Parallel Verses
Amplified
If you have died with Christ to the
New American Standard Bible
King James Version
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,
Holman Bible
If you died with the Messiah
International Standard Version
If you have died with the Messiah to the basic principles of the world, why are you submitting to its decrees as though you still lived in the world?
A Conservative Version
If ye died with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why do ye submit to rules, as though living in the world?
American Standard Version
If ye died with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, do ye subject yourselves to ordinances,
An Understandable Version
Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of the world, [then] why, as though you [still] lived in [harmony with] the world, do you submit yourselves to [its] rules, [such as]:
Anderson New Testament
If, then, you have died with Christ from the elements of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you submit to ordinances?
Bible in Basic English
If you were made free, by your death with Christ, from the rules of the world, why do you put yourselves under the authority of orders
Common New Testament
If with Christ you died to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you still belonged to it, do you submit to regulations such as,
Daniel Mace New Testament
If then you are dead with Christ, in respect of those shadows of the Jewish state; why do ye, as if you were still in that state, submit to those ordinances?
Darby Translation
If ye have died with Christ from the elements of the world, why as if alive in the world do ye subject yourselves to ordinances?
Godbey New Testament
If along with Christ you are dead from the elements of the world, why are you dogmatized as living in the world,
Goodspeed New Testament
If you have died with Christ to material ways of looking at things, why do you act as though you still belonged to the world, and submit to rules like
John Wesley New Testament
Therefore if ye are dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as living in the world, receive ye ordinances,
Julia Smith Translation
If therefore ye died with Christ from the elements of the world, why, as living in the world, do ye dogmatize,
King James 2000
Therefore if you be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are you subject to ordinances,
Lexham Expanded Bible
If you have died with Christ to the elemental spirits of the world, why do you submit [to them] as [if] living in the world?
Modern King James verseion
If then you died with Christ from the elements of the world, why, as though living in the world, are you subject to its ordinances:
Modern Spelling Tyndale-Coverdale
Wherefore, if ye be dead with Christ from ordinances of the world: Why as though ye yet lived in the world, are ye led with traditions of them that say
Moffatt New Testament
As you died with Christ to the Elemental spirits of the world, why live as if you still belonged to the world? Why submit to rules and regulations like
Montgomery New Testament
If you died with Christ to the world's rudimentary notions, why, as if you still lived in the world, do you submit yourselves to dogmatisms found on teachings and doctrines of men??21 such as "Do not handle this," "You must not taste that," "Do not touch this"??22 all things which are intended to perish in the using?
NET Bible
If you have died with Christ to the elemental spirits of the world, why do you submit to them as though you lived in the world?
New Heart English Bible
If you died with Christ from the elements of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to ordinances,
Noyes New Testament
If ye died with Christ to the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, do ye subject yourselves to ordinances, such as,
Sawyer New Testament
If therefore you died with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why do you practice ordinances as living in the world,??21 you shall not touch, you shall not taste, you shall not feel,??22 all which are to perish in the using??ccording to the commandments and instructions of men?
The Emphasized Bible
If ye have died, together with Christ, from the first principles of the world, why, as though alive in the world, are ye submitting to decrees, -
Thomas Haweis New Testament
If then ye have been dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye dogmatically taught,
Twentieth Century New Testament
Since, with Christ, you became dead to the puerile teaching of this world, why do you submit, as though your life were still that of the world,
Webster
Wherefore, if ye are dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,
Weymouth New Testament
If you have died with Christ and have escaped from the world's rudimentary notions, why, as though your life still belonged to the world, do you submit to such precepts as
Williams New Testament
If once through fellowship with Christ you died and were separated from the world's crude notions, why do you live as though you belonged to the world? Why submit to rules such as,
World English Bible
If you died with Christ from the elements of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to ordinances,
Worrell New Testament
If ye died with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as if living in the world, do ye subject yourselves to decrees,
Worsley New Testament
If therefore ye be dead with Christ from the elements of the world; why, as if living in the world, are ye subject to ceremonial ordinances,
Youngs Literal Translation
If, then, ye did die with the Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances?
Themes
Asceticism » Extreme application of » Rebuked by paul
Ceremonialism » False religion, characteristics of
Christ » Dying with surrendered life » Characteristics of
death » Figurative of regeneration
natural Death » Illustrates the change produced in conversion
Defilement » Ceremonial, abolished under the gospel
Dying with Christ » Fellowship with Christ's death
Christian Liberty » Is freedom from » Jewish ordinances
Ordinance » Insufficiency of, for salvation
Religion » Formalism » Warnings against
Religion » Characteristics of » Ceremonialism
Sin » Conviction of, results of » Dead to
The Surrendered life » Of Christ to his mission for further treatment of this subject » Dead to sin
Topics
Interlinear
References
Word Count of 37 Translations in Colossians 2:20
Images Colossians 2:20
Prayers for Colossians 2:20
Verse Info
Context Readings
Beware Of Requirements Invented By Humans
19
and not holding fast to the head [of the body, Jesus Christ], from whom the entire body, supplied and knit together by its joints and ligaments, grows with the growth [that can come only] from God.
20 If you have died with Christ to the
Phrases
Cross References
Colossians 2:8
See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception [pseudo-intellectual babble], according to the tradition [and musings] of mere men, following the
Colossians 2:14
having canceled out the
Colossians 2:16
Therefore let no one judge you in regard to food and drink or in regard to [the observance of] a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day.
Galatians 4:3
So also we [whether Jews or Gentiles], when we were children (spiritually immature), were kept like slaves under the elementary [man-made religious or philosophical] teachings of the world.
John 15:19
John 17:14-16
Romans 6:2-11
Certainly not! How can we, the very ones who died to sin, continue to live in it any longer?
Romans 7:4-6
Therefore, my
2 Corinthians 10:3
For though we walk in the flesh [as mortal men], we are not carrying on our [spiritual] warfare according to the flesh and using the weapons of man.
Galatians 2:19-20
For through the Law I died to the Law and its demands on me [because salvation is provided through the death and resurrection of Christ], so that I might [from now on] live to God.
Galatians 4:9-12
Now, however, since you have come to know [the true] God [through personal experience], or rather to be known by God, how is it that you are turning back again to the weak and worthless elemental principles [of religions and philosophies], to which you want to be enslaved all over again?
Galatians 6:14
But far be it from me to boast [in anything or anyone], except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
Ephesians 2:15
by abolishing in His [own crucified] flesh the hostility caused by the Law with its commandments contained in ordinances [which He satisfied]; so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thereby establishing peace.
Colossians 3:3
For you died [to this world], and your [new, real] life is hidden with Christ in God.
Hebrews 13:9
Do not be carried away by diverse and strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be established and strengthened by grace and not by foods [rules of diet and ritualistic meals], which bring no benefit or spiritual growth to those who observe them.
James 4:4
You adulteresses [disloyal sinners—flirting with the world and breaking your vow to God]! Do you not know that being the world’s friend [that is, loving the things of the world] is being God’s enemy? So whoever chooses to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
1 Peter 4:1-3
Therefore, since
1 John 5:19
We know [for a fact] that we are of God, and the whole world [around us] lies in the power of the evil one [opposing God and His precepts].