Fullness in Christ and Warnings against Human Traditions
Colossians 2:6-23
6Therefore, just as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in him.7Be rooted and built up in him, and be confirmed in the faith just as you were taught, abounding in thankfulness.8See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit according to human tradition, according to the elemental principles of the world and not according to Christ.9For in him all the fullness of deity dwells bodily.10And you are filled in him, who is the head of every ruler and authority.11In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, by the removal of the body of the flesh, in the circumcision of Christ.12Having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God who raised him from the dead.13And although you were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses.14Having canceled the certificate of debt consisting of decrees that was against us and hostile to us, he has taken it out of the way by nailing it to the cross.15Having disarmed the rulers and authorities, he made a public display of them, having triumphed over them in it.16Therefore let no one judge you in matters of food or drink or in regard to a festival or a new moon or sabbaths.17These are a shadow of the things to come, but the body belongs to Christ.18Let no one disqualify you, taking delight in false humility and the worship of angels, investigating what he has seen, being puffed up without reason by his fleshly mind.19And not holding fast to the head, from whom the whole body, being supplied and held together by its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.20If you died with Christ to the elemental principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit to regulations?21Do not handle, nor taste, nor touch.22These refer to things that all perish with use, according to the commandments and teachings of men.23These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and humility and severe treatment of the body, but they are of no value against the gratification of the flesh.