1For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;2That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;3In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.4And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.5For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.6As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:7Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.8Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.9For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.10And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:11In 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:12Buried 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.13And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;14Blotting 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;15And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.16Let 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:17Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.18Let 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,19And 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.20Wherefore 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;22Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?23Which 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.
Colossians 2
English Standard Version
1For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, (Php 1:30; Col 1:29)2that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, (Eph 6:22; Col 1:27; Col 3:14; Col 4:8)3in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (Isa 11:2; Isa 45:3; Lu 11:49; 1Co 1:24; 1Co 1:30; 1Co 2:6; Eph 1:8)4I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. (Ro 16:18; Eph 5:6; 2Pe 2:3)5For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ. (1Co 5:3; 1Co 14:40; 1Pe 5:9)
Alive in Christ
6Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, (Col 1:10; 1Th 4:1)7rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. (Ac 20:32; 1Co 3:9; Eph 2:20; Eph 3:17; Eph 4:21; Eph 5:20; Col 4:2; Heb 13:9)8See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits[1] of the world, and not according to Christ. (Mt 15:2; Eph 5:6; Col 2:20; 1Ti 6:20)9For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, (Joh 1:14; Col 1:19; Col 2:17)10and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. (Eph 1:21; Eph 3:19)11In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, (Ro 2:29; Eph 2:11; Col 2:15; Col 3:9)12having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. (Ac 2:24; Ro 6:4; Ro 6:5; 1Co 6:14; Eph 1:19; Col 3:1)13And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, (Eph 2:1; Eph 2:5)14by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. (Ac 3:19; Ro 7:4)15He disarmed the rulers and authorities[2] and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.[3] (Ge 3:15; Ps 68:18; Isa 53:12; Mt 12:29; Lu 10:18; Joh 12:31; Joh 16:11; Eph 2:16; Eph 4:8; Col 2:11; Heb 2:14)
Let No One Disqualify You
16Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. (Le 11:2; Le 23:2; Nu 28:11; Mr 2:28; Ro 14:3; Ro 14:5; Ro 14:10; Ro 14:13; Ro 14:17; Heb 9:10)17These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. (Col 2:2; Heb 8:5; Heb 10:1)18Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions,[4] puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, (Eze 13:7; Ro 8:7; 1Co 9:24; Eph 4:17; Col 2:23; 1Ti 1:7)19and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God. (Eph 4:15; Re 2:13; Re 3:11)20If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— (Ro 6:2; Ga 4:9; Col 2:8)21“Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” (Col 2:16; 1Ti 4:3)22(referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? (Isa 29:13; Mt 15:9; 1Co 6:13; Tit 1:14)23These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh. (Col 2:18; 1Ti 4:8)