Colossians 2:16

CONTEXT-   Conflict over the Doctrine

Colossians 2:1-23

1 I want you to recognize how greatly I exert myself in the contest for you and those in Laodicea [and Hierapolis] and those who have not personally met me, 2:2 that their Christ in you the hope of glory. hearts might be encouraged, being knit together in love to the end of having all rich understanding with full persuasion, that is, the full, exact knowledge of the Mystery pertaining to Christ. 3 In this [Mystery] are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 Now my point is, let no one deceive you by false, persuasive speech. 5 Even if I am not with you physically, yet I am with you spiritually, rejoicing and watching your orderliness and the stability of your believing in Christ. 6 Therefore, as you have received Christ Jesus the lord [in you], so walk in him, 7 strengthening your roots and being edified in him and being firmly established in the family faith as you have been taught, abounding with thanksgiving.
8 Watch carefully that no one steals from you by vain, deceitful philosophy based on men’s tradition and worldly principles, rather than Christ, 9 for in him all the fullness of the Godhead lives completely. 10 And you are absolutely complete in him [Christ] who is the head over all principality and power. 11 You were circumcised in him by the nonphysical circumcision, by stripping off the sin nature, by the circumcision of Christ. 12 You were buried with him in baptism, with whom you were also raised by believing in the energizing power of God, Who raised him from among the dead. 13 When you were dead in sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He [God] made you alive together with him [Christ] by graciously remitting all your sins. 14 Having canceled the handwritten account of our personal debts with its indictments posted adversely against us, he has removed it and nailed it to the cross. 15 By putting off his body, he has boldly made a public spectacle of the principalities and powers by leading them as prisoners in the triumphal procession. 2:16 Therefore, do not let anyone point a finger at you about food or drink or regarding festivals, new moons, or sabbaths, 17 which are a shadow of things to come. The Body is of Christ. 18 Do not allow yourself to be disqualified from the competition and cheated of your reward by those who take pleasure in selfabasement and the bondage of the religious worship of angels, speculating about their own visionary experiences, with vainly inflated, carnal egos. 19 They do not hold fast to the head [Christ], from whom the whole Body, which is completely supported and fused together by its joints and ligaments, grows up with growth from God. 20 Since you are dead with Christ to worldly principles, why do you submit to ordinances which indict you, as those living in the world do? 21 (Do not touch! Do not taste! Do not handle! 22 All these things are abused and lead to corruption.) They are according to the commandments and doctrines of men. 23 These things, which appear to have a word of wisdom, are really self-prescribed religion and a facade of humility and harsh treatment of the body, all of which lack any value as a remedy against carnal indulgence.

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The Structure of Colossians

A - SALUTATION - Col. 1:1 and 2
       B - PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING FOR YOUR AFFAIRS - Col. 1:3-8
                C - PRAYER TO BE FILLED WITH THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD'S WILL - Col. 1:9-23
                       D - LABOR FOR THE DOCTRINE OF THE MYSTERY - Col. 1:24-29
                                E - CONFLICT OVER THE DOCTRINE - Col. 2:1-23
                                E - RESOLUTION OF THE CONFLICT - Col. 3:1-17
                       D - LABOR FOR THE PRACTICE OF THE MYSTERY - Col. 3:18-4:1
               C - PRAYER FOR THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD'S WILL TO BE MADE KNOWN - Col. 4:2-6
        B - ACTION FOR YOUR (AFFAIRS OR) BENEFIT - Col. 4:7-17
A - SALUTATION - Col. 4:18

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