation. 16 For (F)by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or (G)dominions or [c]principalities or [d]powers. All things were created (H)through Him and for Him. 17 (I)And He is before all things, and in Him (J)all things consist. 18 And (K)He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, (L)the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.

Reconciled in Christ

19 For it pleased the Father that (M)in Him all the fullness should dwell,

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Footnotes

  1. Colossians 1:13 transferred
  2. Colossians 1:14 NU, M omit through His blood
  3. Colossians 1:16 rulers
  4. Colossians 1:16 authorities

13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness(A) and brought us into the kingdom(B) of the Son he loves,(C) 14 in whom we have redemption,(D) the forgiveness of sins.(E)

The Supremacy of the Son of God

15 The Son is the image(F) of the invisible God,(G) the firstborn(H) over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created:(I) things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities;(J) all things have been created through him and for him.(K) 17 He is before all things,(L) and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head(M) of the body, the church;(N) he is the beginning and the firstborn(O) from among the dead,(P) so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased(Q) to have all his fullness(R) dwell in him,

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

Beware lest anyone [b]cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to (C)the tradition of men, according to the (D)basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. For (E)in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead [c]bodily; 10 and you are complete in Him, who is the (F)head of all [d]principality and power.

Not Legalism but Christ

11 In Him you were also (G)circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by (H)putting off the body [e]of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 (I)buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through (J)faith in the working of God, (K)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 (L)having wiped out the [f]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 (M)Having disarmed (N)principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.

16 So let no one (O)judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a [g]festival or a new moon or sabbaths, 17 (P)which are a shadow of things to come, but the [h]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 [i]not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19 and not holding fast to (Q)the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, (R)grows with the increase that is from God.

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

Not Carnality but Christ

If then you were (X)raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, (Y)where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the (Z)earth. (AA)For you died, (AB)and your life is hidden with Christ in God. (AC)When Christ who is (AD)our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in (AE)glory.

(AF)Therefore put to death (AG)your members which are on the earth: (AH)fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, (AI)which is idolatry.

Footnotes

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

Spiritual Fullness in Christ

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

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

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

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

Freedom From Human Rules

16 Therefore do not let anyone judge you(U) by what you eat or drink,(V) or with regard to a religious festival,(W) a New Moon celebration(X) or a Sabbath day.(Y) 17 These are a shadow of the things that were to come;(Z) the reality, however, is found in Christ. 18 Do not let anyone who delights in false humility(AA) and the worship of angels disqualify you.(AB) 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,(AC) from whom the whole body,(AD) supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.(AE)

20 Since you died with Christ(AF) to the elemental spiritual forces of this world,(AG) why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules:(AH) 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(AI) with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings.(AJ) 23 Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility(AK) and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.

Living as Those Made Alive in Christ

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ,(AL) set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.(AM) Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.(AN) For you died,(AO) and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your[f] life,(AP) appears,(AQ) then you also will appear with him in glory.(AR)

Put to death,(AS) therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature:(AT) sexual immorality,(AU) impurity, lust, evil desires and greed,(AV) which is idolatry.(AW)

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
  6. Colossians 3:4 Some manuscripts our

Character of the New Man

12 Therefore, (A)as the elect of God, holy and beloved, (B)put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;

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12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves(A) with compassion, kindness, humility,(B) gentleness and patience.(C)

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Animal Sacrifices Insufficient

10 For the law, having a (A)shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, (B)can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect.

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Christ’s Sacrifice Once for All

10 The law is only a shadow(A) of the good things(B) that are coming—not the realities themselves.(C) For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect(D) those who draw near to worship.(E)

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Christian Liberty

(A)Stand[a] fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a (B)yoke of bondage.

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Footnotes

  1. Galatians 5:1 NU For freedom Christ has made us free; stand fast therefore, and

Freedom in Christ

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.(A) Stand firm,(B) then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.(C)

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And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised (A)that he is [a]a debtor to keep the whole law.

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Footnotes

  1. Galatians 5:3 obligated

Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law.(A)

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