COL 2:20 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed for doing comparisons of different translations. Click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible. Please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance=normal (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the OET-RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT If you died with Christ from the elemental principles of the world, why, as living in the world, are you being subjected to its decrees:

UST It is as if you have died, because God included you when the Messiah died. This frees you from the spiritual beings that rule this world. So, you should not obey the rules that these people have given to you. Doing so would mean that you were really still part of this world.

BSB § 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:

BLB If you have died with Christ, away from the principles of the world, why as if living in the world do you submit to decrees:

AICNT [[Therefore]][fn] If you died with Christ from the elements of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations?

2:20, Therefore: Later manuscripts add. TR

OEB ¶ Since, with Christ, you became dead to the puerile teaching of this world, why do you submit, as if you still belonged to the world,

WEBBE If you died with Christ from the elemental spirits of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to ordinances,

WMBB If you died with Messiah from the elemental spirits of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to ordinances,

NET 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?

LSV If, then, you died with the Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as living in the world, are you subject to ordinances—

FBV If you died with Christ to the religious demands that this world insists upon,[fn] why would you make yourself subject to such demands as if you were still part of this world?

2:20 Probably referring both to Jewish religious regulations and to pagan ceremonies and taboos.

TCNT [fn]If you have died with Christ to the elements of the world, why, as though you were living in the world, do you submit to regulations such as,

2:20 If ¦ If then ANT PCK TR

T4T It is as though [MET] you died with Christ. So you no longer have to obey elementary regulations/rules that are concerned merely with what is external/physical, just like a dead person no longer has to do anything. So, do not submit to regulations/rules

LEB If you have died with Christ to the elemental spirits of the world, why do you submit to them as if living in the world?

BBE If you were made free, by your death with Christ, from the rules of the world, why do you put yourselves under the authority of orders

Moff No Moff COL book available

Wymth If you have died with Christ and have escaped from the world's rudimentary notions, why, as though your life still belonged to the world, do you submit to such precepts as

ASV If ye died with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, do ye subject yourselves to ordinances,

DRA If then you be dead with Christ from the elements of this world, why do you yet decree as though living in the world?

YLT 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?

Drby If ye have died with Christ from the elements of the world, why as [if] alive in [the] world do ye subject yourselves to ordinances?

RV If ye died with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, do ye subject yourselves to ordinances,

Wbstr Wherefore, if ye are dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,

KJB-1769 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,
(Wherefore if ye/you_all be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye/you_all subject to ordinances, )

KJB-1611 Wherefore if yee bee dead with Christ frō the [fn]rudiments of the world: why, as though liuing in the world, are ye subiect to ordinances?
(Wherefore if ye/you_all be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world: why, as though living in the world, are ye/you_all subiect to ordinances?)

2:20 Or, elements.

Bshps Wherfore, yf ye be dead with Christe from ye rudimentes of the world: why, as though lyuyng in the worlde, are ye led with traditions,
(Wherfore, if ye/you_all be dead with Christ from ye/you_all rudimentes of the world: why, as though living in the world, are ye/you_all led with traditions,)

Gnva Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the ordinances of the world, why, as though ye liued in ye world, are ye burdened with traditions?
(Wherefore if ye/you_all be dead with Christ from the ordinances of the world, why, as though ye/you_all lived in ye/you_all world, are ye/you_all burdened with traditions? )

Cvdl Wherfore yf ye be deed with Christ from the ordinaunces of the worlde, why are ye holden the with soch tradicions, as though ye lyued after the worlde? As whan they saye:
(Wherefore if ye/you_all be dead with Christ from the ordinaunces of the world, why are ye/you_all holden the with such tradicions, as though ye/you_all lyued after the world? As when they say:)

TNT Wherfore if ye be deed with Christ from ordinaunces of the worlde why as though ye yet lived in the worlde are ye ledde with tradicions of them that saye?
(Wherefore if ye/you_all be dead with Christ from ordinaunces of the world why as though ye/you_all yet lived in the world are ye/you_all led with tradicions of them that saye? )

Wycl For if ye ben deed with Crist fro the elementis of this world, what yit as men lyuynge to the world demen ye?
(For if ye/you_all been dead with Christ from the elementis of this world, what yet as men living to the world demen ye?)

Luth So ihr denn nun abgestorben seid mit Christo den Satzungen der Welt, was lasset ihr euch denn fangen mit Satzungen, als lebetet ihr noch in der Welt?
(So you/their/her because now abgestorben seid with Christo the Satzungen the/of_the world, what/which let you/their/her you because fangen with Satzungen, als liveset you/their/her still in the/of_the world?)

ClVg Si ergo mortui estis cum Christo ab elementis hujus mundi: quid adhuc tamquam viventes in mundo decernitis?[fn]
(When/But_if therefore mortui estis when/with Christo away elementis huyus mundi: quid adhuc tamquam viventes in mundo decernitis? )

2.20 Si ergo mortui. Hactenus monuit stantes ne seducerentur, nunc eos aggreditur, qui jam aliqua de lege servabant; quasi dicat: Vos videte ne seducamini, sed vos aliis dicite quare legem servatis? Elementa dicit creaturas hujus mundi. Si, inquit, cum fidem Christi accepistis, estis separati a peccato, et ab elementis mundi, id est ab abstinentia, et ab omni superstitione creaturarum mundi. Quid adhuc, etc. Potest accipi cum Christo ac sicut Christus.

2.20 When/But_if therefore mortui. Hactenus monuit stantes not seducerentur, now them aggreditur, who yam aliqua about lege servabant; as_if let_him_say: Vos videte not seducamini, but you aliis dicite quare legem servatis? Elementa dicit creaturas huyus mundi. Si, inquit, when/with faith of_Christ accepistis, estis separati from peccato, and away elementis mundi, id it_is away abstinentia, and away all superstitione creaturarum mundi. What adhuc, etc. Potest accipi cum Christo ac sicut Christus.

UGNT εἰ ἀπεθάνετε σὺν Χριστῷ ἀπὸ τῶν στοιχείων τοῦ κόσμου, τί ὡς ζῶντες ἐν κόσμῳ δογματίζεσθε:
(ei apethanete sun Ⱪristōi apo tōn stoiⱪeiōn tou kosmou, ti hōs zōntes en kosmōi dogmatizesthe:)

SBL-GNT Εἰ ἀπεθάνετε σὺν Χριστῷ ἀπὸ τῶν στοιχείων τοῦ κόσμου, τί ὡς ζῶντες ἐν κόσμῳ δογματίζεσθε·
(Ei apethanete sun Ⱪristōi apo tōn stoiⱪeiōn tou kosmou, ti hōs zōntes en kosmōi dogmatizesthe;)

TC-GNT [fn]Εἰ ἀπεθάνετε σὺν [fn]Χριστῷ, ἀπὸ τῶν στοιχείων τοῦ κόσμου, τί ὡς ζῶντες ἐν κόσμῳ δογματίζεσθε,
(Ei apethanete sun Ⱪristōi, apo tōn stoiⱪeiōn tou kosmou, ti hōs zōntes en kosmōi dogmatizesthe, )

2:20 ει ¦ ει ουν ANT PCK TR

2:20 χριστω ¦ τω χριστω ANT TR

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs (from our SR-GNT base).

TTN Tyndale Theme Notes:

Legalism

The law was of critical importance for the Jewish people, and their understanding of religion was largely centered on the observance of rules and rituals. This was natural to them because God had given his law to the Jewish people as a mark of his favor upon them and as a way for them to ratify the covenant agreement he had made with them. However, many Jews added to the laws that God had given his people, trying to develop rules for virtually every situation in which they might find themselves. Their motivation was often a positive desire not to transgress any of God’s laws. As Jesus often pointed out, however, the rules developed by religious leaders sometimes became obstacles to obeying God’s instructions (Mark 7:1-15). Furthermore, many Jews thought that following the law would automatically endear them to God.

Paul frequently confronted this kind of problematic legalism in the early churches. For example, in Colosse, false teachers, influenced by Jewish beliefs, were insisting that Christians follow certain rules as a way of expressing their faith (Colossians 2:16-23). Paul criticized this in light of faith in Christ. As the culmination of all God’s plans and purposes, Christ is the center of all true piety.

This does not mean that rules for conduct are inherently bad. Some rules, such as the prohibition on lying (Col 3:9), clearly manifest an aspect of Christ’s character. Paul also had no problem with individual Christians imposing rules on themselves that they think are conducive to their own growth in Christ (cp. Rom 14:5; 1 Cor 8). But they must not require others to obey these self-imposed rules.

Passages for Further Study

Matt 23:13-33; Mark 7:1-15; Gal 2:14-21; Col 2:16-23

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-condition-fact

εἰ ἀπεθάνετε σὺν Χριστῷ

if ˱you_all˲_died_off with Christ

Paul is speaking as if this were a hypothetical possibility, but he means that it is actually true. If your language does not state something as a condition if it is certain or true, then you could translate the clause as an affirmative statement. Alternate translation: [Since you died with Christ]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἀπεθάνετε σὺν Χριστῷ

˱you_all˲_died_off with Christ

Paul now returns to a metaphor he has used earlier: believers have died and “been buried with” Christ (2:12). This means that, in their union with Christ, believers share in his death so that they too have died. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use the language of analogy, or express the idea plainly. Alternate translation: [you participated in the Messiah’s death]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

ἀπεθάνετε σὺν Χριστῷ ἀπὸ

˱you_all˲_died_off with Christ from

To “die from” something does not identify what caused the death, but rather it indicates what the death separated the person from. Here, then, the Colossians were separated from the elemental principles by participating in Christ’s death. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a comparable idiom or express the idea with a short phrase. Alternate translation: [you died with Christ, which separated you from] or [you died with Christ, which rescued you from]

Note 4 topic: translate-unknown

τῶν στοιχείων τοῦ κόσμου

the principles ˱of˲_the world

As in 2:8, the word elemental principles could refer to: (1) the spiritual powers of this world. Alternate translation: [the powerful spiritual beings that rule this world] (2) basic human opinions about how the world works. Alternate translation: [the basic things that humans teach about the world]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / infostructure

τί ὡς ζῶντες ἐν κόσμῳ δογματίζεσθε

why as_though living in /the/_world ˱you_all˲_/are_being/_indoctrinated

If this structure would be difficult to understand in your language, you could move the phrase as living in the world to the end of the sentence. Alternate translation: [why are you being subjected to the world’s decrees as living in the world]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ζῶντες ἐν κόσμῳ

living in /the/_world

Paul uses the verb living to describe the Colossian’s way of life. They are indeed physically alive and in the world, but he wants them to behave in ways that do not match what people in the world normally do. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea with a verbal phrase such as “belonging to” or “conforming to.” Alternate translation: [belonging to the world] or [conforming to the world]

Note 7 topic: grammar-connect-condition-contrary

ὡς ζῶντες ἐν κόσμῳ

as_though living in /the/_world

In this context, the word as introduces something that is not true: the Colossians do not actually live in the world. If as would be misunderstood your language, you could clarify that living in the world is not true of the Colossians, using a phrase such as “as if.” Alternate translation: [as if living in the world]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

τί ὡς ζῶντες ἐν κόσμῳ δογματίζεσθε

why as_though living in /the/_world ˱you_all˲_/are_being/_indoctrinated

Paul does not ask this question because he is looking for information. Rather, he asks it to involve the Corinthians in what he is arguing. Here, there is no answer to the question, since that is exactly Paul’s point. There is no reason for them to be subjected to its decrees. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea as an imperative or a “should” statement. Alternate translation: [do not, as living in the world, be subjected to its decrees] or [you should not, as living in the world, be subjected to its decrees]

Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

δογματίζεσθε

˱you_all˲_/are_being/_indoctrinated

If your language does not use this passive form, you could express the idea in its active form, perhaps by using a similar verb. Alternate translation: [do you submit to its decrees] or [do you subject yourselves to its decrees]

Note 10 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

δογματίζεσθε

˱you_all˲_/are_being/_indoctrinated

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea behind decrees, you could express the idea with a relative clause. Alternate translation: [are you being subjected to what people require] or [are you being subjected to what it commands]

Parallel COL 2:20