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Colossians 2

World English Bible

WEB

1For 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; 2that 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, 3in whom all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden. 4Now I say this that no one may delude you with persuasiveness of speech. 5For 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. 6As therefore you received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in him, 7rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, even as you were taught, abounding in it in thanksgiving. 8Be 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. 9For in him all the fullness of the Deity dwells bodily, 10and in him you are made full, who is the head of all principality and power. 11In 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, 12having 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. 13You were dead through your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh. He made you alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14wiping out the handwriting in ordinances which was against us. He has taken it out of the way, nailing it to the cross. 15Having stripped the principalities and the powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it. 16Let no one therefore judge you in eating or drinking, or with respect to a feast day or a new moon or a Sabbath day, 17which are a shadow of the things to come; but the body is Christ’s. 18Let 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, 19and 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. 20If 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” 22(all of which perish with use), according to the precepts and doctrines of men? 23These 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.

World English Bible, 2020 stable text edition. Public domain; “World English Bible” is a trademark of eBible.org. eBible.org

Overview

Colossians Chapter 2 emphasizes the importance of being rooted in Christ and warns against false teachings that threaten the faith of believers. The Apostle Paul expresses his deep concern for the Colossians, desiring that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order to know the mystery of God, namely, Christ himself. This mystery is significant as it reveals that in Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, affirming the supremacy of Christ over all things. Paul encourages the believers to remain steadfast in their faith and not be swayed by persuasive arguments or human traditions that are not aligned with the teachings of Christ.

The chapter further warns against legalism and the observance of rituals that do not contribute to spiritual growth. Paul reminds the Colossians that they have been made complete in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority. He emphasizes that through Christ's death and resurrection, believers have been freed from the bondage of sin and the law. The chapter concludes with a call to live in the freedom that Christ provides, rejecting any teachings that would lead them back into a yoke of slavery. This chapter serves as a powerful reminder of the sufficiency of Christ and the importance of holding fast to the truth of the Gospel. #Colossians #ApostlePaul #ChristSupremacy #FalseTeachings

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Referenced by

  1. Romans 6:3-4v12Romans 6:3-4 discusses being baptized into Christ's death and raised to walk in newness of life, which parallels Colossians 2:12 where believers are buried with Christ in baptism and raised through faith.
  2. 1 Corinthians 1:24v31 Corinthians 1:24 identifies Christ as the power and wisdom of God, which is echoed in Colossians 2:3 where Paul states that in Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
  3. 2 Corinthians 2:14v152 Corinthians 2:14 speaks of God leading us in triumph in Christ, which parallels Colossians 2:15, where Christ's victory over principalities and powers is described.
  4. Ephesians 2:1v13Ephesians 2:1 speaks of being dead in trespasses and sins, which is echoed in Colossians 2:13, where Paul also describes believers as being made alive with Christ after being dead in sins.
  5. Ephesians 3:17v7Ephesians 3:17 speaks of Christ dwelling in believers' hearts through faith, being rooted and grounded in love. Colossians 2:7 encourages believers to be rooted and built up in Christ, established in the faith.
  6. Hebrews 10:1v17Hebrews 10:1 speaks of the law as a shadow of good things to come, which is echoed in Colossians 2:17 where Paul describes the law as a shadow of things to come, with the substance belonging to Christ.

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