Colossians 2
Amplified Bible
You Are Built Up in Christ
2 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those [believers] at [a]Laodicea, and for all who [like yourselves] have never seen me face to face. 2 [For my hope is] that their hearts may be encouraged as they are knit together in [unselfish] [b]love, so that they may have all the riches that come from the full assurance of understanding [the joy of salvation], resulting in a true [and more intimate] knowledge of the [c]mystery of God, that is, Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge [regarding the word and purposes of God]. 4 I say this so that no one will deceive you with persuasive [but thoroughly deceptive] arguments. 5 For even though I am absent [from you] in body, nevertheless I am with you in spirit, [d]delighted to see your good discipline [as you stand shoulder to shoulder and form a solid front] and to see the stability of your faith in Christ [your steadfast reliance on Him and your unwavering confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness].
6 Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in [union with] Him [reflecting His character in the things you do and say—living lives that lead others away from sin], 7 having been deeply rooted [in Him] and now being continually built up in Him and [becoming increasingly more] established [e]in your faith, just as you were taught, and overflowing in it with gratitude.
8 See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception [pseudo-intellectual babble], according to the tradition [and musings] of mere men, following the [f]elementary principles of this world, rather than following [the truth—the teachings of] Christ. 9 For in Him all the fullness of Deity (the Godhead) dwells in bodily form [completely expressing the divine essence of God]. 10 And in Him you have been made complete [achieving spiritual stature through Christ], and He is the head over all rule and authority [of every angelic and earthly power]. 11 In Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, but by the [spiritual] circumcision of Christ in the stripping off of the body of the flesh [the sinful carnal nature], 12 having been buried with Him in baptism and raised with Him [to a new life] through [your] faith in the working of God, [as displayed] when He raised Christ from the dead. 13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh (worldliness, manner of life), God made you alive together with Christ, having [freely] forgiven us all our sins, 14 having canceled out the [g]certificate of debt consisting of [h]legal demands [which were in force] against us and which were hostile to us. And this certificate He has set aside and completely removed by nailing it to the cross. 15 When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities [those supernatural forces of evil operating against us], He made a public example of them [exhibiting them as captives in His triumphal procession], having triumphed over them through [i]the cross.
16 Therefore let no one judge you in regard to food and drink or in regard to [the observance of] a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day. 17 Such things are only a shadow of what is to come and they have only symbolic value; but the substance [the reality of what is foreshadowed] belongs to Christ. 18 Let no one defraud you of your prize [your freedom in Christ and your salvation] by insisting on mock humility and the worship of angels, going into detail about visions [he claims] he has seen [to justify his authority], puffed up [in conceit] by his unspiritual mind, 19 and not holding fast to the head [of the body, Jesus Christ], from whom the entire body, supplied and knit together by its joints and ligaments, grows with the growth [that can come only] from God.
20 If you have died with Christ to the [j]elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were still living in the world, do you submit to rules and regulations, such as, 21 “Do not handle [this], do not taste [that], do not [even] touch!”? 22 (these things all perish with use)—in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men.(A) 23 These practices indeed have the appearance [that popularly passes as that] of wisdom in self-made religion and mock humility and severe treatment of the body (asceticism), but are of no value against sinful indulgence [because they do not honor God].
Footnotes
- Colossians 2:1 Along with Colossae, Laodicea was located in the valley of the Lycus River and is one of the seven churches mentioned in Rev 1-3.
- Colossians 2:2 See note 1:4.
- Colossians 2:2 See note 1:26.
- Colossians 2:5 Lit rejoicing and seeing.
- Colossians 2:7 Or by.
- Colossians 2:8 Perhaps a reference to ancient philosophies based on the belief that only the material world is real.
- Colossians 2:14 This term refers to a debtor’s handwritten note acknowledging the debt.
- Colossians 2:14 I.e. the requirements found in the Mosaic Law which were violated. The debt is the punishment due for the violator’s sins. Gentiles were never directly liable to the Law, but as Paul explains in Rom 2:12-16, God holds them responsible for violating the principles of the Law that they acknowledge of their own volition.
- Colossians 2:15 Lit it or Him.
- Colossians 2:20 See note v 8.
Kolosserbrevet 2
nuBibeln (Swedish Contemporary Bible)
2 Jag vill att ni ska veta hur mycket jag kämpar för er och för dem i Laodikeia[a], och för alla andra som jag inte har träffat personligen. 2 Mitt mål är att de ska styrkas i sina hjärtan, bindas samman i kärlek och nå fram till hela den djupa och rika insikt som är kunskapen om Guds hemlighet[b], nämligen Kristus själv. 3 I honom finns vishetens och kunskapens[c] alla skatter gömda. 4 Detta säger jag för att ingen ska kunna lura er med lockande argument. 5 Även om jag fysiskt är långt borta från er, så är jag hos er i anden. Och jag gläder mig över att få se er stå disciplinerade och fasta i er tro på Kristus.
Nytt liv i gemenskapen med Kristus
6 Ni har tagit emot Kristus Jesus som Herren. Lev[d] då i honom, 7 fast rotade och uppbyggda i honom, styrkta i den tro ni har fått undervisning i, och tacka honom ständigt.
8 Låt ingen fängsla er med tomma och bedrägliga vishetsläror[e], som bygger på mänskliga traditioner och världens läror[f] och inte på Kristus. 9 Den gudomliga fullheten[g] bor nämligen i Kristus i kroppslig gestalt. 10 I honom, som är huvudet för alla härskare och makter,[h] har ni nått er fullhet. 11 I honom har ni också blivit omskurna[i], men inte så som människor gör det, utan genom Kristus omskärelse, det vill säga: ert gamla jag, som styrdes av synden, skars bort 12 när ni begravdes med honom i dopet. I dopet har ni också uppstått med honom genom tron på Guds kraft som uppväckte Kristus från de döda.
13 Ni var döda på grund av era överträdelser och ert oomskurna tillstånd. Men Gud lät er bli levande tillsammans med Kristus. Han förlät oss alla våra överträdelser 14 och drog ett streck över det skuldebrev med dess föreskrifter som anklagade oss. Det tog han bort och spikade fast på korset. 15 Han avväpnade härskarna och makterna och skämde ut dem inför hela världen, då han segrade över dem på korset.[j]
16 Låt därför ingen döma er för vad ni äter eller dricker, eller när det gäller olika högtider, nymånadsdagar eller sabbater. 17 Sådana är bara en skugga av det som skulle komma, men själva kroppen är Kristus.[k] 18 Låt inte segern tas ifrån er av några som ägnar sig åt falsk ödmjukhet och ängladyrkan och aldrig slutar att analysera sina syner. De tänker på ett högfärdigt, mänskligt sätt 19 och har tappat kontakten med huvudet, som hela kroppen får sitt stöd av och hålls samman av, med leder och senor, så att den växer så som Gud vill.
20 Med Kristus har ni dött bort från världens stadgar.[l] Varför beter ni er då som om ni fortfarande hörde till den här världen? Varför lyder ni påbud som: 21 ”Ha inte med det där att göra! Smaka inte på det där! Rör inte det där!”? 22 Sådant ska ju förbrukas och försvinna och hör bara ihop med mänskliga regler och läror. 23 Det kanske ser ut som vishet och som självvalda religiösa övningar, falsk ödmjukhet och förnekelse av och förakt för kroppens behov, men saknar värde.
Footnotes
- 2:1 Laodikeia (nuvarande Pamukkale i Turkiet) låg knappt två mil från Kolossai. Brevet skulle läsas även i den församlingen.
- 2:2 Se not till 1:26.
- 2:3 Paulus använde ordet kunskap för att gå emot gnosticismen, en falsk lära som bl.a. sa att ”den hemliga kunskapen” skulle rädda människor.
- 2:6 Ordagrant: vandra i honom.
- 2:8 Paulus varnade för den religionsblandning av judendom och avgudadyrkan som fanns i området.
- 2:8 Eller: världens makter.
- 2:9 Se not till 1:19.
- 2:10 Området där Kolossai låg var känt för sin ängladyrkan, som härskare och makter här kan tänkas syfta på, och Paulus ville visa att änglarna står under Jesus.
- 2:11 Paulus gick emot dem som krävde att icke-judiska män måste omskäras när de började tro på Kristus.
- 2:15 Bilden är hämtad från romerska triumftåg.
- 2:17 Gamla testamentets föreskrifter var som en skugga av verkligheten i Kristus.
- 2:20 Eller: världens makter.
Colossians 2
King James Version
2 For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;
2 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;
3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
4 And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.
5 For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.
6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
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.
Colossians 2
New King James Version
Not Philosophy but Christ
2 For I want you to know what a great (A)conflict[a] I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, [b]both of the Father and of Christ, 3 (B)in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
4 Now this I say (C)lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words. 5 For (D)though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing [c]to see (E)your good order and the (F)steadfastness of your faith in Christ.
6 (G)As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 (H)rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding [d]in it with thanksgiving.
8 Beware lest anyone [e]cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to (I)the tradition of men, according to the (J)basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For (K)in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead [f]bodily; 10 and you are complete in Him, who is the (L)head of all [g]principality and power.
Not Legalism but Christ
11 In Him you were also (M)circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by (N)putting off the body [h]of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 (O)buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through (P)faith in the working of God, (Q)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 (R)having wiped out the [i]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 (S)Having disarmed (T)principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.
16 So let no one (U)judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a [j]festival or a new moon or sabbaths, 17 (V)which are a shadow of things to come, but the [k]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 [l]not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19 and not holding fast to (W)the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, (X)grows with the increase that is from God.
20 [m]Therefore, if you (Y)died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, (Z)why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations— 21 (AA)“Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,” 22 which all concern things which perish with the using—(AB)according to the commandments and doctrines of men? 23 (AC)These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and [n]neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.
Footnotes
- Colossians 2:1 struggle
- Colossians 2:2 NU omits both of the Father and
- Colossians 2:5 Lit. and seeing
- Colossians 2:7 NU omits in it
- 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
Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631. All rights reserved.
Swedish Contemporary Bible (nuBibeln) Copyright © 2015 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
