Colossians 2 - Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

2 For I want you to know how great a struggle(A) I have for you, for those in Laodicea,(B) and for all who have not seen me in person. 2 I want their hearts to be encouraged(C) and joined together in love, so that they may have all the riches of assured understanding and have the knowledge of God’s mystery(D)—Christ.[a](E) 3 All the treasures of wisdom(F) and knowledge(G) are hidden in Him.

Christ versus the Colossian Heresy

4 I am saying this so that no one will deceive you with persuasive arguments. 5 For I may be absent in body, but I am with you in spirit,(H) rejoicing to see how well ordered you are and the strength of your faith in Christ.

6 Therefore, as you have received(I) Christ Jesus the Lord,(J) walk in Him, 7 rooted and built up in Him(K) and established in the faith, just as you were taught,(L) overflowing with gratitude.

8 Be careful that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit based on human tradition,(M) based on the elemental forces of the world, and not based on Christ.(N) 9 For the entire fullness(O) of God’s nature[b] dwells bodily[c] in Christ, 10 and you have been filled by Him, who is the head(P) over every ruler and authority. 11 You were also circumcised in Him with a circumcision not done with hands, by putting off the body of flesh,(Q) in the circumcision of the Messiah.[d](R) 12 Having been buried with Him(S) in baptism, you were also raised with Him(T) through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.(U) 13 And when you were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive with Him and forgave us all our trespasses. 14 He erased the certificate of debt, with its obligations, that was against us and opposed to us, and has taken it out of the way by nailing it to the cross.(V) 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and disgraced them publicly; He triumphed over them by Him.[e](W)

16 Therefore, don’t let anyone judge(X) you in regard to food and drink(Y) or in the matter of a festival or a new moon(Z) or a Sabbath day.[f] 17 These are a shadow(AA) of what was to come;(AB) the substance is[g] the Messiah.(AC) 18 Let no one disqualify you,[h](AD) insisting on ascetic practices(AE) and the worship of angels, claiming access to a visionary realm and inflated(AF) without cause by his unspiritual[i] mind. 19 He doesn’t hold on to the head, from whom the whole body,(AG) nourished and held together by its ligaments and tendons, develops with growth from God.

20 If you died with the Messiah(AH) to the elemental forces of this world, why do you live as if you still belonged to the world? Why do you submit to regulations: 21 “Don’t handle, don’t taste, don’t touch”? 22 All these regulations refer to what is destroyed by being used up; they are commands and doctrines of men. 23 Although these have a reputation of wisdom(AI) by promoting ascetic practices, humility, and severe treatment of the body, they are not of any value in curbing self-indulgence.[j](AJ)

Footnotes

  1. Colossians 2:2 Other mss read mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ; other ms variations exist on this v.
  2. Colossians 2:9 Or of the deity
  3. Colossians 2:9 Or nature lives in a human body
  4. Colossians 2:11 = His death
  5. Colossians 2:15 Or them through it; = through the cross
  6. Colossians 2:16 Or or sabbaths
  7. Colossians 2:17 Or substance belongs to
  8. Colossians 2:18 Or no one cheat us out of your prize
  9. Colossians 2:18 Lit fleshly
  10. Colossians 2:23 Lit value against indulgence of the flesh

Cross references

  1. 2:1 : 2Tm 4:7
  2. 2:1 : Col 4:13-16; Rv 1:11; 3:14
  3. 2:2 : Lk 16:25; Col 4:8
  4. 2:2 : Php 3:8
  5. 2:2 : Col 1:27
  6. 2:3 : Pr 3:19; Is 11:2; 45:3; Jr 23:5; Ac 7:22; 1Co 1:21
  7. 2:3 : 1Co 14:6
  8. 2:5 : Ps 51:12; 1Th 2:17
  9. 2:6 : Jd 3
  10. 2:6 : Eph 3:11
  11. 2:7 : Eph 2:20
  12. 2:7 : Eph 4:21; Heb 13:9
  13. 2:8 : Mk 7:3
  14. 2:8 : 1Tm 6:20
  15. 2:9 : Php 2:6; Col 1:19
  16. 2:10 : 1Co 11:3; Eph 1:22; 4:15; 5:23
  17. 2:11 : Col 1:22; 3:9
  18. 2:11 : Mt 1:17; Eph 5:2
  19. 2:12 : Rm 6:4
  20. 2:12 : Eph 2:6; Col 3:1
  21. 2:12 : Mt 17:9; Jn 5:25; 20:9; 21:14; Ac 2:24
  22. 2:14 : Lk 9:23; 23:26
  23. 2:15 : Lk 10:18; Jn 12:31; 16:11; Eph 6:12; Heb 2:14
  24. 2:16 : Lk 6:37
  25. 2:16 : Jn 6:55; Rm 14:3, 17; 1Co 8:4; Heb 9:10
  26. 2:16 : Ps 81:3
  27. 2:17 : Heb 8:5; 10:1
  28. 2:17 : Rm 8:38
  29. 2:17 : Gl 3:24; 5:2
  30. 2:18 : 1Co 9:24; Php 3:14
  31. 2:18 : Col 3:12
  32. 2:18 : 1Co 4:6
  33. 2:19 : 1Co 6:13; Eph 4:4
  34. 2:20 : Rm 6:8; 1Pt 2:24
  35. 2:23 : Ac 7:22
  36. 2:23 : 1Tm 4:8

You Might Also Like:

Colossians 2 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

2 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 ...
Read More

Colossians 2 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

2 But I will that ye know, what busyness I have for you, and for them that be at Laodicea, and whichever saw not my face in flesh, 2 that their hearts be comforted, and they be taught in charity, into all the riches of the plenty of understanding [that the hearts of them be comforted, taught in cha...
Read More

Colossians 2 - Worldwide English (New Testament) (WE)

2 I want you to know how much I care for you and those in the city of Laodicea, and even all those who have never seen me. 2 I want them to be strong and to love one another. I want them to understand everything. I want them to know in a more perfect way about God's plan, which is Christ. 3 All the ...
Read More

Colossians 2 - World English Bible (WEB)

2 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...
Read More

Colossians 2 - The Voice (VOICE)

At the heart of the good news is a mystery hidden in ancient Scriptures but now exposed to the world through the lives of the church’s holy ones. Paul never refers to just one “holy one”; he always uses the plural. He knows that holiness is too difficult for us to accomplish on our own. Each of us h...
Read More

Colossians 2 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

2 I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those in Laodicea, as well as for those who have still not seen me face to face. 2 My purpose is that their hearts, joined together in love, may be encouraged. May they have all the riches of the full assurance of understanding, leadi...
Read More

Colossians 2 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

2 For I want you to know how greatly I strive for you, and for those at La-odice′a, and for all who have not seen my face, 2 that their hearts may be encouraged as they are knit together in love, to have all the riches of assured understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, of Christ, 3 in wh...
Read More

Colossians 2 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

2 For I want you to know how greatly I strive for you, and for those at La-odice′a, and for all who have not seen my face, 2 that their hearts may be encouraged as they are knit together in love, to have all the riches of assured understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, of Christ, 3 in wh...
Read More

Colossians 2 - Revised Geneva Translation (RGT)

2 For I desire that you knew what great struggle I have for you, and for those of Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; 2 that their hearts might be encouraged, having been joined together in love and in all the riches of the full assurance of understanding to know the mys...
Read More

Colossians 2 - New Testament for Everyone (NTE)

God’s Hidden Treasure – King Jesus!2 You see, I’d like you to know just what a struggle I am having on behalf of yourselves, and the family in Laodicea, and all the people who don’t know me by sight. 2 I want their hearts to be encouraged as they’re brought together in love. I want them to experien...
Read More

Colossians 2 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

2 For I want you to know how much I am struggling for you, and for those in Laodicea, and for all who have not seen me face to face. 2 I want their hearts to be encouraged and united in love, so that they may have all the riches of assured understanding and have the knowledge of God’s mystery, that...
Read More

Colossians 2 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

2 For I want you to know how greatly I strive for you and for those in Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face. 2 I want their hearts to be encouraged and united in love, so that they may have all the riches of assured understanding and have the knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Ch...
Read More

Colossians 2 - New Matthew Bible (NMB)

What great care Paul took for all congregations. He exhorts them to be steadfast in Christ, and to beware of false teachers and worldly wisdom. He describes the false prophets. 2 I would you knew what fighting I have for your sakes and for the people of Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen me ...
Read More

Colossians 2 - New Living Translation (NLT)

2 I want you to know how much I have agonized for you and for the church at Laodicea, and for many other believers who have never met me personally. 2 I want them to be encouraged and knit together by strong ties of love. I want them to have complete confidence that they understand God’s mysterious ...
Read More

Colossians 2 - New Life Version (NLV)

The Christian Is Complete in Christ2 I want you to know how hard I have worked for you and for the Christians in the city of Laodicea and for those who have never seen me. 2 May their hearts be given comfort. May they be brought close together in Christian love. May they be rich in understanding an...
Read More

Colossians 2 - New King James Version (NKJV)

Not Philosophy but Christ2 For I want you to know what a great (A)conflict[a] I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of underst...
Read More