Colossians 2:20 So, then, if with Christ you’ve put all that puffed-up and childish religion behind you, why do you let yourselves be bullied by it? “Don’t touch this! Don’t...

2:20 MSG

逐节对照

The Message - So, then, if with Christ you’ve put all that puffed-up and childish religion behind you, why do you let yourselves be bullied by it? “Don’t touch this! Don’t taste that! Don’t go near this!” Do you think things that are here today and gone tomorrow are worth that kind of attention? Such things sound impressive if said in a deep enough voice. They even give the illusion of being pious and humble and austere. But they’re just another way of showing off, making yourselves look important.
新标点和合本 - 你们若是与基督同死，脱离了世上的小学，为什么仍像在世俗中活着、服从那“不可拿、不可尝、不可摸”等类的规条呢？
和合本2010（上帝版-简体） - 既然你们与基督同死而脱离了世上粗浅的学说，为什么仍像生活在世俗中一样，去服从那“不可拿、不可尝、不可摸”等类的规条呢？
和合本2010（神版-简体） - 既然你们与基督同死而脱离了世上粗浅的学说，为什么仍像生活在世俗中一样，去服从那“不可拿、不可尝、不可摸”等类的规条呢？
当代译本 - 你们既然和基督一同死了，摆脱了世界的基本规条，为什么仍像活在世俗中，
圣经新译本 - 你们若与基督一同死了，脱离了世俗的言论，为什么仍然好像活在世俗中一样，拘守那“不可摸、不可尝、不可触”的规条呢？
中文标准译本 - 你们如果已经和基督一同死了，脱离了世界的原则，为什么还像活在这世俗中一样，拘守那些
现代标点和合本 - 你们若是与基督同死，脱离了世上的小学，为什么仍像在世俗中活着，服从那“不可拿、不可尝、不可摸”等类的规条呢？
和合本（拼音版） - 你们若是与基督同死，脱离了世上的小学，为什么仍像在世俗中活着，服从那“不可拿、不可尝、不可摸”等类的规条呢？
New International Version - Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules:
New International Reader's Version - Some people still follow the basic spiritual powers of the world. But you died with Christ as far as these powers are concerned. So why do you act as if you still belong to the world? Here are the rules you follow.
English Standard Version - If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations—
New Living Translation - You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the spiritual powers of this world. So why do you keep on following the rules of the world, such as,
Christian Standard Bible - If you died with Christ to the elements of this world, why do you live as if you still belonged to the world? Why do you submit to regulations:
New American Standard Bible - If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as,
New King James Version - Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations—
Amplified Bible - If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were still living in the world, do you submit to rules and regulations, such as,
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,
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,
New English Translation - 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?
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,
新標點和合本 - 你們若是與基督同死，脫離了世上的小學，為甚麼仍像在世俗中活着、服從那「不可拿、不可嘗、不可摸」等類的規條呢？
和合本2010（上帝版-繁體） - 既然你們與基督同死而脫離了世上粗淺的學說，為甚麼仍像生活在世俗中一樣，去服從那「不可拿、不可嘗、不可摸」等類的規條呢？
和合本2010（神版-繁體） - 既然你們與基督同死而脫離了世上粗淺的學說，為甚麼仍像生活在世俗中一樣，去服從那「不可拿、不可嘗、不可摸」等類的規條呢？
當代譯本 - 你們既然和基督一同死了，擺脫了世界的基本規條，為什麼仍像活在世俗中，
聖經新譯本 - 你們若與基督一同死了，脫離了世俗的言論，為甚麼仍然好像活在世俗中一樣，拘守那“不可摸、不可嘗、不可觸”的規條呢？
呂振中譯本 - 你們既和基督一同死了，脫離了世界所信的星質之靈，為甚麼還在世俗中活着，而去服從那
中文標準譯本 - 你們如果已經和基督一同死了，脫離了世界的原則，為什麼還像活在這世俗中一樣，拘守那些
現代標點和合本 - 你們若是與基督同死，脫離了世上的小學，為什麼仍像在世俗中活著，服從那「不可拿、不可嘗、不可摸」等類的規條呢？
文理和合譯本 - 爾既與基督同死、以絕世之小學、胡為從乎世、服於儀文乎、
文理委辦譯本 - 爾效基督之死、脫此世小學、奚可從世故、尚儀文乎、
施約瑟淺文理新舊約聖經 - 若爾與基督同死、脫斯世之賤質、何仍遵儀文、似猶活於世俗中、
吳經熊文理聖詠與新經全集 - 爾等既與基督同死、而已灑然脫於世俗之蒙學矣、乃何又鰓鰓遵循人為之禁令、一若尚生於世俗之中耶？
Nueva Versión Internacional - Si con Cristo ustedes ya han muerto a los principios de este mundo, ¿por qué, como si todavía pertenecieran al mundo, se someten a preceptos tales como:
현대인의 성경 - 여러분이 이 세상의 초보적 원리에 대해서 그리스도와 함께 죽었다면 어째서 세상에 속한 사람들처럼 “손대지 말아라! 맛보지 말아라! 만지지 말아라!” 는 율법적 규정에 복종합니까?
Новый Русский Перевод - Если вы умерли со Христом для законов этого мира, то почему же вы по-прежнему живете как люди этого мира, подчиняясь таким земным правилам, как:
Восточный перевод - Если вы умерли с Масихом для духовных сил этого мира, то почему же вы по-прежнему живёте как люди, принадлежащие этому миру, подчиняясь таким земным правилам, как:
Восточный перевод, версия с «Аллахом» - Если вы умерли с аль-Масихом для духовных сил этого мира, то почему же вы по-прежнему живёте как люди, принадлежащие этому миру, подчиняясь таким земным правилам, как:
Восточный перевод, версия для Таджикистана - Если вы умерли с Масехом для духовных сил этого мира, то почему же вы по-прежнему живёте как люди, принадлежащие этому миру, подчиняясь таким земным правилам, как:
La Bible du Semeur 2015 - Vous êtes morts avec Christ à tous ces principes élémentaires qui régissent la vie des gens de ce monde. Pourquoi alors, comme si votre vie appartenait encore à ce monde, vous laissez-vous imposer des règles du genre :
リビングバイブル - キリストと共に死んだあなたがたは、この世の教えから解放されたのです。それならなぜ、「あれは食べるな、なめるな、さわってもいけない」などという規則に縛られ、この世の考えに従う生活を続けているのですか。
Nestle Aland 28 - Εἰ ἀπεθάνετε σὺν Χριστῷ ἀπὸ τῶν στοιχείων τοῦ κόσμου, τί ὡς ζῶντες ἐν κόσμῳ δογματίζεσθε;
unfoldingWord® Greek New Testament - εἰ ἀπεθάνετε σὺν Χριστῷ ἀπὸ τῶν στοιχείων τοῦ κόσμου, τί ὡς ζῶντες ἐν κόσμῳ δογματίζεσθε:
Nova Versão Internacional - Já que vocês morreram com Cristo para os princípios elementares deste mundo, por que, como se ainda pertencessem a ele, vocês se submetem a regras:
Hoffnung für alle - Wenn ihr nun mit Christus gestorben seid, dann seid ihr auch von den Mächten und Zwängen dieser Welt befreit. Weshalb unterwerft ihr euch dann von neuem ihren Forderungen und lebt so, als wäre diese Welt für euch maßgebend?
Kinh Thánh Hiện Đại - Anh chị em đã cùng chết với Chúa Cứu Thế, được giải thoát khỏi những quan niệm lầm lạc của thế gian, sao còn tuân theo các nguyên tắc kiêng cữ như:
พระคริสตธรรมคัมภีร์ไทย ฉบับอมตธรรมร่วมสมัย - ในเมื่อท่านตายกับพระคริสต์ พ้นจากหลักการพื้นฐานต่างๆ ของโลกนี้ ทำไมยังยอมอยู่ใต้กฎต่างๆ ราวกับว่าท่านยังเป็นของโลก
พระคัมภีร์ ฉบับแปลใหม่ - ถ้าท่านได้ตายจากการบังคับของอำนาจแห่งวัตถุท้องฟ้าด้วยกันกับพระคริสต์แล้ว ทำไมท่านจึงยอมอยู่ใต้อำนาจกฎต่างๆ ของมัน ราวกับว่าท่านยังใช้ชีวิตทางโลกอีก

交叉引用

Colossians 3:3 - Your old life is dead. Your new life, which is your real life—even though invisible to spectators—is with Christ in God. He is your life. When Christ (your real life, remember) shows up again on this earth, you’ll show up, too—the real you, the glorious you. Meanwhile, be content with obscurity, like Christ.
Romans 6:3 - That’s what baptism into the life of Jesus means. When we are lowered into the water, it is like the burial of Jesus; when we are raised up out of the water, it is like the resurrection of Jesus. Each of us is raised into a light-filled world by our Father so that we can see where we’re going in our new grace-sovereign country.
Romans 6:6 - Could it be any clearer? Our old way of life was nailed to the cross with Christ, a decisive end to that sin-miserable life—no longer captive to sin’s demands! What we believe is this: If we get included in Christ’s sin-conquering death, we also get included in his life-saving resurrection. We know that when Jesus was raised from the dead it was a signal of the end of death-as-the-end. Never again will death have the last word. When Jesus died, he took sin down with him, but alive he brings God down to us. From now on, think of it this way: Sin speaks a dead language that means nothing to you; God speaks your mother tongue, and you hang on every word. You are dead to sin and alive to God. That’s what Jesus did.
James 4:4 - You’re cheating on God. If all you want is your own way, flirting with the world every chance you get, you end up enemies of God and his way. And do you suppose God doesn’t care? The proverb has it that “he’s a fiercely jealous lover.” And what he gives in love is far better than anything else you’ll find. It’s common knowledge that “God goes against the willful proud; God gives grace to the willing humble.”
Galatians 6:14 - For my part, I am going to boast about nothing but the Cross of our Master, Jesus Christ. Because of that Cross, I have been crucified in relation to the world, set free from the stifling atmosphere of pleasing others and fitting into the little patterns that they dictate. Can’t you see the central issue in all this? It is not what you and I do—submit to circumcision, reject circumcision. It is what God is doing, and he is creating something totally new, a free life! All who walk by this standard are the true Israel of God—his chosen people. Peace and mercy on them!
2 Corinthians 10:3 - The world is unprincipled. It’s dog-eat-dog out there! The world doesn’t fight fair. But we don’t live or fight our battles that way—never have and never will. The tools of our trade aren’t for marketing or manipulation, but they are for demolishing that entire massively corrupt culture. We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ. Our tools are ready at hand for clearing the ground of every obstruction and building lives of obedience into maturity.
Galatians 4:12 - My dear friends, what I would really like you to do is try to put yourselves in my shoes to the same extent that I, when I was with you, put myself in yours. You were very sensitive and kind then. You did not come down on me personally. You were well aware that the reason I ended up preaching to you was that I was physically broken, and so, prevented from continuing my journey, I was forced to stop with you. That is how I came to preach to you.
Romans 7:4 - So, my friends, this is something like what has taken place with you. When Christ died he took that entire rule-dominated way of life down with him and left it in the tomb, leaving you free to “marry” a resurrection life and bear “offspring” of faith for God. For as long as we lived that old way of life, doing whatever we felt we could get away with, sin was calling most of the shots as the old law code hemmed us in. And this made us all the more rebellious. In the end, all we had to show for it was miscarriages and stillbirths. But now that we’re no longer shackled to that domineering mate of sin, and out from under all those oppressive regulations and fine print, we’re free to live a new life in the freedom of God.
Hebrews 13:9 - Don’t be lured away from him by the latest speculations about him. The grace of Christ is the only good ground for life. Products named after Christ don’t seem to do much for those who buy them.
Galatians 2:19 - What actually took place is this: I tried keeping rules and working my head off to please God, and it didn’t work. So I quit being a “law man” so that I could be God’s man. Christ’s life showed me how, and enabled me to do it. I identified myself completely with him. Indeed, I have been crucified with Christ. My ego is no longer central. It is no longer important that I appear righteous before you or have your good opinion, and I am no longer driven to impress God. Christ lives in me. The life you see me living is not “mine,” but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I am not going to go back on that.
1 Peter 4:1 - Since Jesus went through everything you’re going through and more, learn to think like him. Think of your sufferings as a weaning from that old sinful habit of always expecting to get your own way. Then you’ll be able to live out your days free to pursue what God wants instead of being tyrannized by what you want.
1 Peter 4:3 - You’ve already put in your time in that God-ignorant way of life, partying night after night, a drunken and profligate life. Now it’s time to be done with it for good. Of course, your old friends don’t understand why you don’t join in with the old gang anymore. But you don’t have to give an account to them. They’re the ones who will be called on the carpet—and before God himself.
Colossians 2:16 - So don’t put up with anyone pressuring you in details of diet, worship services, or holy days. All those things are mere shadows cast before what was to come; the substance is Christ.
Colossians 2:8 - Watch out for people who try to dazzle you with big words and intellectual double-talk. They want to drag you off into endless arguments that never amount to anything. They spread their ideas through the empty traditions of human beings and the empty superstitions of spirit beings. But that’s not the way of Christ. Everything of God gets expressed in him, so you can see and hear him clearly. You don’t need a telescope, a microscope, or a horoscope to realize the fullness of Christ, and the emptiness of the universe without him. When you come to him, that fullness comes together for you, too. His power extends over everything.

逐节对照

交叉引用

The Message - So, then, if with Christ you’ve put all that puffed-up and childish religion behind you, why do you let yourselves be bullied by it? “Don’t touch this! Don’t taste that! Don’t go near this!” Do you think things that are here today and gone tomorrow are worth that kind of attention? Such things sound impressive if said in a deep enough voice. They even give the illusion of being pious and humble and austere. But they’re just another way of showing off, making yourselves look important.
新标点和合本 - 你们若是与基督同死，脱离了世上的小学，为什么仍像在世俗中活着、服从那“不可拿、不可尝、不可摸”等类的规条呢？
和合本2010（上帝版-简体） - 既然你们与基督同死而脱离了世上粗浅的学说，为什么仍像生活在世俗中一样，去服从那“不可拿、不可尝、不可摸”等类的规条呢？
和合本2010（神版-简体） - 既然你们与基督同死而脱离了世上粗浅的学说，为什么仍像生活在世俗中一样，去服从那“不可拿、不可尝、不可摸”等类的规条呢？
当代译本 - 你们既然和基督一同死了，摆脱了世界的基本规条，为什么仍像活在世俗中，
圣经新译本 - 你们若与基督一同死了，脱离了世俗的言论，为什么仍然好像活在世俗中一样，拘守那“不可摸、不可尝、不可触”的规条呢？
中文标准译本 - 你们如果已经和基督一同死了，脱离了世界的原则，为什么还像活在这世俗中一样，拘守那些
现代标点和合本 - 你们若是与基督同死，脱离了世上的小学，为什么仍像在世俗中活着，服从那“不可拿、不可尝、不可摸”等类的规条呢？
和合本（拼音版） - 你们若是与基督同死，脱离了世上的小学，为什么仍像在世俗中活着，服从那“不可拿、不可尝、不可摸”等类的规条呢？
New International Version - Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules:
New International Reader's Version - Some people still follow the basic spiritual powers of the world. But you died with Christ as far as these powers are concerned. So why do you act as if you still belong to the world? Here are the rules you follow.
English Standard Version - If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations—
New Living Translation - You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the spiritual powers of this world. So why do you keep on following the rules of the world, such as,
Christian Standard Bible - If you died with Christ to the elements of this world, why do you live as if you still belonged to the world? Why do you submit to regulations:
New American Standard Bible - If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as,
New King James Version - Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations—
Amplified Bible - If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were still living in the world, do you submit to rules and regulations, such as,
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,
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,
New English Translation - 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?
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,
新標點和合本 - 你們若是與基督同死，脫離了世上的小學，為甚麼仍像在世俗中活着、服從那「不可拿、不可嘗、不可摸」等類的規條呢？
和合本2010（上帝版-繁體） - 既然你們與基督同死而脫離了世上粗淺的學說，為甚麼仍像生活在世俗中一樣，去服從那「不可拿、不可嘗、不可摸」等類的規條呢？
和合本2010（神版-繁體） - 既然你們與基督同死而脫離了世上粗淺的學說，為甚麼仍像生活在世俗中一樣，去服從那「不可拿、不可嘗、不可摸」等類的規條呢？
當代譯本 - 你們既然和基督一同死了，擺脫了世界的基本規條，為什麼仍像活在世俗中，
聖經新譯本 - 你們若與基督一同死了，脫離了世俗的言論，為甚麼仍然好像活在世俗中一樣，拘守那“不可摸、不可嘗、不可觸”的規條呢？
呂振中譯本 - 你們既和基督一同死了，脫離了世界所信的星質之靈，為甚麼還在世俗中活着，而去服從那
中文標準譯本 - 你們如果已經和基督一同死了，脫離了世界的原則，為什麼還像活在這世俗中一樣，拘守那些
現代標點和合本 - 你們若是與基督同死，脫離了世上的小學，為什麼仍像在世俗中活著，服從那「不可拿、不可嘗、不可摸」等類的規條呢？
文理和合譯本 - 爾既與基督同死、以絕世之小學、胡為從乎世、服於儀文乎、
文理委辦譯本 - 爾效基督之死、脫此世小學、奚可從世故、尚儀文乎、
施約瑟淺文理新舊約聖經 - 若爾與基督同死、脫斯世之賤質、何仍遵儀文、似猶活於世俗中、
吳經熊文理聖詠與新經全集 - 爾等既與基督同死、而已灑然脫於世俗之蒙學矣、乃何又鰓鰓遵循人為之禁令、一若尚生於世俗之中耶？
Nueva Versión Internacional - Si con Cristo ustedes ya han muerto a los principios de este mundo, ¿por qué, como si todavía pertenecieran al mundo, se someten a preceptos tales como:
현대인의 성경 - 여러분이 이 세상의 초보적 원리에 대해서 그리스도와 함께 죽었다면 어째서 세상에 속한 사람들처럼 “손대지 말아라! 맛보지 말아라! 만지지 말아라!” 는 율법적 규정에 복종합니까?
Новый Русский Перевод - Если вы умерли со Христом для законов этого мира, то почему же вы по-прежнему живете как люди этого мира, подчиняясь таким земным правилам, как:
Восточный перевод - Если вы умерли с Масихом для духовных сил этого мира, то почему же вы по-прежнему живёте как люди, принадлежащие этому миру, подчиняясь таким земным правилам, как:
Восточный перевод, версия с «Аллахом» - Если вы умерли с аль-Масихом для духовных сил этого мира, то почему же вы по-прежнему живёте как люди, принадлежащие этому миру, подчиняясь таким земным правилам, как:
Восточный перевод, версия для Таджикистана - Если вы умерли с Масехом для духовных сил этого мира, то почему же вы по-прежнему живёте как люди, принадлежащие этому миру, подчиняясь таким земным правилам, как:
La Bible du Semeur 2015 - Vous êtes morts avec Christ à tous ces principes élémentaires qui régissent la vie des gens de ce monde. Pourquoi alors, comme si votre vie appartenait encore à ce monde, vous laissez-vous imposer des règles du genre :
リビングバイブル - キリストと共に死んだあなたがたは、この世の教えから解放されたのです。それならなぜ、「あれは食べるな、なめるな、さわってもいけない」などという規則に縛られ、この世の考えに従う生活を続けているのですか。
Nestle Aland 28 - Εἰ ἀπεθάνετε σὺν Χριστῷ ἀπὸ τῶν στοιχείων τοῦ κόσμου, τί ὡς ζῶντες ἐν κόσμῳ δογματίζεσθε;
unfoldingWord® Greek New Testament - εἰ ἀπεθάνετε σὺν Χριστῷ ἀπὸ τῶν στοιχείων τοῦ κόσμου, τί ὡς ζῶντες ἐν κόσμῳ δογματίζεσθε:
Nova Versão Internacional - Já que vocês morreram com Cristo para os princípios elementares deste mundo, por que, como se ainda pertencessem a ele, vocês se submetem a regras:
Hoffnung für alle - Wenn ihr nun mit Christus gestorben seid, dann seid ihr auch von den Mächten und Zwängen dieser Welt befreit. Weshalb unterwerft ihr euch dann von neuem ihren Forderungen und lebt so, als wäre diese Welt für euch maßgebend?
Kinh Thánh Hiện Đại - Anh chị em đã cùng chết với Chúa Cứu Thế, được giải thoát khỏi những quan niệm lầm lạc của thế gian, sao còn tuân theo các nguyên tắc kiêng cữ như:
พระคริสตธรรมคัมภีร์ไทย ฉบับอมตธรรมร่วมสมัย - ในเมื่อท่านตายกับพระคริสต์ พ้นจากหลักการพื้นฐานต่างๆ ของโลกนี้ ทำไมยังยอมอยู่ใต้กฎต่างๆ ราวกับว่าท่านยังเป็นของโลก
พระคัมภีร์ ฉบับแปลใหม่ - ถ้าท่านได้ตายจากการบังคับของอำนาจแห่งวัตถุท้องฟ้าด้วยกันกับพระคริสต์แล้ว ทำไมท่านจึงยอมอยู่ใต้อำนาจกฎต่างๆ ของมัน ราวกับว่าท่านยังใช้ชีวิตทางโลกอีก

Colossians 3:3 - Your old life is dead. Your new life, which is your real life—even though invisible to spectators—is with Christ in God. He is your life. When Christ (your real life, remember) shows up again on this earth, you’ll show up, too—the real you, the glorious you. Meanwhile, be content with obscurity, like Christ.
Romans 6:3 - That’s what baptism into the life of Jesus means. When we are lowered into the water, it is like the burial of Jesus; when we are raised up out of the water, it is like the resurrection of Jesus. Each of us is raised into a light-filled world by our Father so that we can see where we’re going in our new grace-sovereign country.
Romans 6:6 - Could it be any clearer? Our old way of life was nailed to the cross with Christ, a decisive end to that sin-miserable life—no longer captive to sin’s demands! What we believe is this: If we get included in Christ’s sin-conquering death, we also get included in his life-saving resurrection. We know that when Jesus was raised from the dead it was a signal of the end of death-as-the-end. Never again will death have the last word. When Jesus died, he took sin down with him, but alive he brings God down to us. From now on, think of it this way: Sin speaks a dead language that means nothing to you; God speaks your mother tongue, and you hang on every word. You are dead to sin and alive to God. That’s what Jesus did.
James 4:4 - You’re cheating on God. If all you want is your own way, flirting with the world every chance you get, you end up enemies of God and his way. And do you suppose God doesn’t care? The proverb has it that “he’s a fiercely jealous lover.” And what he gives in love is far better than anything else you’ll find. It’s common knowledge that “God goes against the willful proud; God gives grace to the willing humble.”
Galatians 6:14 - For my part, I am going to boast about nothing but the Cross of our Master, Jesus Christ. Because of that Cross, I have been crucified in relation to the world, set free from the stifling atmosphere of pleasing others and fitting into the little patterns that they dictate. Can’t you see the central issue in all this? It is not what you and I do—submit to circumcision, reject circumcision. It is what God is doing, and he is creating something totally new, a free life! All who walk by this standard are the true Israel of God—his chosen people. Peace and mercy on them!
2 Corinthians 10:3 - The world is unprincipled. It’s dog-eat-dog out there! The world doesn’t fight fair. But we don’t live or fight our battles that way—never have and never will. The tools of our trade aren’t for marketing or manipulation, but they are for demolishing that entire massively corrupt culture. We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ. Our tools are ready at hand for clearing the ground of every obstruction and building lives of obedience into maturity.
Galatians 4:12 - My dear friends, what I would really like you to do is try to put yourselves in my shoes to the same extent that I, when I was with you, put myself in yours. You were very sensitive and kind then. You did not come down on me personally. You were well aware that the reason I ended up preaching to you was that I was physically broken, and so, prevented from continuing my journey, I was forced to stop with you. That is how I came to preach to you.
Romans 7:4 - So, my friends, this is something like what has taken place with you. When Christ died he took that entire rule-dominated way of life down with him and left it in the tomb, leaving you free to “marry” a resurrection life and bear “offspring” of faith for God. For as long as we lived that old way of life, doing whatever we felt we could get away with, sin was calling most of the shots as the old law code hemmed us in. And this made us all the more rebellious. In the end, all we had to show for it was miscarriages and stillbirths. But now that we’re no longer shackled to that domineering mate of sin, and out from under all those oppressive regulations and fine print, we’re free to live a new life in the freedom of God.
Hebrews 13:9 - Don’t be lured away from him by the latest speculations about him. The grace of Christ is the only good ground for life. Products named after Christ don’t seem to do much for those who buy them.
Galatians 2:19 - What actually took place is this: I tried keeping rules and working my head off to please God, and it didn’t work. So I quit being a “law man” so that I could be God’s man. Christ’s life showed me how, and enabled me to do it. I identified myself completely with him. Indeed, I have been crucified with Christ. My ego is no longer central. It is no longer important that I appear righteous before you or have your good opinion, and I am no longer driven to impress God. Christ lives in me. The life you see me living is not “mine,” but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I am not going to go back on that.
1 Peter 4:1 - Since Jesus went through everything you’re going through and more, learn to think like him. Think of your sufferings as a weaning from that old sinful habit of always expecting to get your own way. Then you’ll be able to live out your days free to pursue what God wants instead of being tyrannized by what you want.
1 Peter 4:3 - You’ve already put in your time in that God-ignorant way of life, partying night after night, a drunken and profligate life. Now it’s time to be done with it for good. Of course, your old friends don’t understand why you don’t join in with the old gang anymore. But you don’t have to give an account to them. They’re the ones who will be called on the carpet—and before God himself.
Colossians 2:16 - So don’t put up with anyone pressuring you in details of diet, worship services, or holy days. All those things are mere shadows cast before what was to come; the substance is Christ.
Colossians 2:8 - Watch out for people who try to dazzle you with big words and intellectual double-talk. They want to drag you off into endless arguments that never amount to anything. They spread their ideas through the empty traditions of human beings and the empty superstitions of spirit beings. But that’s not the way of Christ. Everything of God gets expressed in him, so you can see and hear him clearly. You don’t need a telescope, a microscope, or a horoscope to realize the fullness of Christ, and the emptiness of the universe without him. When you come to him, that fullness comes together for you, too. His power extends over everything.