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.
Denn ich will, daß ihr wisset, welch großen Kampf ich habe um euch und die in Laodicäa und so viele mein Angesicht im Fleische nicht gesehen haben,
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,
auf daß ihre Herzen getröstet sein mögen, vereinigt in Liebe und zu allem Reichtum der vollen Gewißheit des Verständnisses, zur Erkenntnis des Geheimnisses Gottes,
3 who alone is able to cause them and you to understand thoroughly [DOU] [this very important message].
in welchem verborgen sind alle Schätze der Weisheit und der Erkenntnis.
4 I am telling you this in order that no one may deceive you by persuasive arguments;
Dies sage ich aber, auf daß niemand euch verführe durch überredende Worte.
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.
Denn wenn ich auch dem Fleische nach abwesend bin, so bin ich doch im Geiste bei euch, mich freuend und sehend eure Ordnung und die Festigkeit eures Glaubens an Christum.
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.
Wie ihr nun den Christus Jesus, den Herrn, empfangen habt, so wandelt in ihm,
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].
gewurzelt und auferbaut in ihm und befestigt [W. auferbaut werdend befestigt werdend] in dem Glauben, so wie ihr gelehrt worden seid, überströmend in demselben mit Danksagung.
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.
Sehet zu, daß nicht jemand sei, der euch als Beute wegführe durch die Philosophie und durch eitlen Betrug, nach der Überlieferung der Menschen, nach den Elementen der Welt, und nicht nach Christo.
9 It is in Christ’s body that God lives completely.
Denn in ihm wohnt die ganze Fülle der Gottheit leibhaftig;
10 And you are spiritually complete because you have a close relationship with Christ, who rules over every other ruler.
und ihr seid vollendet [O. erfüllt, zur Fülle gebracht [vergl. v 9]] in ihm, welcher das Haupt jedes Fürstentums und jeder Gewalt ist;
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.
in welchem ihr auch beschnitten worden seid mit einer nicht mit Händen geschehenen Beschneidung, in dem Ausziehen des Leibes des Fleisches, in der Beschneidung des Christus,
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.
mit ihm begraben in der Taufe, in welcher [O. welchem] ihr auch mitauferweckt worden seid durch den Glauben an die wirksame Kraft Gottes, der ihn aus den Toten auferweckt hat.
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.
Und euch, als ihr tot waret in den Vergehungen und in der Vorhaut eures Fleisches, hat er mitlebendig gemacht mit ihm, indem er uns alle Vergehungen vergeben hat;
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].
als er ausgetilgt die uns entgegenstehende Handschrift [O. den Schuldbrief] in Satzungen, die wider uns war, hat er sie auch aus der Mitte weggenommen, indem er sie an das Kreuz nagelte;
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].
als er die Fürstentümer und die Gewalten ausgezogen [d. h. völlig entwaffnet] hatte, stellte er sie öffentlich zur Schau, indem er durch dasselbe [O. an demselben, od. in sich] über sie einen Triumph hielt.
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).
So richte euch nun niemand über Speise oder Trank, oder in Ansehung eines Festes oder Neumondes oder von Sabbathen,
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].
die ein Schatten der zukünftigen Dinge sind, der Körper aber ist Christi.
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,
Laßt niemand euch um den Kampfpreis bringen, der seinen eigenen Willen tut [And. üb.: der dies tun will] in Demut und Anbetung der Engel, [O. Engelverehrung] indem er auf Dinge eingeht, die er nicht gesehen hat, [Da "nicht" in vielen Handschriften fehlt, so übers. and.: das was er geschaut hat [d. h. das Gebiet von Gesichten] betretend] eitler Weise aufgeblasen von dem Sinne seines Fleisches,
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.
und nicht festhaltend das Haupt, aus welchem der ganze Leib, durch die Gelenke und Bande Darreichung empfangend und zusammengefügt, das Wachstum Gottes wächst.
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
Wenn ihr mit Christo den Elementen der Welt [Eig. von den Elementen der Welt weg] gestorben seid, was unterwerfet ihr euch Satzungen, [O. was laßt ihr euch Satzungen auflegen] als lebtet ihr noch in der Welt?
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.
Berühre nicht, koste nicht, betaste nicht!
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.
[Dinge, welche alle zur Zerstörung durch den Gebrauch bestimmt sind] nach den Geboten und Lehren der Menschen
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.
[welche zwar einen Schein von Weisheit haben, in eigenwilligem Gottesdienst [O. eigenwilliger Verehrung] und in Demut und im Nichtverschonen des Leibes, und nicht in einer gewissen Ehre], [d. h. in dem, was dem Leibe zukommt] zur Befriedigung [And. üb: [ohne Klammer]: und nicht in irgendwelcher Ehre zur Befriedigung] des Fleisches.
