Self-interpreting Bible

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Colossians 2

1Paul testifieth his solicitude for the churches which had not seen him, that they might be united in love, and attain a perfect knowledge of the Christian revelation, 4not being seduced from their stedfastness in the faith, 8nor corrupted through philosophy and human traditions. 9He sheweth that they were already complete in Christ, having attained the true circumcision figured in baptism; 13that God had quickened them with Christ, and both abolished the law of ordinances, that was against them, 15and also spoiled principalities and powers. 16He therefore urgeth them not to submit to legal ordinances, which were but a shadow of Christ; nor to the worship of angels, and other vain practices of human devising.

1 FOR I would that ye knew what agreat 1conflict I have for you, and for them at bLaodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;

2 cThat their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto dall riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the emystery of fGod, and of the Father, and of Christ;

3 g2In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

4 And this I say, lest any man should hbeguile you with enticing words.

5 iFor though I be 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.

6 As ye have therefore jreceived Christ Jesus the Lord, so kwalk ye in him:

7 lRooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

8 mBeware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the 3rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

9 For nin him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

10 And ye are ocomplete in him, pwhich is the head of all qprincipality and power:

11 rIn whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:

12 sBuried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

13 tAnd you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he *quickened together with him, having uforgiven you all trespasses;

14 vBlotting out the handwriting of wordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

15 xAnd having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them 4in it.

16 yLet no man therefore judge you 5in *meat, or in drink, or 6in respect of zan holyday, or of athe new moon, or of the sabbath days:

17 bWhich are a shadow of things to come; but cthe body is of Christ.

18 dLet no man 7beguile you of your reward 8in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, eintruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,

19 And not holding the fHead, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.

20 Wherefore if ye be gdead with Christ from the 9rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,

21 h(Touch not; taste not; handle not;

22 iWhich all are to perish with the using;) jafter the commandments and doctrines of men?

23 Which things have indeed ka shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and 10neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.