Colossians 2
1 I say that because I want you to know how much I am in the arena for your sake, for those in Laodicea, and for those who have not seen my face in person, 2 so their hearts may be encouraged, being held together with love for all the richness of complete confidence in making connectionsa toward knowledge of God’s mystery—of Christb— 3 and all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden with it. 4 I say this so that no one may deceive you with persuasive arguments 5 since despite being physically away, I am with you through the Life-breath, rejoicing and seeing your conscientiousness and the firmness of your faithfulnessc tod Christ.
6 Therefore, just as you initially took Christ Jesus ase lord, continue walking with him 7 just as you were taught, having been given roots, being built up to be likef him, and established in faithfulness, overflowing with gratitude. 8 Be vigilant that no one carries you off into slavery through a philosophy that is empty and deceptive, based on what is handed down by people according to the fundamental assumptionsg of the world systemsh and not based on Christ 9 since all fullness of divinity dwells bodily in him,i 10 and you are the ones who have been filled along with him who is the head over every leader and authority.
11 You [the Body of Christ]j were circumcised through him with a circumcision not done with hands but with the removal of his personalk body, with Christ’s circumcision, 12 having been buried along with him through submersion, woken up along with him through the faithfulness of the work of God who woke him up from the dead 13 and, you being dead because of your shortfalls and not being bodily circumcised, he brought you to life along with him—having granted the discharge of our shortfalls, 14 erasing what was against us—the record of debt, the declarations which were made against us—and he lifted it from between us, nailing it to the cross.l 15 He humiliated the leaders and authorities publicly, stripping away their power and displaying triumph over them with it.
16 Therefore, may no one judge you about eating and drinkingm or about whether you take part in a feast, such as a new moon celebration or the Feast of Weeks,n 17 which are a shadow of what iso about top take shape:q the Body of Christ. 18 May no one decider against you, even if they intend to promote humility and adherence to religious observances presented by the messengers. Though they have seen what they investigate, it is being inflated without just cause by their owns mind,t 19 and they are not staying connected with the Head, through whom the whole Body—being supported and held together by connecting tendons and bonding ligamentsu—grows as God causes growth.v
20 If you died to the fundamental assumptions of the world systems with Christ, why do you live in the world systems as if bound by its values? 21 “Do not partake!” “Do not taste!” “Do not touch!” 22 These are all abused and lead to destruction, based on the commands and teachings of people. 23 Whichever of these is a message based truly on arbitrarily prescribed religious observances and humility defined as self-denial of the body has no value and only satisfies bodily impulses.
FOOTNOTES:
a Literally, making connections or putting things together, but it is about mental activity, so something like ‘developing understanding’ would be appropriate.
b The way the Greek works here, it’s equally possible for this to mean that Christ is the mystery or that Christ is God: ‘of the mystery of God, of Christ’ vs. ‘of God’s mystery, of Christ.’ The context doesn’t offer much help as both points seem relevant based on 1:27 and 2:9. NET and NIV translate it to mean ‘Christ is God’ whereas NASB, ESV, and NRSV translate it to mean ‘Christ is the mystery.’
c Or ‘commitment.’ This is pistis, which based on context could be ‘allegiance,’ ‘faithfulness,’ ‘trust,’ or ‘commitment’ which all interect in a reciprocal relationship.
d This word is eis which is most commonly ‘for’ or ‘to,’ not usually ‘in.’
e There is no word ‘as’ in the Greek here. Another way to translated it could be ‘took Christ Jesus the lord.’ Adding the word ‘as’ seems to clarify and is based on context, and other translations, including the NET, add it there, but it’s possible it would be better not to do so. The word for ‘took’ is the same as to ‘take someone as a wife’ or what is used in Matthew when Jesus took a few of his students up the mountain in chapter 17. It has to do with creating closeness, whether physically or socially.
f This is the verb en, which has many possible uses. This instance seems to be a preposition of ‘standard’ which very literally would be translated as ‘according to the standard of.’ With that meaning in mind, I’ve translated it as ‘to be like’ for clarity and a more accessible way to say it in English.
g ‘Fundamentals’ or ‘elements’ or ‘starting points’ are the basic meaning of this word. I added ‘assumptions’ to clarify. Many translations use ‘teaching’ as the clarifier, but I think it’s not always as intentional as ‘teaching’ would suggest. The ideas are more assumed and absorbed by just being part of the culture.
h This word is added for clarity. It’s not about being on the planet or even in ‘this world’ as opposed to the ‘next world’ but about ‘how the world works,’ the systems engrained in cultures that form assumptions and behaviors at a level that’s simply assumed and unexamined but that steers perception and behavior for everyone in the culture unless it’s explicitly contradicted.
i This verse is worded very closely with Colossians 1:19. In Greek 1:19 reads, hoti en auto eudokese pan to pleroma katoikesai (since in him it seemed good all the fullness to dwell), and this verse reads, hoti en auto katoikei pan to pleroma tes theotetos somatikos (since in him dwells all the fullness of divinity bodily).
j This phrase is not in the Greek here. I wish it were. I think this is the metaphor it’s working with, reaching back to 1:24. Jesus’ crucifixion was the circumcision of the body of Christ, the church. The Greek is clearly plural; it’s not about each individual member of the body but about the body as a whole.
k Literally, ‘his body of flesh.’ It is meant to contrast his physical, individual body with the metaphor of ‘the body of Christ.’ It is not that flesh is sinful or problematic in any way but that it is discussing two different ways of talking about the ‘body of Christ’ and needs to distinguish the physical body made up of flesh and the ‘spiritual’ body that is made up of those who follow the Path of Christ.
l Each clause here starting in verses 12-14 starts with a participle that explains more about the verb ‘you were circumcised’ with some more participial clauses describing some of those participial phrases. It’s a very complex sentence. Ultimately, it is saying, “here are the ways you were circumcised along with Christ: you were buried, you were woken up, and were brought to life. Also, here are two relevant background facts about him bringing you to life: you were dead and he granted a discharge of our shortfalls. Also, granting that discharge erased the record of our debt. Also, he did so by nailing it to the cross.
m This seems not to be specific to eating unapproved food or drinking unapproved drinks but broadly any judgment related to those topics.
n This also does not specify what the judgment is but that it’s about taking part or not taking part in religious observations/rituals/celebrations. For the Feast of Weeks, see Exodus 34:22. It began on the second day of Passover.
o Technically this is plural, but it is awkward in English. It points to body, which is made up of a plurality of members, but in English we stick with singular regardless of the connection to plural ‘feasts’ and the implication of plural parts of the body of Christ.
p The word here is not just something happening in the future but something that is very soon or about to happen. Jesus used this word to predict his persecution and death coming soon in Matthew 17:12.
q The word materialize is not in the Greek. It’s not explicit what is ‘about to….’ and something more is needed in English. Many translations use the word ‘come.’ I think ‘happen’ or ‘materialize’ or ‘be made real’ or even ‘solidify’ in contrast with being a shadow could work well. The context of pointing to the body of Christ helps clarify what wording is appropriate.
r Literally, ‘be an umpire/referee against you’ or ‘decide against you’ or ‘pass judgment against you.’
s Literally, ‘mind of flesh.’ This seems to be the same usage of ‘of flesh’ as in Colossians 2:11 where it is translated as ‘personal.’ It is meant to show that it is located within the physical body of the individual rather than participating in the larger ‘body of Christ.’
t This whole verse is very difficult to translate into English. To Translate it extremely literally—and incorrectly—it says something like, “May no one pass judgment against you, desiring/intending/delighting regarding humility and religious observance of the messengers, investigating the things which he/she/they has seen being inflated without just cause by his mind of flesh.”
u The Greek words literally mean ‘connecting things’ and ‘bonding things’ and were used to name the tendons and ligaments that serve those functions. Here the metaphor of body parts and members of the body of Christ filling those roles seems best served by using both words.
v Literally, ‘grows the growth of God.’ Another appropriate translation could be ‘grows growth from God’ or ‘grows the growth that comes from God’ or ‘is empowered by God to grow’ or ‘God causes to grow.’