Colossians 2:1-3:14

Christian Standard Bible

2 For I want you to know how greatly I am struggling^(A) for you, for those in Laodicea,^(B) and for all who have not seen me in person. ² I want their hearts to be encouraged^(C) and joined together in love, so that they may have all the riches of complete understanding and have the knowledge of God’s mystery^(D)—Christ.^{[a](E) 3} In him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom^(F) and knowledge.^(G)

Christ versus the Colossian Heresy

⁴ I am saying this so that no one will deceive you with arguments that sound reasonable. ⁵ For I may be absent in body, but I am with you in spirit,^(H) rejoicing to see how well ordered you are and the strength of your faith in Christ.

⁶ So then, just as you have received^(I) Christ Jesus as Lord,^(J) continue to walk in him, ⁷ being rooted and built up in him^(K) and established in the faith, just as you were taught,^(L) and overflowing with gratitude.

⁸ Be careful that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit based on human tradition,^(M) based on the elements of the world, rather than Christ.^{(N) 9} For the entire fullness^(O) of God’s nature dwells bodily^[b] in Christ, ¹⁰ and you have been filled by him, who is the head^(P) over every ruler and authority. ¹¹ You were also circumcised in him with a circumcision not done with hands, by putting off the body of flesh,^(Q) in the circumcision of Christ,^{(R) 12} when you were buried with him^(S) in baptism, in which you were also raised with him^(T) through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.^{(U) 13} And when you were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he made you alive with him and forgave us all our trespasses. ¹⁴ He erased the certificate of debt, with its obligations, that was against us and opposed to us, and has taken it away by nailing it to the cross.^{(V) 15} He disarmed the rulers and authorities and disgraced them publicly; he triumphed over them in him.^[c](W)

¹⁶ Therefore, don’t let anyone judge^(X) you in regard to food and drink^(Y) or in the matter of a festival or a new moon^(Z) or a Sabbath day.^{[d] 17} These are a shadow^(AA) of what was to come;^(AB) the substance is^[e] Christ.^{(AC) 18} Let no one condemn^[f] you^(AD) by delighting in ascetic practices^(AE) and the worship of angels, claiming access to a visionary realm. Such people are inflated^(AF) by empty notions of their unspiritual^[g] mind. ¹⁹ They don’t hold on to the head, from whom the whole body,^(AG) nourished and held together by its ligaments and tendons, grows with growth from God.

²⁰ If you died with Christ^(AH) to the elements of this world, why do you live as if you still belonged to the world? Why do you submit to regulations: ²¹ “Don’t handle, don’t taste, don’t touch”? ²² All these regulations refer to what is destined to perish by being used up; they are human commands and doctrines. ²³ Although these have a reputation for wisdom^(AI) by promoting self-made religion, false humility, and severe treatment of the body, they are not of any value in curbing self-indulgence.^[h](AJ)

The Life of the New Man

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

⁵ Therefore, put to death what belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity,^(AP) lust,^(AQ) evil desire, and greed,^(AR) which is idolatry.^{(AS) 6} Because of these, God’s wrath^(AT) is coming upon the disobedient,^{[j] 7} and you once walked in these things when you were living^(AU) in them. ⁸ But now, put away^(AV) all the following: anger,^(AW) wrath,^(AX) malice,^(AY) slander,^(AZ) and filthy language from your mouth.^{(BA) 9} Do not lie^(BB) to one another, since you have put off^(BC) the old self^(BD) with its practices ¹⁰ and have put on^(BE) the new self. You are being renewed in knowledge according to the image of your^[k] Creator.^{(BF) 11} In Christ there is not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all.^(BG)

The Christian Life

¹² Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved,^(BH) put on compassion, kindness,^(BI) humility,^(BJ) gentleness,^(BK) and patience,^{(BL) 13} bearing with one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a grievance against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you are also to forgive.^{(BM) 14} Above all, put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.