1 For I want you to know how much I struggle for you, for those in Laodicea, and for all who have never seen me face to face. a2:1 Lit. my face in the flesh ISV — Colossians 2:1
2 Because they are united in love, I pray b2:2 The Gk. lacks I pray that their hearts may be encouraged by all the riches that come from a complete understanding of the full knowledge of the Messiah, c2:2 Or Christ who is d2:2 The Gk. lacks who is the mystery of God. ISV — Colossians 2:2
3 In him are stored all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. ISV — Colossians 2:3
4 I say this so that no one will mislead you with nice-sounding rhetoric. ISV — Colossians 2:4
5 For although I am physically absent, I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see how stable you are and how firm your faith in the Messiah e2:5 Or Christ is. ISV — Colossians 2:5
6 So then, just as you have received the Messiah f2:6 Or Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to live dependent on him. ISV — Colossians 2:6
7 For you have been rooted in him and are being built up and strengthened in the faith, just as you were taught, while you continue to be thankful. ISV — Colossians 2:7
8 See to it that no one enslaves you through philosophy and empty deceit according to human tradition, according to the basic principles of the world, g2:8 Or the elemental spirits of the universe and not according to the Messiah, h2:8 Or Christ ISV — Colossians 2:8
9 because all the essence i2:9 Lit. all of the fullness of deity inhabits him in bodily form. ISV — Colossians 2:9
10 And you have been filled by him, who is the head of every ruler and authority. ISV — Colossians 2:10
11 In union with him you were also circumcised with a circumcision performed without human j2:11 The Gk. lacks human hands by stripping off the corrupt nature by the circumcision performed by the Messiah. k2:11 Or Christ ISV — Colossians 2:11
12 When you were buried with the Messiah l2:12 Lit. with him in baptism, you were also raised with him through faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead. ISV — Colossians 2:12
13 Even when you were dead because of your offenses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God m2:13 Lit. he made you alive with him when he forgave us all of our offenses, ISV — Colossians 2:13
14 having erased the charges that were brought against us, along with their obligations that were hostile to us. He took those charges away when he nailed them to the cross. ISV — Colossians 2:14
15 And when he had disarmed the rulers and the authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in the cross. n2:15 Lit. in it ISV — Colossians 2:15
16 Therefore, let no one judge you in matters of food and drink or with respect to a festival, a New Moon, or Sabbath days. o2:16 Lit. or Sabbaths ISV — Colossians 2:16
17 These are a shadow of the things to come, but the reality p2:17 Or substance belongs to the Messiah. q2:17 Or Christ ISV — Colossians 2:17
18 Let no one who delights in humility and the worship of angels cheat you out of the prize by rejoicing about what he has seen. r2:18 Other mss. read what he has not seen Such a person is puffed up for no reason by his carnal mind. ISV — Colossians 2:18
19 He does not hold on to the head, from whom the whole body, which is nourished and held together by its joints and ligaments, grows as God enables it. ISV — Colossians 2:19
20 If you have died with the Messiah s2:20 Or Christ to the basic principles of the world, t2:20 Or the elemental spirits of the universe why are you submitting to its decrees as though you still lived in the world? ISV — Colossians 2:20
21 “Don’t handle this! Don’t taste or touch that!” ISV — Colossians 2:21
22 All of these things will be destroyed as they are used, because they are based on human commands and teachings. ISV — Colossians 2:22
23 These things have the appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion, humility, and harsh treatment of the body, but they have no value against self-indulgence. ISV — Colossians 2:23