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VERSE STUDY • KJV

Colossians 2:20

KJVBSBWEBASVYLT
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,

Read it in 5 translations

KJV 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,

BSB Berean Standard Bible

If you have died with Christ to the spiritual forces of the world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its regulations:

WEB 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,

ASV 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,

YLT Young’s 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?

Surrounding context — Colossians 2

17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body [is] of Christ.

18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,

19 And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.

20 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,

21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not;

22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?

23 Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.

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Cross-references

Colossians 2:8Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.Galatians 4:3Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:Colossians 2:14Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;Colossians 2:16Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath [days]:Romans 7:4-6Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, [even] to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.Hebrews 13:9Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For [it is] a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.1 John 5:19[And] we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.Galatians 2:19-20For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.2 Corinthians 10:3For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:Galatians 4:9-12But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?1 Peter 4:1-3Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;Galatians 6:14But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.Ephesians 2:15Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, [even] the law of commandments [contained] in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, [so] making peace;John 15:19If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.John 17:14-16I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.James 4:4Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.Romans 6:2-11God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?Colossians 3:3For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.