Colossians 2–3

Christ, the Mystery of God

2For I want you to know how great a struggle I have on behalf of you, and those in Laodicea, and all those who have not seen my face in person^a, ²so that their hearts may be encouraged, united in love and into all the wealth of the full assurance of insight into the knowledge of the mystery of God, Christ, ³in whom all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden. ⁴I say this in order that no one will deceive you with persuasive speech, ⁵for even if I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing and seeing your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.

Made Alive in Christ

⁶Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, live in him, ⁷firmly rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding with thankfulness. ⁸Beware lest anyone take you captive^b through philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition^c, according to the elemental spirits of the world and not according to Christ, ⁹because in him all the fullness of deity dwells bodily, ¹⁰and you are filled in him, who is the head over every ruler and authority, ¹¹in whom also you were circumcised with a circumcision not made by hands, by the removal of the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, ¹²having been buried with him in baptism, in which also you were raised together with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead. ¹³And although you were dead^d* in the trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, he made you alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, ¹⁴having destroyed the certificate of indebtedness in ordinances against us, which was hostile to us, and removed it out of the way by^* nailing it to the cross. ¹⁵When he^* had disarmed the rulers and the authorities, he made a display of them in public, triumphing over them by it.^e

Do Not Be Judged by Human Religious Rules

¹⁶Therefore do not let anyone judge you with reference to eating or^f drinking or participation in a feast or a new moon or a Sabbath, ¹⁷which are a shadow of what is to come, but the reality is Christ. ¹⁸Let no one condemn you, taking pleasure in humility and the worship of angels, going into detail about the things which he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind, ¹⁹and not holding fast to the head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by the ligaments and sinews, grows with the growth of God.

²⁰If you have died with Christ to the elemental spirits of the world, why do you submit to them as if living in the world? ²¹“Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch,” ²²which things are all meant for destruction by consuming according to human commandments and teachings, ²³which things although they have^g,^* to be sure, an appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and humility and unsparing treatment of the body, do not have any value^h against the indulgence of the flesh.

Seek the Things Above

3Therefore, if you have been raised together with Christ, seek the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. ²Set your mind on the things above, not on the things on earth. ³For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. ⁴When Christ, who is your life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory.

Put Off the Old Behavior

⁵Therefore put to death what is earthly in you^a: sexual immorality, uncleanness, lustful passion, evil desire, and greediness, which is idolatry, ⁶because of which the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, ⁷in which also you once lived, when you used to live in them.^{b 8}But now you also lay aside all these things: anger, rage, wickedness, slander, abusive language from your mouth. ⁹Do not lie to one another, because you^* have taken off the old man together with his deeds, ¹⁰and have put on the new man that is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of the one who created him, ¹¹where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave, or free, but Christ is all, and in all.

Appeal for New Behavior

¹²Therefore, as the chosen of God, holy and dearly loved, put on affection, compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, ¹³putting up with one another and forgiving one another. If anyone should have a complaint against anyone, just as also the Lord forgave you, thus also you do the same. ¹⁴And to all these things add love, which is the bond of perfection. ¹⁵And the peace of Christ must rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body, and be thankful. ¹⁶Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another with all wisdom, with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God, ¹⁷and everything whatever^c you do in word or in deed, giving thanks for all things in the name of the Lord Jesus to God the Father through him.

Mutual Responsibilities in Christian Relationships

¹⁸Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. ¹⁹Husbands, love your wives and do not be embittered against them. ²⁰Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing in the Lord. ²¹Fathers, do not provoke your children, so that they will not become discouraged. ²²Slaves, obey your human^d masters in everything, not while being watched^e, as people pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. ²³Whatever you do, accomplish it from the soul, as to the Lord, and not to people, ²⁴because you^* know that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. Serve^f the Lord Christ. ²⁵For the one who does wrong will receive back whatever wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.