1 For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and [for] them at Laodicea, and [for] as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; 2 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; 3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words. 5 For 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 received Christ Jesus the Lord, [so] walk ye in him: 7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. 8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: 11 In 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 Buried 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 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; 14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; 15 [And] having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. 16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath [days]: 17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body [is] of Christ. 18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19 And not holding the Head, 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 dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, 21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not; 22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? 23 Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.
Colossians · King James Version (with Apocrypha)
Colossians 2 King James Version (with Apocrypha)
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
Cross references (23)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Colossians 1:29; Philippians 1:30; Revelation 3:14–22; Colossians 4:12–13; Revelation 1:11
- 2 Colossians 1:27; Colossians 4:8; Romans 16:25; Colossians 3:14; Ephesians 6:22
- 3 1 Corinthians 1:24; 1 Corinthians 1:30; Romans 11:33; 1 Corinthians 2:6–8; 2 Timothy 3:15–17
- 4 1 John 4:1; Ephesians 4:14; Romans 16:18–19; Matthew 24:4; 2 John 7
- 5 1 Corinthians 5:3–4; 1 Thessalonians 2:17; 1 Corinthians 16:13; 2 Peter 3:17–18; 1 Peter 5:9
- 6 Colossians 1:10; 1 John 2:6; 1 Thessalonians 4:1; Ephesians 5:1–2; Galatians 2:20
- 7 Ephesians 3:17; Jeremiah 17:8; Ephesians 2:20–22; John 15:4–5; Colossians 1:23
- 8 1 Timothy 6:20; Ephesians 5:6; Matthew 7:15; Galatians 4:9; 1 Corinthians 3:18–19
- 9 Colossians 1:19; John 1:14; John 10:30; 1 Timothy 3:16; John 14:9–10
- 10 Ephesians 3:19; Colossians 1:16–18; 1 Corinthians 1:30–31; 1 Peter 3:22; Ephesians 1:20–23
- 11 Romans 2:29; Philippians 3:3; Romans 6:6; Deuteronomy 30:6; Galatians 5:24
- 12 Romans 6:3–5; Galatians 3:27; 1 Peter 3:21; Ephesians 2:4–6; Colossians 3:1–2
- 13 Ephesians 2:5–6; Romans 8:11; Ephesians 2:1; 2 Corinthians 5:19; Hebrews 9:14
- 14 Ephesians 2:14–16; Isaiah 44:22; Isaiah 43:25; Hebrews 8:13; 1 Peter 2:24
- 15 Hebrews 2:14; Ephesians 4:8; Matthew 12:29; John 12:31–32; Isaiah 53:12
- 16 Romans 14:5–6; Romans 14:10; Galatians 4:10; Romans 14:13–17; Romans 14:2–3
- 17 Hebrews 10:1; Hebrews 8:5; John 1:17; Hebrews 9:9; Hebrews 4:1–11
- 18 Colossians 2:8; 1 John 4:1–2; Colossians 2:23; 1 Timothy 4:1; 1 Timothy 1:7
- 19 Ephesians 4:15–16; John 15:4–6; 1 Timothy 2:4–6; Romans 12:4–5; 1 Peter 3:8
- 20 Colossians 2:8; Colossians 2:14; Colossians 2:16; Galatians 4:3; Romans 7:4–6
- 21 1 Timothy 4:3; Isaiah 52:11; Genesis 3:3; 2 Corinthians 6:17
- 22 Isaiah 29:13; Titus 1:14; 1 Corinthians 6:13; Mark 7:18–19; Mark 7:7–13
- 23 1 Timothy 4:8; Colossians 2:8; Colossians 2:22; Colossians 2:18; Matthew 23:27–28
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
Again, he takes hold on them beforehand with their own testimony, saying, "As therefore ye received." We introduce no strange addition, he saith, neither do ye. "Walk ye in Him," for He is the Way that leadeth to the Father: not in the Angels; this way leadeth not thither.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 13 (1889)
And they state that it was clearly on this account that Paul said, "And He Himself is all things;" and again, "All things are to Him, and of Him are all things;" and further, "In Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead;" and yet again, "All things are gathered together by God in Christ." Thus do they interpret these …
… Thy Spirit, by Thy good and pious servant: "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ: for in Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily." And since at that time (as Thou, O Light of my heart, knowest) the words …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 1 (1886)
For not otherwise than by the cross did He effect this; as Paul likewise said: "And the handwriting which was contrary to us, even it He took out of the way, nailing it to His cross." And his saying too, "He shall baptize you with the Spirit," is that of one who was foretelling the events after the resurrection.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)
A most precious possession therefore is the knowledge of doctrines: also there is need of a wakeful soul, since there are many that make spoil through philosophy and vain deceit.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 7 (1894)