Therefore, as you have received (A)Christ Jesus the Lord, so [a](B)walk in Him, having been firmly (C)rooted and now being (D)built up in Him and (E)established [b]in [c]your faith, just as you (F)were instructed, and overflowing [d]with gratitude.

(G)See to it that there is no one who takes you captive through (H)philosophy and empty deception in accordance with human tradition, in accordance with the (I)elementary principles of the world, [e]rather than in accordance with Christ. For in Him all the (J)fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, 10 and in Him you have been (K)made [f]complete, and (L)He is the head [g]over every (M)ruler and authority; 11 and in Him (N)you were also circumcised with a circumcision performed without hands, in the removal of (O)the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ, 12 having been (P)buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also (Q)raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who (R)raised Him from the dead. 13 And [h]when you were (S)dead [i]in your wrongdoings and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He (T)made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our wrongdoings, 14 having canceled (U)the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and (V)He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15 When He had [j](W)disarmed the (X)rulers and authorities, He (Y)made a public display of them, having (Z)triumphed over them through [k]Him.

16 Therefore, no one is to [l](AA)act as your judge in regard to (AB)food and (AC)drink, or in respect to a (AD)festival or a (AE)new moon, or a (AF)Sabbath [m]day— 17 things which are only a (AG)shadow of what is to come; but the [n]substance [o]belongs to Christ.

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Footnotes

  1. Colossians 2:6 Or lead your life
  2. Colossians 2:7 Or by
  3. Colossians 2:7 Or the faith
  4. Colossians 2:7 One early ms in it with
  5. Colossians 2:8 Lit and not
  6. Colossians 2:10 Lit full
  7. Colossians 2:10 Lit of
  8. Colossians 2:13 Or although
  9. Colossians 2:13 Or by reason of
  10. Colossians 2:15 Or divested Himself of
  11. Colossians 2:15 Or it; i.e., the cross
  12. Colossians 2:16 Lit judge you
  13. Colossians 2:16 Or days
  14. Colossians 2:17 Lit body
  15. Colossians 2:17 Lit of Christ

Spiritual Fullness in Christ

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

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

For in Christ all the fullness(F) of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10 and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head(G) over every power and authority.(H) 11 In him you were also circumcised(I) with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh[b](J) was put off when you were circumcised by[c] Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism,(K) in which you were also raised with him(L) through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.(M)

13 When you were dead in your sins(N) and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you[d] alive(O) with Christ. He forgave us all our sins,(P) 14 having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness,(Q) which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.(R) 15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities,(S) he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them(T) by the cross.[e]

Freedom From Human Rules

16 Therefore do not let anyone judge you(U) by what you eat or drink,(V) or with regard to a religious festival,(W) a New Moon celebration(X) or a Sabbath day.(Y) 17 These are a shadow of the things that were to come;(Z) the reality, however, is found in Christ.

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Footnotes

  1. Colossians 2:8 Or the basic principles; also in verse 20
  2. 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.
  3. Colossians 2:11 Or put off in the circumcision of
  4. Colossians 2:13 Some manuscripts us
  5. Colossians 2:15 Or them in him