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.

⁹ For in Christ all the fullness^(C) of the Deity lives in bodily form, ¹⁰ and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head^(D) over every power and authority.^{(E) 11} In him you were also circumcised^(F) with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh^[b](G) was put off when you were circumcised by^[c] Christ, ¹² having been buried with him in baptism,^(H) in which you were also raised with him^(I) through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.^(J)

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

Freedom From Human Rules

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

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

Living as Those Made Alive in Christ

3 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ,^(AI) set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.^{(AJ) 2} Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.^{(AK) 3} For you died,^(AL) and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. ⁴ When Christ, who is your^[f] life,^(AM) appears,^(AN) then you also will appear with him in glory.^(AO)

⁵ Put to death,^(AP) therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature:^(AQ) sexual immorality,^(AR) impurity, lust, evil desires and greed,^(AS) which is idolatry.^{(AT) 6} Because of these, the wrath of God^(AU) is coming.^{[g] 7} You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived.^{(AV) 8} But now you must also rid yourselves^(AW) of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander,^(AX) and filthy language from your lips.^{(AY) 9} Do not lie to each other,^(AZ) since you have taken off your old self^(BA) with its practices ¹⁰ and have put on the new self,^(BB) which is being renewed^(BC) in knowledge in the image of its Creator.^{(BD) 11} Here there is no Gentile or Jew,^(BE) circumcised or uncircumcised,^(BF) barbarian, Scythian, slave or free,^(BG) but Christ is all,^(BH) and is in all.