JMNT(i)
11 within Whom you folks were also circumcised (or: in union with Whom you are cut around and off)
by (or: in; to; with)
a circumcision not done by hands (not handmade):
in the sinking out and away from (or: the stripping off and undressing of; the going out and away from)
the body of the flesh (= the corporate body of the Jewish religion and national heritage; or: = the natural body, or, the body pertaining to the natural realm; or: = the estranged human nature and alienated self) –
in the circumcision of the Christ (in Christ's circumcision; in the circumcision which was done to Christ; or: in the circumcision which is the Anointing),
12 being buried together in Him (jointly entombed with Him)
– within the placing into (in the immersion and saturation, and its result; in the plunging for permeation; within the overwhelming; in the dipping into; within the baptism) –
within the midst of Whom you folks were awakened and caused to rise up together through the faith which is (or: belonging to; coming from)
the inward operation of God (or: the trust belonging to the effectual energizing from and which is God):
the One awakening and raising Him up, forth from out of the midst of dead folks.
13 And you folks – continuously being dead ones within [other MSS: by]
the results and effects of falls to the side, and in (or: by)
the uncircumcision of your flesh (= physical bodies or national heritage; or: = estranged human nature and alienated self) –
He makes (or: made)
alive together: you [other MSS: us]
jointly together with Him, gracing us and granting favor to us [
for; in]
all the effects of the falls and stumbling to the side (= false steps),
14 anointing and wiping out the handwriting in the decrees (bonds; bills of debt; ordinances; statutes)
put down against (or: with regard to the effects of the thoughts or suppositions, and the results of the appearances of what seemed [to be], corresponding to)
us, which was continuing to be under, within and set in active opposition to us, and He has picked it up and lifted it from out of the midst, nailing it to the cross (or: on the execution stake),
15 after Himself causing the sinking out and away of (or: stripping off and away [of power and abilities]; undressing [them of arms and glory]; putting off and laying away [of categories and classifications]; or: divesting Himself of)
the governments and the authorities (or: the ruling folks or people of primacy, and the privileged folks).
And then He made a public exhibit, in a citizen’s bold freedom of speaking the truth, leading them in a triumphal procession within it [
i.e., the cross]
. (or: Undressing Himself {or: Stripping [them] off from Himself}, He also made a public display of the rulers and the authorities, with boldness leading them as captives in His victory procession in it {or: in union with Him}.)
16 Therefore, do not let anyone habitually pass judgment on you (or: make decisions for you)
in [
matters of]
eating and drinking, nor in a part of a festival, or of a new moon, or of sabbaths (= concerning things that are of a religious nature),
17 which things are a shadow of the things being about to be (or: of the impending),
yet now the body belongs to the Christ (or: So we see, the body is Christ; or: Now the body has its origin in the Christ; or: Yet the body has the character and qualities of [the] Anointed; [note: A.T. Robertson sees in this construction "the body" {figure of: "the substance"} as casting the shadow; Vincent is similar]).
18 Let no one be acting as an umpire, or an arbiter in the public games, so as to decide down against you, or to disqualify you, in regard to the prize (or: to award the prize [to you] unjustly – Eduard Lohse) –
in lowness of understanding, intellect, frame of mind and deportment, continuously wanting [
you]
also [
to be]
in ritual-relating to the agents (or: constantly delighting in religious activity originating from the messengers [note: e.g., old covenant rituals]; or: repeatedly taking pleasure by cultic religious service about, or external worship of or through the "angels"),
while continuously stepping randomly and rashly into (or: entering purposelessly, thoughtlessly or feignedly into; or: = being initiated into)
things which he has [other MSS: he has not]
seen [note: this may refer to being initiated into cultic secrets or mysteries],
progressively being made natural and instinctual by the inner senses and perceptions of his flesh (or: habitually being puffed up under [the influence of] the mind of his flesh [= his natural abilities and conditions, or by his alienated self, or by the human nature that has been conformed to the System]),
19 and thus not continuously (or: terminating the continuum of)
getting strength from (or: apprehending and becoming strong by)
the Head (or: the Source),
from out of Whom all the body (or: the entire body) –
being constantly fully furnished and supplied to excess with funds and nourishment, and progressively joined cohesively (welded together; knitted and compacted together; united and made to go together as in mounting for copulation)
through the instrumentality of the joints (connections; junctures; fastenings)
and links (things bound together, as by ligaments) –
goes on growing and increasing God's growth (or: the growth of God; the growth having its source in God; the growth pertaining to God; the growth and increase which is God; or: the growth from God).
20 Since (or: If)
you folks died together with Christ, away from the world's system of elementary principles (or: the rudimentary teachings and fundamental assumptions of the organized System [e.g., world of religion, secular society, education or culture]),
why, as living in [
the]
world (in an organized system),
are you constantly being subjected to (or, as a middle: submitting to; binding yourself to)
rules (decrees; commands; or: effects of thoughts or results of imaginations; "dogmas" [of the system]):
21 "You should not (or: may not)
touch (handle; light or kindle),
nor yet should you (or: may you)
taste by sipping (= partake of or enjoy),
nor yet should you (or: may you)
come into contact!"
22 –
which are all things [
that are proceeding]
into decay and ruin (thus: corruption)
by consuming and being used up or misused – down from and corresponding to the effects of commands (or: on the level of the results of purposed directives and imparted instructions),
as well as teachings and trainings, of humans (whose source is mankind; from people)?
23 –
which things, indeed, having a message (a word; an expression; may = a promise or reputation)
of wisdom in self-imposed observance of ritual or self-willed form of worship, and in humility (= self-abasement),
even in asceticism (unsparing)
of [
the]
body, [
yet are]
not of any value or worth [
and lead]
toward a filling up of the flesh to the point of satiation (= a gratification of the alienated self; = a satisfying of the estranged human nature; or: = a bringing of religious works to the full; or: [and have] no honor, facing a fullness and plenty which are flesh; or: = are worthless, with a view to having enough in the natural realm)!