Beware lest anyone [a]cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to (A)the tradition of men, according to the (B)basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.

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Footnotes

  1. Colossians 2:8 Lit. plunder you or take you captive

(A)See to it that there is no one who takes you captive through (B)philosophy and empty deception in accordance with human tradition, in accordance with the (C)elementary principles of the world, [a]rather than in accordance with Christ.

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Footnotes

  1. Colossians 2:8 Lit and not

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 [a]elementary principles of this world, rather than following [the truth—the teachings of] Christ.

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Footnotes

  1. Colossians 2:8 Perhaps a reference to ancient philosophies based on the belief that only the material world is real.

See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy,(A) which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces[a] of this world(B) rather than on Christ.

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Footnotes

  1. Colossians 2:8 Or the basic principles; also in verse 20

20 [a]Therefore, if you (A)died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, (B)why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations— 21 (C)“Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,” 22 which all concern things which perish with the using—(D)according to the commandments and doctrines of men?

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Footnotes

  1. Colossians 2:20 NU, M omit Therefore

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?

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Footnotes

  1. Colossians 2:20 Lit from
  2. Colossians 2:22 Or by being consumed

20 If you have died with Christ to the [a]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)

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Footnotes

  1. Colossians 2:20 See note v 8.

20 Since you died with Christ(A) to the elemental spiritual forces of this world,(B) why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules:(C) 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(D) with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings.(E)

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(A)Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:

‘These(B) people [a]draw near to Me with their mouth,
And honor Me with their lips,
But their heart is far from Me.

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 15:8 NU omits draw near to Me with their mouth, And

You hypocrites, rightly did Isaiah prophesy about you, by saying:

(A)This people honors Me with their lips,
But their heart is far away from Me.

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You hypocrites (play-actors, pretenders), rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you when he said,


This people honors Me with their lips,
But their heart is far away from Me.

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You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you:

“‘These people honor me with their lips,
    but their hearts are far from me.

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And in vain they worship Me,
(A)Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’

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And in vain do they worship Me,
Teaching as (A)doctrines the commandments of men.’”

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But in vain do they worship Me,
For they teach as doctrines the precepts of men.’”(A)

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They worship me in vain;
    their teachings are merely human rules.(A)[a](B)

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 15:9 Isaiah 29:13

(A)For the time will come when they will not endure (B)sound doctrine, (C)but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and (D)be turned aside to fables.

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For (A)the time will come when they will not tolerate (B)sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance with their own desires, and they (C)will turn their ears away from the truth and (D)will turn aside to myths.

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For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine and accurate instruction [that challenges them with God’s truth]; but wanting to have their ears tickled [with something pleasing], they will accumulate for themselves [many] teachers [one after another, chosen] to satisfy their own desires and to support the errors they hold, and will turn their ears away from the truth and will wander off into myths and man-made fictions [and will accept the unacceptable].

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For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine.(A) Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.(B) They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.(C)

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Deceptions of False Teachers

18 For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who [a]have actually escaped from those who live in error. 19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of [b]corruption; (A)for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into [c]bondage.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Peter 2:18 NU are barely escaping
  2. 2 Peter 2:19 depravity
  3. 2 Peter 2:19 slavery

18 For, while speaking out (A)arrogant words of no (B)value they (C)entice by fleshly desires, by (D)indecent behavior, those who barely (E)escape from the ones who live in error, 19 promising them freedom while they themselves are slaves of corruption; for (F)by what anyone is overcome, by this he is enslaved.

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18 For uttering arrogant words of vanity [pompous words disguised to sound scholarly or profound, but meaning nothing and containing no spiritual truth], they beguile and lure using lustful desires, by sensuality, those who barely escape from the ones who live in error. 19 They promise them liberty, when they themselves are the slaves of depravity—for by whatever anyone is defeated and overcome, to that [person, thing, philosophy, or concept] he is continually enslaved.

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18 For they mouth empty, boastful words(A) and, by appealing to the lustful desires of the flesh, they entice people who are just escaping(B) from those who live in error. 19 They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for “people are slaves to whatever has mastered them.”(C)

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14 not giving heed to Jewish fables and (A)commandments of men who turn from the truth.

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14 not paying attention to Jewish (A)myths and (B)commandments of men who (C)turn away from the truth.

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14 not paying attention to Jewish myths and the commandments and rules of men who turn their backs on the truth.

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

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