Colossians 2
Disciples’ Literal New Testament
I Am Struggling Greatly For an Increase In Your Assurance And Knowledge of Christ
2 For I want you to know how great a struggle I am having for your sake and the ones in Laodicea, and all-who have not seen my face in the flesh, 2 in order that their hearts might be encouraged— they having been brought-together[a] in love and for[b] all the riches of the full-assurance of understanding, for[c] the full-knowledge of the mystery of God— Christ, 3 in Whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, hidden-away[d]. 4 I am saying this[e] in order that no one may be deluding you with persuasive-argument. 5 For even though I am absent in the flesh, nevertheless I am with you in the spirit, rejoicing and seeing your order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.
So Be Walking In Christ And Established In The Faith You Were Taught
6 As then you received Christ Jesus the[f] Lord, be walking in Him— 7 having been rooted, and being built-up in Him, and being established in the[g] faith just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.
Don’t Be Taken Captive By Human Thinking, Because All God’s Fullness Is In Christ
8 Be watching-out that there will not be anyone taking you captive through philosophy and empty deception according-to[h] the tradition of humans, according to the elemental things[i] of the world, and not according to Christ, 9 because in Him dwells all the fullness of the Deity[j] bodily[k].
You Are Complete In Christ, With Whom You Have Been Buried And Raised Up
10 And in Him you are complete[l], Who is the head of all rule[m] and authority, 11 in Whom you also were circumcised with a circumcision not-done-by-human-hands, in[n] the taking-off [o] of the body[p] of the flesh in the circumcision of [q] Christ— 12 having been buried-with Him in baptism, in which[r] you also were raised-with Him through faith in the working of God, the One having raised Him from the dead.
Indeed, God Made Us Alive With Christ, Having Forgiven All Our Trespasses
13 Indeed, you being dead in the trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh— He made you alive-together with Him, having forgiven us all the trespasses, 14 having wiped-out[s] the written-document[t] against us with[u] its decrees, which was opposed to us. Indeed, He has taken it out of the middle, having nailed it to the cross! 15 Having stripped[v] the rulers and the authorities, He exposed them in public, having celebrated-a-triumph-over[w] them in Him[x]!
Let No One Judge Your Behavior By False Standards
16 Therefore let no one judge you in eating and in drinking, or in respect to a feast or new-moon or Sabbath, 17 which are a shadow of the coming things, but the body[y] is Christ’s. 18 Let no one decide-against you while delighting[z] in humility[aa] and worship of [ab] angels, dwelling-upon[ac] things which he has seen, being puffed-up in-vain by the mind of [ad] his flesh, 19 and not holding-on-to[ae] the head— from Whom the whole body, being supplied[af] and held-together by the joints and ligaments, is growing the growth of [ag] God.
Since You Died With Christ, Do Not Submit To Human Decrees
20 If you died with Christ from[ah] the elemental[ai] things of the world, why, as-though living in the world, do you submit-to-decrees (21 “Do not handle, nor taste, nor touch”; 22 Things which[aj] are all for[ak] perishing[al] in the use[am]!) according-to the commandments and teachings of humans?— 23 which are indeed having the talk[an] of wisdom in-connection-with will-worship[ao] and humility[ap] and harsh-treatment[aq] of the body, not[ar] in-connection-with any [real] value against the indulgence of the flesh.
Footnotes
- Colossians 2:2 Or, instructed.
- Colossians 2:2 That is, for the purpose of or toward the goal of having what follows.
- Colossians 2:2 Or, leading to, resulting in.
- Colossians 2:3 Or, are hidden-away all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge; or, are all the hidden treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
- Colossians 2:4 Or, the next paragraph may begin with this verse.
- Colossians 2:6 Or, as Lord.
- Colossians 2:7 Or, in your faith, by faith.
- Colossians 2:8 Or, based on, by way of.
- Colossians 2:8 That is, the elementary knowledge of God available in the world before Christ, the world’s rudimentary teachings about God; or, the elemental spiritual beings or angels, the spirit powers.
- Colossians 2:9 That is, the divine essence or nature. This is an abstract term for ‘God’.
- Colossians 2:9 That is, in bodily form, in a bodily manner.
- Colossians 2:10 That is, are in a state of completeness.
- Colossians 2:10 Or, every ruler.
- Colossians 2:11 Or, in connection with.
- Colossians 2:11 Or, removal.
- Colossians 2:11 the body of the flesh. This corresponds to the foreskin in the literal case.
- Colossians 2:11 That is, the spiritual circumcision belonging to Christ (Christian circumcision), or performed on our hearts by Christ.
- Colossians 2:12 That is, baptism. Or, in Whom (Christ).
- Colossians 2:14 Or, blotted out, erased.
- Colossians 2:14 Or, handwriting; or more technically, certificate-of-debt. That is, the Law (God’s requirements); or, the indictment against us; or, our personal certificate of debt to God.
- Colossians 2:14 Or, in, with reference to, by reason of, accompanied by. Or, taking this with what follows, ‘which by its decrees was opposed to us’.
- Colossians 2:15 Or, disarmed, spoiled. That is, having stripped away their power; or, having stripped these beings away from Himself.
- Colossians 2:15 Or, led them as captives in a triumphant procession.
- Colossians 2:15 Or, in it, by it (the cross).
- Colossians 2:17 That is, the substance or reality casting the shadow belongs to Christ. Or, and the body [of Christ] is Christ’s [to judge].
- Colossians 2:18 Or, desiring to do so by-means-of humility.
- Colossians 2:18 That is, human lowliness, regarding humans as too insignificant to approach God except through angels; or, ascetic humility, self-abasement.
- Colossians 2:18 That is offered to angels. Or, offered by angels (angels’ worship), viewing themselves as mystically joining into the angels’ worship of God.
- Colossians 2:18 Or, taking his stand upon, entering in. Paul may be quoting their terms, delighting in ‘humility’ and ‘angels’ worship’, things which he has seen while ‘entering-in’ [a mystical experience].
- Colossians 2:18 That is, belonging to, characterized by, controlled by.
- Colossians 2:19 Or, holding-tight, keeping-hold-of.
- Colossians 2:19 Or, supported.
- Colossians 2:19 That is, produced by.
- Colossians 2:20 Or, away-from.
- Colossians 2:20 See 2:8.
- Colossians 2:22 Paul interjects his opinion of such teaching.
- Colossians 2:22 That is, intended for, destined for.
- Colossians 2:22 Or, destruction, ruin.
- Colossians 2:22 Or, using-up, consumption.
- Colossians 2:23 Or, report, reputation.
- Colossians 2:23 Or, self-made religion, self-chosen religion, would-be religion. It is worship sourced in the will of the worshiper, not the will of the one worshiped.
- Colossians 2:23 See v 18.
- Colossians 2:23 Or, unsparing-treatment.
- Colossians 2:23 not...flesh. Or, not in connection with any honor for the satisfaction of the flesh; or, not in connection with any honor, [but] for the indulgence of their flesh.
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
English Standard Version
2 For I want you to know (A)how great a (B)struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, 2 that (C)their hearts may be encouraged, being (D)knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of (E)God's mystery, which is Christ, 3 (F)in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I say this in order (G)that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. 5 For (H)though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your (I)good order and (J)the firmness of your faith in Christ.
Alive in Christ
6 (K)Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 (L)rooted and (M)built up in him and (N)established in the faith, just (O)as you were taught, abounding (P)in thanksgiving.
8 See to it that no one takes you captive by (Q)philosophy and (R)empty deceit, according to (S)human tradition, according to the (T)elemental spirits[a] of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For (U)in him the whole fullness of deity dwells (V)bodily, 10 and (W)you have been filled in him, who is (X)the head of all rule and authority. 11 In him also (Y)you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by (Z)putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 (AA)having been buried with him in baptism, in which (AB)you were also raised with him through faith in (AC)the powerful working of God, (AD)who raised him from the dead. 13 (AE)And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God (AF)made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by (AG)canceling (AH)the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 (AI)He disarmed the rulers and authorities[b] and (AJ)put them to open shame, by (AK)triumphing over them in him.[c]
Let No One Disqualify You
16 Therefore let no one (AL)pass judgment on you (AM)in questions of food and drink, or with regard to (AN)a festival or (AO)a new moon or a Sabbath. 17 (AP)These are a shadow of the things to come, but (AQ)the substance belongs to Christ. 18 Let no one (AR)disqualify you, (AS)insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, (AT)going on in detail about visions,[d] (AU)puffed up without reason by (AV)his sensuous mind, 19 and (AW)not (AX)holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.
20 If with Christ (AY)you died to the (AZ)elemental spirits of the world, (BA)why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— 21 (BB)“Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” 22 ((BC)referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to (BD)human precepts and teachings? 23 These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in (BE)promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are (BF)of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.
Footnotes
- Colossians 2:8 Or elementary principles; also verse 20
- Colossians 2:15 Probably demonic rulers and authorities
- Colossians 2:15 Or in it (that is, the cross)
- Colossians 2:18 Or about the things he has seen
Disciples' Literal New Testament: Serving Modern Disciples by More Fully Reflecting the Writing Style of the Ancient Disciples, Copyright © 2011 Michael J. Magill. All Rights Reserved. Published by Reyma Publishing
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
