Parallel Verses
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]:
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,
Amplified
If you have died with Christ to the
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 He is not holding on [firmly] to the head [i.e., Christ, the head of the church], from whom the entire body, being nourished and supported by its ligaments and joints, is caused to grow in size by God. 20 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]: 21 "Do not handle [this]; do not taste [that]; do not touch [those things]?"
Phrases
Cross References
Colossians 2:8
Pay attention so that no one takes you [spiritually] captive through his philosophy and empty deception based on human tradition, according to the principles of the world and not according to Christ.
Colossians 2:14
He canceled the document written in ordinances [Note: This obviously refers to the Mosaic law] that was against us and was opposed to us, and has taken it out of the way, nailing it to the cross.
Colossians 2:16
So, do not allow anyone to judge [i.e., condemn] you for what you eat, or what you drink, or regarding [your non-observance of] a [yearly] festival, or a [monthly] "new moon" observance, or a [weekly] Sabbath day.
Galatians 4:3
So also, when we [Jews] were like children, we were under bondage to the basic worldly rules [of the law of Moses].
John 15:19
If you belonged to the world, the world would love [you as] its own people. But since you do not belong to the world, for I chose you out of it, that is why the world hates you.
John 17:14-16
I have given them your word, and the world hated them because they do not belong to the world just as I do not belong to the world.
Romans 6:2-11
Certainly not! How can we, who died to sin [i.e., stopped living under its power], go on living in it [i.e., practicing it] any longer?
Romans 7:4-6
Therefore, my brothers, you also died to the law [i.e., were released from its binding requirements] through the body of Christ [Note: This seems to refer to Christ's death on the cross, but some think it refers to becoming a part of the church], so that you could belong to someone else, [namely] to Christ, who was raised from the dead in order that we might live spiritually productive lives for God.
2 Corinthians 10:3
For although we live in the world [i.e., in a human body], we do not wage war [i.e., for God and against evil] on a worldly level [i.e., by using the tactics of unsaved people].
Galatians 2:19-20
For it was by means of [this system of] law-keeping that I [realized I] was dead. This was so I could find life through a relationship with God.
Galatians 4:9-12
But now that you have come to know God [as your Father], or rather, to be known by Him [as His children], how can you turn back again to the weak, cheap, elementary teachings [of the law of Moses], to which you [seem to] desire to become enslaved?
Galatians 6:14
But the last thing I want to do is brag [about such things]. For [if I had any bragging to do at all], it would be about [salvation through] the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, for it is through Him that this [sinful] world has been crucified [i.e., died] as far as I am concerned and I have been crucified [i.e., died] as far as it is concerned.
Ephesians 2:15
by abolishing in His fleshly body the [entire Jewish] law of commandments contained in decrees. [This was] so that He could create in [unity with] Himself one new person [i.e., the church] out of the two peoples [i.e., Jews and Gentiles], thereby bringing about peace [between them].
Colossians 3:3
For you died [with Christ, See 2:20], and your life is [now] hidden with Christ in [fellowship with] God.
Hebrews 13:9
Do not continue to be swept off your course by all kinds of strange teachings. For it is good for your hearts to be strengthened by God's unearned favor [upon you] and not by [keeping regulations about] foods, which do not benefit those who observe them.
James 4:4
You people who have become unfaithful to God, do you not know that being [intimate] friends with the world [of sin] means hostility toward God? Therefore, whoever determines to be an [intimate] friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.
1 Peter 4:1-3
Therefore, since Christ has suffered physically, you people should fortify yourselves with the same attitude He had. For the person who has suffered physically [i.e., in standing for Christ] has quit sinning.
1 John 5:19
We [also] know that we are [children] of God and that the people of the whole world lie under [the control of] the evil one [i.e., Satan].