¹³ The Lord says:

⁴ or to devote themselves to myths^(A) and endless genealogies.^(B) Such things promote controversial speculations^(C) rather than advancing God’s work—which is by faith.

¹⁴ and will pay no attention to Jewish myths^(A) or to the merely human commands^(B) of those who reject the truth.^(C)

¹⁸ Do not let anyone who delights in false humility^(A) and the worship of angels disqualify you.^(B) Such a person also goes into great detail about what they have seen; they are puffed up with idle notions by their unspiritual mind. ¹⁹ They have lost connection with the head,^(C) from whom the whole body,^(D) supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.^(E)

²⁰ Since you died with Christ^(F) to the elemental spiritual forces of this world,^(G) why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules:^{(H) 21} “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? ²² These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish^(I) with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings.^(J)

⁶ If you point these things out to the brothers and sisters,^[a] you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished on the truths of the faith^(A) and of the good teaching that you have followed.^{(B) 7} Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales;^(C) rather, train yourself to be godly.^(D)

⁹ Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings.^(A) It is good for our hearts to be strengthened^(B) by grace, not by eating ceremonial foods,^(C) which is of no benefit to those who do so.^(D)

²⁰ You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless^[a]?^(A)