⁷ For none of us lives for himself, and no one dies for himself.^{(A) 8} If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.^{(B) 9} Christ died and returned to life^(C) for this: that he might be Lord over both the dead and the living.^(D)

¹⁹ For through the law I died to the law,^(A) so that I might live for God.^{(B) 20} I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.^(C) The life I now live in the body,^[a] I live by faith in the Son of God,^(D) who loved^(E) me^(F) and gave himself^(G) for me.^(H)

¹¹ filled with the fruit^(A) of righteousness^(B) that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory^(C) and praise of God.

¹⁵ To be sure, some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry,^(A) but others out of good will.

⁶ So then, just as you have received^(A) Christ Jesus as Lord,^(B) continue to walk in him, ⁷ being rooted and built up in him^(C) and established in the faith, just as you were taught,^(D) and overflowing with gratitude.

⁸ Be careful that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit based on human tradition,^(E) based on the elements of the world, rather than Christ.^{(F) 9} For the entire fullness^(G) of God’s nature dwells bodily^[a] in Christ, ¹⁰ and you have been filled by him, who is the head^(H) over every ruler and authority. ¹¹ You were also circumcised in him with a circumcision not done with hands, by putting off the body of flesh,^(I) in the circumcision of Christ,^{(J) 12} when you were buried with him^(K) in baptism, in which you were also raised with him^(L) through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.^{(M) 13} And when you were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he made you alive with him and forgave us all our trespasses. ¹⁴ He erased the certificate of debt, with its obligations, that was against us and opposed to us, and has taken it away by nailing it to the cross.^{(N) 15} He disarmed the rulers and authorities and disgraced them publicly; he triumphed over them in him.^[b](O)

¹⁶ Therefore, don’t let anyone judge^(P) you in regard to food and drink^(Q) or in the matter of a festival or a new moon^(R) or a Sabbath day.^{[c] 17} These are a shadow^(S) of what was to come;^(T) the substance is^[d] Christ.^{(U) 18} Let no one condemn^[e] you^(V) by delighting in ascetic practices^(W) and the worship of angels, claiming access to a visionary realm. Such people are inflated^(X) by empty notions of their unspiritual^[f] mind. ¹⁹ They don’t hold on to the head, from whom the whole body,^(Y) nourished and held together by its ligaments and tendons, grows with growth from God.

²⁰ If you died with Christ^(Z) to the elements of this world, why do you live as if you still belonged to the world? Why do you submit to regulations: ²¹ “Don’t handle, don’t taste, don’t touch”? ²² All these regulations refer to what is destined to perish by being used up; they are human commands and doctrines. ²³ Although these have a reputation for wisdom^(AA) by promoting self-made religion, false humility, and severe treatment of the body, they are not of any value in curbing self-indulgence.^[g](AB)

The Life of the New Man

3 So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.^{(AC) 2} Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.^{(AD) 3} For you died,^(AE) and your life is hidden with Christ in God. ⁴ When Christ, who is your^[h] life, appears,^(AF) then you also will appear with him in glory.^(AG)

⁵ Therefore, put to death what belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity,^(AH) lust,^(AI) evil desire, and greed,^(AJ) which is idolatry.^{(AK) 6} Because of these, God’s wrath^(AL) is coming upon the disobedient,^{[i] 7} and you once walked in these things when you were living^(AM) in them. ⁸ But now, put away^(AN) all the following: anger,^(AO) wrath,^(AP) malice,^(AQ) slander,^(AR) and filthy language from your mouth.^{(AS) 9} Do not lie^(AT) to one another, since you have put off^(AU) the old self^(AV) with its practices ¹⁰ and have put on^(AW) the new self. You are being renewed in knowledge according to the image of your^[j] Creator.^{(AX) 11} In Christ there is not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all.^(AY)