Colossians 2

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