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20 You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the spiritual powers of this world. So why do you keep on following the rules of the world, such as, 21 “Don’t handle! Don’t taste! Don’t touch!”? 22 Such rules are mere human teachings about things that deteriorate as we use them. 23 These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self-denial, and severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering a person’s evil desires.

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20 (A)If you have died with Christ [a]to the (B)elementary principles of the world, (C)why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to (D)decrees, such as, 21 “Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!” 22 (which all refer (E)to things destined to perish [b]with use)—in accordance with the (F)commandments and teachings of man? 23 These are matters which do have the [c]appearance of wisdom in [d](G)self-made religion and humility and (H)severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against (I)fleshly indulgence.

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Footnotes

  1. Colossians 2:20 Lit from
  2. Colossians 2:22 Or by being consumed
  3. Colossians 2:23 Lit report; Gr logos
  4. Colossians 2:23 Or would-be religion