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Warnings against False Teachers

20 If with Christ you died to the elemental principles[a] of the world, why do you live as if you still belonged to the world? Why do you submit to regulations,(A) 21 “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? 22 All these regulations refer to things that perish with use; they are simply human commands and teachings.(B) 23 These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-imposed piety, humility, and severe treatment of the body, but they are of no value in checking self-indulgence.[b]

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Footnotes

  1. 2.20 Or spirits
  2. 2.23 Or are of no value, serving only to indulge the flesh

20 You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the spiritual powers of this world. So why do you keep on following the rules of the world, such as, 21 “Don’t handle! Don’t taste! Don’t touch!”? 22 Such rules are mere human teachings about things that deteriorate as we use them. 23 These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self-denial, and severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering a person’s evil desires.

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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) 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(D) with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings.(E) 23 Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility(F) and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.

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