Colossians 2
Alive with Christ
For I want you to understand how great a astruggle I have on your behalf and for those who are at bLaodicea, and for all those who have not seen my face in the flesh, 2 so that their ahearts may be encouraged, having been bheld together in love, even unto all cthe wealth of the full assurance of understanding, unto the dfull knowledge of eGod’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself, 3 in whom are hidden all athe treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 aI say this so that no one will delude you with bpersuasive argument. 5 For even though I am aabsent in body, nevertheless I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your bgood order and the cstability of your faith in Christ.
6 Therefore as you received aChrist Jesus the Lord, so bwalk in Him, 7 having been firmly arooted and being bbuilt up in Him, and having been cestablished in your faith—just as you dwere instructed—and abounding with thanksgiving.
8 aSee to it that no one takes you captive through bphilosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the celementary principles of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in Him all the afullness of Deity dwells bodily, 10 and in Him you have been afilled, bwho is the head over all crule and authority; 11 in whom ayou were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of bthe body of the flesh, in the circumcision of Christ, 12 having been aburied with Him in baptism, in which you were also braised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who craised Him from the dead. 13 And you being adead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He bmade you alive with Him, having graciously forgiven us all our transgressions. 14 Having canceled out athe certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us which was hostile to us, bHe also has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15 Having adisarmed the brulers and authorities, He amade a public display of them, having ctriumphed over them in Him.
16 Therefore, no one is to ajudge you in bfood and bdrink, or in respect to a cfestival or a dnew moon or a eSabbath day— 17 things which are only a ashadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ. 18 Let no one keep adefrauding you of your prize by bdelighting in self-abasement and the worship of the angels, going into detail about visions he has seen, cbeing puffed up for nothing by his dfleshly mind, 19 and not holding fast to athe head, from whom bthe entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.
20 aIf you have died with Christ to the belementary principles of the world, cwhy, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to ddecrees: 21 “Do not handle, nor taste, nor touch”? 22 Which deal with everything adestined to perish with use, which are in accordance with the bcommands and teachings of men; 23 which are matters having, to be sure, a word of wisdom in aself-made religion and self-abasement and bsevere treatment of the body, but are of no value against cfleshly indulgence.
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