Colossians 2
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For I want you to know what a great a conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh,
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that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ,
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b in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
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Now this I say c lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words.
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For d though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see e your good order and the f steadfastness of your faith in Christ.
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g As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,
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h rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.
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Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to i the tradition of men, according to the j basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.
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For k in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily;
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and you are complete in Him, who is the l head of all principality and power.
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In Him you were also m circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by n putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ,
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o buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through p faith in the working of God, q who raised Him from the dead.
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And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses,
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r having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.
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s Having disarmed t principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.
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So let no one u judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths,
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v which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.
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Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
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and not holding fast to w the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, x grows with the increase that is from God.
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Therefore, if you y died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, z why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations -
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a "Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,"
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which all concern things which perish with the using - b according to the commandments and doctrines of men?
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c These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.
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Cross References
Philippians 1:30
Having the same conflict which you saw in me and now hear is in me.
Colossians 1:29
To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.
Colossians 4:12
Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.
1 Thessalonians 2:2
But even after we had suffered before and were spitefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God in much conflict.
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Cross References
1 Corinthians 1:24
But to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
1 Corinthians 1:30
But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God - and righteousness and sanctification and redemption -
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Cross References
Romans 16:18
For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.
2 Corinthians 11:13
For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ.
Ephesians 4:14
That we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting.
Ephesians 5:6
Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
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Cross References
1 Thessalonians 2:17
But we, brethren, having been taken away from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavored more eagerly to see your face with great desire.
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Cross References
1 Corinthians 14:40
Let all things be done decently and in order.
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Cross References
1 Peter 5:9
Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.
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Cross References
1 Thessalonians 4:1
Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God.
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Cross References
Ephesians 2:21
In whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.
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Cross References
Galatians 1:14
And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.
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Cross References
Galatians 4:3
Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world.
Galatians 4:9
But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage?
Galatians 4:10
You observe days and months and seasons and years.
Colossians 2:20
Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations -
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Cross References
John 1:14
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
Colossians 1:19
For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell.
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Cross References
Ephesians 1:20
Which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places.
Ephesians 1:21
Far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.
1 Peter 3:22
Who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.
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Cross References
Deuteronomy 10:16
Therefore circumcise the foreskin of your heart, and be stiff-necked no longer.
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Cross References
Romans 6:6
Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.
Romans 7:24
O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?
Galatians 5:24
And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
Colossians 3:5
Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
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Cross References
Romans 6:4
Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
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Cross References
Ephesians 1:19
And what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power
Ephesians 1:20
Which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places.
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Cross References
Acts 2:24
Whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it.
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Cross References
Ephesians 2:15
Having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace.
Ephesians 2:16
And that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.
Colossians 2:20
Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations -
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Cross References
Isaiah 53:12
Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, And He shall divide the spoil with the strong, Because He poured out His soul unto death, And He was numbered with the transgressors, And He bore the sin of many, And made intercession for the transgressors.
Hebrews 2:14
Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil.
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Cross References
Ephesians 6:12
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
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Cross References
Romans 14:3
Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him.
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Cross References
Hebrews 8:5
Who serve the copy and shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to make the tabernacle. For He said, "See that you make all things according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.
Hebrews 10:1
For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect.
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Cross References
Ephesians 4:15
But, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head - Christ -
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Cross References
Ephesians 1:23
Which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
Ephesians 4:16
From whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
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Cross References
Romans 6:2 - 5
Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?
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Cross References
Galatians 4:3
Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world.
Galatians 4:9
But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage?
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Cross References
1 Timothy 4:3
Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.
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Cross References
Isaiah 29:13
Therefore the Lord said: "Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths And honor Me with their lips, But have removed their hearts far from Me, And their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men.
Matthew 15:9
And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'
Titus 1:14
Not giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn from the truth.
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Cross References
Romans 13:14
But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.
1 Timothy 4:8
For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.