(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. For in Him all the (D)fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, 10 and in Him you have been (E)made [b]complete, and (F)He is the head [c]over every (G)ruler and authority;

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Footnotes

  1. Colossians 2:8 Lit and not
  2. Colossians 2:10 Lit full
  3. Colossians 2:10 Lit of

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.

For in Christ all the fullness(C) of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10 and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head(D) over every power and authority.(E)

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Footnotes

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

10 But (A)these people disparage all the things that they do not understand; and (B)all the things that they know by instinct, (C)like unreasoning animals, by these things they are destroyed.

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10 Yet these people slander whatever they do not understand, and the very things they do understand by instinct—as irrational animals do—will destroy them.(A)

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12 For all who have sinned [a](A)without the Law will also perish [b]without the Law, and all who have sinned [c]under the Law will be judged [d]by the Law; 13 for it is (B)not the hearers [e]of the Law who are [f]righteous before God, but the doers [g]of the Law who will be justified. 14 For when Gentiles who do not have [h]the Law [i](C)instinctively perform the requirements of the Law, these, though not having [j]the Law, are a law to themselves,

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 2:12 Or without law
  2. Romans 2:12 Or without law
  3. Romans 2:12 Or under law
  4. Romans 2:12 Or by law
  5. Romans 2:13 Or of law
  6. Romans 2:13 Or just
  7. Romans 2:13 Or of law
  8. Romans 2:14 Or law
  9. Romans 2:14 Lit by nature
  10. Romans 2:14 Or law

12 All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law(A) will be judged by the law. 13 For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey(B) the law who will be declared righteous. 14 (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law,(C) they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law.

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You Are Built Up in Christ

For I want you to know how great a (A)struggle I have in your behalf and for those who are at (B)Laodicea, and for all those who have not [a]personally seen my face, that their (C)hearts may be encouraged, having been (D)knit together in love, and that they would attain to all (E)the wealth [b]that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a (F)true knowledge of (G)God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself, in whom are hidden all (H)the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (I)I say this so that no one will deceive you with (J)persuasive arguments. For even though I am (K)absent in body, I am nevertheless with you in spirit, rejoicing [c]to see [d]your (L)orderly manner and the (M)stability of your faith in Christ.

Therefore, as you have received (N)Christ Jesus the Lord, so [e](O)walk in Him, having been firmly (P)rooted and now being (Q)built up in Him and (R)established [f]in [g]your faith, just as you (S)were instructed, and overflowing [h]with gratitude.

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

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Footnotes

  1. Colossians 2:1 Lit in the flesh
  2. Colossians 2:2 Lit of the full assurance
  3. Colossians 2:5 Lit and seeing
  4. Colossians 2:5 Or your good order
  5. Colossians 2:6 Or lead your life
  6. Colossians 2:7 Or by
  7. Colossians 2:7 Or the faith
  8. Colossians 2:7 One early ms in it with
  9. Colossians 2:8 Lit and not

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. 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, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.(E) I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments.(F) 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

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord,(K) continue to live your lives in him, rooted(L) and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught,(M) and overflowing with thankfulness.

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.

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Footnotes

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

“To (A)whom would He teach knowledge,
And to whom would He interpret the message?
Those just (B)weaned from milk?
Those just taken from the breast?
10 For He says,
[a](C)Order on order, order on order,
Line on line, line on line,
A little here, a little there.’”
11 Indeed, He will speak to this people
Through (D)stammering lips and a foreign tongue,
12 He who said to them, “This is the (E)place of quiet, give rest to the weary,”
And, “This is the resting place,” but they would not listen.
13 So the word of the Lord to them will be,
[b]Order on order, order on order,
Line on line, line on line,
A little here, a little there,”
That they may go and (F)stumble backward, be broken, snared, and taken captive.

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 28:10 Heb Sav lasav, sav lasav, Kav lakav, kav lakav, Zeer sham, zeer sham. These Hebrew fragments, imitating the babbling of a child, mock the prophet’s preaching.
  2. Isaiah 28:13 See note v 10. The Lord responds to their scoffing by imitating their mockery, to represent the unintelligible language of a conqueror.

“Who is it he is trying to teach?(A)
    To whom is he explaining his message?(B)
To children weaned(C) from their milk,(D)
    to those just taken from the breast?
10 For it is:
    Do this, do that,
    a rule for this, a rule for that[a];
    a little here, a little there.(E)

11 Very well then, with foreign lips and strange tongues(F)
    God will speak to this people,(G)
12 to whom he said,
    “This is the resting place, let the weary rest”;(H)
and, “This is the place of repose”—
    but they would not listen.
13 So then, the word of the Lord to them will become:
    Do this, do that,
    a rule for this, a rule for that;
    a little here, a little there(I)
so that as they go they will fall backward;
    they will be injured(J) and snared and captured.(K)

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 28:10 Hebrew / sav lasav sav lasav / kav lakav kav lakav (probably meaningless sounds mimicking the prophet’s words); also in verse 13

Among them [a]we too all (A)previously lived in (B)the lusts of our flesh, [b]indulging the desires of the flesh and of the [c]mind, and were (C)by nature (D)children of wrath, (E)just as the rest.

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Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 2:3 I.e., Jewish believers
  2. Ephesians 2:3 Lit doing
  3. Ephesians 2:3 Lit thoughts

All of us also lived among them at one time,(A) gratifying the cravings of our flesh[a](B) and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.

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Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 2:3 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.