Colossians 2:8-23

81See to it that there is no one who takes you captive through 2philosophy and empty deception in accordance with human tradition, in accordance with the 3elementary principles of the world, 4rather than in accordance with Christ. 9For in Him all the 5fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, 10and in Him you have been 6made 7complete, and 8He is the head 9over every 10ruler and authority; 11and in Him 11you were also circumcised with a circumcision performed without hands, in the removal of 12the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ, 12having been 13buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also 14raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who 15raised Him from the dead. 13And 16when you were 17dead 18in your wrongdoings and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He 19made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our wrongdoings, 14having canceled 20the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and 21He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15When He had 2223disarmed the 24rulers and authorities, He 25made a public display of them, having 26triumphed over them through 27Him.

16Therefore, no one is to 2829act as your judge in regard to 30food and 31drink, or in respect to a 32festival or a 33new moon, or a 34Sabbath 35day-- 17things which are only a 36shadow of what is to come; but the 37substance 38belongs to Christ. 18Take care that no one keeps 3940defrauding you of your prize by 41delighting in humility and the worship of the angels, 42taking his stand on visions he has seen, 4344inflated without cause by his 45fleshly mind, 19and not holding firmly to 46the head, from whom 47the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and 48ligaments, grows with a growth 49which is from God.

2050If you have died with Christ 51to the 52elementary principles of the world, 53why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to 54decrees, such as, 21“Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!” 22(which all refer 55to things destined to perish 56with use)--in accordance with the 57commandments and teachings of man? 23These are matters which do have the 58appearance of wisdom in 5960self-made religion and humility and 61severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against 62fleshly indulgence.