What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?

God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

For he that is dead is freed from sin.

Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:

Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.

10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.

11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

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Dead to Sin, Alive in Christ

What shall we say, then?(A) Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?(B) By no means! We are those who have died to sin;(C) how can we live in it any longer? Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized(D) into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death(E) in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead(F) through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.(G)

For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his.(H) For we know that our old self(I) was crucified with him(J) so that the body ruled by sin(K) might be done away with,[a] that we should no longer be slaves to sin(L) because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.(M)

Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.(N) For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead,(O) he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him.(P) 10 The death he died, he died to sin(Q) once for all;(R) but the life he lives, he lives to God.

11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin(S) but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 6:6 Or be rendered powerless

Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:

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You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone.(A)

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Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.

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You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God,(A) not on tablets of stone(B) but on tablets of human hearts.(C)

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24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

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24 and to put on(A) the new self,(B) created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.(C)

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11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:

12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:

17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,

19 And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.

20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,

21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not;

22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?

23 Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body: not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:

In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.

But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.

Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;

10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

11 In him you were also circumcised(A) with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh[a](B) was put off when you were circumcised by[b] Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism,(C) in which you were also raised with him(D) through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.(E)

13 When you were dead in your sins(F) and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you[c] alive(G) with Christ. He forgave us all our sins,(H) 14 having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness,(I) which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.(J) 15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities,(K) he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them(L) by the cross.[d]

Freedom From Human Rules

16 Therefore do not let anyone judge you(M) by what you eat or drink,(N) or with regard to a religious festival,(O) a New Moon celebration(P) or a Sabbath day.(Q) 17 These are a shadow of the things that were to come;(R) the reality, however, is found in Christ. 18 Do not let anyone who delights in false humility(S) and the worship of angels disqualify you.(T) 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,(U) from whom the whole body,(V) supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.(W)

20 Since you died with Christ(X) to the elemental spiritual forces of this world,(Y) why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules:(Z) 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(AA) with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings.(AB) 23 Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility(AC) and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.

Living as Those Made Alive in Christ

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ,(AD) set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.(AE) Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.(AF) For you died,(AG) and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your[e] life,(AH) appears,(AI) then you also will appear with him in glory.(AJ)

Put to death,(AK) therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature:(AL) sexual immorality,(AM) impurity, lust, evil desires and greed,(AN) which is idolatry.(AO) Because of these, the wrath of God(AP) is coming.[f] You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived.(AQ) But now you must also rid yourselves(AR) of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander,(AS) and filthy language from your lips.(AT) Do not lie to each other,(AU) since you have taken off your old self(AV) with its practices 10 and have put on the new self,(AW) which is being renewed(AX) in knowledge in the image of its Creator.(AY)

Footnotes

  1. 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.
  2. Colossians 2:11 Or put off in the circumcision of
  3. Colossians 2:13 Some manuscripts us
  4. Colossians 2:15 Or them in him
  5. Colossians 3:4 Some manuscripts our
  6. Colossians 3:6 Some early manuscripts coming on those who are disobedient