Colossians Chapter 2
Other Translations
asv (asv) - eBible.org engASV USFM
1
whereof I was made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which was given me to you-ward, to fulfil the word of God,
2
even the mystery which hath been hid for ages and generations: but now hath it been manifested to his saints,
3
to whom God was pleased to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
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whom we proclaim, admonishing every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ;
5
whereunto I labor also, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.
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For I would have you know how greatly I strive for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;
7
that their hearts may be comforted, they being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, that they may know the mystery of God,
8
even Christ,
9
in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden.
10
This I say, that no one may delude you with persuasiveness of speech.
11
For though I am 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.
12
As therefore ye received Christ Jesus the Lord,
13
so walk in him,
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rooted and builded up in him, and established in your faith, even as ye were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.
15
Take heed lest there shall be any one that maketh spoil of you through his philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ:
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for in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily,
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and in him ye are made full, who is the head of all principality and power:
18
in whom ye were also circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, in the putting off of the body of the flesh, in the circumcision of Christ;
19
having been buried with him in baptism, wherein ye were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.
20
And you, being dead through your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, you,
21
I say, did he make alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses;
22
having blotted out the bond written in ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us: and he hath taken it out of the way, nailing it to the cross;
23
having despoiled the principalities and the powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
darby (darby) - eBible.org Darby 1890 plaintext
1
For I would have you know what combat I have for you, and those in Laodicea, and as many as have not seen my face in flesh;
2
to the end that their hearts may be encouraged, being united together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to [the] full knowledge of the mystery ofGod;
3
in which are hid all the treasures of wisdom and of knowledge.
4
And I say this to the end that no one may delude you by persuasive speech.
5
For if indeed in the flesh I am absent, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing and seeing your order, and the firmness of your faith in Christ.
6
As therefore ye have received the Christ, Jesus the Lord, walk in him,
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rooted and built up in him, and assured in the faith, even as ye have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.
8
See that there be no one who shall lead you away as a prey through philosophy and vain deceit, according to the teaching of men, according to the elements of the world, and not according to Christ.
9
For in him dwells all the fulness of theGodhead bodily;
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and ye are complete in him, who is the head of all principality and authority,
11
in whom also ye have been circumcised with circumcision not done by hand, in the putting off of the body of the flesh, in the circumcision of the Christ;
12
buried with him in baptism, in which ye have been also raised with [him] through faith of the working ofGod who raised him from among the dead.
13
And you, being dead in offences and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he has quickened together with him, having forgiven us all the offences;
14
having effaced the handwriting in ordinances which [stood out] against us, which was contrary to us, he has taken it also out of the way, having nailed it to the cross;
15
having spoiled principalities and authorities, he made a show of them publicly, leading them in triumph by it.
16
Let none therefore judge you in meat or in drink, or in matter of feast, or new moon, or sabbaths,
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which are a shadow of things to come; but the body [is] of Christ.
18
Let no one fraudulently deprive you of your prize, doing his own will in humility and worship of angels, entering into things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by the mind of his flesh,
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and not holding fast the head, from whom all the body, ministered to and united together by the joints and bands, increases with the increase ofGod.
20
If ye have died with Christ from the elements of the world, why as [if] alive in [the] world do ye subject yourselves to ordinances?
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Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch,
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(things which are all for destruction in the using [of them]:) according to the injunctions and teachings of men,
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(which have indeed an appearance of wisdom in voluntary worship, and humility, and harsh treatment of the body, not in a certain honour,) to [the] satisfaction of the flesh.
vul1914 (vul1914) - Vulgate 1914 UTF-8 (sacredbible.org)
1
Volo enim vos scire qualem solicitudinem habeam pro vobis, et pro iis, qui sunt Laodiciæ, et quicumque non viderunt faciem meam in carne:
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ut consolentur corda ipsorum, instructi in charitate, et in omnes divitias plenitudinis intellectus, in agnitionem mysterii Dei Patris et Christi Iesu:
3
in quo sunt omnes thesauri sapientiæ, et scientiæ absconditi.
4
Hoc autem dico, ut nemo vos decipiat in sublimitate sermonum.
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Nam etsi corpore absens sum, sed spiritu vobiscum sum: gaudens, et videns ordinem vestrum, et firmamentum eius, quæ in Christo est, fidei vestræ.
6
Sicut ergo accepistis Iesum Christum Dominum, in ipso ambulate,
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radicati, et superædificati in ipso, et confirmati fide, sicut et didicistis, abundantes in illo in gratiarum actione:
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Videte ne quis vos decipiat per philosophiam, et inanem fallaciam secundum traditionem hominum, secundum elementa mundi, et non secundum Christum:
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quia in ipso inhabitat omnis plenitudo divinitatis corporaliter:
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et estis in illo repleti, qui est caput omnis principatus, et potestatis:
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in quo et circumcisi estis circumcisione non manu facta in expoliatione corporis carnis, sed in circumcisione Christi:
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consepulti ei in baptismo, in quo et resurrexistis per fidem operationis Dei, qui suscitavit illum a mortuis.
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Et vos cum mortui essetis in delictis, et præputio carnis vestræ, convivificavit cum illo, donans vobis omnia delicta:
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delens quod adversus nos erat chirographum decreti, quod erat contrarium nobis, et ipsum tulit de medio, affigens illud cruci:
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et expolians principatus, et potestates traduxit confidenter, palam triumphans illos in semetipso.
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Nemo ergo vos iudicet in cibo, aut in potu, aut in parte diei festi, aut neomeniæ, aut sabbatorum:
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quæ sunt umbra futurorum: corpus autem Christi.
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Nemo vos seducat, volens in humilitate, et religione angelorum, quæ non vidit ambulans, frustra inflatus sensu carnis suæ,
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et non tenens caput, ex quo totum corpus per nexus, et coniunctiones subministratum, et constructum crescit in augmentum Dei.
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Si ergo mortui estis cum Christo ab elementis huius mundi: quid adhuc tamquam viventes in mundo decernitis?
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Ne tetigeritis, neque gustaveritis, neque contrectaveritis:
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quæ sunt omnia in interitum ipso usu, secundum præcepta, et doctrinas hominum:
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quæ sunt rationem quidem habentia sapientiæ in superstitione, et humilitate, et non ad parcendum corpori, non in honore aliquo ad saturitatem carnis.
web (web) - WorldEnglish.Bible — CC0 modern update of ASV
1
For I desire to have you know how greatly I struggle for you and for those at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;
2
that their hearts may be comforted, they being knit together in love, and gaining all riches of the full assurance of understanding, that they may know the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ,
3
in whom all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden.
4
Now I say this that no one may delude you with persuasiveness of speech.
5
For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in the spirit, rejoicing and seeing your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.
6
As therefore you received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in him,
7
rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, even as you were taught, abounding in it in thanksgiving.
8
Be careful that you don’t let anyone rob you through his philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the elemental spirits of the world, and not after Christ.
9
For in him all the fullness of the Deity dwells bodily,
10
and in him you are made full, who is the head of all principality and power.
11
In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, in the putting off of the body of the sins of the flesh, in the circumcision of Christ,
12
having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.
13
You were dead through your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh. He made you alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses,
14
wiping out the handwriting in ordinances which was against us. He has taken it out of the way, nailing it to the cross.
15
Having stripped the principalities and the powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
16
Let no one therefore judge you in eating or drinking, or with respect to a feast day or a new moon or a Sabbath day,
17
which are a shadow of the things to come; but the body is Christ’s.
18
Let no one rob you of your prize by self-abasement and worshiping of the angels, dwelling in the things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
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and not holding firmly to the Head, from whom all the body, being supplied and knit together through the joints and ligaments, grows with God’s growth.
20
If you died with Christ from the elemental spirits of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to ordinances,
21
“Don’t handle, nor taste, nor touch”
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(all of which perish with use), according to the precepts and doctrines of men?
23
These things indeed appear like wisdom in self-imposed worship, humility, and severity to the body, but aren’t of any value against the indulgence of the flesh.
wh1881 (wh1881) - Westcott-Hort Greek NT 1881 eBible USFM
1
θελω γαρ υμας ειδεναι ηλικον αγωνα εχω υπερ υμων και των εν λαοδικεια και οσοι ουχ εορακαν το προσωπον μου εν σαρκι
2
ινα παρακληθωσιν αι καρδιαι αυτων συμβιβασθεντες εν αγαπη και εις παν πλουτος της πληροφοριας της συνεσεως εις επιγνωσιν του μυστηριου του θεου χριστου
3
εν ω εισιν παντες οι θησαυροι της σοφιας και γνωσεως αποκρυφοι
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τουτο λεγω ινα μηδεις υμας παραλογιζηται εν πιθανολογια
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ει γαρ και τη σαρκι απειμι αλλα τω πνευματι συν υμιν ειμι χαιρων και βλεπων υμων την ταξιν και το στερεωμα της εις χριστον πιστεως υμων
6
ως ουν παρελαβετε τον χριστον ιησουν τον κυριον εν αυτω περιπατειτε
7
ερριζωμενοι και εποικοδομουμενοι εν αυτω και βεβαιουμενοι τη πιστει καθως εδιδαχθητε περισσευοντες [εν αυτη] εν ευχαριστια
8
βλεπετε μη τις υμας εσται ο συλαγωγων δια της φιλοσοφιας και κενης απατης κατα την παραδοσιν των ανθρωπων κατα τα στοιχεια του κοσμου και ου κατα χριστον
9
οτι εν αυτω κατοικει παν το πληρωμα της θεοτητος σωματικως
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και εστε εν αυτω πεπληρωμενοι ος εστιν η κεφαλη πασης αρχης και εξουσιας
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εν ω και περιετμηθητε περιτομη αχειροποιητω εν τη απεκδυσει του σωματος της σαρκος εν τη περιτομη του χριστου
12
συνταφεντες αυτω εντω βαπτισματι ενω και συνηγερθητε δια της πιστεως της ενεργειας του θεου του εγειραντος αυτον εκ νεκρων
13
και υμας νεκρους οντας τοις παραπτωμασιν και τη ακροβυστια της σαρκος υμων συνεζωοποιησεν υμας συν αυτω χαρισαμενος ημιν παντα τα παραπτωματα
14
εξαλειψας το καθ ημων χειρογραφον τοις δογμασιν ο ην υπεναντιον ημιν και αυτο ηρκεν εκ του μεσου προσηλωσας αυτο τω σταυρω
15
απεκδυσαμενος τας αρχας και τας εξουσιας εδειγματισεν εν παρρησια θριαμβευσας αυτους εν αυτω
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μη ουν τις υμας κρινετω εν βρωσει και εν ποσει η εν μερει εορτης η νεομηνιας η σαββατων
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α εστιν σκια των μελλοντων το δε σωμα του χριστου
18
μηδεις υμας καταβραβευετω θελων εν ταπεινοφροσυνη και θρησκεια των αγγελων α εορακεν εμβατευων εικη φυσιουμενος υπο του νοος της σαρκος αυτου
19
και ου κρατων την κεφαλην εξ ου παν το σωμα δια των αφων και συνδεσμων επιχορηγουμενον και συμβιβαζομενον αυξει την αυξησιν του θεου
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ει απεθανετε συν χριστω απο των στοιχειων του κοσμου τι ως ζωντες εν κοσμω δογματιζεσθε
21
μη αψη μηδε γευση μηδε θιγης
22
α εστιν παντα εις φθοραν τη αποχρησει κατα τα ενταλματα και διδασκαλιας των ανθρωπων
23
ατινα εστιν λογον μεν εχοντα σοφιας εν εθελοθρησκια και ταπεινοφροσυνη [και] αφειδια σωματος ουκ εν τιμη τινι προς πλησμονην της σαρκος
ylt (ylt) - Bible.com YLT98 plain UTF-8
1
For I wish you to know how great a conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and as many as have not seen my face in the flesh,
2
that their hearts may be comforted, being united in love, and to all riches of the full assurance of the understanding, to the full knowledge of the secret of the God and Father, and of the Christ,
3
in whom are all the treasures of the wisdom and the knowledge hid,
4
and this I say, that no one may beguile you in enticing words,
5
for if even in the flesh I am absent--yet in the spirit I am with you, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in regard to Christ;
6
as, then, ye did receive Christ Jesus the Lord, in him walk ye,
7
being rooted and built up in him, and confirmed in the faith, as ye were taught--abounding in it in thanksgiving.
8
See that no one shall be carrying you away as spoil through the philosophy and vain deceit, according to the deliverance of men, according to the rudiments of the world, and not according to Christ,
9
because in him doth tabernacle all the fulness of the Godhead bodily,
10
and ye are in him made full, who is the head of all principality and authority,
11
in whom also ye were circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, in the putting off of the body of the sins of the flesh in the circumcision of the Christ,
12
being buried with him in the baptism, in which also ye rose with <FI>him<Fi> through the faith of the working of God, who did raise him out of the dead.
13
And you--being dead in the trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh--He made alive together with him, having forgiven you all the trespasses,
14
having blotted out the handwriting in the ordinances that is against us, that was contrary to us, and he hath taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross;
15
having stripped the principalities and the authorities, he made a shew of them openly--having triumphed over them in it.
16
Let no one, then, judge you in eating or in drinking, or in respect of a feast, or of a new moon, or of sabbaths,
17
which are a shadow of the coming things, and the body <FI>is<Fi> of the Christ;
18
let no one beguile you of your prize, delighting in humble-mindedness and <FI>in<Fi> worship of the messengers, intruding into the things he hath not seen, being vainly puffed up by the mind of his flesh,
19
and not holding the head, from which all the body--through the joints and bands gathering supply, and being knit together--may increase with the increase of God.
20
If, then, ye did die with the Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances?
21
--thou mayest not touch, nor taste, nor handle--
22
which are all for destruction with the using, after the commands and teachings of men,
23
which are, indeed, having a matter of wisdom in will-worship, and humble-mindedness, and neglecting of body--not in any honour, unto a satisfying of the flesh.
Explanations by Age Level
Explain Like I'm 5
A long, long time ago, there was nothing at all - no earth, no sky, no animals, no people. It was all dark and empty. But God was there! God is so powerful that He can make anything just by speaking. So God said "Let there be light!" and BOOM! There was light everywhere! God saw that the light was beautiful and good. He called the light "day" and the darkness "night." This was the very first day when God started making our wonderful world!
Explain Like I'm 10
Before anything existed - no planets, stars, or life - God decided to create the universe. The earth started out as a dark, empty place covered with water. But God's Spirit was there, ready to bring order and beauty to everything. When God spoke and said "Let there be light," light immediately appeared because God's words have incredible power. God looked at the light and was pleased with what He had made. He organized time by separating light (day) from darkness (night), creating the first 24-hour period. This shows us that God is organized and purposeful in everything He does.
Explain Like I'm 15
Genesis 1:1-5 establishes fundamental theological truths about God and creation. The Hebrew word "bara" (created) indicates creation from nothing (ex nihilo), demonstrating God's absolute sovereignty and power. The phrase "without form and void" (tohu wa-bohu) describes a state of chaos that God transforms into order. The Spirit of God "hovering" or "brooding" over the waters suggests active, caring involvement in creation. The creation of light before the sun (created on day 4) indicates that God Himself is the ultimate source of light and energy. The establishment of day and night creates the framework of time, showing that God operates within orderly patterns while transcending them. This passage refutes both atheistic materialism and pantheism, establishing that God is both transcendent (separate from creation) and immanent (actively involved in it).