15 (A)He disarmed the rulers and authorities[a] and (B)put them to open shame, by (C)triumphing over them in him.[b]

Let No One Disqualify You

16 Therefore let no one (D)pass judgment on you (E)in questions of food and drink, or with regard to (F)a festival or (G)a new moon or a Sabbath. 17 (H)These are a shadow of the things to come, but (I)the substance belongs to Christ. 18 Let no one (J)disqualify you, (K)insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, (L)going on in detail about visions,[c] (M)puffed up without reason by (N)his sensuous mind, 19 and (O)not (P)holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.

20 If with Christ (Q)you died to the (R)elemental spirits of the world, (S)why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— 21 (T)“Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” 22 ((U)referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to (V)human precepts and teachings? 23 These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in (W)promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are (X)of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.

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Footnotes

  1. Colossians 2:15 Probably demonic rulers and authorities
  2. Colossians 2:15 Or in it (that is, the cross)
  3. Colossians 2:18 Or about the things he has seen

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