²⁰ If with Christ ^(A)you died to the ^(B)elemental spirits of the world, ^(C)why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations—

⁸ See to it that no one takes you captive by ^(A)philosophy and ^(B)empty deceit, according to ^(C)human tradition, according to the ^(D)elemental spirits^[a] of the world, and not according to Christ.

Let No One Disqualify You

¹⁶ Therefore let no one ^(A)pass judgment on you ^(B)in questions of food and drink, or with regard to ^(C)a festival or ^(D)a new moon or a Sabbath.

¹⁴ by ^(A)canceling ^(B)the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.

³ In the same way we also, when we were children, ^(A)were enslaved to the elementary principles^[a] of the world.

⁴ Likewise, my brothers, ^(A)you also have died ^(B)to the law ^(C)through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, ^(D)in order that we may bear fruit for God. ⁵ For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work ^(E)in our members ^(F)to bear fruit for death. ⁶ But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the ^(G)new way of ^(H)the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code.^[a]

¹⁹ We know that we are from God, and ^(A)the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.

⁹ Do not be ^(A)led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, ^(B)not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them.

Stewards of God's Grace

4 Since therefore ^(A)Christ suffered in the flesh,^{[a] (B)}arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for ^(C)whoever has suffered in the flesh ^(D)has ceased from sin, ^2 (E)so as to live for ^(F)the rest of the time in the flesh ^(G)no longer for human passions but ^(H)for the will of God. ³ For the time that is past ^(I)suffices ^(J)for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry.