Colossians 2:8-3:11
King James Version
8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
19 And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.
20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,
21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not;
22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?
23 Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body: not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.
3 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
6 For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:
7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.
8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;
10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
Colossians 2:8-3:11
New King James Version
8 Beware lest anyone [a]cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to (A)the tradition of men, according to the (B)basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For (C)in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead [b]bodily; 10 and you are complete in Him, who is the (D)head of all [c]principality and power.
Not Legalism but Christ
11 In Him you were also (E)circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by (F)putting off the body [d]of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 (G)buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through (H)faith in the working of God, (I)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 (J)having wiped out the [e]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 (K)Having disarmed (L)principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.
16 So let no one (M)judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a [f]festival or a new moon or sabbaths, 17 (N)which are a shadow of things to come, but the [g]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 [h]not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19 and not holding fast to (O)the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, (P)grows with the increase that is from God.
20 [i]Therefore, if you (Q)died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, (R)why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations— 21 (S)“Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,” 22 which all concern things which perish with the using—(T)according to the commandments and doctrines of men? 23 (U)These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and [j]neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.
Not Carnality but Christ
3 If then you were (V)raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, (W)where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the (X)earth. 3 (Y)For you died, (Z)and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 (AA)When Christ who is (AB)our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in (AC)glory.
5 (AD)Therefore put to death (AE)your members which are on the earth: (AF)fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, (AG)which is idolatry. 6 (AH)Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon (AI)the sons of disobedience, 7 (AJ)in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.
8 (AK)But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put on the new man who (AL)is renewed in knowledge (AM)according to the image of Him who (AN)created him, 11 where there is neither (AO)Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, (AP)but Christ is all and in all.
Footnotes
- Colossians 2:8 Lit. plunder you or take you captive
- Colossians 2:9 in bodily form
- Colossians 2:10 rule and authority
- Colossians 2:11 NU omits of the sins
- Colossians 2:14 certificate of debt with its
- Colossians 2:16 feast day
- Colossians 2:17 Lit. body
- Colossians 2:18 NU omits not
- Colossians 2:20 NU, M omit Therefore
- Colossians 2:23 severe treatment, asceticism
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
