Colossians 2
1 In particular, I want you to realize that I am (exerting myself very greatly/working very hard) on your behalf, on behalf of those who are in Laodicea [city], and on behalf of all those others who have not seen me personally.
ⲁ̅ϯⲟⲩⲱϣ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲉⲧⲣⲉⲧⲛ̅ⲉⲓⲙⲉ ϫⲉ ⲟⲩⲁϣ ⲛ̅ϭⲟⲧ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲁⲅⲱⲛ ⲉϯⲉⲓⲣⲉ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟϥ ϩⲁⲣⲱⲧⲛ̅. ⲙⲛ̅ⲛⲉⲧϩⲛ̅ⲗⲁⲟⲇⲓⲕⲓⲁ. ⲙⲛ̅ⲟⲩⲟⲛ ⲛⲓⲙ ⲉⲧⲉⲙ̅ⲡⲟⲩⲛⲁⲩ ⲉⲡⲁϩⲟ ϩⲛ̅ⲧⲥⲁⲣⲝ̅.
2 I am doing this in order that they and you [SYN] might be strengthened [spiritually] as you are united in loving [one another]. And I am doing this in order that they and you might fully and thoroughly [DOU] understand the message that God has now revealed; that is, in order that they and you might truly know the message from God our Father and about Christ,
ⲃ̅ϫⲉⲕⲁⲥ ⲉⲣⲉⲡⲉⲩϩⲏⲧ ⲙ̅ⲧⲟⲛ ⲉⲁⲩⲧⲁϫⲣⲟⲟⲩ ϩⲛ̅ⲟⲩⲁⲅⲁⲡⲏ. ⲁⲩⲱ ⲉⲙⲛ̅ⲧⲣⲙ̅ⲙⲁⲟ ⲛⲓⲙ ⲙ̅ⲡⲧⲱⲧ ⲛ̅ϩⲏⲧ ⲛ̅ⲧⲙⲛ̅ⲧⲥⲁⲃⲉ ⲉⲡⲥⲟⲟⲩⲛ ⲙ̅ⲡⲙⲩⲥⲧⲏⲣⲓⲟⲛ ⲙ̅ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ.
3 who alone is able to cause them and you to understand thoroughly [DOU] [this very important message].
ⲅ̅ⲡⲁⲓ̈ ⲉⲧⲟⲩⲛ̅ϩⲏⲧϥ̅ ⲛ̅ϭⲓⲛⲁϩⲱⲱⲣ ⲧⲏⲣⲟⲩ ⲛ̅ⲧⲥⲟⲫⲓⲁ. ⲙⲛ̅ⲡⲥⲟⲟⲩⲛ ⲉⲩϩⲏⲡ.
4 I am telling you this in order that no one may deceive you by persuasive arguments;
ⲇ̅ⲡⲁⲓ̈ ⲉⲓ̈ϫⲱ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟϥ ϫⲉ ⲛ̅ⲛⲉⲗⲁⲁⲩ ⲣ̅ϩⲁⲗ ⲙ̅ⲙⲱⲧⲛ̅ ϩⲛ̅ϩⲉⲛϣⲁϫⲉ ⲉⲛⲉⲥⲱⲟⲩ·
5 because, even though I am absent from you physically, I am very concerned about you. At the same time, I am rejoicing because I know that you are united [with each other] and that you believe firmly in Christ.
ⲉ̅ⲉϣϫⲉϩⲛ̅ⲧⲥⲁⲣⲝ̅ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲉⲛϯϩⲁⲧⲉⲧⲏⲩⲧⲛ̅ ⲁⲛ. ⲁⲗⲗⲁ ϯⲛⲙ̅ⲙⲏⲧⲛ̅ ϩⲙ̅ⲡⲉⲡ̅ⲛ̅ⲁ̅ ⲉⲉⲓⲣⲁϣⲉ. ⲁⲩⲱ ⲉⲉⲓϭⲱϣⲧ̅ ⲉⲧⲉⲧⲛ̅ⲧⲁⲝⲓⲥ. ⲁⲩⲱ ⲡⲧⲁϫⲣⲟ ⲛ̅ⲧⲉⲧⲛ̅ⲡⲓⲥⲧⲓⲥ ⲉⲧϫⲓ ⲉϩⲟⲩⲛ ⲉⲡⲉⲭ̅ⲥ̅.
6 In a way that is (consistent/in harmony) with [the message that] you received about Christ Jesus, who is our Lord, conduct yourselves as you should, since you have a close relationship with him.
ⲋ̅ⲛ̅ⲑⲉ ϭⲉ ⲉⲛⲧⲁⲧⲉⲧⲛ̅ϫⲓ ⲙ̅ⲡⲉⲭ̅ⲥ̅ ⲓ̅ⲥ̅ ⲡϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ ⲙⲟⲟϣⲉ ϩⲣⲁⲓ̈ ⲛ̅ϩⲏⲧϥ̅
7 Specifically, continue believing and practicing [MET, DOU] what you were first taught about Christ. Continue to do this more and more; continue to fIrmly believe all the true teaching, just like [Epaphras] taught it to you. And continue thanking [God, our Father], very much [for all that he has done for you].
ⲍ̅ⲉⲧⲉⲧⲛ̅ϫⲉⲛⲟⲩⲛⲉ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ. ⲁⲩⲱ ⲉⲩⲕⲱⲧ ⲙ̅ⲙⲱⲧⲛ̅ ⲛ̅ϩⲏⲧϥ̅. ⲉⲧⲉⲧⲛ̅ⲧⲁϫⲣⲏⲩ ϩⲛ̅ⲧⲡⲓⲥⲧⲓⲥ. ⲕⲁⲧⲁⲑⲉ ⲉⲛⲧⲁⲩⲧⲥⲁⲃⲉⲧⲏⲩⲧⲛ̅ ⲉⲧⲉⲧⲛ̅ⲣ̅ϩⲟⲩⲟ ϩⲛ̅ⲟⲩϣⲡ̅ϩⲙⲟⲧ.
8 Make sure that no one forces you [(pl)] to become his disciples [MET] by his teaching you a religious philosophy/doctrine that is worthless and false. Such a philosophy is false because it teaches what mere human beings think, because it teaches people elementary regulations/rules [that are concerned merely with what is external/physical], and because it teaches what is contrary to [the true teaching about] Christ.
ⲏ̅ϭⲱϣⲧ̅ ⲙⲏⲡⲱⲥ ⲛ̅ⲧⲉⲟⲩⲁ ϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲉϥϣⲱⲗ ⲙ̅ⲙⲱⲧⲛ̅ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲓⲧⲛ̅ⲧⲉⲫⲓⲗⲟⲥⲟⲫⲓⲁ ⲙⲛ̅ⲧⲁⲡⲁⲧⲏ ⲉⲧϣⲟⲩⲉⲓⲧ. ⲕⲁⲧⲁⲙ̅ⲡⲁⲣⲁⲇⲟⲥⲓⲥ ⲛ̅ⲛ̅ⲣⲱⲙⲉ. ⲕⲁⲧⲁⲛⲉⲥⲧⲟⲓⲭⲓⲟⲛ ⲙ̅ⲡⲕⲟⲥⲙⲟⲥ. ⲉⲛⲕⲁⲧⲁⲡⲉⲭ̅ⲥ̅ ⲓ̅ⲥ̅ ⲁⲛ.
9 It is in Christ’s body that God lives completely.
ⲑ̅ϫⲉ ⲉⲣⲉⲡϫⲱⲕ ⲧⲏⲣϥ̅ ⲛ̅ⲧⲙⲛ̅ⲧⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲟⲩⲏϩ ⲛ̅ϩⲏⲧϥ̅ ⲥⲱⲙⲁⲧⲓⲕⲱⲥ.
10 And you are spiritually complete because you have a close relationship with Christ, who rules over every other ruler.
ⲓ̅ⲁⲩⲱ ⲉⲧⲉⲧⲛ̅ϣⲟⲟⲡ ⲛ̅ϩⲏⲧϥ̅ ⲉⲧⲉⲧⲛ̅ϫⲏⲕ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲉⲧⲉⲡⲁⲓ̈ ⲡⲉ ⲧⲁⲡⲉ ⲛ̅ⲁⲣⲭⲏ ⲛⲓⲙ ϩⲓⲉⲝⲟⲩⲥⲓⲁ ⲛⲓⲙ.
11 Specifically, because of your close relationship with Christ, it is as though [MET] you were circumcised {Christ circumcised you} [spiritually]. This does not mean that someone circumcised you physically [MTY], but it means that Christ completely removed your self-directed nature.
ⲓ̅ⲁ̅ⲡⲁⲓ̈ ⲟⲛ ⲉⲛⲧⲁⲩⲥⲃ̅ⲃⲉⲧⲏⲩⲧⲛ̅ ⲛ̅ϩⲏⲧϥ̅ ϩⲛ̅ⲟⲩⲥⲃ̅ⲃⲉ ⲁϫⲛ̅ϭⲓϫ ϩⲙ̅ⲡⲕⲱⲕⲁϩⲏⲩ ⲙ̅ⲡⲥⲱⲙⲁ ⲛ̅ⲧⲥⲁⲣⲝ̅ ϩⲙ̅ⲡⲥⲃ̅ⲃⲉ ⲙ̅ⲡⲉⲭ̅ⲥ̅.
12 And specifically, when you were baptized, [it was as though] [MET] you [had died and] were buried with Christ, and [it was as though] [MET] God caused you to live again with Christ as a result of your believing that God acted powerfully; specifically, by your believing that God caused Christ to become alive again.
ⲓ̅ⲃ̅ⲉⲁⲩⲧⲉⲙⲥ̅ⲧⲏⲩⲧⲛ̅ ⲛⲙ̅ⲙⲁϥ ϩⲙ̅ⲡⲃⲁⲡⲧⲓⲥⲙⲁ. ⲡⲁⲓ̈ ⲟⲛ ⲉⲛⲧⲁⲧⲉⲧⲛ̅ⲧⲱⲟⲩⲛ ⲛ̅ϩⲏⲧϥ̅ ϩⲛ̅ⲧⲡⲓⲥⲧⲓⲥ ⲛ̅ⲧⲉⲛⲉⲣⲅⲓⲁ ⲙ̅ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ. ⲡⲁⲓ̈ ⲉⲛⲧⲁϥⲧⲟⲩⲛⲟⲥϥ̅ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲛ̅ⲛⲉⲧⲙⲟⲟⲩⲧ.
13 And specifically, you [who are non-Jews], because of your sins, you were [spiritually] dead [before you trusted in Christ]. You were uncircumcised [spiritually]; that is, your self-directed nature controlled you. Nevertheless, it was you whom God caused to become alive [spiritually because of their close relationship] [MET] with Christ. And specifically, God forgave us all our sins.
ⲓ̅ⲅ̅ⲁⲩⲱ ⲛ̅ⲧⲱⲧⲛ̅ ⲉⲧⲉⲧⲛ̅ⲙⲟⲟⲩⲧ ϩⲛ̅ⲙ̅ⲡⲁⲣⲁⲡⲧⲱⲙⲁ ⲙⲛ̅ⲧⲙⲛ̅ⲧⲁⲧⲥⲃ̅ⲃⲉ ⲛ̅ⲧⲉⲧⲛ̅ⲥⲁⲣⲝ̅. ⲁϥⲧⲁⲛϩⲉⲧⲧⲏⲩⲧⲛ̅ ⲛⲙ̅ⲙⲁϥ. ⲉⲁϥⲕⲱ ⲛⲏⲧⲛ̅ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲛ̅ⲛⲉⲧⲛ̅ⲡⲁⲣⲁⲡⲧⲱⲙⲁ ⲧⲏⲣⲟⲩ.
14 [It is just] as [though] he canceled ([the charges] against us/the sins [that we had committed]) for which [God] will punish us. And [it was just] as [though] [MET] it was [the charges on] that document/paper that he canceled by nailing them to the cross [when they nailed Christ on the cross].
ⲓ̅ⲇ̅ⲉⲁϥϥⲱⲧⲉ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲙ̅ⲡⲭⲓⲣⲟⲅⲣⲁⲫⲟⲛ ⲉⲧⲉⲣⲟⲛ ϩⲛ̅ⲛ̅ⲇⲟⲅⲙⲁ. ⲡⲁⲓ̈ ⲉⲛⲉϥϣⲟⲟⲡ ⲟⲩⲃⲏⲛ. ⲁϥϥⲓ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟϥ ⲛ̅ⲧⲙⲏⲧⲉ. ⲁϥⲱϥⲧ̅ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟϥ ⲉⲡⲉⲥ̅xⲟ̅ⲥ̅.
15 And specifically, God defeated the [evil] spirit beings that rule, and he demonstrated/showed that publicly; that is, he triumphed over them as a result of what [Christ did].
ⲓ̅ⲉ̅ⲉⲁϥⲕⲁⲁϥⲕⲁϩⲏⲩ ⲛ̅ⲛ̅ⲁⲣⲭⲏ ⲙⲛ̅ⲛⲉ(ⲝⲟⲩⲥⲓⲁ) ⲁⲩⲱ ⲁϥⲟⲩⲟⲛϩⲟⲩ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ. ⲉⲁϥⲧϫⲁⲉⲓⲟϥ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲛ̅ⲟⲩⲡⲁⲣϩⲏⲥⲓⲁ ϩⲣⲁⲓ̈ ⲛ̅ϩⲏⲧϥ̅.
16 So disregard anyone who says that God will punish you because you eat [certain foods] and because you drink [certain drinks] or because [you do not celebrate] special [yearly] festivals or celebrate the time when the new moon [appears] or weekly (Sabbaths/Jewish days of rest).
ⲓ̅ⲋ̅ⲙ̅ⲡⲣ̅ⲧⲣⲉⲗⲁⲁⲩ ϭⲉ ⲕⲣⲓ(ⲛⲉ) ⲙⲙⲱⲧⲛ̅. ⲏ̅ ϩⲛ̅ⲟⲩⲱⲙ. ⲏ̅ ϩⲛ̅ⲟⲩⲥⲱ ⲏ̅ ϩⲛ̅ⲟⲩⲙⲉⲣⲟⲥ ⲛ̅ϣⲁ. ⲏ̅ ⲛ̅ⲥⲟⲩⲁ. ⲏ̅ ⲛ̅ⲥⲁⲃⲃⲁⲧⲟⲛ.
17 [Disregard such people] because those [regulations/rules about food and drink and festivals] are [only] like a shadow [MET] [that is cast by something that is approaching; that is, they merely represent] the real spiritual blessings that Christ [has given to you].
ⲓ̅ⲍ̅ⲛⲁⲓ̈ ⲉⲧϣⲟⲟⲡ ⲛ̅ϩⲁⲓ̈ⲃⲉⲥ ⲛ̅ⲛⲉⲧⲛⲁϣⲱⲡⲉ. ⲡⲥⲱⲙⲁ ⲇⲉ ⲙ̅ⲡⲉⲭ̅ⲥ̅
18 Disregard those who say that God will punish you because [you do not worship God in the way that] they say [that you should]; that is, they insist that you should humiliate yourselves and that you should worship the angels. [Disregard such people] since they base their authority on things that they have never seen, and since they are proud without reason because their self-directed nature [controls] what they think,
ⲓ̅ⲏ̅ⲙ̅ⲡⲣ̅ⲧⲣⲉⲗⲁⲁⲩ ⲃⲉⲣⲉⲧⲏⲩⲧⲛ̅ ⲛ̅ϩⲏⲧϥ̅. ⲉϥⲟⲩⲱϣ ϩⲛ̅ⲟⲩⲑⲃ̅ⲃⲓⲟ. ⲙⲛ̅ⲡϣⲙ̅ϣⲉ ⲛ̅ⲛ̅ⲁⲅⲅⲉⲗⲟⲥ. ⲛⲉⲛⲧⲁϥⲛⲁⲩ ⲉⲣⲟⲟⲩ ⲉϥⲙⲟⲟϣⲉ ⲉⲓⲕⲏ. ⲉϥϫⲟⲥⲉ ⲛ̅ϩⲏⲧ ϩⲓⲧⲙ̅ⲡϩⲏⲧ ⲛ̅ⲧⲉϥⲥⲁⲣⲝ̅.
19 and since they do not teach the true teaching about Christ [MET]. [Christ is the one who causes all of his people to develop/grow spiritually as God plans that they should develop/grow, just like] [MET] a person’s head directs how his body grows, as it is held together by its joints and ligaments.
ⲓ̅ⲑ̅ⲁⲩⲱ ⲉⲛϥ̅ⲁⲙⲁϩⲧⲉ ⲁⲛ ⲛ̅ⲧⲁⲡⲉ. ⲧⲁⲓ̈ ⲉⲧⲉⲣⲉⲡⲥⲱⲙⲁ ⲧⲏⲣϥ̅ ϫⲓ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲛ̅ϩⲏⲧⲥ̅ ϩⲓⲧⲛ̅ⲛⲉⲧⲣⲁ ⲙⲛ̅ⲙ̅ⲙⲣ̅ⲣⲉ. ⲉⲩⲕⲱⲧ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟϥ. ⲁⲩⲱ ⲉϥⲁⲓ̈ⲁⲓ̈. ϥⲁⲩⲝⲁⲛⲉ ⲛ̅ⲧⲁⲩⲝⲏⲥⲓⲥ ⲙ̅ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ.
20 [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
ⲕ̅ⲉϣϫⲉⲁⲧⲉⲧⲛ̅ⲙⲟⲩ ⲙⲛ̅ⲡⲉⲭ̅ⲥ̅ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲛ̅ⲛⲉⲥⲧⲟⲓⲭⲓⲟⲛ ⲙ̅ⲡⲕⲟⲥⲙⲟⲥ. ⲁϩⲣⲱⲧⲛ̅ ⲧⲉⲧⲛ̅ⲇⲟⲅⲙⲁⲧⲓⲍⲉ ϩⲙ̅ⲡⲕⲟⲥⲙⲟⲥ ⲛ̅ⲑⲉ ⲛ̅ⲛⲉⲧⲟⲛϩ̅.
21 such as ‘Do not handle [certain things]’, ‘Do not taste [certain things]’, ‘Do not touch [certain things]’, as if you still had to obey such regulations/rules.
ⲕ̅ⲁ̅ⲙ̅ⲡⲣ̅ϫⲱϩ ⲟⲩⲇⲉ ⲙ̅ⲡⲣ̅ϫⲓϯⲡⲉ. ⲟⲩⲇⲉ ⲙ̅ⲡⲣ̅ϩⲱⲛ ⲉϩⲟⲩⲛ.
22 All those things are intended to cease to exist when we use them. [And do not obey such regulations/rules], because they are what mere human teachers command and teach.
ⲕ̅ⲃ̅ⲛⲁⲓ̈ ⲧⲏⲣⲟⲩ ⲉⲩϣⲟⲟⲡ ⲉⲩⲧⲁⲕⲟ ⲙ̅ⲡⲉⲧⲥ̅ⲧⲟ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ. ⲕⲁⲧⲁⲛ̅ϩⲱⲛ. ⲁⲩⲱ ⲛⲉⲥⲃⲱ ⲛ̅ⲛ̅ⲣⲱⲙⲉ.
23 [Do not obey such] regulations/rules; they only cause people to do what their self-directed nature wants to do. [Those regulations] seem to be wise because they [urge people to] worship as mere human teachers have decided. [They urge] that [people] should humiliate themselves, and that [people] should treat their bodies harshly. But those regulations/rules do not help [people] at all to not do the sinful things that their self-directed nature wants to do.
ⲕ̅ⲅ̅ⲛⲁⲓ̈ ⲙⲉⲛ ⲉⲩⲛⲧⲁⲩ ⲙ̅ⲙⲁⲩ ⲛ̅ⲟⲩϣⲁϫⲉ ⲛ̅ⲥⲟⲫⲓⲁ ϩⲛ̅ⲟⲩⲟⲩⲱϣ ⲛ̅ϣⲙ̅ϣⲉ. ⲙⲛ̅ⲟⲩⲑⲃ̅ⲃⲓⲟ. ⲙⲛ̅ⲟⲩⲙⲛ̅ⲧⲁⲧϯⲥⲟ ⲙ̅ⲡⲥⲱⲙⲁ ϩⲛ̅ⲟⲩϯⲙⲏ ⲁⲛ ⲡⲣⲟⲥⲡⲥⲉⲓ ⲛ̅ⲧⲥⲁⲣⲝ̅·
