New King James Version

New American Standard Bible

Not Philosophy but Christ

For I want you to know what a great conflict[a] I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh,

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You Are Built Up in Christ

For I want you to know how great a struggle I have on your behalf and for those who are at Laodicea, and for all those who have not personally seen my face,

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that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, [b]both of the Father and of Christ,

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that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself,

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in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

3

in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

4

Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words.

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I say this so that no one will delude you with persuasive argument.

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For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing [c]to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.

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For even though I am absent in body, nevertheless I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good discipline and the stability of your faith in Christ.

6

As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,

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Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,

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rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding [d]in it with thanksgiving.

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having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.

8

Beware lest anyone [e]cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.

8

See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.

9

For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead [f]bodily;

9

For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form,

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and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all [g]principality and power.

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and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority;

11

Not Legalism but Christ

In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body [h]of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ,

11

and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ;

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buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.

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having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.

13

And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses,

13

When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions,

14

having wiped out the [i]handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.

14

having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.

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Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.

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When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.

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So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a [j]festival or a new moon or sabbaths,

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Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day —

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which are a shadow of things to come, but the [k]substance is of Christ.

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things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ.

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Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has [l]not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,

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Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize by delighting in self-abasement and the worship of the angels, taking his stand on visions he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind,

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and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God.

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and not holding fast to the head, from whom the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and ligaments, grows with a growth which is from God.

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[m]Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations —

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If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as,

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“Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,”

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“Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!”

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which all concern things which perish with the using — according to the commandments and doctrines of men?

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(which all refer to things destined to perish with use) — in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men?

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These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and [n]neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.

23

These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence.

Parallel

New King James Version

New American Standard Bible

Colossians 2

Colossians 2