Colossians 2
1 For I would that all of you 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;
I want you to know in how great a struggle I am engaged for you and for Christ’s people at Laodicea, and for all who have not yet seen me;
2 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in (agape) 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;
in the hope that they, being bound to one another by love, and keeping in view the full blessedness of a firm conviction, may be encouraged to strive for a perfect knowledge of God’s hidden truth,
3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
even Christ himself, in whom all treasures of wisdom and knowledge lie hidden.
4 And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.
I say this to prevent anyone from deceiving you by plausible arguments.
5 For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the (pneuma) spirit, rejoicing and beholding your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.
It is true that I am not with you in person, but I am with you in spirit, and am glad to see the good order and the unbroken front resulting from your faith in Christ.
6 As all of you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk all of you in him:
Since, therefore, you have received Jesus, the Christ, as your Lord, live your lives in union with him –
7 Rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith, as all of you have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
rooted in him, building up your characters through union with him, growing stronger through your faith, as you were taught, overflowing with faith and 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.
Take care that there is not someone who will carry you away by his “philosophy” – a hollow sham! – following, as it does, mere human traditions, and dealing with puerile questions of this world, and not with Christ.
9 For in him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.
For in Christ the Godhead in all its fulness dwells incarnate;
10 And all of you are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
and, by your union with him, you also are filled with it. He is the head of all archangels and powers of heaven.
11 In whom also all of you are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
By your union with him you received a circumcision that was not performed by human hands, when you threw off the tyranny of the earthly body, and received the circumcision of the Christ.
12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also all of you are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who has raised him from the dead.
For in baptism you were buried with Christ; and in baptism you were also raised to life with him, through your faith in the omnipotence of God, who raised him from the dead.
13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, has he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
And to you, who once were dead, by reason of your sins and your uncircumcised nature – to you God gave life in giving life to Christ! He pardoned all our sins!
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;
He canceled the bond which stood against us – the bond that consisted of ordinances – and which was directly hostile to us! He has taken it out of our way by nailing it to the cross!
15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
He rid himself of all the powers of evil, and held them up to open contempt, when he celebrated his triumph over them on the cross!
16 Let no man therefore judge you in food, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
Do not, then, allow anyone to take you to task on questions of eating or drinking, or in the matter of annual or monthly or weekly festivals.
17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
These things are only the shadow of what is to come; the substance is in the Christ.
18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
Do not let anyone defraud you of the reality by affecting delight in so-called “humility” and angel-worship. Such a person busies themselves with their visions, and without reason are rendered conceited by their merely human intellect.
19 And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increases with the increase of God.
They fail to maintain union with the head, to whom it is due that the whole body, nourished and knit together by the contact and connexion of every part, grows with a divine growth.
20 Wherefore if all of you be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are all of you subject to ordinances,
Since, with Christ, you became dead to the puerile teaching of this world, why do you submit, as if you still belonged to the world,
21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not;
to such ordinances as “Do not handle, or taste, or touch”?
22 Which all are to perish with the using; ) after the commandments and doctrines of men?
For all the things referred to in them cease to exist when used. You are following mere human directions and instructions.
23 Which things have indeed a (logos) show of wisdom religious outlook, and humility, and neglecting of the body: not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.
Such prohibitions appear reasonable where there is a desire for self-imposed service, and so-called “humility,” and harsh treatment of the body, but are of no real value against the indulgence of our earthly nature.
