⁷ For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to 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 came to life^(C) for this: that He might rule over both the dead and the living.^(D)

¹⁹ For through the law I have died to the law,^(A) so that I might live for God.^(B) I have been crucified with Christ^{[a] 20} and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.^(C) The life I now live in the body,^[b] 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 strife,^(A) but others out of good will.^[a]

⁶ Therefore, as you have received^(A) Christ Jesus the Lord,^(B) walk in Him, ⁷ rooted and built up in Him^(C) and established in the faith, just as you were taught,^(D) 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 elemental forces of the world, and not based on Christ.^{(F) 9} For the entire fullness^(G) of God’s nature^[a] dwells bodily^[b] 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 the Messiah.^{[c](J) 12} Having been buried with Him^(K) in baptism, 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 out of the way by nailing it to the cross.^{(N) 15} He disarmed the rulers and authorities and disgraced them publicly; He triumphed over them by Him.^[d](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.^{[e] 17} These are a shadow^(S) of what was to come;^(T) the substance is^[f] the Messiah.^{(U) 18} Let no one disqualify you,^[g](V) insisting on ascetic practices^(W) and the worship of angels, claiming access to a visionary realm and inflated^(X) without cause by his unspiritual^[h] mind. ¹⁹ He doesn’t hold on to the head, from whom the whole body,^(Y) nourished and held together by its ligaments and tendons, develops with growth from God.

²⁰ If you died with the Messiah^(Z) to the elemental forces 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 destroyed by being used up; they are commands and doctrines of men. ²³ Although these have a reputation of wisdom^(AA) by promoting ascetic practices, humility, and severe treatment of the body, they are not of any value in curbing self-indulgence.^[i](AB)

The Life of the New Man

3 So if you have been raised with the Messiah, seek what is above, where the Messiah is, seated at the right hand of God.^{(AC) 2} Set your minds on what is above, not on what is on the earth.^{(AD) 3} For you have died,^(AE) and your life is hidden with the Messiah in God. ⁴ When the Messiah, who is your^[j] life, is revealed,^(AF) then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.^(AG)

⁵ Therefore, put to death what belongs to your worldly nature:^[k] sexual immorality, impurity,^(AH) lust,^(AI) evil desire, and greed,^(AJ) which is idolatry.^{(AK) 6} Because of these, God’s wrath^(AL) comes on the disobedient,^{[l] 7} and you once walked in these things when you were living^(AM) in them. ⁸ But now you must also 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^[m](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^[n] Creator.^{(AX) 11} In Christ^[o] there is not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian,^[p] slave and free; but Christ is all and in all.^(AY)