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.
Colosenses 2
La Biblia de las Américas
Preocupación de Pablo por los colosenses
2 Porque quiero que sepáis qué gran lucha(A) tengo por vosotros y por los que están en Laodicea(B), y por todos los que no me han visto en persona[a], 2 para que sean alentados sus corazones(C), y unidos(D) en amor, alcancen todas las riquezas(E) que proceden de una plena seguridad de comprensión, resultando en un verdadero conocimiento del misterio de Dios[b](F), es decir, de Cristo(G), 3 en quien están escondidos todos los tesoros de la sabiduría y del conocimiento(H). 4 Esto lo digo(I) para que nadie os engañe con razonamientos persuasivos[c](J). 5 Porque aunque estoy ausente en el cuerpo[d], sin embargo estoy con vosotros en espíritu(K), regocijándome al ver[e] vuestra buena disciplina[f](L) y la estabilidad[g] de vuestra fe(M) en Cristo.
6 Por tanto, de la manera que recibisteis a Cristo Jesús(N) el Señor, así andad[h] en Él(O); 7 firmemente arraigados(P) y edificados en Él(Q) y confirmados en[i] vuestra fe(R), tal como fuisteis instruidos(S), rebosando de[j] gratitud[k].
Jesucristo: Dios, salvador y vencedor
8 Mirad que nadie os haga cautivos(T) por medio de su filosofía y vanas sutilezas, según la tradición de los hombres(U), conforme a los principios[l] elementales del mundo(V) y no según Cristo. 9 Porque toda la plenitud de la Deidad reside(W) corporalmente en Él, 10 y habéis sido hechos completos[m] en Él(X), que es la cabeza sobre[n] todo poder y autoridad(Y); 11 en Él también fuisteis circuncidados con una circuncisión no hecha por manos(Z), al quitar el cuerpo de la carne(AA) mediante la circuncisión de Cristo; 12 habiendo sido sepultados con Él en el bautismo, en el cual también habéis resucitado con Él(AB) por la fe en la acción del poder de Dios, que le resucitó de entre los muertos(AC). 13 Y cuando estabais muertos en[o] vuestros delitos(AD) y en la incircuncisión de vuestra carne, os dio vida juntamente con Él, habiéndonos[p] perdonado todos los delitos(AE), 14 habiendo cancelado el documento de deuda que consistía en decretos contra nosotros(AF) y que nos era adverso, y lo ha quitado de en medio, clavándolo en la cruz(AG). 15 Y habiendo despojado(AH) a[q] los poderes y autoridades(AI), hizo de ellos un espectáculo público, triunfando sobre ellos por medio de Él[r].
Advertencias contra mandamientos de hombres
16 Por tanto, que nadie se constituya en vuestro juez[s] con respecto a comida o bebida(AJ), o en cuanto a día de fiesta, o luna nueva, o día de reposo(AK); 17 cosas que solo son sombra de lo que ha de venir(AL), pero el cuerpo[t] pertenece a Cristo[u]. 18 Nadie os defraude de vuestro premio[v](AM) deleitándose en la humillación de sí mismo[w](AN) y en la adoración de los ángeles, basándose en las visiones que ha visto, hinchado sin causa(AO) por su mente carnal(AP), 19 pero no asiéndose a la Cabeza(AQ), de la cual todo el cuerpo, nutrido y unido por las coyunturas y ligamentos[x], crece con un crecimiento(AR) que es de Dios.
20 Si habéis muerto con Cristo a los principios[y] elementales del mundo(AS), ¿por qué, como si aún vivierais en el mundo(AT), os sometéis a preceptos tales(AU) como: 21 no manipules[z], no gustes, no toques 22 (todos los cuales se refieren a cosas destinadas a perecer con el uso[aa](AV)), según los preceptos y enseñanzas de los hombres(AW)? 23 Tales cosas tienen a la verdad, la apariencia de sabiduría en una religión humana[ab], en la humillación de sí mismo[ac](AX) y en el trato severo del cuerpo(AY), pero carecen de valor alguno contra los apetitos de la carne(AZ).
Footnotes
- Colosenses 2:1 Lit., mi rostro en la carne
- Colosenses 2:2 Algunos mss. dicen: de Dios el Padre
- Colosenses 2:4 O, sutiles, o, capciosos
- Colosenses 2:5 Lit., en la carne
- Colosenses 2:5 Lit., y viendo
- Colosenses 2:5 O, vuestro buen orden
- Colosenses 2:5 O, firmeza
- Colosenses 2:6 O, vivid
- Colosenses 2:7 O, por
- Colosenses 2:7 Algunos mss. dicen: en ella con; otros: en ello con
- Colosenses 2:7 O, acción de gracias
- Colosenses 2:8 O, las normas
- Colosenses 2:10 O, habéis sido llenos, o, habéis alcanzado plenitud
- Colosenses 2:10 Lit., de
- Colosenses 2:13 O, por causa de
- Colosenses 2:13 Algunos mss. dicen: habiéndoos
- Colosenses 2:15 O, habiéndose deshecho de
- Colosenses 2:15 O, ella; i.e., la cruz
- Colosenses 2:16 Lit., nadie os juzgue
- Colosenses 2:17 O, la sustancia
- Colosenses 2:17 Lit., es de Cristo
- Colosenses 2:18 O, Nadie juzgue contra vosotros
- Colosenses 2:18 O, humildad
- Colosenses 2:19 Lit., ataduras,
- Colosenses 2:20 O, las normas
- Colosenses 2:21 O, no manosees
- Colosenses 2:22 O, siendo consumidas
- Colosenses 2:23 Lit., arbitraria, o, autocreada
- Colosenses 2:23 O, humildad
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