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Colossians 2
New Matthew Bible
Colossians 2
New Matthew Bible
What great care Paul took for all congregations. He exhorts them to be steadfast in Christ, and to beware of false teachers and worldly wisdom. He describes the false prophets.
2 I would you knew what fighting I have for your sakes and for the people of Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen me in the flesh, 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, and knit together in love and in all the riches of a full understanding, to know the mystery of God the Father and of Christ, 3 in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
4 And I say, for fear that someone should beguile you with enticing words 5 (for though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am present with you in the spirit, joying and beholding the order that you keep and your steadfast faith in Christ) – 6 as you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, even so walk, 7 rooted and built in him, and steadfast in the faith, as you have learned. And abound therein in giving thanks.
8 Beware lest any man come and rob you through philosophy and vain deceit, through the precepts of men, and observances after the world, and not after Christ. 9 For in him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, 10 and you are complete in him, who is the head of all rule and power. 11 In him also you are circumcised, with the circumcision that is made without hands, by putting off the sinful body of the flesh through the circumcision that is in Christ, 12 in that you are buried with him through baptism; in whom you are also risen again through faith, which is wrought by the operation of God, who raised him from death.
13 And you who were dead in sin through the uncircumcision of your flesh, he has quickened to life with him, and has forgiven us all our trespasses. 14 And he has put out the handwriting that was against us, contained in the written law: he has taken it out of the way and has fastened it to his cross, 15 and has spoiled rule and power, and has made a show of them openly, and has triumphed over them in his own person.
16 Let no man therefore trouble your consciences about meat and drink, or in respect of a holy day, such as the holy day of the new moon or of the Sabbath days. 17 These are nothing but shadows of things to come, but the substance is in Christ. 18 Let no man make you shoot at a wrong mark, who, following his own imagination, walks in the humbleness and holiness of angels, things which he never saw, senselessly puffed up with his fleshly mind, 19 and who does not hold to the Head, from whom all the body, by joints and ligaments, receives nourishment, and is knit together, and grows with the growth that comes of God.
20 Therefore, if you are dead with Christ to the observances of the world, why, as though you yet lived in the world, are you led by the precepts of those who say, 21 Touch not, taste not, handle not? 22 All these things do hurt to men because of the abuse of them, which abuse comes only of the commandments and doctrines of men – 23 which things have an outward show of wisdom, in self-chosen holiness and humbleness, and in that they do not spare the body, and pay no regard to the needs of the flesh.
Colossians 2
New International Version
Colossians 2
New International Version
2 I want you to know how hard I am contending(A) for you and for those at Laodicea,(B) and for all who have not met me personally. 2 My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart(C) and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery(D) of God, namely, Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.(E) 4 I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments.(F) 5 For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit(G) and delight to see how disciplined(H) you are and how firm(I) your faith in Christ(J) is.
Spiritual Fullness in Christ
6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord,(K) continue to live your lives in him, 7 rooted(L) and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught,(M) and overflowing with thankfulness.
8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy,(N) which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces[a] of this world(O) rather than on Christ.
9 For in Christ all the fullness(P) of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10 and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head(Q) over every power and authority.(R) 11 In him you were also circumcised(S) with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh[b](T) was put off when you were circumcised by[c] Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism,(U) in which you were also raised with him(V) through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.(W)
13 When you were dead in your sins(X) and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you[d] alive(Y) with Christ. He forgave us all our sins,(Z) 14 having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness,(AA) which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.(AB) 15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities,(AC) he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them(AD) by the cross.[e]
Freedom From Human Rules
16 Therefore do not let anyone judge you(AE) by what you eat or drink,(AF) or with regard to a religious festival,(AG) a New Moon celebration(AH) or a Sabbath day.(AI) 17 These are a shadow of the things that were to come;(AJ) the reality, however, is found in Christ. 18 Do not let anyone who delights in false humility(AK) and the worship of angels disqualify you.(AL) 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,(AM) from whom the whole body,(AN) supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.(AO)
20 Since you died with Christ(AP) to the elemental spiritual forces of this world,(AQ) why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules:(AR) 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(AS) with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings.(AT) 23 Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility(AU) and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.
Footnotes
- Colossians 2:8 Or the basic principles; also in verse 20
- Colossians 2:11 In contexts like this, the Greek word for flesh (sarx) refers to the sinful state of human beings, often presented as a power in opposition to the Spirit; also in verse 13.
- Colossians 2:11 Or put off in the circumcision of
- Colossians 2:13 Some manuscripts us
- Colossians 2:15 Or them in him
New Matthew Bible (NMB)
Copyright © 2016 by Ruth Magnusson (Davis). Includes emendations to February 2022. All rights reserved.
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